Alabama mining company says it can safely extract near Okefenokee
The president of an Alabama company says he’s confident that his firm can mine land just east of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge without polluting the water or soil, despite concerns expressed by a federal agency. Twin Pines Minerals President Steve Ingle made the comments at a recent community meeting in St. George, The Savannah Morning News reported. – AP
Foreign investment announcements already promise 3,300 new jobs
The Alabama Department of Commerce announced Friday that the state has already received promises of 3,300 new jobs from foreign direct investment in the state. This is following a record-breaking 2018 when companies from 16 different countries launched projects promising to create more than 7,500 new jobs. So far in 2019, FDI projects approaching $1 billion in value will bring another 3,300 jobs to the state, according to an Alabama Department of Commerce estimate. – AL Political Reporter
UA professor awarded grant to study deadly heat waves
A University of Alabama assistant professor has received a grant that will help him study the deadly heat waves, which are becoming more frequent. David Keelings, a climatologist and assistant professor of geography at The University of Alabama, was in Italy in June attending an outdoor wedding with his wife in over 100 degree weather, just as Europe was experiencing the first of two massive heat waves this summer. “People there are not adapted to it, and this is a big part of what kills people during a heat wave,” Keelings said. – AL Political Reporter
State’s unemployment rate drops to an adjusted 3.3 percent
Alabama’s economy set records for the most people employed and the lowest unemployment rate in July, Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced Friday. July’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.3 percent, beating the record of 3.5 percent set in June. The rate represents 2.17 million employed people, about 11,000 more than the previous month. – AL.com
Defamation suit filed by Roy Moore put on hold
A judge has paused a defamation suit filed by Roy Moore against women who accused him during his unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid of past misconduct. Circuit Judge Albert Johnson the case will be held until a related defamation case against Moore by one of the women is resolved. During Alabama’s 2017 special Senate race, several women accused Moore of having pursued relationships with them when they were teens and he was in his 30s. – AP
