Sue Bell Cobb stands by Deputy Field Director, registered sex offender
Former Alabama Chief Justice and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sue Bell Cobb is standing beside a campaign worker — Paul Littlejohn III of Birmingham, Ala. — despite his violent criminal history. Littlejohn, is a former inmate at the Draper Correctional Facility in Elmore County where he spent 30 years following his 1984 conviction for three crimes: rape by forcible compulsion, sodomy I and robbery I. Court records indicate Littlejohn was convicted of raping a 20 year old female and sodomizing a 30 year old female. Both victims were strangers. Now he’s working in politics — currently helping deliver votes for Cobb as her Deputy Field Director where she’s sending him door-to-door to solicit votes in the hotly contested gubernatorial race. In a letter released on campaign stationary to Al.Com’s Roy Johnson, Cobb’s campaign manager Landon Nichols Jr. defends Littlejohn saying he should be forgiven for his crimes. Nichols asks, “Have you ever made a mistake? Once you have atoned for that mistake, do you believe in forgiveness?” He goes on to say, “I do.” According to campaign finance reports, Cobb has paid his company — Unity Group Solution, of which AL.com says he is a partner — $19,066 in March and another $21,739 in April ($18,739 on April 4 and $3,000 on April 11). As a former sex offender, Littlejohn is required to register with the state’s sex offender registry. In his most recent update, April 30, he was listed as homeless despite his income from Cobb’s campaign. Prior to working for Sure Bell Cobb’s campaign Littlejohn told Al.Com that he worked on campaigns for Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and U.S. Senator Doug Jones. Alabama Today has reached out to Cobb’s campaign for comment. We will update this piece accordingly should they respond.
Alabama is 2018’s third worst state for working moms
Working mothers in the Yellowhammer State deserve the hard-earned break and gifts headed to them this Mother’s Day. But unfortunately, according to a new study from personal finance site WalletHub, 2018’s Best & Worst States for Working Moms, the state ranks as the third worst state in the nation for working moms. That’s up from being the worst state in the nation in 2017. By using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the study found several key methods to determine the scores of each state, including: child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance. The state had very low scores for all three methods, ranking 42nd in child care, 50th in professional opportunities and 43rd in Work-life balance. Alabama also ranked in the bottom five for several categories, worst day care systems, highest gender pay gap, and lowest female executive to male executive ratio. The state ranks 31st in average length of a woman’s workweek, 36.1 hours, 29th for women’s average commute time, 22.8 minutes, and 40th in terms of friendly laws for parental leave. Mobile-Democrat State Rep. Adline Clarke introduced a bill in the 2018 legislative session to close the wage gap in Alabama, but it failed to pass. When asked what else local governments could do to help support working mothers, Elizabeth F. Chapman, Associate Professor of Management at Mercer University said “ensure that there are adequate, quality, affordable child care facilities and excellent public schools. Support can also include efforts to close the wage gap between women and men, while providing development and educational opportunities for women to enter into high-paying positions.” “Governments should have a fair representation of women and men in political positions,” Chapman continued, and with 2018 being called the “Year of the Woman” in Alabama politics, we might actually see some progress for women in the state.
Donald Trump tax reform means more money in your pocket
The Trump presidency, while controversial in some ways, has also been very effective in others. We should give credit where credit is due. Trump’s plan is a win for Alabama families who will have more money in their pockets in coming months due to the national tax reform plan passed by Congress and signed by the President right before Christmas. If you missed it, last week the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC) voted on $337 million in energy cost relief for Alabama residents. It’s estimated that families will save around $250 from July, when the savings go into effect, through the end of the year. Even House Speaker Paul Ryan highlighted the benefits of the cuts here in Alabama in a release from his office. In the few months following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, utility companies in 48 out of 50 states, and DC, have taken action to pass their federal tax savings on to their customers. This means more than 87 million customers across the country—so far—are set to see lower monthly utility bills. Just this week, Alabama Power Company announced that it would be reducing its customers’ bills by $257 million this year. That’s 1.4 million Alabamians who will now be paying less each month for their utilities. The President doesn’t get a lot of good press even when he and his administration have positive results. At the same time Alabama’s Public Service Commission rarely makes the news, so lets not miss this opportunity to give both an “atta boy.”
Tuskegee University names Lily McNair president, first female in 136-year history
The Tuskegee University on Tuesday named its first female president in the university’s 136-year history. The Tuskegee University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Dr. Lily D. McNair — the current provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Wagner College in New York City — as its eighth president. “When we launched our presidential search last October, our goal was to identify someone who could champion both Tuskegee’s historic legacy and her place in the future of higher education,” said John E. Page, chair of Tuskegee’s Board of Trustees. “Our Board of Trustees is confident that Dr. McNair brings to Tuskegee the precise skill set required to ensure we continue thriving as one of the nation’s leading HBCUs.” Her resume Since 2011, McNair has served as the second-ranking executive of Wagner College — a private college of 2,200 students located on New York City’s Staten Island. A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. McNair’s higher education career includes other academic, research and executive appointments at Spelman College, University of Georgia, the State University of New York at New Paltz, and Vassar College. A native of New Jersey, Dr. McNair holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Princeton University, and master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Alumni, student approval Burt Rowe, a 1970 Tuskegee graduate, president of the Tuskegee National Alumni Association Inc., and search committee member, attested to McNair’s collaborative approach to engaging alumni, donors and other university stakeholders. “I am honored and excited to welcome Dr. McNair to the Tuskegee family. She is a trusted and well-respected leader who understands Tuskegee’s unique heritage, culture and traditions,” Rowe said. “Deeply engaging and collaborative, she is committed to ensuring that all voices of the Tuskegee family will be heard, and I am confident that alumni will enjoy working with Dr. McNair to continue moving ‘the pride of the swift-growing South’ forward.” Graduating senior Austin Turk, who represented students on the search committee and has worked closely with university administrators as Tuskegee’s current Student Government Association president, was equally encouraged by McNair’s credentials. “I was very impressed with Dr. McNair’s enthusiasm for fostering student success,” Turk said. “She has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring many students and providing academic and professional guidance. I know that Tuskegee will benefit greatly from her leadership.” McNair views both Tuskegee’s reputation and legacy as its foundation for continued success under her leadership. “I am honored and humbled to be selected to serve as the eighth president of Tuskegee University,” she said. “The historic contributions of the university’s students, faculty and alumni are well known and valued throughout the nation. I very much look forward to building on the legacy of my predecessors so that Tuskegee University will ascend to even greater heights in the years to come.” Wagner College President Richard Guarasci reflected on McNair’s appointment by saying, “I congratulate Lily for her selection, as well as for the intelligence, professionalism and grace that she has maintained throughout her seven years as provost.” Search for a new president McNair’s appointment follows a six-month national presidential search that began on Oct. 18, 2017. During that time, and in partnership with the search firm Isaacson, Miller, the Presidential Search Committee conducted listening sessions with senior administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni; administered a stakeholder survey to garner additional opinions about the requirements, qualifications and opportunities for the university’s eighth president; and evaluated more than a 150 prospective candidates, narrowing the field to a small group who were interviewed in person. Since Tuskegee University’s founding in 1881, it has been under the leadership of seven presidents — the first of which was Booker T. Washington, who led the institution from 1881 to 1915. McNair will succeed Interim President Charlotte P. Morris, whose 35-year tenure with the university has included two terms as interim president — the most recent of which began on July 1, 2017. Morris, who accepted the appointment as interim president on a temporary basis, will remain in service to the university during the fall semester as a member of the Brimmer College of Business and Information Science’s teaching faculty. She also will assist with the transition of leadership in the Office of the President. McNair will begin her duties at Tuskegee on July 1.
Trump withdraws from Iran nuclear deal, Alabama delegation reacts
President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared the United States was pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal and will re-impose sanctions on Iran, saying the deal failed to protect America’s national security interests. “The so-called Iran deal was supposed to protect the United States and our allies from the lunacy of an Iranian nuclear bomb, a weapon that will only endanger the survival of the Iranian regime,” Trump said during a speech at the White House announcing his decision. “In fact, the deal allowed Iran to continue enriching uranium and over time reach the brink of a nuclear breakout.” The re-imposed sanctions will target critical sectors of Iran’s economy, such as its energy, petrochemical, and financial sectors. “This was a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made. It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will,” Trump continued “It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement. The Iran deal is defective at its core. If we do nothing we know exactly what will happen.” According to a congressional aide, there will be 90- and 180-day wind-downs on various aspects of the deal, made by former President Barack Obama in 2015. Here are reactions from the Alabama delegation (in order they were received): 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell: After months of deliberation and extensive conversations with nuclear experts, military officials, and constituent groups, I decided to support the Iran Deal because I believed it was our best option for ensuring a nuclear-free Iran. The Iran Deal was not perfect, but its collective enforcement by the international community made it the best path forward. President Trump’s reckless withdrawal from the Iran Deal has the potential to destabilize an already unstable region. As we lay the groundwork for a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea, reneging on the Iran Deal could also endanger our chances at establishing another major international agreement. Unilaterally walking away from this agreement leaves America isolated and puts our national security at risk. 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt: President Trump has taken this issue very seriously. With all the information he has at his disposal, I trust that he has made the right decision to pull back from what was a bad deal adopted under the Obama Administration. There are several things that remain puzzling about the agreement. For example, many of us are still waiting to see what benefits the Obama Administration hoped to see when they delivered pallets of cash in the dead of night to Iran, a known state sponsor of terrorism. 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne: President Obama’s decision to enter into the nuclear ‘deal’ with Iran was the biggest U.S. foreign policy mistake since the end of World War I, and it has not made America or the world a safer place. President Trump is right to exit the deal and hold Iran accountable for their reckless and dangerous actions. It is also important to remember that there has been bipartisan opposition in Congress to the Iran deal since it was first announced. Despite a majority in the House and the Senate expressing opposition to the deal, President Obama chose to act alone without Congressional approval, and that is one of many reasons why this ‘deal’ was never going to work. Moving forward, I pledge to do what I can to work with the Trump Administration to hold Iran accountable, push back against their nuclear weapon and missile programs, and ensure the safety of the American people and our allies. 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby: I have said from the very beginning that the Iran Deal was a flawed, weak deal that served the interests of bad actors in Iran at the expense of our own. I strongly opposed this Obama-era executive agreement, and I support the Trump Administration’s efforts to ensure that we truly end Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Moving forward, Congress must stand locked-arm in our approach to dealing with this rogue nation for the sake of our national security. I believe it is imperative that we reinstate the economic sanctions against Iran that were in place prior to this nuclear agreement. It’s no secret that Iran has not stopped its efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon, and we must take this threat very seriously in our future negotiations with the leading state sponsor of terrorism. This article will be updated as additional reactions come in.
Carol Gundlach: Congress should oppose Farm Bill changes that would make Alabamians poorer, hungrier
Americans across the political spectrum have long agreed on the importance of reducing hunger in our country. But the U.S. House is now considering a Farm Bill reauthorization that would do the opposite. It would be a step in the wrong direction for children, seniors and struggling families across Alabama. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a proven success with a long history of bipartisan support and a strong track record of reducing hunger, creating jobs and supplementing wages. But the proposed Farm Bill would erode our shared commitment to fighting hunger. Instead, it would punish people who have very low incomes by slashing SNAP for as many as 2 million Americans, including tens of thousands Alabama adults and their children. This misguided move would increase hunger, deepen poverty and take a heavy toll on our state’s economy and budgets. The cuts would hit especially hard in rural communities, where some stores would close without SNAP income. SNAP, often called food stamps, is the largest program in the Farm Bill. It helps more than 40 million Americans make ends meet and has lifted more than 8 million families out of poverty, including 195,000 Alabamians. In Alabama alone, SNAP benefits are spent in more than 5,000 stores and contribute $1.3 billion a year to the state economy. With Alabama’s General Fund already struggling to pay for essential services like health care and prisons, the House plan would force the state to hire more SNAP eligibility workers and create expensive systems to track compliance with new work and child support mandates. It also would force Alabama to return to the costly, ineffective practice of verifying whether applicants have cars or other assets that might make them ineligible for SNAP. The Farm Bill seeks to solve a problem that doesn’t exist. Half of all adult SNAP participants without a disability are working, as are 60 percent of participants with children – often in retail, construction and other jobs with low wages, irregular or seasonal hours, and few benefits. In exchange for cutting their nutrition assistance, the House plan would create an underfunded employment and training system that would do little to help people actually find good-paying jobs. The bill also would extend these stricter requirements to people who are now exempt. That would include nearly all participants with children ages 6 and over, as well as jobless Alabamians in their 50s – even though they often remain unemployed longer than younger people do, no matter how hard they look for work. Participants who cannot prove they have worked enough hours could be denied SNAP for one year or longer. These proposed SNAP changes would hurt children, too. When parents lose food assistance because they can’t find a job or their work hours drop below an arbitrary minimum, their children are deprived of nutrition they need to grow and thrive. That makes it harder for children to succeed in school – and it’s simply cruel. Another way the plan could hurt kids is by requiring single parents to “cooperate” with child support collection. Child support is critical to eliminating child poverty, and more than 70 percent of low-income custodial parents already receive child support services. But taking food off the table doesn’t help a parent pay child support; it only makes the family hungrier. The proposal also could put applicants who are victims of domestic violence or child abuse at greater risk, along with costing Alabama millions of dollars for additional child support administration. Alabama’s congressional delegation will play an important role in Farm Bill reauthorization. Our representatives will vote on the plan when it reaches the House floor as soon as mid-May. Sen. Richard Shelby is the influential new chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. And Sen. Doug Jones is an important member of a bipartisan group of Senate moderates, some of whom are expected to offer their own version of the Farm Bill in the next few weeks. Alabamians are caring people, and we have a shared responsibility to keep our neighbors from going hungry. As our state’s members of Congress consider the Farm Bill, we urge them to oppose any efforts to weaken SNAP’s ability to help struggling Alabama families keep food on the table. ••• Carol Gundlach is a policy analyst for Alabama Arise, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians. Email: carol@alarise.org.
Incumbents maintain substantial fundraising lead in Public Service Commission races
With the June 5 Primary less than one month away, Public Service Commission (PSC) candidates are gearing up for the final stretch of the race. Unsurprisingly, Republican incumbents seeking re-election have raised the most funds and support for themselves. In both the Place 1 and Place 2 races, only one Democrat is seeking election, meaning they will automatically advance to the Nov. 6 general election. Place 1 For Public Service Commissioner Place 1, newcomer Republican Jim Bonner will face incumbent, Republican Jeremy Oden on primary day. The winner will go on to face Democrat Cara Yvonne Mcclure in the Nov. 6 general election. Campaign finance reports reveal Oden’s fundraising is far ahead of both Bonner and McClure’s — by over $160,000. Candidate Beginning Funds on Hand Monetary Contributions Monetary Expenditures Non-Monetary Contributions Other Receipts Ending Funds on Hand Jim Bonner $0.00 $0.00 $6,374.00 $4,484.00 $1,890.00 -$4,484.00 Cara McClure $1,415.54 $310.51 $2,012.82 $0.00 $1,105.03 Jeremy Oden* $6.47 $165,000.00 $6,550.26 $62.94 $7,633.67 $166,089.88 Oden is also the only candidate for Place 1 who has a Facebook page for his campaign, while McClure uses Twitter for most of her social media outreach. Bonner has only a personal Facebook page. Newcomer McClure says her desire to be elected comes from a deep passion for the lower class, under-represented, and marginalized. “My experience, and sincere belief, is that by acting in the best interest of those people, we can raise the quality of life for all,” she explained. Place 2 In the race for Place 2, incumbent, Republican Chris “Chip” Beeker Jr. has maintained a substantial fundraising lead, raising more than $40,000 than his closest opponent. Beeker, who is seeking re-election, will face off against Republican Robin Ann Litaker in the primary. The winner will go on to face Democrat Kari Swenson-Powell in November. Candidate Beginning Funds On Hand Monetary Contributions Monetary Expenditures Non-Monetary Contributions Other Receipts Ending Funds on Hand Chris “Chip” Beeker Jr.* $6,936.45 $41,500.00 $3,925.24 $0.00 $0.00 $44,511.21 Robin Ann Litaker $0.00 $3,081.82 $2,454.32 $3,118.00 $0.00 $627.50 Kari Swenson-Powell $0.00 $2,851.00 $977.31 $2,062.61 $250.00 $2,123.69 The Republican challenger to the incumbent Litaker said, “In the last few years we have seen a speaker of the house, governor, Supreme Court Justice, and others steeped in controversy which ultimately led to them being removed from office.” She went on to add, “In my career as an educator, I had to uphold a high standard of excellence and I was held accountable to the public in everything I did. Why should government be any different? I am running because I want to ensure that Alabama’s taxpayers and ratepayers are represented fairly.” On the democrat side the winner of the republican primary will face Swenson-Powell, “This job excites me (yes, excites!) because it would give me an opportunity to represent all Alabamians and ensure that they are being charged fairly for their utilities,” said Swenson-Powell. “As a believer that we humans need to be good stewards of the Earth and it’s resources, as Public Service Commissioner, I would do everything in my power to make sure that clean energy resources have a pathway to flourish in Alabama.” * denotes an incumbent candidate. Red denotes a Republican candidate. Blue denotes a Democratic candidate.
Kay Ivey’s school safety council releases first 10 recommendations
A newly formed council focused on making Alabama schools safer for students and educators released it’s first report of recommendations Governor Kay Ivey announced Monday. The Governor’s “Securing Alabama’s Facilities of Education” (SAFE) Council issued the 36-page report, which focused on improvements in three areas: physical security, threat assessments and mental health, and coordinated training and planning. On March 6, Governor Ivey launched the Smart on Safety Initiative, a comprehensive, common-sense plan to achieve school safety and security in Alabama, in the wake of the deadly school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. that left 17 dead. The plan included the creation of the SAFE Council to implement her school safety priorities and to develop additional proposals for enhancing the safety of Alabama schools. Recommendations Physical Security Funding for School Resource Officers (SROs) and District Safety Coordinators (DSCs) Bond Issue for Enhancing School Building Security Surveillance Systems Linked to Law Enforcement Threat Assessments and Mental Health School-Based Mental Health Identifying Warning Signs Reporting Threats Tracking School Violence Coordinated Training and Planning Empowered and Accountable District Safety Coordinators Building a Culture of Safety School Safety Training and Compliance Teams “I am very pleased with the findings of the SAFE Council and I am already having discussions with agency heads about implementing some of these recommendations immediately,” Ivey said. “Other recommendations need further consideration and will need some actions by the Alabama Legislature. I will continue to review the recommendations within this report, and other options not directly addressed by the report, to ensure all Alabama schools are as safe and secure as possible.” Ivey concluded, “I am confident that once these recommendations are fully implemented they will greatly reduce the chance for tragedy in our schools.” Council member and Interim State Superintendent of Education Ed Richardson says it’s the state’s responsibility “to use whatever resources and collective ingenuity” to ensure students attend school in a secure environment. “The only thing more important than making sure Alabama students receive a quality education that prepares them for the future, is making sure they are safe from hurt, harm, and danger when in our care,” Richardson said. “Parents entrust the safety and well-being of their children with caring education professionals every day. It is our responsibility to use whatever resources and collective ingenuity we have to uphold the promise that Alabama students attend school in a secure environment that is safe and conducive to learning.” What’s next The SAFE Council report is one part of a four-step process aimed at objectively accessing security needs in Alabama schools and then implementing those recommendations which are proven to be effective. The second step, which is currently underway, includes a full review by Gov. Ivey of the report, including in-depth discussions with the leaders of agencies effected by the recommendations. The third step, which is expected in the next few weeks, includes executive branch implementation of those recommendations which do not require legislative approval. The fourth, and final step, is the ongoing review, by the SAFE Council, of school security conditions and needs. The priority for this report is the safety and security of K-12 facilities with consideration for post-secondary institutions. The SAFE Council will continue meeting as needed to work on implementing these recommendations and to fulfill other recommendations in their report. Members of the SAFE Council Dr. Ed Richardson | Presiding, Interim State Superintendent of Education Jimmy Baker | Chancellor, Alabama Community College System Hal Taylor | Secretary of Law Enforcement Lynn Beshear | Commissioner, Alabama Department of Mental Health Jim Purcell | Acting Secretary of Information Technology Read the full report:
Hill panel probing opioids abuse targets distributor firms
Congressional investigators say wholesale pharmaceutical distributors shipped hundreds of millions of prescription opioid pills to West Virginia, a state disproportionately ravaged by deaths caused by the addictive drugs. Now, lawmakers want executives of those companies to explain how that happened. Current and former officials from five distributor companies are set to give sworn testimony on the subject Tuesday to a House subcommittee. Their appearances come during an election-year push by Congress to pass largely modest legislation aimed at curbing a growing epidemic that saw nearly 64,000 people die last year from drug overdoses, with two-thirds of those deaths involving opioids. The House Energy and Commerce Committee began investigating the distribution of prescription opioids last May. The panel has said distributors sent more than 780 million pills of hydrocodone and oxycodone — prescription pain-killers that have caused many overdose deaths — to West Virginia from 2007 to 2012. That’s an average of more than 400 pills per person over that period in the state, where around 1.8 million people live. Investigators said 20.8 million opioid pills were shipped from 2006 to 2016 to Williamson, population 2,900. One pharmacy in Kermit, with around 400 residents, ranked 22nd in the U.S. in the number of hydrocodone pills it received in 2006, according to the investigation. West Virginia had the nation’s highest drug overdose death rate of 52 per 100,000 in 2016, according to federal figures. Other states with high death rates included Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, as well as Washington, D.C. Nearly 12 million people misused opioids in 2016, according to federal figures. Executives slated to testify included top officials from Cardinal Health Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corp. and McKesson Corp., the nation’s three biggest wholesale drug distributors. The executives were appearing before the Energy and Commerce committee’s oversight and investigations subcommittee. The government requires distributors of controlled substances to report suspicious drug orders to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and to deny questionable transactions. The Trump administration and lawmakers of both parties have been drawing attention to opioids, a range of pain-killing drugs that can be addictive when misused. They include prescription drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone and codeine, synthetic opioids like fentanyl that can be made illegally, and illegal drugs like heroin. The Energy and Commerce panel has been working on dozens of bills that include encouraging doctors to use non-addictive pain killers, spurring research on such products, broadening access to treatment and giving financial incentives for drug treatment specialists to work in underserved areas. Senate committees are working on their own legislation. The setting was reminiscent of 1994 hearings at which executives of the nation’s tobacco companies testified before the Energy and Commerce panel, then controlled by Democrats. The officials said they didn’t believe cigarettes were addictive, despite evidence to the contrary. Four years later, the industry reached a settlement to pay the states more than $200 billion over 25 years to reimburse them for tobacco-related health care costs. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Local judges recuse selves in Roy Moore lawsuit against accusers
All six judges in an Alabama county have recused themselves from presiding over the lawsuit filed by failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore against some of the women who accused him of sexual misconduct. News outlets report Etowah County’s four circuit judges and two district judges filed recusals with interim Alabama Chief Justice Lyn Stuart on Monday, a week after Moore filed a political conspiracy lawsuit. The judges’ recusals cite two reasons. Circuit Judge David Kimberley is a member of the state Judicial Inquiry Commission that suspended Moore as Alabama chief justice in 2016, effectively removing him from the high court over his refusal to adhere to a federal court ruling permitting same-sex marriage. The other reason concerns Moore’s former position as a Sixteenth Judicial Circuit judge in Etowah County. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
WestRock plant in Lanett primed for growth with expansion
The Chambers County Development Authority announced that WestRock Co. plans an investment in its manufacturing operation in Lanett that will increase the facility’s competitiveness and position the area for job growth. Atlanta-based WestRock, a provider of differentiated paper and packaging solutions, will expand its Chambers County operation to accommodate an increase in business, as well as prepare the plant for future growth with the addition of at least 50 jobs. In 2017, the company ceased manufacturing operations at its beverage plant in Atlanta. A portion of the work from the Atlanta facility was subsequently transferred to the plant in Lanett. According to WestRock, the Lanett expansion project will include a building expansion, new shipping docks, additional office space, new equipment and other upgrades. “WestRock is a proud member of the Chambers County community, and we appreciate the support of the Alabama Department of Commerce and the Chambers County Development Authority as we increase the scope of our operations in Lanett,” said Pete Durette, president of WestRock’s Enterprise Solutions. “We look forward to continuing to contribute to Lanett and Chambers County.” Employment at the WestRock Lanett plant has grown from 20 workers in 1996 to approximately 300 full-time employees today. Expanding capabilities In a related development, a 375,000-square-foot distribution center to support WestRock’s plant in Lanett is planned for a 30-acre site in the Valley Industrial Park. Scannell Properties is developing the distribution center, which is expected to create additional jobs in the area and which will be 1.5 miles from the WestRock facility. “Over the past two decades, WestRock has grown to become a major employer in Lanett and a solid member of the community,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “These projects will allow the company to expand its capabilities and continue to grow its presence through new jobs in Chambers County.” Valerie Gray, executive director of the Chambers County Development Authority (CCDA), said the joint projects will make a significant contribution to the area’s economic vitality. “WestRock is an outstanding corporate citizen that aligns with the CCDA staff and board’s goals of higher wages and a diversified manufacturing base,” Gray said. “This expansion will positively impact Lanett, Valley and the county, but most importantly, local citizens will have great job opportunities.” Local impact Lanett Mayor Kyle McCoy welcomed WestRock’s expansion plans. “When one of our businesses announces an expansion, it’s not just a testament to their strength as a company, it’s a continued investment in our community that trickles down many levels, from tax revenue to our schools, to new jobs, to higher wages, all of which stimulate and grow our economy,” McCoy said. “We are thrilled with this new announcement and are grateful to Valerie Gray and the CCDA staff for their hard work and effort on this unique project.” Mayor Leonard Riley said the distribution center in Valley will provide a boost for his community. “Over the past several months, we’ve been looking for the right fit with the first company to locate in the new Valley Industrial Park, and our interactions with Scannell Properties have demonstrated that they are a world-class developer and would prove to be a good fit with the City of Valley,” Riley said. “We are excited to be able to take part in this partnership and bring another strong and reputable business into our city.” Besides Lanett, WestRock has multiple Alabama locations, including Athens, Coatopa, Cullman, Cottonton, Demopolis, Eutaw, Huntsville, Montgomery, Newville and Stevenson. WestRock has 45,000 employees supporting customers around the world from more than 300 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Donald Trump says he’ll speak Tuesday with President Xi Jinping of China
President Donald Trump says he’ll speak Tuesday with President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) of China. Trump tweets that they’ll discuss trade, an area where he says “good things will happen.” He says they’ll also discuss North Korea, where he says “relationships and trust are building.” China says Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Monday and Tuesday in China. It was their second meeting, following Kim’s visit to Beijing in March. The latest Xi-Kim meeting also comes as Trump prepares for a historic summit with the North Korean leader in late May or early June. Trump said last week the time and place will be announced soon. Trump meets at the White House on May 22 with South Korean President Moon Jae-in (jah-YIHN’), who recently met with Kim. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
