Alabama's unemployment rate has dropped to 6.3 percent, but it remains above the national average. Gov. Robert Bentley announced Alabama's rate declined from 6.6 percent in September to 6.3 percent in October. That's the same rate Alabama recorded a year ago. The October rate is higher than the national figure of 5.8 percent.
Executive Power
After President Barack Obama's announcement on immigration Thursday night Republicans are threatening to take legal action on the grounds he has overreached his authority. The President's executive action would make five million immigrants illegally in the United States eligible for work permits and protection from deportation. Associate Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Auburn-Montgomery Dr. Brad Moody says the legality of the action is not crystal clear. Speaker John Boehner says lawmakers will not stand idle and let Obama's initiatives take effect. But the Ohio Republican offers no hint of what steps the House might take to block Obama's move.
HICA Reaction
The executive director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama is calling the executive order on immigration a great first step. Isabel Rubio says the order that blocks deportation to nearly six million illegal immigrants still leaves millions more without deportation protection. Rubio says the issue should be handled bilaterally and not used as a political ball for the 2016 election.
ASU BOT
Alabama State University President, Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, describes the recent SACS Site Committee visit as pleasant. Representatives from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools were on campus on October 14th to take a first hand look at university practices and collect insight form various members of the ASU community. Boyd says the university was transparent and cooperative during the visit.