Author: Mary Sell (Mary Sell)

The unemployment rate measures the number of Alabamians who are actively seeking work and the April rate represents 61,621 people, a new record low, compared to 63,184 in April and 80,191 in May 2021, the governor’s office said.

In May, consumer prices rocketed up 8.6% from a year earlier, the biggest jump since 1981, the Associated Press reported. In response, the Federal Reserve this week raised its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of point this week as it tries to avoid a recession.

Several states, including Texas, Georgia, West Virginia and most recently Louisiana, have laws requiring or allowing for cameras in special education spaces. 

While another candidate could emerge, Clouse and Ledbetter have been openly campaigning for the House’s top spot since last year. The House Republican Caucus will likely make its speaker selection soon after the November elections. A new speaker won’t be formally selected until the full chamber meets for an organizational session.

Several school systems around the state have advocated for an extension of the U.S. Department of Agriculture waivers that first went into effect in March 2020, but Congressional action seems unlikely now. School leaders are reminding low-income families they need to apply for reduced priced or free meals for the upcoming school year — something they haven’t had to do the past two school years.

Judgeship may only be reallocated when a vacancy occurs due to the death, retirement, removal or resignation of a judge.  Only one judgeship can be reallocated from any judicial circuit in a two-year period.

The Alabama Department of Mental Health said fentanyl can be found in many street drugs, including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and counterfeit prescription pills.

Likely Republican runoff voters in north Alabama favor Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong, 46% over Huntsville School Superintendent Casey Wardynski, 31%, to replace outgoing Congressman Mo Brooks of Huntsville, according to a new poll. Nearly 24% of voters were still undecided. Strong led on Election Day with nearly 47% of the vote. Wardynski came in...

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have red flag laws. Republican-led Florida passed a red flag law in 2018, following a shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school that killed 17 people. A recent CBS News analysis of state court records, Florida has issued 8,969 emergency risk protection orders since 2018.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey said new schools are constructed with more security in mind and many existing buildings have had their entrances upgraded to “harden” them and cameras installed.

Budget leaders say that growth won’t last, but they’re comfortable about where revenues are for the fiscal year that ends in September. For the 2022 fiscal year, the General Fund and ETF budgets are $2.69 billion and $7.67 billion.

Two  GOP candidates for Alabama House on Thursday filed contests with the state party, asking for re-dos in their primaries after human errors related to the 2021 redrawing of district lines meant some voters got incorrect ballots last week.