The Alabama Department of Transportation will have no temporary lane closures on interstate routes during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Closures will be suspended from Friday, Aug. 29, at noon through Monday, Sept. 1, at 11:59 p.m. The suspension is to help reduce traffic congestion and improve safety with more people traveling during the holiday. It also provides a safer environment for maintenance and construction workers.
The average price of a gallon of gas in Alabama is 16 cents cheaper this Labor Day week than last year, according to AAA Alabama. Presently, Labor Day holiday gas for regular statewide is $2.82 compared to $2.98 during Labor Day week in 2024. Bama Buzz used the GasBuddy Gas Calculator to figure out how much it would cost to go from Decatur to Orange Beach. It adds up to $67.54.
Redstone Arsenal will temporarily change operational hours of Gate 3 on Redstone Road. The gate will close at 1 p.m. to accommodate reductions in staffing and resources. The change is effective Sept. 2. AL.com reports this adjustment will not affect inbound traffic during peak morning hours of 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. In a news release, Arsenal leaders say Federal workforce reduction efforts reduced their Security Guard Force by 17% which means at the new authorization strength, they can have no more than three guards out sick, injured or on leave or they’d have to close lanes or a gate. The Arsenal had been able to pay overtime to guards, but according to the news release, federal government cost reduction decisions removed overtime as an option.
The Huntsville Planning Commission approved the zoning plan for more than 500 recently-annexed acres in North Huntsville last night. The land is located north of Bob Wade Lane. WHNT TV reports the land is a part of a comprehensive plan for both commercial and residential construction. While the planning commission did approve the zoning proposal, the ultimate decision will be made by the Huntsville City Council. The final approval vote is set for September 25th.
Findings from a recent study about the costs and medical access of having a baby ranks Alabama near the bottom. It ranks 50 out of 51, only above Mississippi. To determine the most ideal places in the U.S. to have a baby, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 31 key measures of cost and health care accessibility, as well as baby- and family-friendliness. The data set ranges from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita. WVTV TV in Birmingham notes that Alabama is also among the five states with the highest infant mortality rates, fewest midwives/OBGYNs per capita, and fewest pediatricians/family doctors per capita.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville announced this week that it was offering up to $8,000 in scholarship money to graduates of Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The scholarship is open to students who have successfully completed the Aviation Challenge Mach III, Advanced Space Academy, the U.S. Advanced Cyber Academy, or a comparable high school-level Space Camp program. In-state students who meet the criteria will receive an annual award of $1,000, while out-of-state students will receive $2,000 per year. The scholarship is renewable for up to four academic years for students who maintain full-time enrollment in good academic standing and maintain a 2.5 UAH GPA.
The Huntsville Museum of Art will reopen on Sunday. The reopening comes after an extended temporary closure, during which the museum installed a state-of-the-art HVAC system. An email from the museum says this crucial upgrade highlights its dedication to protecting its priceless artworks and ensuring that visitors have the best possible experience while viewing the galleries. To welcome the community back, the museum will be hosting the Betsy and Peter Lowe Community Free Day this Sunday from 12 to 5 PM.