The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic freefall are not the root cause of Alabama’s chronic underfunding of public services or the fundamental failures of its tax system. But as Carol writes on our blog, this crisis is exposing and exacerbating those shortcomings as Alabama faces revenue losses that could top $3 billion next year. Lawmakers should reject harmful cuts to education, health care and other services and choose instead to raise sustainable new revenue to equip our state to endure both this downturn and future recessions.

AL.com: Alabama lawmakers to resume session in mostly closed State House

The legislative session has been on hold since March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The restart this Monday will come with limited access for the public, livestreamed debates and safeguards like wearing masks and moving some lawmakers to a gallery normally used by spectators.

WSFA: Food benefits for some Alabama schoolchildren approved by federal government

More than 400,000 Alabama children will receive Pandemic EBT benefits to help replace the free or reduced-price school meals they normally would get. "That really makes a very big difference when kids are at home and not in school," Arise's Carol Gundlach tells WSFA 12 in Montgomery.

Stateline: The South may see the largest share of coronavirus misery

"In Alabama, poverty and poor health are a legacy of decades of racist public policies that have excluded people of color from health care," Arise's Jim Carnes tells Stateline. "[COVID-19 is] revealing weaknesses and gaps we’ve always known were there. The question is whether the light will be bright enough this time that our officials will be forced to face the reality and address it."

How to get help in Alabama during the COVID-19 crisis

As unemployment soars, many Alabamians are deeply worried about basics like food, health care, housing and income. A lot of folks need help getting by but may not know quite where to look. This Arise guide to public assistance programs and other support services is designed to help people meet their basic needs during this pandemic.