According to AAA Alabama, gas prices in the state are 30 cents cheaper per gallon than last year’s 4th of July holiday week. Gas prices vary greatly throughout Alabama ranging from $2.75 a gallon in Shelby County to $3.09 in Greene County. Bama Buzz reports drivers in Madison County are paying an average of $2.78 a gallon.
As of this week, parents who work for the state can start taking paid parental leave. The law gives eight weeks of paid leave for mothers, and two weeks for fathers. State workers can also take paid leave for adopting a child, or if they have a miscarriage. Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) sponsored the bill in the House. She tells WIAT TV in Montgomery she hopes it will make Alabama more competitive when recruiting teachers.
Huntsville City Schools’ $40 million Central Office and Center for Technology will welcome students when the school year begins on Aug. 4. The central office building is about 40,000 square feet. The career tech education center is about 80,000 square feet. Construction consultant Scott Roberts tells AL.com the goal of this facility was to bring in all of the district wide career tech programs under one roof.
Construction of the Sparkman Intermediate School is underway in the northwest area of Madison County on McKee Road between Highway 53 and Jeff Road. The school will open with approximately 800 students in its first school year of 2026-2027. AL.com reports fourth and fifth-graders from Madison Crossroads Elementary School and Harvest Elementary School, as well as sixth-graders from Sparkman Middle School, will all be in the new intermediate school.
A new study by CoworkingCafe ranks Huntsville fourth among mid-sized U.S. metros for STEM careers, citing high job density, strong salary growth and a robust network of STEM establishments. The website notes that more than 23% of jobs are in STEM departments. The earnings of science professionals in the area stand at a yearly average of more than $94,000, just a little below the $96,000 national average.
Huntsville is ranked #15 in the nation for most educated cities, according to WalletHub. The personal finance company compared the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas across 11 key metrics, with data sets ranging from the share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the quality of the public school system.
Alabamians who didn’t finish high school now have an easier way to go back and earn their diploma and improve their job prospects. The new Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School, or REACH Act, is designed to help more people get their diplomas, reconnect with education and strengthen the state’s workforce. It expands what was known as the High School Diploma Option program — an alternative to the GED — and lets students take classes at local community colleges through the Alabama Community College System’s Adult Education Division. Alabama Daily News reports completing that coursework enables students to earn a state-issued diploma from the high school they originally attended, even if their school has closed or many years have passed.
Huntsville Animal Services is asking the community to help as the shelter reaches critical capacity. There are several ways you can help a shelter dog; Foster to Rehome - take a dog in for a couple of weeks and help match them with a forever family. Foster to Adopt - foster a dog for a few days to two weeks to see if they are the right fit for your family. Or you can have a doggie sleepover - take a dog home for a day or night to give them a break and much-needed rest. More information on fostering or adopting is at https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/environment/animal-services/adoption-and-foster-pets-available/