BBA says Birmingham has recovered jobs lost in recession
The Birmingham Business Alliance says new numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics mean the Birmingham region has passed an important economic milestone. The Birmingham area’s workforce grew to 545,900 in April, or 2.4 percent over the same time last year. That means that the area has surpassed the number of jobs it had prior to the Great Recession. Birmingham peaked at 543,000 jobs in December 2007 prior to this year. – AL.com
UAB Health System, United Healthcare come to terms
The UAB Health System and United Healthcare have reached tentative agreement on a health insurance contract. The contract means policy holders of United Healthcare may continue to see their UAB medical providers and use all UAB Medicine facilities without disruption of services. UAB and United have two weeks to finalize the tentative agreement. The new contract will be in effect for two years. – UAB
A no-meat fast-food burger? Seemingly Impossible Whopper arrives next week
Burger King will start selling its meatless Whopper across the United States on Aug. 8, the biggest rollout for Impossible’s plant-based product. The burger chain has been selling the Impossible Whopper, featuring a meatless patty made by Impossible Foods, in a few markets in the United States since April. It first tested the product in St. Louis before announcing in May that it would offer the Impossible Whopper nationally this year. Interest in plant-based protein has surged as many people try to reduce their meat intake for health or environmental reasons. – CNN
Morgan County becomes sixth in state to adopt online business filings
On Monday, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill announced that Morgan County has become the sixth county in Alabama to adopt an online filings process for the formation of domestic LLCs and domestic for-profit business corporations. This service is offered at no cost to Alabama’s 67 counties by the Secretary of State’s Office. As additional counties express interest, they will be added. – AL Political Reporter
Great news, EV drivers. Thieves don’t want your vehicle
America’s love affair with horsepower and trucks apparently includes illicit activity. Powerful cars like the Dodge Charger and pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado are among the most-stolen new vehicles in the U.S., according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute. Electric vehicles, it turns out, are among the least stolen, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. – USA Today
West Alabama residents can soon get rich (or poor) off Mississippi
People living in West Alabama will soon be able to test their luck in the lottery. Scratch-off ticket sales were set to begin December 1st, 2019 in Mississippi. The state’s legislature passed a lottery bill in September, leaving Alabama as one of five states without a lottery. The Mississippi Lottery Corporation could not say whether the corporation would market directly to West Alabamians. – ABC3340
