By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The days surrounding Independence Day see more fatal car crashes than any other day during the year, according to an analysis of state traffic records by researchers at the University of Alabama. During the past five years, the days around the Fourth of July averaged three...
Author: Caroline Beck (Caroline Beck)
Daily News Digest- July 3, 2019
1. Video shows detention center conditions Rep. Joaquin Castro from Texas recently released a video and photos of migrants who are being held at a border facility under “awful” and unsanitary conditions. This is a rare glimpse into these border facilities since journalists or lawmakers are rarely allowed to tour the facility and were asked...
Daily News Digest- July 2, 2019
1. Jones’ lawyer files for dismissal The attorneys for Marshae Jones filed a motion to dismiss the charges against her, calling them “completely unreasonable and unjust.” The district attorney’s office still has not yet decided whether to prosecute Jones. Her attorney’s said in their motion that the state used a “flawed and twisted rationale” that...
Daily News Digest- July 1, 2019
1. Community College get $12 million grant The Alabama Community College System received a $12 million apprenticeship grant last week to aid in manufacturing training. The announcement cane during a visit by U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta to several north Alabama colleges including the Decatur campus of Calhoun Community College and to Huntsville companies...
New Education Org wants to help create new Charter Schools for Alabama
By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News As more and more public charter schools are forming in Alabama, a new organization is taking the charge in making sure they succeed at the mission of improving education outcomes. New Schools for Alabama is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is focused on the support and growth of excellent...
Daily News Digest – June 28, 2019
1. Woman indicted on fetal homicide law Alabama caught the nation’s attention again yesterday after Marshae Jones was indicted with charges of manslaughter when she was shot in the stomach while being five months pregnant which resulted in her loosing the pregnancy. But an Alabama prosecutor hasn’t decided yet if they will actually prosecute Jones....
Midwives Can Now Practice in Alabama but Still Face Obstacles
By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Midwives can now practice in the state of Alabama, but they say there is still work to be done to fully support their work and help ensure mothers have access to safe out-of-hospital deliveries and maternal care. In January, the newly-formed Alabama State Board of Midwifery...
New law provides immunity for rescuing children trapped in hot cars
By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News A new Alabama law provides criminal immunity to anyone who breaks into a car in order to rescue a child or disabled person from unsafe conditions, including excessive heat. As summer heats up, more awareness is being brought to the issue of children dying while locked in hot cars....
New Law Helps Firefighters Diagnosed with Cancer
Fire officials around the state praised a new Alabama law that will require local governments to provide supplemental insurance coverage for career firefighters diagnosed with cancer.
CDC Director in Montgomery Introduces HIV Initative to Alabama
By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield visited Montgomery on Friday to talk with officials about ways to combat Alabama’s high rate of new HIV infections. As a part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to reduce new HIV infections by 75% in five years...
State School Board members react to governance bill
By CAROLINE BECK, Alabama Daily News MONTGOMERY, Ala. — At the Alabama State Board of Education’s first meeting since lawmakers approved a proposal to replace the elected board with an appointed commission, some current members were not keen on the idea. One complained that the Legislature doesn’t understand how hard the board works for teachers...
‘John-Shaming’ bill pocket vetoed by Governor
Gov. Kay Ivey did not sign a human trafficking bill meant to deter individuals from soliciting prostitutes because of a drafting error that could have weakened its intent, supporters said Tuesday.
Ivey signs chemical castration law, process details still pending
Court-ordered chemical castration of child molesters as a condition of their parole will soon be required in Alabama, but exactly how the treatments will be administered is still being determined.
Weekly Brief: Agency Contracts, Apprenticeship Office, RV Park Eviction Bill
By CAROLINE BECK and MARY SELL, Alabama Daily News Lawmakers push back on calls to boycott Alabama At the Legislative Contract Review Committee Thursday, lawmakers said they don’t want to do business with states that are threatening to boycott Alabama over the new near-total abortion ban law passed this session. The comments came over an...
Legislature approves Sunday alcohol sales bill, says no to home delivery of wine
There were several alcohol-related bills in the 2019 legislative session that ended last month. Here's what passed and what didn't.