Alabama
Alabama business leaders sour on near-term U.S. economy
As self-confidence in Alabama’s economic climate is being strengthened by boosts in sector earnings and also sales, state magnate do not have the exact same positive outlook for the future of the country’s financial development.
According to the most recent Alabama Service Self-confidence Index, a quarterly study performed by the College of Alabama’s Facility for Service and also Economic Research study, virtually 58% of magnate anticipate even worse financial problems for the USA in the 2nd quarter of 2022.
CAN’T OFFER IT AWAY: Research discovers cost-free vehicle parking in midtown Tuscaloosa not being made use of
“Rising cost of living is a large component of the worries for the U.S. economic climate,” stated Susannah Robichaux, socioeconomic expert for CBER. “Little and also mid-sized companies had significantly reduced U.S. financial overviews than big companies, that makes feeling given that these smaller sized organizations have tighter margins and also would certainly really feel the effect of rising cost of living quicker than their bigger equivalents.”
Absorbed very early March, the most recent Alabama Service Self-confidence Index went to 54.6, indicating state magnate have primarily favorable financial assumptions for their organizations and also the state economic climate in the approaching quarter.
Nevertheless, this study proceeds a descending pattern.
The Alabama Service Self-confidence Index went down 2.6 factors from the last study, and also is below 67 in a study absorbed June 2021, prior to a revival of the coronavirus via the delta variation.
An index over 50 suggests a favorable projection contrasted to the previous quarter, and also the greater the number, the much more certain the projection, scientists stated.
The Alabama Service Self-confidence Index is put together from a wide team of service execs throughout the state concentrating on 6 vital signs – statewide and also nationwide projections; industry-specific sales, earnings, working with and also capital investment – and also a composite index.
Along with the statewide Alabama Service Self-confidence Index record, the Facility for Service and also Economic Research study additionally gathers information to compose specific records for Alabama’s 5 significant city locations. These city reports deal understanding right into the projections for every certain area.
The failure of all the sector projections by industry can be seen in the statewide Alabama Service Self-confidence Index record on Facility for Service and also Economic Research study’s web site.
While the checked panelists have a general favorable expectation on the statewide economic climate, across the country, magnate aren’t as positive, shown in an index of 38.5 for the nationwide economic climate.
As a matter of fact, state magnate have actually not had a favorable expectation for the U.S. economic climate because that study photo prior to the delta alternative arised.
6 of the 9 sector teams checked continue to be favorable in their expectation for the 2nd quarter, with medical care and also social aid organizations reporting the most affordable adverse expectation.
Previously this year, Ahmad Ijaz, executive supervisor of the Facility for Service and also Economic Study, and also various other economic experts at the facility had actually forecasted Alabama’s economic climate would certainly expand concerning 3% in 2022, yet that has actually given that been modified to an expectation of 2.7% development.
Ijaz noted a variety of aspects for this modification, amongst them greater costs, dropping exports, skyrocketing rising cost of living, increasing rate of interest, long-lasting rate of interest that are presently less than temporary prices, and also the ongoing results of Russia’s battle in Ukraine.
“On one hand we have a reasonably solid economic climate with extremely solid labor markets, both in regards to working with and also brand-new task production, manpower involvement price remains to tick upwards, business earnings look fantastic, and also real estate markets are succeeding,” Ijaz stated. “Yet there are additionally indicators indicating the truth that the economic climate might be gone to an economic crisis.”
Alabama
South Alabama adds Samford wide receiver transfer Brendan Jenkins for 2025
South Alabama on Wednesday picked up its first transfer portal commitment of the current cycle, from former Samford wide receiver Brendan Jenkins.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Jenkins caught 89 passes for 888 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons with the Bulldogs, and was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023. A native of Hochston, Ga., he has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
South Alabama has a major need at receiver, with four seniors among its top five pass-catchers in 2024. First-team All-Sun Belt selection Jamaal Pritchett has used up his eligibility, as have Salute to Veterans Bowl Most Valuable Player Jeremiah Webb, tight end DJ Thomas-Jones and No. 4 receiver Shamar Sandgren (though it’s now possible Sandgren could return next season after a recent NCAA ruling involving former junior-college transfers).
Devin Voisin, who caught 34 passes this past season, is expected to return for a seventh year at South Alabama in 2025 after receiving a medical redshirt following an early-season knee injury in 2023. Also eligible to return are Anthony Eager (10 catches, 2 TDs as a redshirt freshman in 2024), program veteran Keyshawn Woodyard and a host of less-experienced receivers including Micah Woods, Noah Toster, Jeremy Scott and Jerrian Graham.
South Alabama is expected to add a number of other portal transfers before spring semester classes begin on Jan. 13. The transfer portal closes for new entries on Dec. 28, though a player already in the portal by then may commit to or sign with his new school at any time.
Alabama
2024 Alabama High School Back and Lineman of the Year Finalists
Winners, Super All-State and Mr. Football to be revealed Jan. 28 at a luncheon banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance.
Class 7A
Back of the year
Anquon Fegans, Thompson
Trent Seaborn, Thompson
Daylyn Upshaw, Central-Phenix City
Lineman of the year
Malik Autry, Opelika
Zion Grady, Enterprise
Jared Smith, Thompson
Class 6A
Back of the year
Corey Barber, Spain Park
KJ Lacey, Saraland
Na’eem Offord, Parker
Lineman of the year
Keenan Britt, Oxford
Jourdin Crawford, Parker
Anthony Jones, St. Paul’s
Class 5A
Back of the year
Conner Nelson, Leeds
Cam Phinizee, Russellville
Jotavion Pierce, Catholic-Montgomery
Lineman of the year
Jabarrius Garrar, Vigor
Kentonio Kelly Jr., Vigor
Ellis McGaskin, Williamson
Class 4A
Back of the year
EJ Crowell, Jackson
Landon Duckworth, Jackson
Gunner Rivers, St. Michael
Lineman of the year
Tristan Brown, Cherokee Co.
Tae Diamond, Cherokee Co.
AJ Rice, Madison Academy
Class 3A
Back of the year
Caden Chandler, Mars Hill Bible
Kadyn Mitchell, Houston Academy
Rollie Pinto, Piedmont
Lineman of the year
Myles Johnson, T.R. Miller
Billy Neill, Bayside Academy
Tucker Wilks, Fyffe
Class 2A
Back of the year
Chris Clemons, Winston Co.
Luke Gilbert, Pisgah
Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Aca.
Lineman of the year
JJ Faulk, Highland Home
Clete O’Bryant, Coosa Christian
Grayson Gulde, Vincent
Class 1A
Back of the year
Alvin Henderson, Elba
Ziquayvion Jackson, McKenzie
Jaquez Wilkes, Wadley
Lineman of the year
Fred Curry, Georgiana
Hayes Farrell, Donoho
Tim Parnell, Leroy
AISA
Back of the year
Julian Curry, Wilcox Academy
Gerrell Perry, Banks Academy
Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy
Lineman of the year
Jackson Boykin, South Choctaw Academy
Ashton Yelder, Lowndes Academy
Asher Young, Fort Dale Academy
The Alabama Sports Writers Association is a professional organization for sports writers and editors throughout the state, or any person involved in disseminating sports information or publicity in Alabama including but not limited to sports information personnel, publicists of professional organizations or facilities, or publicists of non-profit organizations sponsoring or governing sporting events. The ASWA is a non-profit organization.
The ASWA prep committee’s primary responsibilities include conducting regular top-10 rankings of a variety of high school sports, and select all-state teams in those sports as well. The committee will determine the winner of a variety of annual awards including the annual Mr. Football winner, and the Jimmy Smothers Courage Award. For more information, check out: ASWA
See Also 2024 Alabama High School All-State Football Selections
Alabama
3 former Alabama high school stars return to NFL rosters
Three Alabama high school alumni will wake up on Christmas morning on NFL rosters after starting Christmas eve out of the league.
On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville High School) to their active roster, the Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High School, Alabama) to their practice squad and the Miami Dolphins signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy High School) to their practice squad.
Each of the players rejoined a team they had played for this season.
An eight-year veteran with 105 NFL regular-season games and 58 starts in his career, Morrow played in 11 games for Buffalo before the Bills released him on Dec. 7.
A seven-year veteran with 87 NFL regular-season games and 68 starts in his career, Evans played in two games for Atlanta before being waived on Saturday. This is the third time the Falcons have signed Evans for their practice squad this season. He joined the team on Oct. 1, was released on Oct. 12, re-signed on Oct. 21 and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 1.
A three-year veteran with 19 NFL regular-season games in his career, Farrell played in seven games for Miami before being waived on Saturday. Farrell joined the Dolphins’ practice squad on Sept. 26 and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 11.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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