Monroeville among Georgia-Pacific operations to close
Georgia-Pacific is shutting down some of its operations in Monroeville, Alabama and two Arkansas cities, a move that will idle about 655 workers. The Atlanta-based company this week announced plans to close its bleached board operations at Crossett, Ark., as of October. It will close its particleboard facilities in Hope, Ark., and Monroeville over the next couple months and will not rebuild its facility at Thomson, Ga., which experienced a catastrophic fire last week. – KSLA
Governor signs 8 bills, including one involving call centers
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday signed legislation that passed during the 2019 Regular Session. Included was Senate Bill 110, which requires companies that relocate call centers out of state to provide notice prior to the relocation and provides for benefit recapture for all companies that fail to do so. The bill was praised by the Communications Workers of America. – Alabama Reporter
Federal judge lets Alabama suit over Census proceed
A federal judge says Alabama can proceed with its lawsuit trying to block people from being counted in the 2020 Census if they’re living in the country without documentation. U.S. District Judge David Proctor of Birmingham ruled Wednesday that the state and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville have legal standing to sue. Proctor also wrote that he isn’t expressing an opinion on claims that the state could be harmed by counting people who are living in the country illegally. – WBRC
Muscogee Creek Nation renews suit over Alabama casino
The Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma on Wednesday renewed its lawsuit against an Alabama Creek tribe for building a casino on what they say is sacred ancestral land. Muscogee Creeks say the Poarch Band of Creeks in Alabama exhumed over 57 human remains to make way for the 20-story hotel and casino in Wetumpka, Alabama, despite their promises to protect the historic site. The lawsuit seeks “redress for this greedy, tragic, outrageous, and illegal act.” – AP
Businessman Frank Bromberg Jr. dies at 87
Frank Bromberg Jr., who was the fifth generation to lead Alabama’s oldest jeweler and family-owned retailer, died Tuesday. He was 87. Bromberg’s memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Cathedral Church of the Advent. During his career, Bromberg led the company as President and Chairman of the Board of Bromberg’s, the company his family founded in 1836. – AL.com
$2.9 million grant boosts Thomasville medical facility
A $2.9 million grant will fund infrastructure for a new regional medical center being built in Thomasville, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced this week. The medical center project has been under way for years: Local officials held a groundbreaking in 2015 on what was projected to be a $24 million project to build an 82,700-square-foot facility with 29 medical beds and an office building. At the time, it was hoped the facility would be open by late 2016, helping fill a void left by the shutdown of another medical center in 2011. The facility’s website says it is expected to open in fall 2019. – AL.com
Full Moon Bar-B-Que to open location in Huntsville
Full Moon Bar-B-Que says it will open its 16th Alabama location in Huntsville early next year. The 6,200-square-foot restaurant will be located at 1009 Memorial Parkway. The company says the Huntsville restaurant will have a full menu and quick service dining, as well as expanded catering offerings for the area. – AL.com
