Alabama Education Department seeks school safety funding
Alabama education officials are seeking money for school safety projects, the state superintendent said Friday. Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey told lawmakers that the Department of Education is seeking an additional $30 per student for school safety projects. The state superintendent said the money could be used for locks, cameras and other options including mental health. “The biggest thing that people are asking for are locks,” Mackey said. He said school systems could also use money to provide school offices for mental health counselors employed by the Department of Mental Health. He said that partnership would allow students to access care more easily by having the counselor work at the school. “The model is to set that mental health counselor an office in the school and then students are going back and forth to them just like they go to a guidance counselor or assistant principal’s office, rather than having to transit off campus,” Mackey said. Lawmakers last year voted to allow schools to use a state technology fund to pay for school resource officers or other security measures. Mackey said the department is also seeking money for additional school nurses and to expand the state reading initiative. Mackey discussed the funding request during budget hearings this week before state lawmakers. Lawmakers this spring will begin working on state budgets for the next fiscal year. The 2019 legislative session begins March 5. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Daniel Sutter: Are our highways less safe?
Highway fatalities have increased from under 33,000 in 2014 to 37,461 in 2016, before declining slightly in 2017. Many have speculated whether drivers distracted by smart phones have caused this increase. Before further restricting driving, we should examine the problem. The recent increase in fatalities is unsettling because driving has become safer over time. Fifty years ago, over 50,000 Americans died annually on the highways; the worst year was 1972 with 54,589 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Vehicle miles driven have increased dramatically as the death toll has fallen. Indeed, fatalities per mile driven have fallen by 80 percent since 1966. If we still had 1966’s fatality rate with today’s 3.2 trillion miles driven, we would have had 176,000 highway deaths in 2017. Has driving truly become more deadly since 2014? The increase in fatalities might seem to answer this in the affirmative, but real world data never lies exactly on a smooth curve. Could the recent increases in fatalities just be random variation? The two largest year-to-year percentage increases in highway fatalities were in 2015 and 2016, a total 14 percent increase. And yet multi-year fatality increases have occurred since 1966, including four consecutive years in the late 1970s and five consecutive years in the 1990s. The 1970’s fatalities increase was 15 percent. The recent increase in fatalities is not entirely unprecedented. Thankfully, a very small percentage of accidents produce fatalities. If roads are more dangerous, we should also see increases in injuries and accidents. NHTSA injury totals go back only to 1988 and are much less accurate than fatalities data. Still, reported injuries increased 34 percent, or 800,000, between 2014 and 2016, including a 28 percent increase in 2016. The largest previous one-year increase in injuries was only 6.5 percent. Reliable nationwide totals on accidents are not available. Not all states have seen fatality increases. In Alabama fatalities rose 26 percent between 2014 and 2016. Rhode Island had a 63 percent increase in fatalities, and eight other states saw increases of 30 percent or more. Yet fatalities declined in three states and increased less than 5 percent in four more. Are cell phones more distracting in some states than others? Substantial differences in fatality rates exist across states. Between 2014 and 2017, South Carolina’s rate was more than two and a half times higher than Massachusetts’. Factors like rural vs. urban driving, highway type, and speed limits explain much of this variation, but making driving in all states as safe as in the safest states could save thousands of lives annually. The NHTSA also reports fatalities by vehicle type, which have increased by 12 and 13 percent for cars and light trucks. Motorcyclists and bicyclists (15 percent each) and pedestrians (22 percent) saw larger increases, even though drivers of cars and trucks seem more likely to be distracted by cell phones. The fatality increases for cyclists and pedestrians suggest another cause, or may combine drivers’ distractions and these individuals’ vulnerability. Cell phone use and texting have been around longer than we perhaps remember; Washington state banned texting and driving in 2007. According to NHTSA statistics, drivers’ cell phone use has fallen over the past decade, and fatalities fell 20 percent nationally between 2007 and 2014. New phones provide more ways to distract drivers, but why did cell phones start increasing fatalities only in 2015? Many scholars from different disciplines study highway safety, including yours truly. To date, published research has not really addressed the recent jump in fatalities. World events drive academic research, so research should soon start offering concrete insights. Highway fatalities continue to impose a heavy toll on the U.S. Even though the fatality rate has fallen 80 percent since 1966, the modest increase in fatalities since 2014 should concern citizens and experts. Fortunately fatalities fell 3 percent during the first half of 2018. Perhaps the increase from 2014 to 2016 was only a pause in the long-term improvement in highway safety. Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.
Kay Ivey wants to see Alabamians become safer drivers
Gov. Kay Ivey wants to see Alabamians become safer drivers. That’s why she’s awarded a $2.8 million grant to the University of Alabama and Auburn University, who are putting their gridiron rivalries aside to team up to help Alabamians become safer drivers. The two universities, along with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), are gathering traffic safety data and converting it into messages to encourage Alabama drivers to use seat belts and child restraint seats, do not drink and drive or drive while distracted and obey traffic safety laws. “Regardless of your allegiance, when two of our larger universities work collaboratively to save lives and prevent injuries on our highways, our entire state wins,” Ivey said. “I am very grateful for the efforts of these universities along with the Department of Public Health to bring greater awareness to traffic safety. My administration remains committed to keeping drivers safe on our roadways, and I am proud to offer my support to this project.” The University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety provides data to determine where crashes are occurring and the causes. The information, much of it collected by ADPH, also examines factors such as seat belt use, distracted driving and sobriety. Law enforcement agencies use that information to increase patrols and monitor traffic in high-crash zones. Auburn University’s Media Production Group produces outreach and awareness campaigns geared toward safe driving. Many of those promotions are tied to national highway safety campaigns like “Click it or Ticket” seatbelt enforcement or “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” impairment crackdown and are conducted around major holidays, like Labor Day, when more people are likely to be travelling. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “These efforts along with increased law enforcement presence send a clear signal that dangerous drivers are not tolerated on Alabama’s roads,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in supporting the efforts of these institutions to increase highway safety.” Gov. Ivey notified Cynthia Hope, UA director of sponsored programs, John M. Mason, AU vice president for Research and Economic Development and Dr. Scott Harris, state Health Officer, that the grants had been approved.
Alabama ranks 2018’s 7th least safe state in America
It’s National Safety Month, and unfortunately for Alabamians, the state is not ranked very high in safety. On Tuesday, personal finance site WalletHub ranked Alabama as the 7th least safe state in its “2018 Safest States in America” report. The site compiled its list in effort help families find the most secure places to settle down. Safety in Alabama (1= safest; 25= avg.) 47th: Murders and non-negligent manslaughters per capita 44th: Assaults per capita 40th: Loss amounts from climate disasters per capita 21st: Job security 39th: Fatal occupational Injuries per 100,000 full-time workers 43rd: Fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of tavel 34th: Sex offenders per capita 31st: Share of uninsured population Considering safety is a basic human need required in some form or fashion, such as personal and financial protection in every part of our daily lives, Alabamians are more likely to feel secure outside of the Yellowhammer State. Methodology WalletHub analysts compared the 50 states across five key dimensions in order to find the most safe state: 1) Personal & Residential Safety, 2) Financial Safety, 3) Road Safety, 4) Workplace Safety, and 5) Emergency Preparedness. They evaluated those dimensions using 48 relevant metrics ranging from assaults per capita to unemployment rate to total loss amounts from climate disasters per capita. See how Alabama compares to the rest of the country: Source: WalletHub
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:
House approves safety legislation after tragic grease trap drowning
Following the tragic death of a little girl falling into a grease trap last year, the State House on Tuesday evening passed unanimously passed a bill that endeavors to prevent future such accidents. Introduced by Auburn-Republican state Sen. Tom Whatley, SB258, the Sadie Grace Andrews Act requires food establishments to put locking or otherwise secure covers on grease traps. The bill passed the House by a vote of 99-0. Whatley introduced the bill following the death of the bill’s namesake when she fell into a grease trap outside Bruster’s Ice Cream in Auburn, Ala. in October. Surveillance camera footage showed Sadie playing with two of her siblings when she fell through the lid into the 6-foot-deep tank. She was unresponsive when she was found a few minutes later and was unable to be revived. “I think this bill will prevent another needless tragedy under these circumstances,” Whatley said when he introduced the bill. The Sadie Grace Andrews Act cleared the Senate on Feb. 13. The bill now moves back to the upper chamber for a concurring vote before it heads to Gov. Kay Ivey‘s desk for review and to be signed into law. Should the bill become law, food establishments will have no more than six months to comply with the requirements of the bill. Failing to comply will result in a $500 civil penalty to be assessed by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). Every day the violation is not corrected, it will result in an additional civil penalty. All moneys received from the penalties will be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the ADPH to be used for the administration and enforcement of the law.
The top 10 safest cities in Alabama
Every state has its fair share of crime, but when it comes to pinpointing the safest city in the Yellowhammer State — Helena, Ala. takes the top spot. That’s according to a new report by the National Council for Home Safety and Security (NCHSS) of the Safest Cities in Alabama for 2018. The small Birmingham suburb finds itself in good company of nearby neighbors as Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Alabaster, following in the no. 2, 3 and 4 spots respectively The top ten safest cities in Alabama are: 1. Helena Vestavia Hills Mountain Brook Alabaster Daphne Moody Auburn Pleasant Grove Pelham Hartselle To identify the safest cities, NCHSS reviewed the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics along with their own population data and internal research. They eliminated any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and removed cities with populations under 10,000. Then, the cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 people. These variables were then weighted, with violent crimes assigned a value 1.5 times (due to their severity) that of property crimes.
Tips to keep the kids safe around the holidays
The holidays are chock full of chances to enjoy family and friends, help others and spread goodwill. But in our children is where we often find the true spirit and excitement of the season. Unfortunately, the holidays also present ample opportunities for the youngest among us to get hurt – at home, shopping or while traveling to visit loved ones. Here are some simple tips, courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide, that can help steer the children you love away from holiday hazards. At home Candles and kids don’t mix – Keep holiday candles safely out of reach of youngsters, and at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn. Be sure to put them out when you leave a room or head to bed. Store matches and lighters in a safe place, and avoid novelty lighters that look like toys. Tips for a trouble-free tree – Be sure your Christmas tree is anchored properly, and when you decorate, consider the kids: Put breakable ornaments or those with sharp edges and hooks toward the top of the tree. Keep your natural, cut tree well-watered. A tree that dries out prematurely poses a fire hazard. Pretty, and poisonous – Plants provide cheerful splashes of color for the holidays, but keep in mind: Some plants are potentially poisonous, including mistletoe berries, holly berry and Jerusalem cherry. Keep them safely away from young children and pets. If you have a poisoning emergency, call the Regional Poison Control Center at Children’s of Alabama at 1-800-222-1222. Hot stoves and fireplaces – Keep young children a safe distance from that roaring fire or overworked kitchen stove. Push hot pans to the back burners, and make sure pot handles are turned inward, away from reaching fingers. Out and about Be streetwise – Streets, highways and shopping center parking lots can be especially busy as the holidays approach. Keep an eye on children and distracted drivers. Remind your inexperienced teen driver to be extra cautious on busy roads, especially when the weather is sketchy. Put down the phone – Don’t text in the car, and pocket your phone when crossing busy streets or parking lots. Seat belts and safety seats – Make sure everyone in the car is belted or in the appropriate booster seat – one that has been installed correctly – no matter how short the drive. Kids may need to be reminded to buckle up. If you are flying, take along your child’s child seat. You can use it on the plane, and in the vehicle you’re using on the other end of the flight. Children under 13 should always be in the back seat. Junk in the trunk – Make sure loose objects and packages are secure in the trunk and elsewhere in your vehicle when you are on the road. You don’t want them to become missiles or get tossed around in the event of a quick stop or – God forbid – a crash. Designated driver – Be sure you have a way to get home safely if you’ve had too much to drink. Have a designated driver, or catch a ride, if you’ve been indulging. Buying gifts Think age-appropriate – Read the warning labels when shopping for toys. Younger children should not be given toys with small parts or easily accessible button batteries that can be ingested. Check video games to make sure they are age-appropriate. Don’t forget the pads and helmets – Buying a bike or skateboard? Make sure to include a helmet or other appropriate safety gear. Finally – take a deep breath, and stay aware The holidays can be stressful and distracting. Don’t let the craziness lead you to compromise on safety, especially with children. Keep a close eye, stay aware of potential hazards, drive carefully and enjoy the season accident-free. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
No Alabama city makes list of America’s top 100 safest
With fears of falling victim to cybercrime and mass shootings topping the list of crime worries among Americans, according to the most recent Gallup polls, the personal-finance website WalletHub took an in-depth look at 2017’s Safest Cities in America. To determine where Americans can feel most protected against life’s hazards, including nonphysical forms of danger, WalletHub’s analysts compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 35 key metrics broken down into three categories: home and community safety, natural disaster risk, and financial safety. They weighted each category and gave every city a score from 1 to 100. WalletHub analysts considered only the city proper, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area, and based its rankings on data from federal agencies, realty websites, and various nonprofit organizations. None of Alabama’s four largest cities broke the top 100 safest citiest on WalletHub’s list. Here’s how Alabama cities ranked: Montgomery: 107 Home and Community Safety Rank: 106 Financial Safety Rank: 172 Natural Disaster Risk Rank: 189 Huntsville: 113 Home and Community Safety Rank: 107 Financial Safety Rank: 86 Natural Disaster Risk Rank: 142 Mobile: 123 Home and Community Safety Rank: 118 Financial Safety Rank: 156 Natural Disaster Risk Rank: 107 Birmingham: 145 Home and Community Safety Rank: 126 Financial Safety Rank: 177 Natural Disaster Risk Rank: 135 Here’s a look at how Alabama compares to the rest of the country: Source: WalletHub
ALEA offers Labor Day weekend safety tips
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will be out in force this Labor Day weekend, on the lookout for those breaking the law and putting others in danger, as Alabamians head outside for summer’s unofficial grand finale. The ALEA is anticipating a surge of late-summer travel over the long weekend with heavier-than-usual traffic on Alabama’s roadways and waterways. “Safety is one of our top priorities throughout the year, but it’s especially important during extended holiday weekends, when so many want to enjoy one last seasonal road trip to the lake, beach or other warm-weather attraction,” Alabama’s Secretary of Law Enforcement Hal Taylor said in a statement. During Labor Day weekend, which runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, to midnight Monday, Sept. 4, Troopers in ALEA’s Highway Patrol and Marine Patrol Divisions will step up patrol and enforcement efforts across the state to promote safety and work to prevent crashes, injuries and deaths. Troopers will conduct sobriety checks throughout the weekend, in an effort to remove impaired individuals from behind the wheels of vehicles and boats, as part of the state’s participation in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” safety campaign. Taylor has offered five tips he’s dubbed, “Five to Stay Alive,” for all traveling through Alabama this Labor Day weekend: Avoid driving and/or boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you are impaired, do not drive or operate a boat. Designate a sober driver in advance, call a cab, use public transportation or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely. Simply obey the law. Avoid speeding, following too closely and other dangerous – sometimes deadly – behavior on Alabama’s roadways and waterways. Buckle up – no matter how short your trip. Ensure all of the vehicle’s occupants are buckled up (or using a child restraint system) and those on your boat are using or have access to personal flotation device (PFDs are required at all times for ages 8 and younger.) Avoid the water during inclement weather, particularly when it includes thunder and lightning. Be even more cautious when traveling through construction zones.
Alabama lands in top ten for least safest states in America
In order to help American families find the most secure places to lay down roots, personal finance site WalletHub released a new report of 2017’s Safest States in America revealing the safest and most dangerous states in the country. “With every new headline about a mass shooting, terrorist attack, hate crime or natural disaster, many of us fear for our safety and that of our loved ones,” the report read. “Safety is a fundamental human need. And we require some form of it, such as personal and financial protection, in every setting of daily life. But we’re likely to feel more secure in some states than in others.” Released during National Safety Month, in the new study WalletHub analysts compared the 50 states across 37 key safety indicators grouped into five different categories. The data set ranges from assaults per capita to unemployment rate to total loss amounts from climate disasters per capita. The Yellowhammer State was ranked 40th overall, weighed down by particularly low scores for both financial safety (48th out of 50) and emergency preparedness (44th). Personal and residential safety (33rd) and workplace safety (35th) fared little better. The only bright spot on Alabama’s safety report card is road safety (11th). Here’s a look at how Alabama compares to the rest of the country: Source: WalletHub
Safest cities in Alabama: 50 safest spots in the Yellowhammer State
Safety has always been an important factor when searching for a new place to call home, but a contentious national political system combined with an increase in violent crime across the country, has made safety the number one priority for many Americans. Since navigating through crime statistics can be a difficult and time-consuming process, Alarms.org, part of the National Council for Home Safety and Security, took it upon themselves to crunch the numbers and rank the safest places to live in Alabama. Their experts analyzed FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics in conjunction with their own population data and internal research to find which communities across the Yellowhammer State are the most secure, eliminating any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and removing cities with populations under 5,000. Taking home the top spot is Helena. Made up of 17 square miles, 18,109 residents, the city has the lowest crime rates in the state with the average violent crime rate five times lower than the state average. And the average property crime rate is 4.7 times lower than the state average. “Helena residents enjoy movies in the park, citywide softball competitions, an annual Christmas parade, and everything else that pairs nicely with a white picket fence,” reads the report. As the city motto suggests, “it’s where you want to be.” Following Helena, three of the remaining top five cities also come from affluent Birmingham suburbs. With Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Fultondale taking the second, third and fourth spots on the list. Here’s a look at the 50 safest cities in Alabama:
