On a 6-4 vote, The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to remove the permit requirement to carry a concealed weapon. In its current form, the bill, sponsored by Senator Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa, does not eliminate current restrictions on carrying guns in schools or in businesses that forbid weapons on their
Dura Automotive Systems celebrated the opening of its new Muscle Shoals manufacturing facility last week. The $75 million plant manufactures battery enclosures for electric vehicles to be made by Mercedes-Benz. Enclosures are lightweight metal housings that hold and protect the battery cells. Planning and construction of the plant was completed in eight
The legislature passed the Literacy Act in 2019 as part of an effort to improve the reading proficiency of Alabama students, who rank low on national tests. A key provision of the law is that third graders must show they are reading on grade level to be promoted to fourth
The special session that was called and started just week before last has already ended, wrapping up after finishing the business at hand, namely divvying up the $772 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to Alabama.Both chambers convene for the third day of the regular session tomorrow and
@willainsworthAL Jan 29 With no Republican or Democrat opponents qualifying against me, I look forward to serving another four years as Lt. Governor. The confidence you have placed in me is deeply appreciated. God’s guidance and your support will allow us to make the best parts of Alabama even better.
The Alabama Legislature returned for the third day of the special session last Tuesday, and each chamber overwhelmingly passed an appropriations bill of approximately $772 million of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act. The special session then concluded on Thursday after lawmakers passed the package allocating the state’s portion of ARPA funds. The
Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon announced several changes in the House committee leadership structure that were prompted by resignations and vacancies. Rep. Andy Whitt was appointed chairman of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee following the resignation of former Rep. Becky Nordgren, who left the Legislature in order to fill
Fetch Rewards, the nation’s fastest-growing consumer rewards app, plans to open an office facility and customer service hub in Birmingham, where it will create 200 full-time jobs. The project, which involves an investment of $1 million, reflects the Madison, Wisconsin-based company’s rapid growth trajectory as it continues to scale its technology and
Mazda rolled the first of its new CX-50 SUVs off its new Huntsville production line to loud cheers from workers and big smiles from local leaders. The new SUV is the company’s first vehicle specifically designed and built for the North American market. This rollout comes almost exactly four months after
Alabama has worked hard to become one of the nation’s leading automobile manufacturers, and maintaining that status as EVs proliferate will improve the state’s economic future. EVs have already approached 5 percent of total new car sales in some months, and analysts predict 20 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S.
