The U.S. Drought Monitor is showing an increase part of the state under abnormally dry conditions. Some pockets have advanced to moderate drought status, bus so far no area of Alabama are in severe drought or worse. Fire Operations Chief for the Alabama Forestry Commission Balsie Butler says if dry conditions persist the chance for wildfires will increase. Butler is asking anyone conducting outdoor burns to use extreme caution.
ASU Bridge Builders
Alabama State University hosted civil rights icon Andrew Young Tuesday for the 2014 Bridge Builders Breakfast. Tuesday's even is one of many activities to celebrate Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd's Presidential Inauguration. Young served as the keynote speaker where he encouraged university stakeholders to support Dr. Boyd and ASU.
Child Deaths Decline
The 2014 Kids Count Data book recorded a significant improvement in preventable child deaths. Voices for Alabama's Children Executive Director Melanie Bridgeforth says since the creation of Alabama's Child Death Review System in the mid 1990s there's been a 20 percent decrease in preventable child deaths.
New Director
Former Cumberland Law School Dean John Carroll will serve as acting director of the State Ethics Commission beginning October 1st. Ethics Commission Chairman Ed Crowell announced Tuesday that Carroll will fill in when Director Jim Sumer retires after being the commission's top staff member for 17 years.