Governor’s Speech Creates Budget Confusion
Montgomery is buzzing now that the Alabama legislature is back in session. Governor Robert Bentley entered the fray Tuesday night with his State of the State Address. The governor offered a long list of proposals including tearing down and building new prisons, free community college tuition for low-income students, increased broadband access and incentives to improve healthcare for rural areas. The question of how to pay for all of this is mostly unanswered. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says this just creates confusion around the state's budget.
UAB Football Gains 18 Players on National Signing Day
The UAB Blazers loaded up on junior college players and scooped up Alabama's Mr. Football in their return to national signing day. Coach Bill Clark added 18 players to the roster, including 4 from Alabama. Clark says that's significant.
Bentley’s “Great State” Plan Lacks Funding Details
The Alabama Legislature is back to work and Governor Robert Bentley announced his Great State 2019 Plan at his State of the State address last night. AL.com’s Kyle Whitmire discusses where funding for this plan is going to come from.
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Zeigler: Send Prisoners Away From Alabama to Ease Overcrowding
Governor Robert Bentley isn’t doing enough to save taxpayers money. That was the core message of state auditor Jim Zeigler’s rebuttal of the governor’s State of the State address. Zeigler offered a few ideas, including this one: instead of building “four-star prison hotels”, ease overcrowding by letting prisoners volunteer to move at least two states away and get jobs.
Reborn UAB Has Something to Celebrate This Signing Day
The UAB Blazers will have just as much to celebrate on Wednesday as all the programs collecting five-star recruits and gaudy national rankings. The Blazers are back in the recruiting business, and in a big way. UAB, which had eliminated football, might end up with a class of up to 45 players by the end of the annual signing day. Coach Bill Clark and his staff are rebuilding almost from scratch.
Large Tornado Leaves Trail of Damage In Rural Western Alabama
Residents in rural western Alabama are cleaning up this morning after a large tornado left a trail of damage last night as powerful storms moved into the state. The National Weather Service in Birmingham reported a “confirmed large and destructive tornado” on the ground last night near the city of Aliceville, about 45 miles west of Tuscaloosa. Local officials are reporting homes damaged and minor, along with downed trees and power lines.
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Governor’s State of the State Highlights Pre-K, Rural Health Care and Prisons
Governor Robert Bentley announced his plans to expand education and training for Alabamians last night in his annual State of the State address. His proposal, which he calls the Great State 2019 plan, will cover a wide range of issues.
Birmingham City Council Split Over I-20/59 Bridge Replacement Project
Birmingham City Council President Jonathan Austin withdrew a resolution today expressing opposition to a plan from the state transportation department to rebuild and expand Interstate 20-59 through downtown Birmingham. Critics of the plan say it cuts off neighborhoods from the city center, blunts economic development and that alternatives should be explored.
Forecasters Say North Alabama at Risk for Severe Storms
The National Weather Service says much of Alabama is in store for a round of bad weather. Forecasters say northern and western Alabama are at risk starting Tuesday afternoon for severe storms that could bring tornadoes, damaging winds, hail and heavy rain.
Alabama Ranks High in Nation for Number of Home Fire Deaths
Officials from an emergency response agency say Alabama ranks high among states for the number of home fires and deaths. The American Red Cross of Alabama reported that, just in January, 2016, they responded to 181 home fires from which 18 people have died. A total of 21 people have died from home fires so […]
Majority of Alabamians Willing to Pay More for Education and Healthcare
A majority of Alabamians believe key state services are not adequately funded and would be willing to pay more in taxes to avoid cuts in education and healthcare for the poor and elderly. That’s among the findings of an annual public opinion survey conducted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.
Support Strong for Governor’s Costly Legal Battles
There are a few issues that have come up again and again around the 2016 elections, and Governor Robert Bentley has recently gotten in the middle of them—namely through the legal system. And that can be expensive for the already cash-strapped state. But are Alabamians willing to go along for the potentially costly ride? Ask […]
