Gas tax increases makes it over first hurdle
A proposed gas tax increase has cleared its first hurdle in the Alabama Legislature. The House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday approved the legislation. It now moves to the full House of Representatives for more debate. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is proposing a 10-cent-a-gallon gas tax increase to fund road and bridge construction. The increase would be phased in over three years. – WVTM
Georgia Tech researchers moving closer to Huntsville arsenal
Developers today announced the latest building and tenant in the large commercial park they are building just outside Redstone Arsenal’s gates in Huntsville. “Georgia Tech Research Institute will occupy half of the space” in a new building under construction at Redstone Gateway, developer Paul Adkins told a groundbreaking audience. – AL.com
Trump to visit Lee County tornado victims today
President Donald Trump will visit Alabama on Friday, after several tornadoes devastated parts of the state earlier this week, killing 23 people. He will travel mid-day to Lee County, which suffered the brunt of the damage. “It’s a tragic situation, but a lot of work is getting done,” Trump had said earlier this week. – WXYZ
State’s tornado victims get relief on tax deadline
Alabama residents affected by recent tornadoes and severe storms won’t have to file their tax returns until this summer. The Internal Revenue Service March 7 announced that it is postponing various filing and payment deadlines for people who live in any region designated as a major disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That includes the April 15 deadline for filing 2018 tax returns. The new deadline will be July 31. – Bloomberg
Developer purchases historic Mobile fire station
With little fanfare the Mobile City Council voted Wednesday to approve the sale of a distinct Midtown property, the Ashland Fire Station. The picturesque but small station on Old Shell Road between Kenneth and Florida streets had been closed for some time, superseded by a new and significantly larger facility nearby in the Crichton area. The sale price, in a contract submitted by the administration of Mayor Sandy Stimpson, was $368,850. – AL.com
Regions Foundation giving $25K to tornado recovery
The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank, announced a $25,000 donation to support immediate and long-term recovery efforts following an EF-4 tornado that destroyed areas in Beauregard, Smiths Station and nearby communities on Sunday. – The Plainsman
