Bills could provide needed update to Alabama’s business tax code
Two landmark bills were introduced in the Alabama Legislature on April 11, potentially affecting numerous businesses in the state. Committees of the House of Representatives are expected to consider the Financial Institution Excise Tax Reform Act of 2019 (H.B. 419) and the Alabama Innovation Act (H.B. 424) as soon as today. The bills are supported by business leaders throughout the state. – JD Supra
Huntsville-based company raises $8 million in Series A funding
A Huntsville-based company says it has raised $8 million in its initial round of venture capital funding. Spur, an employment platform with other offices in New York and Chicago, said venture capital firm Third Prime, with participation from Mark Bezos and John Griffin, the founder of Blue Ridge Capital, led the funding. Bezos, the brother of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, has also been appointed to Spur’s board of directors. – AL.com
Poll shows Roy Moore still atop candidate leaderboard
Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore leads the field of potential Republicans vying for the chance to challenge Sen. Doug Jones (D), a year and a half after Moore lost what was supposed to be an easy election in a deep-red state. A new poll shows Moore leading a still-evolving field of Republicans competing for the nomination. He is the top choice of 27 percent of Alabama Republican voters, according to the Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy Inc. survey. – The Hill
UAB Townhouse slated for demolition next month
Demolition work on a longtime fixture of downtown Birmingham will begin in May. The UAB TownHouse, built in 1950 at the corner of 20th Street South and University Boulevard, will be demolished, starting next month. Work should finish by late this summer. Workers will use a long arm machine to break the building apart. Asbestos abatement will begin later this week. – AL.com
TA Services acquires assets of Celadon Logistics
TA Services Inc., the 3PL & Brokerage division of PS Logistics, today announced it has completed the acquisition of certain assets of Celadon Logistics from Celadon Group Inc. Celadon Logistics, headquartered in Indianapolis, is a non-asset based brokerage and 3PL provider, offering a full spectrum of non-asset transportation, supply chain, and warehousing across North America with run rate revenue exceeding $150 million. PS Logistics has offices in Birmingham. – News release
Highlander Hybrid for 2020 gets 34 mpg, big new touchscreen
The 2020 Toyota Highlander is clearly trying hard to look tough, but, whatever. The design is inoffensive. What’s cool about this car is its efficiency, in a couple senses of the word–the Hybrid version now claims 34 mpg (!) in combined driving. That’s not a lot of gasoline to lug eight people around. – Jalopnik
