A storm system is expected to move into central Alabama later today. The system is blamed for dumping heavy rain this morning in some north Alabama towns. Emergency mangers report street and flash flooding in Cherokee and Cullman. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for three counties in northwest Alabama. Forecasters said before dawn today that much of the heavy rainfall has ended, but flooding remains a threat in communities such as Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia and Phil Campbell.
Bentley to Visit UAB Hospital
The Ebola outbreak continues to dominate news headlines, this morning, Governor Robert Bentley will visit the UAB Hospital emergency room in Birmingham today to discuss the hospital's Ebola preparedness. Last week, the governor and state Health Officer, Dr. Don Williamson announced steps to prepare hospitals and health care workers to respond to cases of Ebola. Also, health officials in Texas are monitoring some 50 people who may have close contact with a nurse who contracted the Ebola virus from a Liberian man who died last week in a Dallas hospital.
Prison Overcrowding
Researchers say despite prison overcrowding concerns, fewer Alabama inmates are being paroled and prisoners are spending more time behind bars before being released on parole. Council of State Governments research manger Andy Barbee tells the Montgomery Advertiser that the average length of an inmate's prison term before parole release has increased from 30 months in 2009 to 43 months in 2014. Barbee says the number of eligible inmates being released has also fallen from about 42 percent in 2009 to 36 percent in 2013.
Black Chamber of Commerce
Business leaders in Montgomery are forming the city's first-ever Black Chamber of Commerce. WAKA-TV reports the CEO of Calhoun Enterprises and the CEO of The Medical Place have become the founding members of a new organization meant to connect business owners. Greg Calhoun, said he wants to make sure black businesspeople have a say in decisions, demonstrate the value of black-led business in Alabama and make companies more diverse. The founders said the new organization will not compete against the existing Montgomery Chamber of Commerce. Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Mobile already have chambers of commerce for black businesses.