Alabama / Public News Service

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about one in five of the young people held in juvenile facilities is awaiting trial and has not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 25, 2023

AL sees fewer kids incarcerated; their advocates say more could be done

The number of children locked behind bars in Alabama has declined, but their advocates said more needs to be done to create alternatives to …

According to the EPA, tropical storms and hurricanes have become more intense during the past 20 years.(Adobe Stock)

Alabama group helps communities bounce back from severe storms

In rural Alabama, where hurricanes and tornadoes are a constant threat, communities often struggle with damage and limited resources for extended …

Almost half of Alabama residents in the coverage gap are people of color, which advocates said stems from institutional racism and oppression, and 60% live below the poverty line. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Experts: Medicaid expansion vital for Alabama's health, economy

In recent years, Alabama has faced a critical need for Medicaid expansion due to ongoing struggles with the state's health care system. …

In 2019, Black youths were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system<br />as were their white peers. (Christian Colista/Adobe Stock)

Report Explores Ways to End Mass Incarceration in AL

After 50 years of mass incarceration, the U.S. prison population has grown nearly 500% and now advocates are calling for its end in Alabama and …

The court-ordered map of Alabama voting districts will have specific mandates for data, configuration and other components, to remedy violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Advocates Hopeful in Fight for Fair AL Congressional Maps

Grassroots voting rights groups in Alabama said they are delighted by a federal court decision to discard the state's proposed congressional maps for …

More than 22 states have imposed bans or restrictions on abortion, with Idaho enacting a law prohibiting the transport of minors across state lines for abortion care. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Challenges AL Threats to Criminalize Out-of-State Abortion Aid

A lawsuit has been filed against the Alabama Attorney General over what plaintiffs call "threats to criminalize" those who aid individuals who go out-…

According to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, the poverty rate for early-childhood educators in Alabama is 17.2%, much higher than for Alabama workers in general, at 11.3%. (Adobe Stock)

Deadline Here for Alabama DHR Childcare Grants

Today is the last day for licensed child care providers in Alabama to apply for Child Care Workforce Stabilization grants from the state. Child care …

Wildfire smoke is not only a mixture of hazardous air pollutants, but these fires also release large quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Wildfires Amplify Health Risks, Costs for AL

People from Alabama and north along the East Coast are still coping with poor air quality this summer because of wildfires many miles away in Canada…

To address the skilled worker shortage at the state level, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey created a goal of having 500,000 credentialed workers in the state's workforce by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Aim To Advance Education, Workforce Development in Alabama

As campuses around Alabama prepare to welcome students back, education advocates are exploring ways to increase the number of highly skilled workers …

More than one in 13 student loan borrowers are currently behind on their other payment obligations. (Adobe Stock)

Expert Shares Steps to Prep for Resuming Federal Student Loan Payments

With summer coming to an end, kids are headed back to school, but for college graduates, it also means resuming payments on their federal student …

According to West Alabama Works, of the available jobs on the Building Hope Alabama portal, all are open to hiring anyone who has been charged or convicted of a crime. Compensation for the jobs ranges from $9 to $30 per hour. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

New AL Job Portal Helps Reduce Recidivism and Worker Shortage

Alabama releases about 13,000 people from jail or prison every year, and they're expected to reintegrate into communities by sustaining employment…

Disposable vapes are encased in plastic shells which never fully degrade. (Adobe Stock)

Report Calls for Ending Disposable Vape Sales in AL

Disposable vapes are posing a growing environmental threat in Alabama and across the country, according to a new report. The U.S. Public Interest …

Alabama has nearly four million eligible voters. (Adobe Stock)

Advocacy Groups in AL Call for Fair Congressional Redistricting Maps

Civic-engagement organizations in Alabama are calling for action against the state's new congressional map, which they say disproportionately impacts …

Of the more than 54,000 children who were adopted from the child welfare system in 2021, a significant majority were between ages 1 and 5, which is in line with previous years' trends. (Adobe Stock)

An Alabama Dad Advocates for Adopting Older Teens

When it comes to adoption, people often think of infants first, but one Alabama father is actively changing some misconceptions about adopting older …

Children qualify for SSI benefits if they have physical or mental conditions that severely limit their daily activities for a duration of 12 months or more, and if they reside in a household with limited income or resources. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Agency Works to Boost Awareness of SSI Benefits in Alabama

In an effort to bridge the gap between crucial financial assistance and the people who may be eligible for it, the Social Security Administration has …

Computer Expiration Dates May Threaten Student Learning

Education advocates say pending expiration dates for Google Chromebooks teach kids the wrong lesson about technology. Software on thirteen models …

In the past four decades, 29 out of 54 counties in Alabama have lost providers of hospital obstetric care, according to a report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Expanding Medicaid Means Better Maternal Health Care in AL

Alabama has the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the country, and some new research reinforces the view that expanding Medicaid could be the …

More than 12,000 children across the United States, including 170 in Alabama, have been adopted through the Dave Thomas Foundation's

Partnership to Boost Adoption Opportunities in Alabama

About 6,000 children in Alabama are in need of "forever homes," and two organizations have combined efforts to make that happen. Through a …

PBCCs enroll at least 40% of African American students and at least 50% of students from under-resourced households or first-generation students, and cost less for full-time undergraduate students than similar institutions. (Adobe Stock)

AL's College Network Aims to Empower Students, Strengthen Workforce

Legislation has just gone into effect this month in Alabama that should help people who started on the path to their college degree or credential but …

The poverty rate in Alabama has risen slightly, from 21% in 2019 to 22% this year. The new Kids Count Data Book says parents of 343,000 Alabama children lack secure employment. (Adobe Stock)

Annual Report Highlights Need for Better Child Care in AL

Families in Alabama are in critical need of improved child care options, according to the new Kids Count Data Book, released today by the Annie E…

Data from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine show 60% percent of U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine are located in federally designated health professional shortage areas, and the schools require clinical rotations in rural and underserved communities. (Adobe Stock)

Tackling Alabama's Doctor Shortage with Osteopathic Medicine

Like many rural states, Alabama struggles with a dwindling workforce of primary care physicians, which means growing gaps in access to care for its …

Alabama holds seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With its current map, a lawsuit argued the Legislature used a discriminatory redistricting technique known as

Supreme Court Strikes Down Alabama's Congressional Maps

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower-court ruling on a 5-to-4 vote Thursday, deciding Alabama's 2022 congressional maps violated the Voting Rights …

Alabama is one of only three states still applying its full state sales tax on the purchase of groceries and food items. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama Advocates Urge State Senate to Reduce Food-Tax Burden

Groups working to fight poverty in Alabama are urging state senators to approve a bill aimed at lowering food costs for families. House Bill 479 …

Wetlands make up 10% of Alabama. They vary in size from under an acre to a 100,000-acre forested area in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. (Adobe Stock)

Does SCOTUS Decision Put AL Wetlands at Risk?

Wetlands make up one in ten acres in Alabama - and the latest U.S. Supreme Court decision could be putting them at risk by limiting federal …

In 2021, 5.6 million adults ages 65 and older lived in poverty, representing a 10% increase since 2019. (Adobe Stock)

New Report Shows Challenges Faced by Alabama's Older Adults

A new report cites a pressing need for better health-care support and better internet access for older adults in Alabama. The United Health …

HB 209 would prohibit a person from receiving a payment or providing a payment to another person for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, obtaining, or delivering an absentee ballot application or absentee ballot of another person in certain circumstances.(Adobe Stock)

Civic Groups Unite to Fight Against Voter Suppression Tactics in the South

Civic groups are taking action against what they call voter suppression tactics in the South. This week Alabama Values, Southern Leadership for …

More than 39 million Americans have attended college but have no degree, according to the National Student Clearinghouse (Jim Ekstrand/Adobe Stock)

Alabama Initiatives Aim to Help More Adults Finish College

Alabama is working to offer incentives to adult learners to reengage with their education if they had to leave college before graduating. The All in …

Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended for the first time doctors screen children age 8 and older for anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

Group Highlights Need for Student Mental Health Services in AL Schools

A group is drawing attention to the critical need for improved mental health and student support resources in Alabama schools. According to data …

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