Southern Research has closed on the sale of its Maryland facility as part of the organization’s plan to spur investment and launch new facilities in Birmingham. The sale paves the way for the research nonprofit to invest almost $20 million in its Birmingham campus, which will bring an additional 50
The Alabama Department of Commerce announced that longtime employee Stefania Jones has been promoted to Manager of Governmental Affairs and Marketing, giving her the responsibility for key activities at the state’s lead economic development agency. In her new role, Jones will serve as Commerce’s representative on legislative matters, helping to
Last week, The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which is working to get everything in place for medical cannabis in the state, said it will not ask the legislature to move up previously established dates regarding when medical cannabis will be available. The commission claims it has plenty of work to do in the meantime and didn’t want to
The Committee on the Recompilation of the Constitution, created with the support of both Republicans and Democrats to study the racist language still in Alabama’s Constitution, recently heard a proposal for revisions, and while the body did not accept the proposal with a formal vote, there were no objections voiced. A formal vote is expected in the coming weeks. Read more about the proposal
Governor Kay Ivey recently announced that the Jefferson, Blount, St. Clair (JBS) Mental Health Authority in Birmingham will be the home to the state’s fourth crisis center. The addition to the Alabama Crisis System of Care will join AltaPointe Health in Mobile, Wellstone in Huntsville and the Montgomery Area Mental
In the 2021 regular legislative session, the legislature passed Act 2021-493, which states that “no government, school, or business in Alabama may demand that a constituent, student, or customer be vaccinated for COVID-19 or show proof of his or her vaccination for COVID-19.” This was in anticipation of a federal
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has started taking license applications from Alabama hemp growers, those who process and handle hemp and interested universities. In 2016, the legislature passed the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act, which required the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to set up a
Governor Ivey has extended the state of public health emergency, which grants hospitals flexibility by relaxing regulations. On August 13, Governor Ivey announced a state public health emergency as ICU bed capacity in the state hit 95 percent, and COVID-19 hospitalizations approached record levels. The emergency measures made it easier
Companies making great products in small corners of the state stepped into the spotlight at the first installment of the Made in Alabama Showcase that featured extraordinary homegrown products. Six of the 12 companies honored by Governor Kay Ivey are based in rural Alabama communities, a fact not so surprising
With COVID still putting stress on Alabama hospitals, Gov. Ivey has acted quickly to provide assistance by freeing up federal money to bring in extra nurses as needed. Money is also a big topic of discussion in the state’s longstanding prison problems, but State Representative Steve Clouse recently outlined a plan
