The state of Alabama’s lawyers filed objections Thursday to the three congressional maps proposed by the special master appointed by a three-judge federal district court. Attorney General Steve Marshall and Solicitor General Edmund LaCour wrote that maps submitted Monday by Special Master Richard Allen were racially gerrymandered. Marshall and LaCour represent Secretary of State Wes Allen, who is the state defendant in the case. The three-judge court and the Supreme Court have rejected the state’s arguments. The special master’s three proposed maps make District 2 in south Alabama the second opportunity district for Black voters. The plans raise the Black voting age population in District 2 to about 50%. AL.com reports performance analysis based on recent election history showed the Black-preferred candidate would win most of the time in the redrawn district.
Alabama State School Superintendent Eric Mackey said this month that 10,000 or more third graders could be at risk of being held back this summer under new reading benchmarks required to move to fourth grade. The requirement takes effect this school year. WVTM TV in Birmingham reports state lawmakers delayed implementation until this year to give students and schools time to recover from pandemic-related learning losses. Gov. Kay Ivey said in August that she opposed any further delay of the retention provision.
The last pieces of the Saturn 1B Rocket that stood at the Alabama Welcome Center in Ardmore for more than four decades was hauled off on Wednesday. In January, it was deemed dangerous due to its deteriorating condition and its exposure to the elements. WAFF TV reports State Senator Tom Butler introduced a bill that would have restored or replicated the rocket. That bill was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey in June but it was unsuccessful in saving the rocket. Some pieces of the rocket will be preserved, the rest will be disposed of.
A new population estimate indicates that Huntsville’s growth is still on the rise. The city’s planning department said that about 235,000 people are now living in Huntsville. AL.com reports a census count the year before put the population at a little more than 215,000 people. That growth, estimated for the 2023 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, is a 3.3 percent increase over 2022 and represents the highest single-year percentage growth in a decade.
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber has launched Smart Careers, a new section on ASmartPlace.com. This section features animated videos spotlighting four industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Information Technology, and Healthcare. A news item from the Chamber says each of these industries has significant growth projected in the Huntsville area over the next 10 years.
The city of Huntsville is planning a large-scale, outdoor music festival in 2024. Mayor Tommy Battle made the announcement yesterday at his annual state of the city address. The new festival will take place in John Hunt Park. AL.com reports Battle declined to share a date for the event but said more details will be released next month when the city council is presented a contract for approval with C3 Presents – a concert promotion group behind such festivals as Bonnaroo in southern Tennessee as well as Lollapalooza in Chicago.