state

Economy / Health

Reopening the state will require effort from everyone

I am tired of sitting at home. I miss sports. I miss going out to eat — there might not be enough salsa at the Mexican restaurants when this coronavirus quarantine is over. And I miss just doing normal things. But I don’t miss them enough that I’m OK with large numbers of people dying … Continued

Josh Moon

April 17, 2020

Alabama state and local governments collect less taxes than any other state

Alabama state and local governments collect less in taxes per resident than any other state in the U.S., according to the latest figures available from the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2017, rising revenue in Alabama, tax cuts in other states, and a variety of other factors led to some narrowing of the gap between Alabama … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

December 23, 2019

Opinion

Analysis | Poarch Creeks’ initial gaming offer isn’t terrible, but lawmakers would be crazy to accept it

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians dropped their new gaming proposal on Monday — a plan that would allegedly bring in more than a billion dollars for the state in the first year — and it’s not a terrible plan. But Alabama lawmakers would be fools to go for it. First and foremost, PCI should … Continued

Josh Moon

November 12, 2019

Alabama ranked third least energy efficient state in nation

A personal finance website ranked Alabama as the third least energy-efficient state in the nation and ranked 45th in home energy efficiency and 47th in vehicle fuel efficiency. The Washington D.C.-based website Wallethub used “degree day” data – a measure how how cold or warm an area is compared to a standard temperature – from … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

October 17, 2019

Alabama pro-vaping group to hold Wednesday press conference on “myths and facts”

A pro-vaping advocacy group plans to hold a press conference Wednesday in Fultondale to discuss “myths and facts of vaping, vaping flavors, underage vaping and illnesses.” The Breathe Easier Alliance of Alabama’s (BEAA) press conference comes as new state and federal laws continue to be passed to control what some lawmakers say is a dangerous … Continued

September 25, 2019

Ivey announces grants to encourage Alabamians to obey state highway safety laws

Tuesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) announced $3.3 million in grants are being awarded to Auburn University, The University of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Funds from the grants will go towards a media campaign to encourage drivers to obey state safety laws and avoid risky behavior to make Alabama highways safer. … Continued

Brandon Moseley

August 21, 2019

Opinion

Why aren’t we better than this?

There are good people in Alabama. I know this to be true. I’ve lived here my entire life. I’ve seen the good people of this state in action. I’ve watched them help each other after tragedies. I’ve watched them stop to help strangers on the side of the road. I’ve watched them go to unimaginable … Continued

Josh Moon

August 13, 2019

New index shows rising prosperity in Alabama and the U.S.

A new U.S. Prosperity Index shows that Alabama is the fifth-lowest ranked state in the Union based on 11 “pillars of prosperity.” Those pillars — defined by the Legatum Institute, which published the index — are used to quantify the overall prosperity of each state, the results of which are used to rank the 50 … Continued

Evan Mealins

July 18, 2019

Civil rights group to host protest on anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights will be launching a Shelby Week campaign this week in response to the six-year anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder, a Supreme Court case that removed a section from the Voting Rights Act of 1965 requiring federal approval before changing state and local voting laws. This campaign … Continued

Gabby Dance

June 24, 2019

Emails show Culverhouse dispute unrelated to abortion legislation

Newly released emails show the dispute between The University of Alabama and Hugh Culverhouse Jr. began at least four days before Culverhouse called for a boycott of the school following the state’s passage of restrictive abortion legislation. University officials said in a statement they considered returning Culverhouse’s donation, the largest financial gift in the University’s … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

June 10, 2019