The decision by the Limestone County Commission to shut down the only animal shelter in the county is causing concern with the community. There are currently approximately 150 cats, dogs and pets housed at the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter. WHNT TV reports the shelter’s bid included an increase to $900,000.00, up from $550,000.00 the year before. The expense increase signaled the end of the shelter on October 1. The contract termination means that the shelter will ramp up its efforts to find suitable homes for the pets.
Alabama is set to receive more than $40 million in federal grants aimed at making rural and urban roads safer. The funding is part of $1 billion in grants made available through the bipartisan infrastructure law’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program. AL.com reports most of the money is earmarked for north Alabama. Over 21 million dollars is headed to Huntsville to fund a Complete Streets transformation on the stretch of Holmes Avenue that runs from the UAH campus and Cummings Research Park to downtown. Around $16 million will aid the Jackson County Equitable Rural Roadway Improvements project.
Alabama ranks near the bottom in a study compiling the best states in which to work. All 50 states along with Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. were included in the study by Oxfam America. Alabama came in at number 49, Georgia was 50th, Mississippi was 51st and North Carolina last in 52nd. AL.com reports the study looked at three policy areas when determining each state’s ranking: wage policies, worker protections and rights to organize. The study ranks Washington D.C. number one.
A proposed bill would increase the number of jobs a person has to apply for while receiving unemployment benefits from the state. House Bill 29 would require people on unemployment to contact five employers each week as opposed to three. The Alabama Reflector reports the bill would also subject a person’s unemployment benefits to revocation if the individual fails to appear for an interview with an employer without giving proper notice or does not respond to a job offer with 72 hours.
Huntsville Hospital is opening its first pediatric cardiology center. It will serve children from birth to 18 years old with acute and chronic heart conditions. Hospital officials say Huntsville Hospital is the largest provider of cardiac services between Birmingham and Nashville. With this new addition, families will no longer have to travel to other areas to seek medical care specifically for children. WHNT TV reports the hospital’s first pediatric heart center officially started serving the community Friday.
ChurchStreet Family Restaurant & Hospitality Group, a multi-concept restaurant and hospitality group owned by Matt and Stephanie Mell is Alabama’s Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales More Than $5 Million category. The Alabama Retailer of the Year judges in this category are all former Retailers of the Year. They chose the Mells and ChurchStreet Family for “the diversity of their restaurant and bar concepts” and “overall business model, community involvement and customer experience.”
The Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation is helping to bring instruments to the schools of North Alabama. The MDMEF, Maitland Arts Initiative, the Cigar Box Guitar Store and Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick are working with the Huntsville Music Office and Huntsville City schools to bring instruments to students. The citywide instrument donation drive runs through September 30. You can drop instruments off at The Cigar Box Guitar Store at Lowe Mill, The Fret Shop on Jordan Lane, Huntsville Strings Shop on Willowbrook Drive and Maitland Conservatory on North Memorial Parkway. More information is on the Microwave Dave Music Education Foundation Facebook page.