Tide fan frenzy, valentine volunteers, ventilator theft: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports, USA TODAY
Alabama
Tuscaloosa: Thousands of excited football fans partied in streets around the University of Alabama after the Crimson Tide defeated Ohio State for the national championship, ignoring pleas for common sense and safety at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Students and others poured out of jam-packed bars near campus as time expired in Miami late Monday, gathering on University Boulevard in an area called “The Strip,” traffic cameras and images posted on social media show. Many of the fans screaming and cheering as they pressed against each other in the street didn’t wear face masks. The scene was exactly what officials feared before the game as they urged people to watch at home and celebrate privately. More than 5,300 people have died in Alabama from the illness caused by the coronavirus, and about 404,000 hav
NORMAN — Earlier this week, all but one of Norman’s lawmakers stated they are in favor of requiring masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic while in session at the state
Pae Named Vice Chair of Two House Committees
th Legislature.
“I look forward to using the knowledge I’ve learned and relationships I’ve built over the last two years to work for the betterment of Oklahoma,” Pae said. “I appreciate the confidence the Speaker has in me to have appointed me to these positions.”
Every 10 years after the conclusion of the census, the Oklahoma Legislature is required to redraw legislative districts to reflect population changes. Last year, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, appointed all House members to redistricting committees.
Regional redistricting committees will host public town halls to hear constituent input and will present their plan to a standing House State and Federal Redistricting committee, which will produce a statewide map for consideration by the full House in the 2021 legislative session.
OKLAHOMA CITY — A deeply divided Legislature gathered Tuesday for the first official day of session as debate continued to rage over what precautions should be taken in the Capitol
Oklahoma House Rejects Proposed Coronavirus Safety Measures
The Republican-led Oklahoma House on Tuesday rejected an attempt by Democrats to require members to wear masks on the House floor and take other steps to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.
The House and Senate each convened for a constitutionally mandated organizational day to formally elect its leaders and seat its elected members. They also voted to adopt rules ahead of the new legislative session that begins Feb. 1.
During discussion of the new House rules, Democratic leader Rep. Emily Virgin proposed several amendments, including a requirement that members wear masks on the floor of the House and to allow remote participation in meetings and floor votes. But all of those amendments were rejected on mostly party-line votes.