The Alaska House of Representatives has passed a bill approving $1.5 billion in CARES Act funding. The bill was then brought before the Senate Rules Committee for deliberation and was passed. Now it must be voted on by the full Senate. By law, however, they must wait one day before a vote can be taken. The House bill is identical to a Senate bill which was already discussed by the Senate Finance Committee and passed in the Senate on Monday. However, because the House bill passed first, the identical Senate bill was dropped, and the House bill is expected to pass quickly in the Senate before it can be signed into law by the governor. It is also for this bill that the legislature specifically reconvened, as they had tried to appropriate CARES Act funds through means that were considered by some lawmakers and Alaskans as unconstitutional, and a lawsuit was filed in order to block the money from being distributed.  

Since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the United States on Jan. 21, over one million people in the U.S. have confirmed cases of COVID-19. On April 12, the U.S. became the nation with the most deaths globally, but there are early signs that the U.S. case and death counts may be leveling off, as the growth of new cases and deaths plateaus. The pattern isn't consistent across the country, as new hot spots emerge and others subside. In response to mounting cases, state and federal authorities have emphasized a social distancing strategy, widely seen as the best available means to slow the spread of the virus. Most states have put in place measures such as closing schools and nonessential businesses and ordering citizens to stay home as much as possible.  

The Memphis Fire Department spent more than $2 million on items related to COVID-19 during a two-month period to protect first responders during the pandemic. FOX13 investigated to find out how it is possible to spend that much tax money in such a short time. In just one week, Memphis Fire spent more than $240,000 on its coronavirus response. It was during that week, Memphis and Shelby County had every reason to believe a surge in COVID-19 cases was on the horizon and first responders would be at risk. The department began buying items to protect its workers and the public. The cost to battle a pandemic is not cheap, and time matters. During the third week of March, as the City of Memphis was poised to declare a State of Emergency on March 19, its fire department began stockpiling items to respond to COVID-19.  

Greeley's unfortunate status as the center of one of the state's larger COVID-19 outbreaks has led to a high volume of pandemic-related work for the city's first responders. However, in spite of the potential for exposure, Greeley Fire Department, Police Department and Emergency Medical Services personnel have managed to largely avoid significant spread of the virus within their ranks. That's very likely because of aggressive, intentional policy on the part of the first responders themselves, as well as their partners at dispatch, the Weld County Regional Communications Center. "It seems obvious maybe in some regard, but many may not be aware," division chief over operations for the Greeley Fire Department Brian Kuznik said.  

Behind a nondescript strip mall in Carmel, Indiana, a short line of cars gathers mid-afternoon next to a large tent. Medical professionals stand out front, dressed head to toe in blue medical coveralls. People in the cars — many of them first responders — drive up to be tested for COVID-19. The test involves a really long swab placed deep into the nose, toward the back of the throat. "No, it's not fun, but it's quick. I would say painless, but it is a little painful," Carmel firefighter Tim Griffin said. "It's 5-10 seconds and then it's all done and the burning goes away and you move on." While there were shortages of COVID-19 tests across the country in March and April, this affluent Indianapolis suburb took an unusual step to keep residents safe. All city employees who deal directly with the public — such as police officers and emergency medical services personnel and sanitation workers — were tested weekly even if they showed no symptoms. Their families could also be tested.