Alabama

December 05, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Riley announced Wednesday that the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has awarded Alabama a $1.2 million grant to improve mental health services in the Black Belt.

The grant will help several organizations working together in the Black Belt to reduce stigmas associated with mental illness and assist targeted communities in the care and support of those with mental illness.    » read more »

Friday, November 30, 2007, INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA will ask the judge to set aside the jury’s verdict against the NCAA in a defamation trial involving former University of Alabama football booster Ray Keller. The jury ordered the NCAA to pay Mr. Keller $2 million in compensatory and $3 million in punitive damages.

“We’re disappointed in the verdict and will ask the judge to set it aside. If necessary, we will appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court,” said Chuck Wynne, NCAA spokesperson.

No timetable has been set for taking these actions.    » read more »

November 29, 2007 -- BIRMINGHAM – Small business owners spoke out in favor of a proposal being pushed by Alabama Governor Bob Riley to make health insurance more affordable for small business employees.

Rising health insurance costs are forcing many small businesses to either cut back on plans to hire more workers or to quit offering or reduce the level of health care benefits for their employees.

“It would happen tomorrow,” small business owner Russ Greenhalgh answered when Governor Riley asked if he could hire more workers if his company’s health care costs were lowered.    » read more »

November 21, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley has awarded a $1.41 million grant to help create new jobs and encourage economic development in the Shoals area.

The grant will fund improvements in the Barton Industrial Park in Colbert County and help with infrastructure needed for National Alabama Corp. Governor Riley announced in July the company was building a manufacturing facility at the site that will employ 1,800 people.    » read more »

November 20, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – In a videotaped message released Tuesday on his website, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced he plans to significantly expand voluntary pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds in the education budget he will propose early next year.

Governor Riley said he will spend time "during the coming months" traveling the state to discuss his plan for “high quality, voluntary Pre-K.”    » read more »

November 19, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Several land management agencies have joined together to remind outdoor enthusiasts to use caution when enjoying the outdoors this fall. Officials from the U.S. Forest Service, Alabama Forestry Commission, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are stressing that exceptional drought conditions in the majority of the state make it very conducive for the threat of wildfires.    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s office issued the following statement on Friday about the decision announced today concerning water flows impacting Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The decision was announced by U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the White House Office on Environmental Quality:    » read more »

November 16, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama’s unemployment rate fell to a new record low in October, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced on Friday.

The state’s unemployment rate declined from 3.7 percent in September to 3.1 percent in October, the lowest monthly unemployment rate ever. A year ago, Alabama’s unemployment rate stood at 3.6 percent.

Alabama’s unemployment rate is still well below the national rate, which stood at 4.7 percent in October.

During the past 12 months, employment gains in Alabama totaled 24,800.    » read more »

November 13, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – An Alabama program that helps ease the stress on those who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s is being recognized as the best in the nation.

The Alabama Department of Senior Services’ REACH Intervention Project is the winner of the 2007 Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award. The award, given by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI), recognizes innovative partnerships between community organizations and caregiving researchers.    » read more »

Tri-state Traffic Safety Initiative Targets Thanksgiving Holiday

November 08, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY — Alabama Governor Bob Riley joined the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Tennessee Highway Patrol and sheriff and police departments throughout Alabama in announcing Thursday an intensive joint initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and increase safety during the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays.    » read more »

November 06, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Riley dedicated a memorial in the State Capitol to Alabama’s service members who have fallen in the War on Terrorism during a ceremony on Tuesday.

The memorial, which stands eight feet tall and is 10 feet wide, displays the names and photographs of all 92 Alabamians who have died in the War on Terrorism so far. The Governor was joined at the ceremony by family members of many of the fallen service members. Each service member’s name was read during the ceremony.    » read more »

11/6/2007 -- The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsements of seven Alabama community leaders from across the state.

“Hillary is ready to lead on her first day in the White House and immediately begin delivering the change this country needs,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks.

“Hillary is passionate about helping people, it's at the root of who she is,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Shelia Smoot. “She doesn't change with the wind, she’s always working on our behalf to make a difference. America will be a better place with Hillary as our President.”    » read more »

Grant will also bring alternative fuels to Corridor X and Corridor V

VESTAVIA HILLS – Motorists traveling on Interstate 65 in Alabama will soon have the opportunity to fill up their vehicles on cleaner burning fuels produced in America, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced at a gas station in Vestavia Hills.

And with a new federal grant, the same opportunity will come to motorists traveling along Corridor X and Corridor V, Governor Riley said.    » read more »

October 31, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – If President Bush asks Congress for a disaster appropriation bill to help victims of California’s wildfires, Alabama Governor Bob Riley is asking him to include disaster assistance for Alabama’s farmers who continue to suffer from the drought.

Governor Riley wrote the President on Tuesday and requested the inclusion of Alabama farmers in any supplemental appropriation bill.    » read more »

November 1, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King today filed a motion asking the Court of Criminal Appeals to order Hale County Circuit Court Marvin Wiggins to recuse himself from a case involving an investigation of voter fraud in Hale County. In his motion, Attorney General King states that Wiggins "who has a history of obstructing voter fraud investigations*, has revealed his personal bias against the State and its investigation and/or his commitment to impede this investigation and thereby protect members of his family."    » read more »