Economy

Workers who lose their jobs because of COVID-19 can file for unemployment in Alabama

If you lose your job because of the coronavirus outbreak, you will be able to file for unemployment benefits in Alabama. Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced Monday that Alabama workers who are not able to work due to COVID-19 will be eligible to file for the benefits. “We understand that we are … Continued

Chip Brownlee

March 16, 2020

Opinion

Alabama is simply unprepared for the coronavirus crisis

At a House Health Committee meeting on Wednesday, state health officer Dr. Scott Harris said he did not doubt that novel coronavirus would be found here in Alabama if there was more testing. The deadly COVID-19 virus is here, and people are sick and most likely, some will die. Around the state, people are being … Continued

Bill Britt

March 12, 2020

Trump suspends travel to U.S. form Europe, coronavirus declared pandemic

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was suspending all travel to the U.S. from Europe for the next 30 days in an effort to prevent wider spread of coronavirus. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, said travel from the UK would not be suspended. The travel ban will go into effect Friday at midnight. … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 12, 2020

ADOL holds grand opening for Centre Career Center

The Alabama Department of Labor / Alabama Career Center System (ACCS) is proud to announce the grand opening of the Centre Career Center on Tuesday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m. The new center is located at the Cherokee County Public Library at 310 Mary Street in Centre. The center will be open Tuesday and Friday … Continued

March 11, 2020

Bill would grant Poarch Creeks sole rights over all gaming, defying governor’s call

Despite Gov. Kay Ivey’s call for the Legislature to give her gaming study group time to bring her fact-based recommendations, Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, last week introduced a bill that would provide the Poarch Band of Creek Indians a monopoly, eliminates all competition and bind the state to a compact while adding comparatively little to … Continued

Bill Britt

March 9, 2020

Alabama’s State Public Health lab ready to test for coronavirus

It was unclear for a time Thursday whether Alabama’s public health lab in Montgomery could test for coronavirus or not. Conflicting statements Thursday from an Alabama Department of Public Health physician and a tweet an hour later from the department’s official Twitter account made it uncertain whether the state’s lab can or cannot test for … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

March 6, 2020

Paper lottery said to be close to having votes for House passage

A yet to be submitted paper only lottery bill by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, the House budget chairman, reportedly has over 60 co-sponsors, according to those familiar with the legislation. Any lottery measure requires a constitutional amendment that can only pass with a three-fifths vote of the membership in both chambers, which equates to 63 … Continued

Bill Britt

February 25, 2020

Likely Republican primary voters reject Poarch Creeks “winning” plan

A survey of likely Republican primary voters obtained by APR shows that a majority do not support giving the Poarch Band of Creek Indians a monopoly over gaming in the state despite the tribe’s promise of a billion dollars. Over the last several months, PCI has orchestrated a massive media blitz to convince Alabamians that … Continued

Bill Britt

February 18, 2020

ADECA names Elaine J. Fincannon as new deputy director

Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Kenneth Boswell announced on Thursday that Elaine J. Fincannon has been appointed as the agency’s deputy director. Fincannon most recently served as Senior Vice President for Investor Relations for the Business Council of Alabama. She worked with BCA for over 25 years as part of its senior … Continued

February 14, 2020

Alabama Workforce Council delivers annual report touting improved career pathways

The Alabama Workforce Council (AWC) recently delivered its Annual Report to Gov. Kay Ivey and members of the legislature. The report highlights the many and varied workforce successes from 2019. It also outlines policy recommendations to further solidify Alabama as a leader in workforce development and push the state closer to Ivey’s goal of adding 500,000 … Continued

February 14, 2020