The head of the state Law Enforcement Agency says 31 driver's license offices in 31 rural counties will reopen one day per month beginning November first. ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier announced the time-frame Monday. The changes come after a backlash over a state decision to close the satellite offices. A legislator who heads the Rural Caucus in the Alabama House, David Standridge of Blount County, says its unfair for rural counties to be targeted because of budget cuts.
Graduation Rates Improve
Alabama's Superintendent of Education, Dr. Tommy Bice, says he's pleased with results showing the state's high school graduation rate in 2014 was among the highest in the nation. Dr. Bice says local school systems deserve the credit. According to the federal education officials, preliminary data show graduation rates up in 36 states for the 2013-2014 school year. Alabama's overall rate is 86 percent, that is six percentage points higher from the previous year. The nation's high school graduation rate is 81 percent, all-time high.
Family Shooting
Chilton County authorities say a Clanton man remains in police custody after his sister was shot to death and his nephew critically injured. Clanton Police Chief Keith Maddox said 34-year-old Robert Fields Jr. is accused of killing his 48-year-old sister, Rachel Pedro, and shooting his 24-year-old nephew Sunday afternoon. The double shooting occurred at a home in the 200 block of Third Avenue South in Clanton.
Mayors Meeting
The mayors of Alabama's five largest cities met Monday in Tuscaloosa. Montgomery's Todd Strange joined William Bell of Birmingham, Walter Maddox of Tuscaloosa, William Stimpson of Mobile and Tommy Battle of Huntsville to discuss ideas and concepts that could help and address issues in their communities. The mayors held talks on ordinances that would address improvements to infrastructure and ways to legislate Uber and other ride-sharing companies. The mayors will hold another session in January.