The United States Department of Commerce announced this week that it is providing a $600,000 grant that will help create a fund to provide loans to small and medium-sized businesses in Lee and Russell Counties. The grant comes from the Dept. of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The organization in Opelika receiving the grant and […]

State government groups are conducting a survey to better identify in-demand jobs in Alabama. Business owners and executives — any that oversee employment — are asked to respond. Officially termed the Governor’s Survey on Employer Competencies, the effort is a joint product of The Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation and AlabamaWorks. “As Alabama […]

The State of Alabama is mirroring a recent decision by the federal government to extend the deadline for citizens to file their income taxes until May 17. “While many Alabamians are getting their ducks in a row this tax season, they can rest a little easier knowing there will be an extension for filing both […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that criminalizes doctors that don’t provide reasonable care for babies born alive during abortion procedures. Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) sponsored the legislation. Shaver has long been dedicated to the anti-infanticide cause; 2021 is the third year in a row she has introduced legislation […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that would require athletes in public schools to compete in athletic competitions based on the gender on their birth certificate. Sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), HB 391 passed the House on a vote of 74-19 with two abstentions. All Republican members voted […]

U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) explained on Wednesday that changes made by members of the Democratic Party are the reason he doesn’t support an altered version of the Violence Against Women Act. The U.S. House of Representatives passed what is being called the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021” on Wednesday. It contains changes […]

The Alabama Department of Public Health has banned over-the-counter sales of the supplement tianeptine in Alabama amid growing concerns about its addictiveness and harmful impact on citizens. Tianeptine was often at gas stations under brand names like “ZaZa,” “Pegasus” and “Tianaa.” Morgan County Judge Charles Elliott, whose profile includes the local drug court, has described […]

Public recognition for Alabama Crimson Tide head basketball coach Nate Oats continues to roll in as the recently-crowned SEC champion awaits the start of the Big Dance. Oats has been named a finalist for the Naismith and USBWA Coach of the Year awards. The USBWA is the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Naismith […]

MONTGOMERY — A bicameral group of Democrats in the Alabama Legislature has renewed calls for the state to expand the number of citizens it covers via Medicaid, arguing a financial incentive in the federal government’s recent stimulus bill will ease the financial burden of the much-debated proposal. Senator Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) hosted a press conference […]

The rates of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Alabama have fallen to levels the state has not experienced since the late spring of 2020. Alabama was averaging 375 new cases per day over the last week as of Sunday, according to BamaTracker, a site that collects government data on the virus. The last time […]

A searchable, online database provides the easiest way for Alabamians to find their nearest COVID-19 vaccine provider. The database of providers, courtesy of the website BamaTracker, can be accessed here. Instructions on how to use the database can be found below. Additionally, links to several other web portals with vaccine booking options in Alabama are […]

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 4.3%, the lowest rate the state has enjoyed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The unemployment numbers were released by the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) on Monday morning. The 4.3% rate is down from 4.7% in December. “As we begin a new year, it’s encouraging […]

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has issued a directive for flags in the state to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of the more than 10,000 Alabamians who have died from COVID-19. Saturday, March 13, also marks one year since Alabama’s first confirmed case of the coronavirus was identified. “On the one year anniversary […]

Additional categories of Alabamians will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 22, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Friday. Every citizen over age 55 will be eligible, as will people with a number of underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus. Additionally, a number of employees […]

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama House of Representatives passed on Thursday a bill to legalize yoga as a physical education offering at K-12 schools in Alabama. Sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), HB 246 passed the House on a vote of 73-25. Alabama is currently the only state in America that has any kind of ban […]

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would give hunters the ability to buy a license to hunt feral hogs and coyotes at night. Under the proposed legislation, HB 458, citizens would be allowed to purchase a license to hunt swine and coyotes on privately owned or leased lands. […]

The Alabama House of Representatives passed on Thursday a bill allowing the photos of individuals arrested for hiring prostitutes to be made public. A 2016 law designed to protect the privacy of those arrested for prostitution has been interpreted by some to protect the privacy of the individuals who hire prostitutes. Arrest photos for nearly […]

State and federal authorities have relaxed restrictions on nursing home visitation in recent days. The changes were welcomed by the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA). Governor Kay Ivey last week increased the number of visitors a nursing home resident could receive from one to two. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated […]

Two of Alabama’s most prominent elected officials are suing the United States Census Bureau. They allege the bureau’s ongoing delay in providing results from the 2020 Census is illegal, as is, they argue, the bureau’s new method of manipulating its granular data. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) have partnered […]

Alabama’s first pre-apprenticeship program is launching this spring at Wallace Community College (WCC) in Dothan. News of the program’s launch was announced Wednesday by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship (AOA), the state agency that oversees all apprenticeship matters in Alabama. AOA is partnering with Wallace to create the program. Pre-apprenticeships are programs offered by educational […]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released the results this week of a February survey of small business owners that showed optimism improving amid a waning pandemic. Details in the report showed that owners were increasingly looking to hire new employees in February and proprietors reporting increased earnings increased as well. Rosemary Elebash, NFIB […]

The Alabama National Guard has been commissioned by Governor Kay Ivey to help bring COVID-19 vaccines to rural areas of Alabama that lack medical providers. Two teams of around 55 Guard members will make up each unit. The units will be tasked with distributing 1,000 vaccine doses per day at a given site, which the […]

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced this week the dates for the special election to fill a Montgomery-area seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. The district, HD 78, was vacated when its former occupant, Kirk Hatcher, was elected to the Alabama Senate. Candidates interested in representing the district must file their paperwork to run in […]

MONTGOMERY  – The Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill that would allow college athletes to hire agents and receive payment for making appearances or letting companies use their likeness in advertisements. Sponsored by Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette), HB 404 would also establish the Alabama Collegiate Athletics Commission to oversee name, image and […]