Unemployment rate down to record 2.7 percent
Alabama’s unemployment rate is down to a record-low 2.7 percent, the state said Friday. A statement from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office said the seasonally adjusted jobless rate for November was one-tenth of a percent better than the October rate of 2.8 percent. It was also well below the national unemployment rate of 3.5 percent. November was the seventh straight month for the state to reach a record low for unemployment. The rate represented 2.2 million people who were employed compared to about 62,000 who were unemployed. The state’s economy has gained more than 50,000 jobs since this time last year, the statement said. Wages also increased, with average weekly earnings in November at $863.11, up $1.06 from October. The November number was an increase of $21.56 from November 2018. About 1.7 million people are working in service industries, and manufacturing employment rose to 273,700. “Manufacturing employment in Alabama is at its highest level in 11 years,” Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said in the statement. “Other sectors are currently experiencing their highest levels of employment in history. Employers are hiring, and people are finding work.” Shelby County in metro Birmingham had the lowest jobless rate at 1.8 percent while Wilcox County in rural west Alabama was highest at 6.3 percent. Republished with the Permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama jobless rate dips to record 2.8 percent
Alabama’s unemployment rate has dropped to a record 2.8 percent. A statement released Friday by the state labor agency says the preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was down two-tenths of a percent from 3 percent in September. That’s 1 percentage point better than the jobless rate from a year ago, and it’s well below the national employment rate of 3.6 percent. The state has gained about 60,000 jobs this year in the civilian workforce. Officials say the improvement came as Alabama’s manufacturing plants reached a 10-year high for employment. Manufacturing employment grew to 271,600 jobs, and the professional and business services segment has a record-high 259,700 jobs. Shelby County in metro Birmingham has the state’s lowest jobless rate at 1.8 percent. Wilcox County in rural western Alabama is highest at 6.3 percent. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Shelby County Chambers join forces, to begin 2019 united as one
Two organizations that represent business interests in Shelby County will join forces in 2019 under a new name, but the same common goal: championing Shelby County as the premier place to live and do business. The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce on Thursday announced they have decided unify and will be known as the Shelby County Chamber as of Jan. 1, 2019. “Both organizations have embraced the synergy that has emerged as they collaboratively worked on and jointly attended events around the county over the last three years. This is really a natural next step,” said Jacqueline Gardner of St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Health and Wellness and the South Shelby Chamber Chair. “Both organizations share a vision for Shelby County.” The decision to join the two organizations was unanimously approved by the board of directors of each chamber, on November 27 and November 28. “There is tremendous support from members of both organizations. I believe they recognize and are excited about the opportunities a united effort can mean for Shelby County businesses,” said Joe Meads of Sain Associates and Chair of the Greater Shelby Chamber. Currently, some people serve on the Board of Directors for both Chambers and some Shelby County business are members of both organizations with a different representative on each Board. According to the Chambers, the businesses that currently have multiple representatives will ultimately have the choice to decide who sits on the newly combined Board. “The decision was made to combine the board members from both existing organizations into one leadership body. Over time, through attrition, one Board of Directors will emerge,” explained Kirk Mancer, President and CEO of the Greater Shelby Chamber. Paul Rogers of NobleBank & Trust and the task force team leader, explained the process has been very deliberative with significant outreach to all segments of both organizations and to the local governments involved; adding that the mission of partnering with community stakeholders to support the stability and foster economic vitality throughout Shelby County has been a common theme in all deliberations. “As County Manager, I view the movement to one Chamber, one voice, as very positive for Shelby County,” said Alex Dudchock, Shelby County Manager. “Working together, each one bringing strengths to the table; will energize support for businesses and strengthen the current workforce development efforts that are critical to our future,” he said. Months of deliberation by task teams made up of members from both Chambers resulted in the obvious name for the new entity. The unified Shelby County Chamber will showcase a new logo when it begins operations on Jan. 1, 2019. “These two organizations have energetic members and visionary leadership, there is strength in unity. This is an exciting progressive move for the overall business environment in Shelby County,” said Bill Connor of America’s First Federal Credit Union and the Chair-Elect of the Greater Shelby Chamber.
Understanding Shelby County local amendment 1: school board voting rights
When Alabamians get to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, voters in some counties will see local amendments on the ballot. Here’s a look at what residents of Shelby County need to know about a local amendment they’ll see on the ballot. On the ballot: PROPOSED LOCAL AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE (1) Relating to Shelby County, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to require that the members of the county board of education and the county superintendent of education be elected by the qualified electors of the county residing outside of the corporate limits of any city with a separate board of education. (Proposed by Act 2017-151) Vote: Yes/No What it means: If passed, the amendment would remove residents of cities with their own school systems (i.e.: Hoover, Pelham and Alabaster) from voting on the Shelby County Board of Education superintendent and School Board members. Sample ballot Click out the Shelby County sample ballot: Front side | Back side Don’t live in Shelby County? Find your county’s sample ballot here.
Alabama unemployment rate unchanged in July
Alabama’s unemployment rate is unchanged from last month. State officials said Friday the July jobless rate was 4.1 percent, the same as it was in June. That rate is also the same as it was in July of last year. It is higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.9 percent. However, the Alabama Department of Labor says the number of people working is at a record high. More than 2.1 million people are now working in the state. Shelby County in metro Birmingham has the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.1 percent, followed by Cullman County at 3.5 percent. Wilcox County had the highest unemployment rate at 11.2 percent. Clarke County followed at 9.1 percent. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Phillip Bahakel qualifies for Circuit Judge Place #2 in Shelby County
Former Judge Phillip Bahakel has officially qualified as a Republican candidate for circuit judge place #2 in Shelby County. The place was previously held by the beloved Judge Hewitt Conwill who will be retiring. “I am a Christian, a family man, lawyer and a former judge. I am not a politician. As a judge I learned how to manage a court room scheduling cases to move a docket. As a judge I had to make decisions that followed the facts and followed the law,” states Bahakel’s campaign website. Bahakel believes he has demonstrated a strong work ethic in both his private practice and in his service to the people of Alabama as a Judge. He was admitted to the Bar in 1981 and served the citizens of Alabama for six years as a Judge. He graduated from the University of Alabama and obtained his law degree at Cumberland School of Law. Bahakel said in a press release that he is committed to serving the State of Alabama and Shelby County, that he understands the importance of providing judgements on suspects day in court as quickly as possible, that he listens to the facts and followed the law and does not believe in legislating from the bench. He is not accepting campaign contributions at this time. Bahakel raised twi daughters, including one with special needs. He and his family live in Pelham Ala. Watch Bahakel’s campaign video below:
Incumbent Gary Palmer defeats challenger David Putman in Alabama’s 6th District
Republican U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer has defeated Democrat David Putman in Alabama’s 6th District. Palmer had 57,642 votes as of 9:30 p.m. CT compared to his opponents’ 17,334. Palmer will continue to represent Jefferson County outside of Birmingham, and the entirety of Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Colbert, Coosa, and Shelby counties in a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Robert Bentley declares state of emergency following gas pipeline explosion
Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday declared a month-long State of Emergency for Alabama following a Colonial Pipeline explosion and fire in Shelby County Monday that killed one and injured six workers. Bentley signed the State of Emergency Tuesday that will facilitate the granting of a waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is needed to lift the federal government’s limitation on the hours a driver can transport gasoline. The order will last until Dec. 1 unless the governor decides to terminate it sooner. On Monday, a contractor working on the Colonial Pipeline in the area just south of Birmingham accidentally hit a 36-inch below-ground transmission pipe while unearthing threaded O-rings (TOR) for rendering the line inert, causing an explosion and fire. The contractors were attempting to install a permanent repair required after the previous pipeline ruptured Sept. 9, 2016. An extended shutdown could create fuel shortages and higher gas prices in several states including Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee — similar to what happened following the September accident. “My thoughts and prayers are with the six injured workers and with the family of the fatally injured worker,” Bentley said. “An accident of this magnitude is tough for any community to deal with, and I want to personally thank the local first responders for their immediate assistance to this accident, as well as the first responders from surrounding counties. They all provided resources and support to the help Shelby County in their time of need.” Cell phone footage of the explosion via April Ruth Everett. In addition to local responders, several state and federal resources are dedicated to responding to this disaster including: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, Alabama Emergency Management, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, Regional Paramedical Services and others. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management staff is actively participating in the response and is embedded within the Unified Command Center. Air monitoring is ongoing and boom has been deployed as a precautionary measure, but no surface water impacts have been documented at this time. The Alabama Forestry Commission is also assisting by monitoring the wildfires within the containment lines.
Decision 2016: municipal candidates’ forums to provide information for Shelby County voters
Voters in several Shelby County municipalities will head to their respective voting places Tuesday, Aug. 23 to cast their ballots for candidates running for mayor and city council. Hoping to get to know this year’s candidates a little better before Election Day? The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce, Montevallo Chamber of Commerce and Shelby County Newspapers, have you covered. They will be co-hosting forums prior to Election Day to help residents make the important decision of whom to vote for a little easier. “The purpose of these forums is to provide an opportunity for citizens and business people in these communities to meet and gather information from the candidates running for city council and mayor in these races, and ultimately make an informed decision prior to Aug. 23,” said Greater Shelby County Chamber President & CEO Kirk Mancer. Below at the dates of the Shelby County candidate forums: Thursday, Aug. 11 Westover 6:15-7:30 p.m. ServPro Training Center 11063 U.S. Highway 280, Westover Chelsea (Hosted by Chelsea Business Alliance) 7 p.m. Chelsea High School 10510 County Road 11, Chelsea Monday, Aug.15 Alabaster 6-8 p.m. Alabaster Municipal Building 1953 Municipal Way, Alabaster Tuesday, Aug. 16 Pelham 6-8 p.m. Pelham High School — Auditorium 2500 Panther Circle, Pelham Wednesday, Aug. 17 Montevallo 6-8 p.m. Montevallo City Hall 541 Main St., Montevallo “With these municipal elections quickly approaching, it’s important for voters in these communities to make the most of their right to vote,” Mancer continued. “We’re pleased to collaborate with our partners at the Montevallo and South Shelby chambers in hosting this series of candidates’ forums. These forums will allow voters to meet the candidates, as well as learn how the issues shaping each race will affect them and their cities.”
State incumbents overwhelmingly hold seats in Super Tuesday contests
While the state’s attention was likely on the presidential race and state races for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives seats, many state leaders were on the ballot and sailed to easy victories over their political opponents. In the race for Public Service Commission president, incumbent Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh trounced her Republican rival Terry Dunn. Cavanaugh claimed just over 63 percent of the vote, with just over 200,000 more votes than her opponent. In a decidedly closer vote, Jackie Zeigler won her bid to represent District 1 on the State Board of Education. Zeigler defeated her closest opponent, Republican Matthew Brown, by only 10 percentage points. Stephanie Bell won her bid for the District 3 seat on the State Board of Education over Justin Barkley, 59.75 percent to 40.25 percent. Perhaps the widest margin of victory in the State Board of Education race was claimed by Democrat Ella Bell, who was running for the District 5 seat. Bell dominated the race with more than 85 percent of the vote. The closest number in the Board of Education race came from the District 7 contest, in which Jim Bonner bested Jim Newman by less than 8 percentage points. Amendment 1, which is designed to require newly appointed circuit court judges and district attorneys to pay into their retirement fund, was also approved by voters. More than 62 percent of state voters said yes to the measure, with 37 percent voting against it. A local referendum in Shelby County, which would allow alcohol to be sold after noon on Sundays, was approved by nearly 70 percent of the county’s voters.
Shelby County to vote on Sunday alcohol sales on March 1
Residents in one of Alabama’s most populous counties will decide whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales. Shelby County is set to vote on the alcohol referendum during the primary election on March 1. The county is one of the largest in the state with more than 200,000 residents just south of Birmingham. Baptist leader Joe Godfrey tells WBMA-TV that the Alabama Citizens Action Program will work with area clergymen to defeat the measure. But business managers and some elected leaders say Sunday sales are needed to help generate revenue. Pelham City Council President Rick Hayes says the lack of Sunday sales affects economic growth. And restaurant manager Jessica McKay of The Coal Yard in Helena says the venue could open for business on Sundays if voters approve the referendum. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama unemployment near flat at 6% in November
Alabama’s unemployment rate was 6 percent for the month of November, down from 6.2 and 6.1 percent in recent months but slightly up from a seasonally adjusted 5.9 percent in October, according to new figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The office of Gov. Robert Bentley celebrated the news in a release Friday, saying recent employment growth has reached just 25,000 jobs short of prerecession levels. “We are coming closer and closer to hitting that golden wage and salary employment number of 2 million jobs,” Bentley said. “We are less than 25,000 jobs shy of attaining pre-recession employment levels in Alabama. We haven’t seen wage and salary employment at 2 million since June 2008, prior to the recession’s effects in our state. Our economy is strong, and my goal is that every Alabamian who wants a job can obtain one.” The Bentley administration also put a positive spin on the marginal increase over October’s jobless numbers. “The very slight uptick in November’s unemployment rate is due to the fact that more people entered the workforce, perhaps looking for seasonal employment,” said Alabama Labor Department Commissioner Fitzgerald Washington. “Additionally, more people are employed both over the month and over the year, so this small increase is not necessarily bad news.” According to the governor’s office, the Civilian Labor Force (CLF) increased in November to 2,146,294 from 2,141,221 in October and from 2,130,131 in November 2014 (seasonally adjusted). CLF employment also increased to 2,018,189 from 2,014,056 in October and from 1,999,222 in November 2014. Wage and salary employment increased in November by 12,800 to 1,975,700. Monthly gains were seen in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+9,100), the education and health services sector (+2,800), and the government sector (+1,800), among others, according to a release. These numbers correspond to the statewide jobs market, though some rural counties continue to lag behind state and national averages. The hardest-hit counties in Alabama? Wilcox County at 13.5 percent, Lowndes County at 10.6 percent, Clarke at 10.5 percent, and Greene at 10.1 percent. Those are the only counties with double-digit jobless rates. Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 4.0 percent, Lee County at 4.7 percent, and Elmore, Cullman, and St. Clair counties at 4.8 percent.
