Virginia Martin, Author at BirminghamWatch - Page 213 of 480
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Virginia Martin

Report Shows Lower Recidivism Rates in Community Corrections Programs; Legislation Pending

Criminal offenders who served their sentences in programs in which they stayed in their own communities under supervision were on average significantly less likely to commit new felonies than other offenders under the Alabama Department of Corrections oversight, a recent study found. But some community correction programs had recidivism rates much higher than others and varied in the fees offenders had to pay. Meanwhile, the programs for non-violent felony offenders aren’t available in some areas of the state. “The better the program and the better managed it is at the local level, the lower the recidivism rate,” said Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur and chairman of the Alabama Commission on Evaluation of Services. Read more. Citing Census Data Delay, Lawmakers Seek to Move 2022 Elections Police Jurisdiction Bill Gets Public Hearing Ivey Declares Monday Supermarket Employee Day Read complete legislative coverage.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Alabama Workforce Council Outlines 2021 Plans

MONTGOMERY — A new report says that while facing unprecedented impediments due to the pandemic, Alabama has been able to weather a dire employment situation but needs to make gains if it wants to meet an ambitious workforce goal. According to the Alabama Workforce Council’s 2021 annual report released earlier this month, the state is making progress on Gov. Kay Ivey’s “Strong Start, Strong Finish” initiative to add 500,000 newly credentialed workers to the state’s workforce by 2025. To reach the Success Plus postsecondary education attainment goal, Alabama must maintain current rates of attainment and significantly increase the number of people who enroll in programs and earn all types of postsecondary credentials, the report says. If Ivey’s 2025 goal of adding 500,000 highly skilled employees is reached, it would mean that roughly 60% of Alabama’s workforce would hold postsecondary credentials, degrees, and certificates of value. Read more. More on the topic: Alabama Innovation Commission Hones Its Focus

by Will Whatley, Alabama Daily News

Alabama’s COVID-19 Numbers Continue Significant Improvement

The weather in Alabama may be bone-chilling cold, but the data on the COVID-19 outbreak are moving in the direction that should warm the hearts of health officials. In BirminghamWatch’s periodic analysis of data provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health, the number of new daily cases of the virus has dropped by more than three-fourths since a peak less than six weeks ago. The 7-day moving average is trending downward and about to pass the 1,000-per-day mark — a figure that hasn’t been seen since the middle of October. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Census Data Delay Puts Redistricting on Hold, Could Impact Candidates

A delay in U.S. Census Bureau data until this fall could mean an odd situation for the state’s elected officials and those who wish to unseat them in 2022. State campaign finance law allows candidates to start fundraising in late May of this year. But the required redrawing of legislative and congressional districts based on the new Census data now won’t be complete likely until late in the year. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bruno Event Team Takes Over JCDH Vaccine Call Center

A company that made its name by running golf tournaments, football games and car races is now taking over a call center that handles inquiries about COVID-19 vaccines. The Bruno Event Team has been operating the Jefferson County Department of Health’s call center since Friday. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Leadership Pleased With First Two Weeks of Session

MONTGOMERY — House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, says he is pleased with what has been accomplished so far in the legislative session and expects the same amount of productivity when lawmakers come back in a week. “What we’ve gotten done over these last two weeks is phenomenal," McCutcheon told reporters upon the House's adjournment Thursday. "We’ve even done better than I thought we would." Three priority bills — renewing and revamping economic development incentives, untaxing COVID-19 relief funds and providing limited liability to businesses, schools and organizations from COVID-19 related lawsuits — all passed in short order and have been signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. Increased safety precautions, including limiting public access to the State House, will still be in place when legislators come back, McCutcheon said, but there could be a loosening of restrictions as time moves on. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

COVID Vaccination Locations Growing, but the Shot Still Is in Short Supply

UPDATED — Two things have happened recently to put more COVID-19 vaccinations in the Alabama pipeline: a third mass vaccination site opened at Parker High School and the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program began releasing 1 million vaccination doses to drug stores nationwide. Walmart, Walgreen's, CVS and Publix are scheduled to receive doses, but not all the stores have received the vaccine. First check with the stores or their web sites to see if they are vaccinating. The federal program began dispensing doses to 6,500 drug stores nationwide and eventually will increase that to 40,000 stores, according to its website. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald
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