Sandhill cranes, black-footed ferrets, Washington crossing the Delaware: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports, USA TODAY
Alabama
Montgomery: In-person help for residents needing assistance with unemployment claims is coming to an end as a new phone appointment system will be established for the new year. The Department of Labor said it is ending in-person service at the Crump Senior Center because of health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus. The last dates for such service will be Monday and Tuesday. Appointments for those days will be available on the ADOL website www.labor.alabama.gov. Claimants can call (800) 361-4524 beginning Sunday after 5 p.m. until midnight on Sundays through Thursday to schedule a call-back for the next day to set up an appointment. Claimants are encouraged to keep their phones near them for their scheduled call-back, the department said. The calls will come from a Montgomery number. State of
NH reports 7 deaths, surpasses 40,000 COVID cases
Staff and wire report
CONCORD – New Hampshire health officials reported seven deaths and 891 new positive test results for COVID-19 Sunday.
The total number of cases in the state increased to 40,809, and the number of current cases moved to 6,994, according to Sunday s daily report, which included results from multiple recent days.
New Hampshire s death toll increased to 708 (1.73% of all cases) with about 80% associated with long-term care facilities. The seven additional deaths reported Sunday were all people identified as age 60 or older. They included two Rockingham County residents (one woman, one man), a Strafford County woman, three Hillsborough County residents (two men, one woman) and a Merrimack County man.
Over half of Massachusetts high risk; Rhode Island rate down
By The Associated PressDecember 27, 2020 GMT
A look at coronavirus developments in New England:
Schools across Maine are reporting dips in academic performance during the coronavirus pandemic.
Standardized test scores in Gorham dropped by 10 percentage points or more in some subjects, and Biddeford High School reported a 9 point increase in course failure rate in year’s first quarter, the Portland Press Herald reported.
The lower scores in Maine schools reflect broader trends around the country. Maine educators are looking for strategies to help get students back on track during a difficult time for learning.