Racing a cop, ditching the mask, heading to the zoo: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports Alabama Montgomery: The city will offer 100 $50 Walmart gift cards each at four neighborhood COVID-19 vaccine clinics in an attempt to combat declining numbers in the state. The clinics will not require an appointment, insurance or identification. “Our goal has always been to protect the lives and livelihoods of everyone in Montgomery,” Mayor Steven Reed said in a statement. “The COVID-19 vaccines are our best chance to do so.” The city is also organizing free rides to and from the clinics for those without transportation. People can call 211 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays to schedule private transportation. Montgomery has also partnered with Uber on the initiative, and residents can use promo code 10MVMONTGOMERY to schedule a ride through the app. COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Alabama continues to decline rapidly, with the state still trailing every state but Mississippi. Though 14 counties have reached vaccination rates of at least 40%, with the vulnerable Black Belt counties consistently reporting the state’s highest rates, just 26% of Alabama’s total population is fully vaccinated. “I think for the group of people who are anxious to get the vaccine, they were able to get the vaccine anywhere, anyhow,” said Dr. Beverly Jordan, a family medicine physician in Enterprise.