Alabama top in nation for percentage of unemployment claims paid in July
The state issued unemployment compensation payments in 21 days or less for more than 92 percent of claims that month.
Author
Micah Danney
Micah Danney is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.
State is prepared for heavy increase in mail-in absentee ballots, Merrill says
The final tally of absentee ballots returned is expected to be between 150,000 and 175,000, Merrill said.
New unemployment claims continued dropping last week
There were 8,679 new unemployment claims filed in Alabama last week, slightly fewer than the 8,848 filed the previous week, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Of the claims filed between Sept. 13 and Sept. 19, 4,465, or 51 percent, were related to COVID-19. That’s the same percentage as the previous week.
Merrill gives guidance on straight party, write-in voting
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill issued guidance Wednesday on straight party and write-in voting. “Voters who wish to vote straight party for all of the Democratic or Republican candidates on their ballot may do so by filling in the bubble next to their party preference at the top of their ballot,” Merrill explained in … Continued
Lilly Ledbetter speaks about her friendship with Ginsburg
When anti-pay-discrimination icon and activist Lilly Ledbetter started receiving mail from late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ledbetter’s attorney told her to save the envelopes. That’s how unusual it is to get personal mail from a member of the nation’s highest court. Ledbetter, 82, of Jacksonville, Alabama, shared her memories of her contact with … Continued
Alabama unemployment rate drops more than 2 points to 5.6 percent
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 5.6 percent in August, down from 7.9 percent in July, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. The figure represents 127,186 unemployed people, compared to 176,556 in July. It compares to an August 2019 rate of 2.8 percent, or 62,149 unemployed people. “August showed a larger drop … Continued
Hindu temple planned for vacant theater in Hoover
A local Hindu organization purchased a 38,000-square-foot former theater in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover and plans to convert it into a sanctuary and educational space to serve the area’s growing Hindu community. Hindus make up less than 1 percent of Alabama’s population, and while an accurate count of adherents in the state is hard … Continued
New unemployment claims drop slightly
There were 8,848 new unemployment claims filed in Alabama last week, slightly fewer than the 8,902 filed the previous week, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Of the claims filed between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12, 4,485, or 51 percent, were related to COVID-19. That’s the same percentage as the previous week.
Report: Transitioning to electric vehicles could save Alabama millions in health costs
Alabama would experience approximately 500 less asthma attacks per year, about 38 fewer premature deaths and prevent more than 2,200 lost workdays annually.
Faith and labor partnership launched on Birmingham bombing anniversary
The bomb that ripped through the 16th Street Baptist Church 57 years ago was a predictable result of the social divisions of the early 1960s, and the nation is experiencing a similarly dangerous level of polarization now, said two prominent rights advocates who led a virtual ceremony on Tuesday commemorating the infamous event. Rev. William … Continued