Alabama top stories in brief

• Home sales in Alabama dropped by 62% this October compared to October 2022. According to a report from the Alabama Association of Realtors, a total of 5,596 homes were sold this October, which is a drop of 3,488 sales compared to October last year. This closely mirrors drops in home sales nationwide, with 2023 expected to be the lowest year for home sales nationally in over 30 years. 

• Gov. Kay Ivey lifted the state-issued burn ban on Nov. 22 for 55 of the 67 Alabama counties. After seeing increased rainfall, parts of the state have begun to recover from the extensive drought that began in early October. The state has been in a complete burn ban since Nov. 9, but now most of southern Alabama no longer has a burn ban, 23 counties were downgraded to a fire alert and 12 counties remain under a complete burn ban. 

• Starting Nov. 27, a warming station in Birmingham will be open to those who need a warm shelter. Freezing temperatures are expected Monday and Tuesday night with lows of 28 and 29 degrees. The warming station will be open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. both Monday and Tuesday at Jimmie Hale Mission. Transportation will also be provided to the shelter at Brother Bryan Park, Faith Chapel Care Center and the Boutwell Auditorium. 

• The Alabama Department of Finance has awarded Auburn University with a $2 million grant to support telehealth services in rural areas throughout Alabama. The grant will directly aid in the creation of four telehealth health and wellness centers in the Black Belt. The initiative is coming from the efforts of Auburn University Outreach and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Locations for the centers have not been decided, but will likely be built in the Black Belt. The four new centers are mirrored after a similar system in Chambers County that reportedly saw 569 visitors in the first two quarters of the year. 

• Alabama’s infant mortality rate for 2022 was reported as 6.7 deaths per 1,000 births according to the 2022 Infant Mortality Report from the Alabama Department of Public Health. This is the lowest rate that Alabama has had for infant mortality since the state started tracking the data in the mid-1960’s. However, while infant mortality declined overall, it rose from 12.1 to 12.4 among Black infants in Alabama. State Health Officer Scott Harris said that the improvements to Alabama’s infant mortality rate is occurring largely among its white population. “It has to do with the same reasons we have health disparity in every other health outcome; Black Alabamians, disproportionately, are lower income and have less access to health care,” Harris said. “Those are the biggest factors that we know of that contribute to poor health outcomes, it’s all the same issue.” 

• Gov. Kay Ivey removed Alabama Public Library Service board member Virginia Doyle from the APLS board. The removal comes after Doyle criticized the state legislature and governor for threatening to take away library funding if policies were not changed. Doyle told Alabama Political Reporter that she believes Ivey is trying to fill the board with members who will support the changes she and the legislature want. A spokesperson for Ivey, Mike Lewis, said “Governor Ivey appreciates [Doyle’s] service to the State.”

• The Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority authorized Gov. Kay Ivey last week to approve any design agreements for a bridge expansion to Interstate 10 as long as they cost no more than $179 million. This is part of a $2.7 billion project to expand I-10 over the Mobile river. It has been proposed that the bridge would function as a toll bridge until the state is able to pay off the cost of construction. 

• Last Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey awarded $1.18 million in grants to agencies that service children who are victims of abuse. The grants are being administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs from funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. A total of eight organizations were awarded grants last Tuesday and will use them to help aid child abuse victims in 14 counties. The organizations awarded grants are: Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center, Walker County Children’s Advocacy Center, Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center Inc., Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center Inc., Calhoun/Cleburne Children’s Center Inc., St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center, The Tuscaloosa Children’s Center, Bessemer Cut-Off Advocacy Center Inc. and Prescott House Child Advocacy Center.

Announcements

• We have decided to stop producing From Dusk to Dawn for the time being. We’ve enjoyed our work there, but after giving it some time and listening to feedback from our audience, we’ve decided to explore other options for the podcast. We’re going to take some time, but stay tuned for future podcasting announcements! You can still listen to all of our episodes of From Dusk to Dawn on Spotify or read the transcripts on our website. 

• Our slogan at The Sunrise News is “where news is personal,” so we want to hear from you! If you can, please take just a few minutes to complete our fall feedback survey. 

Our articles you might have missed

• The content of libraries has been a hot political topic this year, and in Alabama there is currently a debate over what books should be included in the children and young adult sections of the library. In his latest opinion article, editor in chief Harrison Neville discusses his views on the debate, the role libraries play in shaping young people and why he believes politics shouldn’t influence the content of libraries.

• Gina Yoder is a local artist who specializes in creating items out of upcycled cotton T-shirts. In “Gina Yoder: The art of using what you have,” by our editor in chief, Harrison Neville, Yoder talks about the inspiration for her work, her process and how she uses each part of the T-shirt. 

Events this week

• Annual NorthStar Celebration: NorthStar Soccer Ministries is removing barriers and transforming lives through a quality, Christian soccer club. Soccer is our tool to reach urban youth and promote mentoring opportunities. Please join us in making this possible at our annual resource development banquet, NorthStar Celebration, November 30, 2023 at 6 p.m.! View more details on our event calendar.

• Alabama Invitational: An exhibition featuring work created by current and former Alabama artists in the mediums of sculpture, glass, photography, painting and textiles produced by artists originally from or currently based in Alabama. View more details on our event calendar. 

If you’re interested in having your event advertised on our calendar, you can submit events here.