Alabama top stories in brief

• Students and employees may have been impacted by a cyber attack against the Alabama State Department of Education last month. As reported by Alabama Reflector, State School Superintendent Eric Mackey confirmed that the computer systems had been breached, but that department staff were able to stop the attack before it could be completed. Mackey said that parents and all education employees should assume that some of their data may have been compromised. A dedicated landing page has been established to answer questions about the attack for those affected. 

• Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson required the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and companies who were denied cannabis business licenses to propose a joint restraining order to continue investigative hearings on licenses but prevent those licenses from being issued until an official ruling. AMCC licensing is an ongoing battle that has seen three attempted rounds of awarding licenses followed by litigation that has either stalled the process or wholly prevented it. The only cannabis related legislation that was passed during the Alabama legislative session was HB 390 which gave the AMCC licensing powers for cultivators. Litigation on AMCC licensing is still ongoing. 

• The historic Graymont School may soon be renovated into affordable housing for seniors. Birmingham’s city and budget committee endorsed a leasing proposal that would see developers turning one of the first integrated schools in Alabama and first integrated school in Birmingham into 101 rental units for seniors. If the plan is fully approved, the city will provide $3.5 million towards construction. Additional funding from the city may be provided, in addition to funding from the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District in an effort to reduce rental costs. 

• The trial over Alabama’s ban on the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youth has been postponed by a federal judge until after the U.S. Supreme Court makes its ruling on a similar case for Tennessee. The challenge to Alabama’s law was brought forward by four families with transgender children, who argue that it is a violation of equal protection and intrudes into family medical decisions. Arguments will be heard by the Supreme Court in the fall. 

Our articles you might have missed

• In the latest edition of The Breathing Room, Hannah Irvin discusses the idea of legacy as we move on to new chapters in our lives. 

• In his latest edition of The Longleaf Hiker, Xander Swain takes a break from traveling to talk a little about the 4H Center and the different animals that they have there.

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