Alabama's unemployment rate inched upwards in July.
The state's jobless rate climbed to 8.3 percent in July, up from June's rate of 7.8 percent. The State Department of Industrial Relations said July numbers represent more than 179,500 unemployed individuals.
New Teachers
A group of Teach for America instructors are making their debut this year in Montgomery Public Schools. Fifteen will join the team at Robert E. Lee High School this year. Teach for America recruits recent college graduates who commit to teach in a low-income community for two years.
Scottsboro Boys
A spokesman says Governor Robert Bentley would like to grant a request to pardon the Scottsboro Boys, but lacks the legal authority to do so. Nine black teenagers were accused of raping two white women on a train in 1931, one of the women later recanted, and the Scottsboro Boys were eventually freed. All are now dead.
GOP Davis
Former Democratic Congressman Artur Davis will address the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Davis served as Barack Obama's Alabama campaign chairman four years ago. Davis lost Alabama's Democratic primary for governor in 2010. Then he moved to Virginia and switched parties. Now he will speak later this month at the GOP convention in Tampa, Florida to support Mitt Romney.
More Jobs
Tuskegee Mayor Omar Neal announced Thursday that nearly two hundred jobs are coming to Macon County through a partnership with Convertible Structure Solutions Incorporated. CSSI is a manufacturing company that will build energy efficient modular and transformable housing. The first of three phases will take place in the fall.
Alleged Contraband
Court documents show that a former Montgomery correctional officer allegedly gave an inmate a tool to assist in an escape. The Advertiser newspaper reports today the affidavit was filed in Montgomery District Court and accuses former jailer Meekea James of providing the tool on the night of July 28th. The 30-year-old James resigned July 31st after she was charged with promoting prison contraband. Two inmates also have been charged with promoting prison contraband.
Hepatitis C
The government is recommending all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone born from 1945 to 1965 should get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus. It can take decades to cause liver damage, and many people don't know they're carrying the blood-borne virus.
Pratt Park
A 100,000 dollar check soon will be presented to the City of Prattville. The Coca-Cola Company announced Thursday that Prattville has been named the winner of the "America's Favorite Park" contest. Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. credited the overwhelming response from Prattville residents.
Municipal Elections
If you have not registered to vote in the municipal elections set for August 28th, today is the last day to do so. Voters have until 5 p.m. today to register at their local or county board of registrars. Election officials say mailed registration forms must be postmarked today.