May 4, 2021
Oquawka, Il- The Henderson County Sheriff’s office has released details of a motorcycle accident in Henderson County.
According to a news release, on Sunday, May 2nd, at about 2:50 PM, Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Motor Vehicle Accident on IL Rt. 164, south of Lincoln St. in the Village of Oquawka, IL.
It was determined that 56-year-old Danny Garrett of Gorin Missouri driving a 1986 Honda motorcycle was traveling southbound from Oquawka on IL Rt. 164.
Garrett lost control of the motorcycle, hit a guardrail, and was ejected off of his motorcycle landing on the pavement.
Garrett had significant injuries and was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospital by MEDFORCE helicopter.
Lawmakers consider delay of 3rd-grader retention in Alabama Literacy Act
Updated 8:57 PM;
The Alabama Legislature passed the Literacy Act in 2019 to emphasize the importance of making sure children learn to read in the earliest grades.
The law requires local school systems to develop comprehensive reading programs intended to identify students with reading problems at the earliest levels and resources to help those students, like reading coaches and summer camps. Officials say much of that work is under way.
But the part of the law that has probably drawn the most attention from the public is a requirement that third-graders show they can read at a certain level before being promoted to fourth grade. That requirement is scheduled to take effect with the 2021-2022 school year.
Ivey to sign Alabama public teacher pay raise legislation The Alabama Legislature approved a two percent teacher pay raise, which now moves to Gov. Kay Iveyâs desk for final approval. (Source: Christine T. Nguyen/Minnesota Public Radio via AP) By Lydia Nusbaum | April 27, 2021 at 4:23 PM CDT - Updated April 27 at 5:54 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alabama Legislature approved a two percent teacher pay raise, which now moves to Gov. Kay Iveyâs desk for final approval.
The Alabama House approved the bill 100-1 before sending it to the governor, whom a spokesperson said intends to sign it. Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, voted against the bill.
C Spire Celebrates Debut of Ultra-fast Fiber Internet in Trussville Posted on Share
Press Release
Trussville, Ala. (April 1, 2021) – C Spire continued its expansion in Alabama by recently connecting its first customers in Trussville to its ultra-fast, fiber-based Gigabit broadband internet and related services.
Trussville becomes the second Alabama city – following Jasper in late 2020 – to receive the game-changing services inside Alabama’s borders as part of the company’s FiberFast initiative.
C Spire executives celebrated the company’s progress with a news briefing today at the home of Jerry Tortorgi, one of the first customers to receive the services in Trussville. “The installation at my home went smoothly, and the speed of my in-home internet is better than ever,” he said.
ADOC plans to spend $1.5M on marketing firm
Legislators upset about ADOC PR contract By Lydia Nusbaum | April 1, 2021 at 8:08 PM CDT - Updated April 1 at 8:08 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alabama Department of Corrections plans to contract out with a marketing firm for $1.5 million to help manage the many challenges it faces.
The ADOC has contracted out with the company Markstein Consulting for the past year, which has cost the state $600,000. However, the department has amended that contract to bump the cost to $1.5 million.
“Given the complexities of the longstanding challenges facing our correctional system, coupled with the need to operate with speed and urgency to address these challenges and communicate with the public, our communications partner’s services are critical to the ADOC’s overall transformation and ability to share information effectively and transparently around complicated issues of public concern,” said Interim Departmental Spokesperson Kris