The coronavirus news in Alabama this week was overwhelmingly positive. The vaccination system had its best week yet while hospitalizations and new COVID-19 cases continued to fall sharply. Driving the success of the week’s vaccinations were a series of drive-in clinics held in eight cities around the state, each of which exceeded expectations for efficiency. […]

Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) has appointed eight new members to serve on the Alabama Workforce Development Board, the body which oversees the state’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) initiatives. WIOA, a federal law passed in 2014, provides funding to help adults, youth and dislocated workers access assistance through Alabama Career Centers, adult education programs […]

While the first two weeks of the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session featured three priority, pro-jobs bills being enacted into law, there was also another major piece of news important to businesses that occurred outside of the legislative process — but still in Montgomery. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) on Wednesday announced that he has […]

MONTGOMERY — Friday marked an important milestone in increasing Alabama’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving 21st-century economy. Governor Kay Ivey signed three priority bills into law, including HB 192 and HB 170. That latter bill, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook), contains a provision entitled the Business Tax Competitiveness […]

LOXLEY, Alabama — Retailer ALDI officially launched construction this week on a new regional headquarters and distribution center in Baldwin County that will support the company’s expansion throughout the Gulf Coast region. The project is set to bring approximately $100 million in capital investment, with plans to create more than 200 jobs in Loxley. ALDI announced its […]

For Chinese New Year, which is February 12, families gather from near and far to sweep out the old and ring in the new. The date is set by a lunar calendar, with each year represented by an animal. Today starts the Year of the Ox. In Chinese culture, the new-year celebration continues for more […]

Treat your sweetheart to the best our state has to offer with one of these unique date ideas for Valentine’s Day. Go for a hike

U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-AL) will continue to serve as the top Republican on both the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on Defense. With Democrats controlling the Senate, albeit with a 50-50 split, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is now chairman of Appropriations, taking the helm from Shelby. Alabama’s senior senator is now […]

MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Friday morning signed into law three priority bills passed this week by the Alabama Legislature: HB 170, HB 192 and SB 30. All three bills have been heralded by pro-business organizations, such as the Business Council of Alabama and National Federation of Independent Business, as important for economic growth […]

7. Alcohol delivery is one step closer The Alabama Senate has passed the bill that would legalize home delivery of alcohol through grocery delivery services and other approved retailers.  A companion bill has already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee. Now it just has to pass a vote by the House. Amendments to increase […]

One of the possible beneficiaries of State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gaming legislation unveiled earlier this week is Macon County’s VictoryLand facility, which at times has been the subject of controversy in Alabama’s decades-long gambling conundrum. The legislation, SB 214, if passed, would allow for the expansion of gaming at VictoryLand. That is a welcome […]

Earlier this week, State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) introduced so-called comprehensive gaming legislation, which, if enacted, would establish an education lottery in addition to casino gaming and sports betting at five designated areas throughout the state. On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Tourism Committee gave a favorable report to the legislation, SB 214, and now it awaits […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday unanimously gave final passage to HB 231, sending the bill to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk. This comes after the bill unanimously passed the House last week. Ivey is expected to sign the legislation. Sponsored in their respective chambers by Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) and Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), […]

The capability went live on Wednesday for citizens of Madison County, including residents of Huntsville and Madison, to text emergencies to 911. The Huntsville-Madison County 911 Center made the announcement in a release, where they emphasized that if it is at all possible, residents should call 911 instead of utilizing the new text option. Texting […]

Forbes this week named the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as America’s best large employer, topping an impressive list of more than 500 public and private corporations, hospitals, universities and more. Other companies with major Alabama presences named on the list included Lockheed Martin, Southern Company and Boeing. To compile the rankings, Forbes partnered with […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed SB 126 as amended, moving the measure one step away from the governor’s desk. The bill would allow the delivery of sealed beer, wine and liquor from grocery stores, restaurants, and other licensed retailers to residences across the Yellowhammer State. HB 229, the companion bill to SB […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday discussed SB 214, a bill by Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) that would propose a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gaming and institute a state-run lottery benefiting education in the state of Alabama. The legislation was formally introduced on Tuesday and unanimously given a favorable report by the Senate […]

Dr. Tony Waldrop, who has served for the last seven years as president of the University of South Alabama (USA), announced on Thursday his plans to retire after the end of the current academic year. USA said in a release that a national search will soon commence to find Waldrop’s replacement. “It has been a […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives passed on Thursday a bill designed to shield businesses, churches and other entities from frivolous coronavirus lawsuits. The legislation, SB30, originated in the Alabama Senate and now heads to Governor Kay Ivey for final approval. She has indicated in the past that she will sign the bill, which […]

MONTGOMERY — The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) has expressed its appreciation to the Alabama Legislature following two priority pieces of legislation that will help the state’s economy bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislature on Wednesday gave final passage to HB 170 and HB 192. HB 170, among other tax reform […]

Dr. Marie-Carmelle Elie has been named chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. “Dr. Elie is first and foremost an outstanding academic physician-leader but uniquely will be the first Black woman to be named a permanent chair of an academic emergency medicine department at a major American medical school,” said Dr. […]

While many associate Mardi Gras with the revelry and debauchery of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, the holiday actually began right here in Alabama. Mardi Gras was first celebrated in 1703 when Mobile resident Joe Cain led an impromptu parade down the port city’s streets in an attempt to bring joy to post-Civil War misery. Today, […]

7. Alabama AG wants Biden to reverse the Keystone XL Pipeline decision Fourteen state attorney generals, including Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R-AL), have sent a letter to President Joe Biden to notify him that states are reviewing legal options to protect the interests of their citizens and urges him to reverse his decision with […]

On Tuesday, State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) introduced what he deemed comprehensive gaming legislation, which, if enacted, would establish an education lottery in addition to casino gaming and sports betting at five designated areas throughout the state. On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Tourism Committee gave a favorable report to the legislation, SB 214, and now […]