Alabama / Public News Service

Alabama public schools remain on high alert following a surge of online threats targeting schools, resulting in multiple arrests this week. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Montgomery officials demand responsible social media use after school threats

Montgomery County officials are asking students to use social media responsibly following a series of arrests stemming from online threats to local sc…

The Alabama Forestry Commission has identified almost 5,000 southern pine beetle spots across the state, with an average mortality of 191 pine trees per spot. (Adobe Stock)

Southern pine beetle outbreak poses threat to Alabama forests, economy

Alabama's economy is heavily supported by its forestry industry - but is facing a new challenge, with a widespread outbreak of the southern pine …

Alabama's Constitution does not disenfranchise all individuals with felony convictions but it prevents those convicted of

Alabama court ruling protects voting rights for thousands

A new court order in Alabama has blocked the enforcement of House Bill 100, ensuring people with past felony convictions can vote in the November …

The Sentencing Project found a total of 8,632 individuals serving such sentences for crimes committed as minors in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Alabama juveniles left behind despite sentencing reforms

Efforts to reform juvenile sentencing in the U.S. have made significant strides but a new report showed Alabama is lagging behind. A study by The …

According to the U.S. Department of Health, 20% of U.S. children have a developmental, emotional, mental or behavioral disorder. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Healthy habits and checkups key to success for Alabama students

As Alabama students settle into the school year, experts highlight the significance of good habits and regular health checkups for academic success…

Populations of some shark species have recovered from overfishing thanks to conservation efforts by NOAA Fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. (Adobe Stock)

Battling shark depredation: Alabama anglers push for change

Anglers on Alabama's coast are raising concerns as shark depredation increases, with more catches being stolen off fishing lines before they can be …

The average meal debt per child nationally is $180.60 yearly, according to the Education Data Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Federal program brings free breakfast and lunch to more AL students

Thousands of Alabama students headed back to the classroom will get free breakfast and lunch at school. Six school districts will be opting into the …

In Alabama, more than 8% of the adult population, one of every 13 adults, is disenfranchised. (Adobe Stock)

Report: AL, US lag in voting rights for justice-impacted

A new report highlighted how the U.S. compares globally in disenfranchising people based on criminal convictions. The study analyzed 136 countries …

Most illegal internet pharmacies belong to organized criminal networks, many of which have been the<br />recipients of FDA warning letters. (Adobe Stock)

AL, US see rise in counterfeit weight loss medicine sales

Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise in Alabama and nationwide. The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills laced …

Medicaid expansion has the potential to reduce the number of uninsured individuals in the state by 43%, according to a report by the nonprofit Alabama Arise. (Adobe Stock)

AL nonprofit urges Medicaid expansion to 'save rural hospitals'

An Alabama group is sounding the alarm about the need for Medicaid expansion, in part to keep rural hospitals in business. Many hospitals in Alabama …

Laws and policies across the United States have disenfranchised an estimated 4.6 million people as of 2022 due to felony convictions, according to the Fines & Fees Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)

New Alabama bill threatens voter rights; legal challenge ensues

A voting rights group has filed a lawsuit in Alabama to prevent thousands from losing their right to vote. The Campaign Legal Center said Alabama's …

Alabama has approximately 4 million registered voters. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU of Alabama launches Project MOVE to boost voter turnout

The ACLU of Alabama launches a campaign to boost voter engagement. Alabama is grappling with one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country…

Only 47.8% of Alabama's graduating high school seniors have completed the FAFSA form, according to the National College Attainment Network. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama group receives grant to boost FAFSA submissions

The nonprofit group Alabama Possible has received a U.S. Department of Education grant to help increase FAFSA completion rates among students in the …

Key improvements made as a part of the Selma 14 Project for riverbank stabilization include re-grading the riverbank, installing articulated concrete matting and adding protective stone elements to prevent erosion and stabilize the slope. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Selma announces infrastructure milestone, river walk plans progress

Alabama officials have announced critical infrastructure improvements in Selma this week, paving the way for a new river walk. The "Selma 14 …

Alabama recently received a grant for certified community behavioral health clinics, which are expected to integrate mental health, substance use and primary care services under a new care model. (Adobe Stock)

Report: AL needs more support to increase access to crisis care

Alabama's crisis response needs some improvements to expand its coverage and effectiveness, according to a new report. The mental health policy …

Alabama community colleges will receive an additional $35 million in state funding for 2025. (Adobe Stock)

AL universities, community colleges to receive increased funding in 2025

Alabama's universities and community colleges will receive increased funding for 2025. The state's universities are set to get a 7% boost equivalent …

About 970 juveniles are confined in Alabama, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Youth diversion programs crucial for Alabama juvenile justice reform

Alabama has the eighth-highest youth incarceration rate in the nation and juvenile justice advocates said more diversion programs could be key to chan…

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

Montgomery mayor seeks public safety solutions at U.S. Conference of Mayors

More than 200 mayors, from cities in Alabama and across the country, gathered this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at the 92nd U.…

Alabama releases abot 220,279 men and 78,247 women from its prisons and jails annually. (Adobe Stock)

Overcoming barriers to successful re-entry in Alabama

Alabama has a goal to reduce recidivism by 50% by 2030 but a recent report from the Prison Fellowship warned state-level barriers to critical needs ma…

Child poverty increased by 5% from 2019 to 2022, with Alabama ranking 45th in the nation at 22%, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Alabama children need more educational, economic support

A new report sheds light on child well-being in Alabama, highlighting the need for greater academic and economic support. According to the latest …

Think Big is a national narrative learning community seeking to fill the gap in the progressive communications infrastructure. Think Big Alabama is powered by Topos Partnership in cooperation with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama groups launch training to increase community advocacy

Alabama groups are empowering residents to influence community policies with a new training program. Alabama Arise and Alabama Values are launching …

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about 39,000 people are confined in Alabama's state or local jails, compared to about 3,400 in federal prisons in the state. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Calling on Congress to reduce state prison populations

Alabama prisons are considered some of the most crowded in the country, with over 22,000 people housed in facilities designed to hold just 12,000…

Alabama has experienced one of the largest declines in FAFSA completion rates, with a staggering 23% decrease in the number of students completing their applications. The state now ranks 50th in terms of year-over-year change. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Alabama group works to increase college access with summer support

Advocates for higher education in Alabama are mobilizing to ensure students have the support they need for federal student aid applications this summe…

Vehicles manufactured in Alabama are now the top exported product, reaching more than 70 nations annually. In 2023, Alabama's vehicle exports exceeded $11 billion, primarily driven by shipments to Germany, China and Canada. (Adobe Stock)

UAW challenges election loss at Alabama Mercedes-Benz factories

The United Auto Workers union continues the fight to add workers at two Alabama Mercedes-Benz plants in Vance and Woodstock to its union rolls…

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, Alabama has the lowest parole approval grant rate in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Advocating for restorative justice, 'second-chance' policies in parole system

Fewer than 8% of people in Alabama prisons are granted parole when they apply for it. Criminal justice experts got together for a discussion of how …

Alabama has a unionization rate of 7.5%, which is lower than the national average. In 2023, 156,000 people in Alabama's workforce belonged to a labor union. (Adobe Stock)

Workers at AL Mercedes Benz plants to make union decision

Today, workers at the Mercedes Benz plants in Vance and Woodstock, Alabama, will decide whether to form a union. More than 5,000 employees are …

According to the Brennan Center, since the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the gap in voter participation in Alabama between white and nonwhite voters has been expanding. (Adobe Stock)

AL faces battle at ballot box; groups look to federal laws for protection

Alabama has long been at the forefront of voting rights issues in the United States and despite some progress, advocates said residents continue to …

Medicaid expansion in Alabama could help an estimated 283,636 people gain access to health care. (Adobe Stock)

Calls grow for AL Medicaid expansion as legislative session winds down

Alabama is running out of time to tackle Medicaid expansion this legislative session. More than 230 people gathered earlier this month with the …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, every dollar spent on SNAP generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity during a financial downturn. (Irina Mikhailichenko/Adobe Stock)

Advocates rally for 2025 summer EBT funding amid Alabama meal gaps

Alabama is one of 14 states opting out of the 2024 summer electronic benefit program. As summer rolls around, there will be no programs in place to …

Faith in Action Alabama is a nonprofit working toward community safety, equal access to liberty and inclusive democracy. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama groups focus on year-round voter education, activism

Alabama civic-engagement groups are searching for strategies to maintain voter engagement outside of major election years. As candidates gear up for …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama has the fourth-highest rate of gun violence in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama groups unite to combat gun violence

Leaders from across Alabama are banding together in a united effort to combat gun violence and seek effective solutions. Alabama has one of the …

Alabama's Senate Bill 1 makes it a crime for anyone, except in specific situations, to

Alabama advocacy groups sue to block restrictive new voting law

Alabama's front line advocates focused on disability, voting and civil rights are taking legal action against what they see as voter suppression…

According to Thrivent, FAFSA delays are expected to affect more than 17 million students trying to make plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. (Adobe Stock)

AL students reflect on FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

According to research from the Brennan Center, if the voter participation gap had not existed in 2020, 9 million more ballots would have been cast. (Adobe Stock)

Southern groups advocate for democracy amid legislative challenges

In the battle for democracy, grassroots organizations throughout the South are actively engaging voters on the issues that directly affect their …

According to the Brookings Institution, one major barrier to higher education is affordability, as college prices and student debt levels have risen. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama Possible forges pathways to education equity with annual event

Alabama's goal of adding 500,000 more college-educated people to the workforce by 2025 is quickly approaching. One group is dedicated to breaking …

The White House predicted more than 6,500 people with prior federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana, and thousands of such convictions under D.C. law, could benefit from pardons. (Adobe Stock)

AL man's presidential pardon highlights marijuana reform trend

A man from Dothan, Alabama, serving a life sentence for selling drugs received a presidential pardon, which sparked discussions about long sentences …

In the Alabama Legislature, Senate Bill 57 would ban protestors near residences, defining

Alabama grassroots groups fight restrictive legislation

In the thick of Alabama's legislative battles and with election season peaking, a surge of controversial bills is sparking concern among civic groups…

Since 2009, Alabama has closed 13 hospitals with two reopening at a later date. (Galina Barskaya/Adobe Stock)

Groups call for Medicaid expansion to prevent hospital closures

This week, an Alabama group is drawing attention to the need for Medicaid expansion. Currently, approximately 300,000 people are stuck in a health …

The Hometown Organizing Project and Hometown Action helped win the first rural nondiscrimination ordinance in Montevallo, Ala., and have organized to fight against restrictions to reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights, including bans on transgender healthcare. (Adobe Stock)

A focus on LGBTQ solidarity amid Alabama legislative challenges

In the face of anti-LGBTQ legislation and the tragic loss of a nonbinary teen in Oklahoma, an Alabama group is working to provide what it calls a …

One of 50 adult citizens, or 2% of the total U.S. voting eligible population, is disenfranchised due to a current or previous felony conviction. (Adobe Stock)

AL lawmakers look at restoring voting rights for people with past convictions

Super Tuesday was just another day for tens of thousands of people who cannot vote because of past felony convictions. In Alabama, state lawmakers …

Democracy Trailblazers works to engage, empower and inspire high school students through awareness, education and activation year-round. (Adobe Stock)

Democracy Trailblazers ignite enthusiasm among teen voters

Most teenagers eagerly anticipate turning 16 to start driving and 21 for other milestones, but the significance of obtaining the right to vote at 18 …

House Bill passed with an overwhelming vote of 94-6, with three abstentions. Its companion, Senate Bill 159, passed unanimously with a vote of 34-0. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Alabama passes bills to protect IVF, but concerns remain

The Alabama House and Senate both passed bills this week that would help people resume in vitro fertilization and provide legal protections for provid…

Federal debt among borrowers age 62 and older has increased by 36.8% since 2017, according to Education Data Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Crucial deadline approaches for AL student loan borrowers

Student loan borrowers in Alabama and across the country have a chance to slash their college debt or see it disappear entirely. The U.S. Department …

To be eligible for judicial review under House Bill 29, an inmate must have been sentenced prior to May 26, 2000, meaning anyone eligible would have served at least 24 years in prison. (Adobe Stock)

AL lawmakers urged to rethink lengthy prison sentences

More than 7,000 people age 50 or older are serving time in Alabama prisons, and prison reform advocates have said the system is ill prepared for …

In Alabama, you lose your voting rights if you are convicted of certain felonies under state<br />law. If you are convicted in federal court or in another state, you only lose your voting rights if your conviction would constitute a disqualifying offense under Alabama law. (Adobe Stock)

Working to help Alabama residents understand, restore voting rights

As people in Alabama mobilize for the 2024 General Election, one group wants to make it easier for those with felony records to understand their …

About 60% of the nation's students in chronically underfunded districts are in just 10 states, including Alabama. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Alabama schools among 'most underfunded' in the nation

A new report showed Alabama is among 39 states that "critically underfunds" its K-12 public schools. The report on the state school finance systems …

The EmpowerED Conference aims to create a platform for collaboration, inspiration and knowledge-sharing among leaders, educators and students within the HBCC/PBCC network, according to Alabama Possible. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama's Black community colleges join forces to increase education access

Black community colleges across Alabama are teaming up to expand their reach in the state. Chandra Scott is executive director of nonprofit …

According to the National Weather Service, the Jan. 12, 2023 storm tore across the landscape for almost 23 miles with wind speeds that peaked at 130 miles per hour. It tracked northeast from near Orrville, through downtown Selma, and ended near Burnsville. (Benjamin Simeneta/Adobe Stock)

Alabama communities reflect on building resilience after tornado devastation

It's been just over one year since tornadoes ravaged communities in areas such as Dallas, Coosa and Tallapoosa counties in Alabama. While the new …

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