Infrastructure

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a $200,000 grant to the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative to provide high-speed internet services to a section of Coosa County. Nearly 70 households and at least one business in the Richville community will gain broadband access, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. “Today, high-speed internet … Continued

Alabama’s Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn believes the department’s new strategic plan is an essential part of moving the beleaguered prison system out of its dark past and into the future. “A strategic plan in my judgment — given my Air force experience — is absolutely critical to pulling an institution together,” Dunn said … Continued

The 2019 Alabama regular Legislative Session is over, and a lot happened that could substantially change how Alabama is governed. While hundreds of bills passed, here are the 11 biggest takeaways from the regular session that just ended and the special session. The state has more money for education. Following the Great Recession payments to … Continued

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, announced that five local airports across the state of Alabama will receive $20.8 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation for various airport improvements to support infrastructure construction, safety advances, and equipment acquisition. “This FAA funding will significantly improve the functionality, … Continued

Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, has been appointed to serve on the Alabama Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee, the group of lawmakers that oversees the Alabama Department of Transportation. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth announced the appointment Monday. Ward will represent the state’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Jefferson and Shelby counties and spans from Oneonta down to … Continued

The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation last week to try to make broadband more available to Alabamians, particularly rural Alabamians who few high-speed internet options. House Bill 400 is sponsored by state Representative Randall Shedd, R-Cullman. Shedd said, “We have all seen the map with whole counties in red with declining populations. Young people … Continued

UPDATE: A Securus representative reached out to APR to share updates on two key issues related to the story. First, Securus, after a number of complaints and bad publicity, no longer offers location-based tracking services. Secondly, the company also doesn’t have any control over whether prisons elect to discontinue in-person family visits with inmates. It … Continued

Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, was unanimously chosen to serve as the chairman of the Joint Transportation Committee in the Legislature by its members. During the March special legislative session, the Joint Transportation Committee’s mission was broadened due to Gov. Kay Ivey’s Rebuild Alabama infrastructure plan. The broadening was meant to create more accountability for the … Continued

Gov. Kay Ivey announced on Tuesday that transportation projects in Autauga and Cherokee counties were selected by the Alabama Department of Transportation as part of the Rebuild Alabama First Year Plan 2020. Ivey signed the Rebuild Alabama Act into law on March 12. The bill will gradually increase Alabama’s fuel tax over the next three … Continued