Alabama's unemployment remains steady but is still above the national average. State officials say the June jobless rate was 6.1 percent, the same as it was in May. By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate in June was 5.3 percent. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has promised not to accept his salary until the state's unemployment rate drops to 5.2 percent.
Broadband Development
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has signed an executive order to create the Office of Broadband Development and increase the accessibility of high-speed Internet across the state. Bentley says the new office is tasked with making sure broadband infrastructure is in place throughout the state at an affordable rate. Director of Broadband Development Kathy Johnson says high-speed Internet is crucial to the state's economic growth, as well as to public safety and numerous other areas.
Disorderly Conduct
Clanton Police arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly being involved in a racial incident. Interim Clanton Police Chief Keith Maddox says 20-year-old Jeremy Varden and at least three other young men drove through the West End community of Clanton on Wednesday night, flying Confederate battle flags and using racial slurs. Maddox says an officer witnessed the incident and arrested Varden charging him with disorderly conduct. The officer says residents responded by hitting two of the suspects' vehicles with baseball bats. Police say they plan to set up patrols in the neighborhood. Varden was released from the Chilton County Jail on a $5,000 bond.