Albama’a preliminary April unemployment rate was 2.8%, a new record low for the state, Gov. Kay Ivey said this morning.
Author: Mary Sell (Mary Sell)
Q & A with candidates for governor
Alabama Daily News recently asked candidates for governor to answer some questions via email about why they're running for governor and how they'd improve the state if elected.
In post-Roe Alabama, abortion issue could be complicated
If the U.S. Supreme Court ends the constitutional right to an abortion, a voter-approved 2018 Alabama constitutional amendment “to ensure the protection of the rights of the unborn child" will play a part in shaping the state's future abortion laws.
A+ Education Partnership launches COVID funds tracker, advocate toolkit
The nearly $2 billion in ARPA funds must be spent by the end of September 2024 and the funding is targeted toward schools with high percentages of low-income students.
Election result security tightened for primary
By MOLLEE BRELAND, Alabama Daily News Alabama is attempting to secure its election night reporting from all 67 counties. County probate offices will use for the first time Tuesday state-supplied computers to report and transmit election results. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said his office spent about $247,000 to get the computers to each...
Huntsville tops “best place to live” list
In making the list, the publication weighs cities’ job market, value, quality of life, desirability and net migration ratings. It also uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. News rankings of the best high schools and hospitals.
3 Republicans on ballot to be next state auditor
The May 24 GOP primary ballot has three candidates vying to be the state’s next auditor, a job that will likely include defending the very existence of the office to lawmakers looking to eliminate it to save money.
Baby formula shortage makes specific brands hard to find
Families impacted by the ongoing baby formula shortage can talk to their pediatricians about switching to available brands, but Alabama doctors warn against diluting formula or making at-home versions.
Durant, Lincoln Project founder spar over postcard confusion
By MARY SELL, Alabama Daily News U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant’s campaign on Thursday tried to distance itself from the anti-Trump Lincoln Project only to end the day with the “total and complete endorsement” of its co-founder. Durant, a Republican from Huntsville, has for weeks pushed back against attacks that a co-founder of the Lincoln...
Report outlines barriers, improvements needed for women in workforce, economy
Women make up about half of Alabama’s workforce, but are three times as likely as men to have minimum wage jobs and on average earn 67 cents for every $1 men are paid, according to a new report.
Polls show Republican voters remain undecided on several down-ballot races
With two weeks left until the May 24 primary elections, a recent Alabama Daily News/ Gray Television poll shows large chunks of voters are still undecided on who they’ll pick for secretary of state, supreme court and state auditor.
Poll shows Ivey with high approval, but not avoiding runoff
Gov. Kay Ivey has a high approval rating and a commanding lead her run for reelection, but she would be in a runoff with her Republican rivals if the election was held today, according to a new Cygnal poll of likely Republican voters.
Report: Alabamians receiving fewer weeks of unemployment compensation
The Florida-based think tank Foundation of Government Accountability recently praised Alabama’s weathering of the pandemic as it related to unemployment compensation and attributed it to the state’s 2019 law that shortened the number of weeks people can receive the benefits. The foundation advocates more states adopt the unemployment “indexing” — tying the weeks the benefit is available to the state’s unemployment rate.
May 24 ballot lets voters approve $80M loan for state parks
According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the 21 state parks total about 48,000 acres of land and water. In 2021, the parks had a total of 6.2 million visitors and an economic impact of $375 million for the state, according to the department.
Long-time State Rep. Steve McMillan dies
Some of McMillan’s accomplishments include working to create the Fair Ballot Commission, the State Teacher of the Year program, creating the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism organization and helping to push for the Lodge at Gulf State Park, according to his delegation office.