skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Rain eases fire restrictions in Alabama

play audio
Play

Thursday, November 23, 2023   

Some Alabama residents can breathe a sigh of relief as rain showers have finally brought an end to a statewide fire ban.

The Alabama Forestry Commission lifted burn restrictions in 33 counties in the southern half of the state on Wednesday. However, Alabama is not in the clear just yet. Fire officials in the northern half of the state say 23 counties will transition from a no burn order to a less restrictive fire alert.

Rick Oates, state forester, said some unsafe conditions still exist.

"Those three factors; the drought, the humidity and the wind; it creates a big potential for fires and creates fire," Oates outlined. " Strange fire behavior that is not predictable as what we would normally encounter in a fire."

While the rainfall has brought much-needed relief for many areas, 11 counties, including Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, and Talladega, still remain under the no burn order due to low moisture levels and persistent drought conditions. Oates added burn permits will only be issued to prescribed burn managers.

Since the beginning of October, Alabama has seen nearly 800 wildfires, consuming almost 8,000 acres of land. Oates pointed out each blaze firefighters gear up for puts a strain on limited resources and increases the risk for crews. With this in mind, they urged people to be cautious and follow local fire restrictions.

"Just like with a structural house fire, you know, when somebody goes in there to fight that fire, it's dangerous," Oates explained." Our guys out there in the woods fighting fires, it's a danger too. And, you know, we just ask people to really think about what they're doing and don't take any unnecessary risks."

He emphasized they have about 180 firefighters on staff and work closely with five departments across the state. The current burn restrictions will be in effect until Oates determines conditions have improved.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights at a campaign event in Michigan Wednesday. Her remarks come as President Joe Biden has …


Environment

play sound

Construction could begin in Minnesota later this year in the final phase of one of the nation's largest solar energy developments, after state …

Social Issues

play sound

Thousands of educators from across the nation will be in Houston starting this weekend for the American Federation of Teachers annual convention…


The Illinois State Board of Education report card said O'Fallon Township High School HSD #203 is currently only funded at 64%. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Kristy Alpert for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Colla…

Health and Wellness

play sound

Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise, in Connecticut and nationwide. The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills …

"Arizonans understand that it is insane to risk Phoenix or Tempe for Odesa or some corn field in Ukraine. It is not in our national interest to get involved," said U.S. Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Ariz. (Gage Skidmore / Flickr)

Social Issues

play sound

More than 2,400 delegates gathered in Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention and delegates from around the country, including …

Environment

play sound

So far, states like Wisconsin have largely escaped the worst of the summer heat affecting much of the nation but a group of scientists wants regional …

Social Issues

play sound

Postsecondary enrollment data for 2023 shows community college enrollment increased nationwide by more than 100,000 students, and a large percentage …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021