A new survey of Alabama teachers finds that a majority of them support having armed security officers in their schools. The same survey found that teachers who responded said they oppose allowing administrators and teachers having guns in school. The survey was conducted by the Capital Survey Research Center, the polling arm of the Alabama Education Association. The survey was conducted with 699 public school teachers across the state in late January, not long after the December school shootings in Connecticut. Overall the survey found that most teachers feel their schools are safe.
Second Half
The Alabama Legislature begins the second half of its 2013 session on Tuesday. Governor Robert Bentley says his priority for the second half is passing balanced budgets. A House committee is scheduled to begin work on education budget Tuesday. The Senate has already approved the General Fund budget and sent it to a House committee. Bentley says his other priorities include bills restructuring the state Medicaid program and providing new legal protection to the Airbus plant being built in Mobile.
Deadly Accident
Alabama State Troopers say an Ohio man was killed and four others injured Saturday afternoon after an SUV and and 18 wheeler collided on Interstate 65 North in Autauga County. Troopers said 23-year-old Joseph Marino died Sunday from his injuries at Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery. Troopers said Marino was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the SUV. The driver and three passengers in the vehicle were injured. The truck driver was not hurt.
Food Truck Winner
The winner of a recent food truck competition in Montgomery will begin to offer its specialties in early May in downtown. Nick and Davina Jernigan already operate "Super Suppers", which is a prepared meal store at a location on Vaughn Road. City development planners held the competition as a way of testing the viability of food trucks in the Montgomery market. "Super Suppers" will set up shop near the State Capitol complex behind what is currently the Statehouse Inn.