Micah Danney

Micah Danney is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.

News / Education / State

Higher Ed Commission elects Dothan businessman, Huntsville CEO as chair and vice chair

Charles Buntin was elected chairman and Miranda Bouldin Frost was elected vice chair of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the commission announced on Friday. Both have been members of the commission since 2015. “As the coordinating board for public higher education in Alabama, I pledge to continue to work with our institutions throughout this … Continued

September 14, 2020

Web series pushing for Medicaid expansion spotlights uninsured Alabamians

A coalition of Medicaid expansion advocates from eight Southern states launched an online storytelling series on Thursday to share the stories of people who say they’ve been harmed by those states’ denials of expanded access. The Cover Alabama Coalition is a member of Southerners for Medicaid Expansion, which was formed by advocates in Alabama, Florida, … Continued

September 11, 2020

New unemployment claims increased last week

There were 8,902 new unemployment claims filed in Alabama last week, up from 7,823 the previous week, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Of the claims filed between Aug. 30 and Sept. 5, 4,528, or 51 percent, were related to COVID-19. That compares to 56 percent the previous week and 53 percent the week … Continued

September 10, 2020

Trial begins in lawsuit challenging state’s COVID-19 election rules

A virtual trial opened on Tuesday in a lawsuit charging that Alabama’s requirements of witnesses and photo ID for absentee ballots and a “de facto ban” on curbside voting are unconstitutional. The suit, People First v. Merrill, was filed on May 1 by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, … Continued

September 9, 2020

Congressional candidate Barry Moore shares meme supporting Kenosha shooter

Barry Moore, the Republican candidate expected to win election to Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, shared a post on his Facebook page on Saturday supporting the 17-year-old gunman charged with two counts of homicide after a shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The post, which has since been deleted, shows an image of an armed Kyle Rittenhouse next to … Continued

August 29, 2020

Free drive-through tests offered in Jefferson, Tuscaloosa counties through Sept. 2

Any resident of Alabama, children included, can be tested for COVID-19 at three testing sites that are accepting appointments until the end of business hours on Sept. 2. There are no requirements other than being willing to drive to one of the sites, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. One is in Tuscaloosa … Continued

August 28, 2020

Simple safety measures can prevent a Labor Day virus spike, expert says

Alabamians can avoid spreading COVID-19 during Labor Day celebrations by wearing masks around people from different households, staying six-feet apart and gathering outdoors or in areas with good ventilation, according to Jodie Dionne-Odom, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Division of Infectious Diseases. “There’s no question now about what works. The … Continued

August 28, 2020

New unemployment claims declined last week

There were 8,676 new unemployment claims filed in Alabama last week, down from 11,048 the previous week, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Of the claims filed between Aug. 16 and Aug. 22, 4,588, or 53 percent, were related to COVID-19. That compares to 56 percent the previous week and 65 percent the week … Continued

August 28, 2020

PR firm urges businesses to adapt marketing strategies to crisis

The COVID-19 crisis has been hard on businesses, but it also presents new opportunities that can be taken advantage of, according to a Birmingham-based public relations firm that spoke at the Business Council of Alabama’s Engage Alabama conference. Louise Oliver, president and founder of Peritus Public Relations, headed a virtual presentation that exemplified what it … Continued

August 28, 2020

State’s child support advisory committee will meet online Sept. 17

The Alabama Advisory Committee on Child Support Guidelines and Enforcement will have a web meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. The committee’s members, who are appointed by the Supreme Court of Alabama, have been meeting monthly to review the guidelines and schedule of basic obligations concerning child support and make recommendations for changes … Continued

August 27, 2020