Environment

Natural disaster aid applications open Wednesday for farmers

Beginning Wednesday farmers whose crops were affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for some of the more than $3 billion in federal aid. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue made the announcement Monday that the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus signup starts Sept. 11. “U.S. agriculture has been dealt a … Continued

September 11, 2019

UAB’s Drew Gentry awarded scholarships to continue study of ancient sealife

Drew Gentry has spent years looking back so that we’ll know what’s ahead. The doctoral student and instructor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham was recently awarded the 2019 Newton/Winefordner Scholarship to continue his research into the evolution of sea turtles. “The only way that it becomes possible to develop estimates of the future … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 11, 2019

Alabama Power adding gas, solar to meet winter demands

In a filing on Friday to a state regulatory agency, Alabama Power announced plans to build a new natural gas-fired power plant and increase solar capacity, all in an effort to increase energy production to meet extra demands during winters. Alabama Power’s long-term energy plan filing to the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC) states that … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 10, 2019

Opinion

ADEM found E. Coli levels 35 times the danger level after Tyson spill. It didn’t tell anyone.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s website should probably be the first clue that the department doesn’t understand its responsibility to alert the public to dangerous environmental issues. That website, which appears to be designed around the time people were still messaging in AOL chatrooms, states near the bottom that it is best viewed in … Continued

Josh Moon

September 5, 2019

Trump shows doctored map with hurricane hitting Alabama

President Donald Trump on Wednesday held up in the oval office what appeared to be an altered National Hurricane Center map showing Dorian’s trajectory, apparently to bolster his earlier claim that Alabama could be impacted by the hurricane. The altered map seemed to have been drawn on with a black marker to include in Dorian’s … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 5, 2019

Dove season begins in most Alabama counties on Saturday

It still feels hot outside, but these last weeks of summer are the beginning hunting season in Alabama. Hunters in 57 of Alabama counties may begin hunting mourning doves and white-winged doves at noon on Saturday, Sept. 7. Hunters in South Alabama will have to wait another week. Ten counties are in the state’s South … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 4, 2019

Registration for Alabama’s inaugural sandhill crane season opens tomorrow

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reminded citizens that registration for Alabama’s first sandhill crane hunting season in more than 100 years will open on Sept. 4 and will run until Sept. 25, 2019. The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) will conduct a computer-controlled random draw of only 400 sandhill … Continued

Brandon Moseley

September 3, 2019

Despite Trump’s tweet, Alabama won’t see impact from Dorian. Bahamas hit hard.

A tweet from President Donald Trump Sunday morning warning that Alabama would be impacted from the category 5 hurricane Dorian drew corrections from the state’s most well known weatherman and others. “In addition to Florida – South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated. Looking like one … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

September 2, 2019

Alabama Public Service Commission set to decide fate of solar fee

The fate of Alabama Power’s extra fees to customers with rooftop solar panels now rests with the Alabama Public Service Commission, although it was unclear Thursday when a decision would come or whether there will be a public hearing on the matter. Alabama Power, which provides electrical service to about two-thirds of the state, says … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

August 30, 2019

Alabama releases 2019 Fish Consumption Advisory

Before you plate up that striped bass, freshly caught from your favorite fishing hole, you’d better check the Alabama Department of Public Health’s recently released 2019 Fish Consumption Advisory to make sure it’s safe to eat. The annual report tells the public which fish taken from state waters are safe to eat, and which might … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

August 26, 2019