According to the Alabama Department of Labor, the state’s labor force participation rate remained at 57% throughout the month of May. During the same time frame, the agency said the number of prime age workers grew by a tenth of a percentage point, reaching 79.2%. Over the year, the number increased by one and six-tenths […]

A group of recent high school graduates from Sulphur Springs, Texas were on-hand to witness the Florida shark attack which left a Mountain Brook girl missing a hand and a leg. The teens helped to pull Lulu Gribbin out of the water when it became clear that help was needed. They discussed their account, what […]

Dr. David Thrasher of Montgomery is most recently recognized for his work guiding Alabama’s capital city through the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Thrasher has turned his attention to a different challenge he says the city must confront. This week, Thrasher spoke with WAKA News, to underscore his concerns about Montgomery’s rapidly growing crime rate. “COVID was […]

On Thursday, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined a coalition of 18 state attorneys general in sending a letter to President Joseph Biden stating opposition to Biden’s action in the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Certain Palestinians Presidential Memorandum of February 14, 2024. “Though we are in the midst of a well-recognized immigration crisis caused […]

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has confirmed the presence of Africanized Honeybees (AHB) in Jackson and St. Clair Counties. Both finds were feral swarms collected by local beekeepers and have been euthanized to protect Alabama’s honeybees. ADAI is taking swift action to mitigate any risks associated with these invasive bees. Traps are being […]

U.S. Representative Dale Strong is focusing his attention on an issue he believes is impacting the quality of daily life for many of America’s veterans. As North Alabama’s voice in Washington, Rep. Strong (R-Monrovia) said he wants to address the questionable efficiency of the Veterans Affair’s Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System. The BTSSS is the VA’s […]

A South Korean auto supplier has opened its first U.S.-based production facility in Tuskegee, Alabama. Samkee Corp. reportedly invested $128 million to build the factory. At full capacity, it is expected to employ over 170 people. “Samkee is a first-class addition to Alabama’s dynamic auto industry, and the opening of this state-of-the-art facility in Tuskegee […]

On Tuesday Democratic voters went to the polls in Birmingham’s House District 52 to select their next state representative. No candidate was able to surpass the 50% threshold needed to win the Democratic Party nomination without a runoff. The top two vote getters advanced to a July 16 runoff: Kelvin Datcher and Frank Woodson. Datcher […]

Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin who was attacked by a shark two weeks ago in Florida has been receiving very special videos of support from athletes, coaches, and celebrities all around the country. From Caitlin Clark to Eli Manning to Nate Oats, all videos have been documented on the Instagram account Lulu Strong and can […]

The Alabama Department of Human resources announced a request for several additional foster homes for disabled, elderly adults across the state. The foster care provided will allow the adults to live in family-style homes, instead of institutional settings when they begin to require round-the-clock care. Unfortunately, in recent years the Department has reported an increase […]

Beginning on October 10, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport will be working with low cost carrier Spirit Airlines to bring travelers a nonstop flight from Birmingham to Fort Lauderdale. The move will mark the first time the airline is serving the state of Alabama. The flight will also be the only nonstop trip offered by the […]

Gov. Kay Ivey was on hand for the ribbon cutting of the historic E.O. Wilson Science Research Center at the Alabama School of Math and Science on June 14. The 32,000-square-foot facility, the first of its kind in the state, is named after Mobile native Dr. Edward O. Wilson, known as the “father of biodiversity.” […]

Senators Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville, Eric Schmitt, and colleagues introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen opportunities for Americans with disabilities. On Friday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) announced that she has joined Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri) in introducing the bipartisan Ensuring Nationwide Access to Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act. Sen. Tuberville has also signed on […]

Lulu Gribbin, the Mountain Brook teenager attacked by a shark less than two weeks ago, has completed surgery, her family writes. “[Sunday] was a surgery day and Lulu did great!” Gribbin’s aunt posted on CaringBridge, a platform used to chronicle health journeys. “We got the best news from her doctor stating that he was able […]

Rep. Jennifer Fidler (R-Silverhill) of District 94 in Baldwin County is helping the Better Business Bureau fight fraud through the donation of grant money made available through the state’s Community Service Grant program, according to a release from the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation. The Alabama Community Service Grant program is funding allotted to legislators to […]

The University of Alabama has announced via a social media post a massive amount of students who qualified to be to the dean’s list for Spring 2024. 13,103 students qualified for either the dean’s or president’s list, which requires at least a 3.5 Grade Point Average and a 4.0 for the president’s list. “Legendary news […]

This week, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced a resolution to celebrate the University of South Alabama’s 60th anniversary. The University of South Alabama was founded on May 3, 1963, and has since awarded over 90,000 degrees. In addition to its educational programs, the University boasts 17 Division I men’s and women’s athletic programs. The resolution recognizes the University […]

Alabama residents safely disposed of 4,105 pounds of unwanted, unneeded or expired medications on April 27’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event, which occurs twice a year, encourages residents to get rid of medications they no longer have a use for. It is intended to prevent overdoses on prescription pills, medication misuse, and […]

National business publication Area Development has selected Alabama for its Silver Shovel Award in recognition of major economic development project wins during 2023. “Being awarded the Silver Shovel Award is a strong testament to Alabama’s pro-business environment and to the capabilities of our workers, who can rise to meet any challenge,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This honor […]

Alabama FarmPAC, a political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation, announced its endorsement of Donald J. Trump for president of the United States, according to a news release from the group on Friday. Federation President Jimmy Parnell said the endorsement was recommended by county leaders throughout Alabama and unanimously approved by FarmPAC’s executive trustees. […]

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (ACFC) is highlighting a new analysis showing Birmingham ranks second nationally in daily private vehicle miles traveled. ACFC noted that the high mileage presents significant fuel savings opportunities for Birmingham motorists switching to electric vehicles (EVs). The analysis by Replica, a mobility analytics firm, studied private, weekday car trips in […]

On Friday, H.R. 8070, the Service Member Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for FY25, passed the U.S. House of Representatives largely along party lines. The $883.7 billion NDAA passed in a 217 to 199 vote. Six Democrats voted for the bill, while three Republicans voted in opposition. Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) […]

Update 3:10 p.m. — James Spann’s pages have been restored.  “It was a mistake, and after conversations with some great Meta folks we are back in business this afternoon. They were responsive and I am very appreciative of that on a summer Friday afternoon,” Spann said. https://x.com/spann/status/1801714867134464219 An Alabama television broadcaster, renown for his signature severe […]

Over the last six months, Muscle Shoals has seen over 500 drug-related crimes. Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine has an untraditional idea to try to curb the root of the problem: Encouraging dealers to take each other out of the business. His department put up a banner at the intersection of Highway 72 and 43 […]