The Alabama House of Representatives passed the state’s General Fund budget this week. The proposal would boost annual spending to slightly more than $3 billion, a 6 percent increase over this year. AL.com reports the budget passed by a vote of 105-0. The bill now moves to the Senate. The budget, which is for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, includes a 2 percent raise for state employees, a cost-of-living adjustment that would be in addition to individual merit raises.
Representatives Terri Collins of Decatur and Danny Garrett of Trussville are sponsoring a bill that could add 30 extra days of instruction for public schools. Alabama schools are required to have 180 days of instruction per year and if this bill passes, school boards would have the choice to add another 30 days on top of that. Rep. Collins tells WAFF TV one of the most important things to know about this bill is that these extra days will not be mandated. Schools that opt into the extra days would also be able to apply for a grant that would cover the additional costs of added instruction days and provide more funding for the school. Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur has filed a bill that would require public agencies to respond to public records requests. It would require that requests for public records receive an acknowledgement within six business days. The office would have 16 business days to make a decision to approve, deny or deny in part the request. If denied, the agency would need to provide a reason. Under existing law, Alabama offices can legally ignore public records requests because there is not a defined time frame where they are required to respond. The Alabama Reflector reports Gov. Kay Ivey signed an executive order earlier this year requiring state agencies to respond to requests and limiting the fees that can be charged for reproducing documents.
Huntsville Hospital closed its Fever & Flu Clinic on Friday. The clinic opened on Governor’s Drive in March 2020 as a temporary Covid testing site and tested more than 57,000 people. The clinic also became a Covid treatment center. Huntsville Hospital President and Chief Operating Officer Tracy Doughty tells AL.com the community has many other testing, vaccination and outpatient treatment options. He urges anyone needing those services to contact their primary care physician.
According to real estate investment website REINation.com, the average rent for an apartment in Huntsville rose slightly this quarter. Average rent in Huntsville for an apartment is currently $1,195 per month, up from $1,151 per month last quarter. Huntsville Blast reports Huntsville and Madison both rank among the most expensive cities in Alabama for renters, with Madison’s average monthly rent sitting at a $1,300. The REINation report says that renters make up 26.7 percent of the Huntsville population.
For the next two weeks, Redstone Arsenal gate guards will scan the access cards of all commuters entering the gates. AL.com reports the checks are part of an “Armywide 100% ID check,” scheduled from April 28 through May 12. Required checks will be repeated June 1-14 and the Army will compare the results to better understand its gate staffing needs.
Huntsville Animal Services needs your help to clear the kennels for National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on Sunday, April 30. Shelter officials say they are waiving fees on most adult dogs and cats through May 3. Animal Services Director Dr. Karen Sheppard tells WHNT TV the shelter is extremely full after recently taking in over 90 dogs. Every pet adopted through the shelter is vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped and comes with a city license and even a free bag of pet food. The shelter is located on Triana Blvd. More information is at HuntsvilleAL.gov/Animal and on the Huntsville Animal Service’s Facebook page.