BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The state’s new retail theft law has not even been around an entire year yet, but the Alabama Retail Association says it is working. They are noticing the sign of success, pointing to news headlines.

“We’ve had arrests in Cullman, and in Mobile, and in Hoover,” said Nancy Dennis with the Alabama Retail Association. She says the Retail Theft Crime Prevention Act is already stopping shoplifters. It creates harsher penalties for thieves and crime-ring organizers.

Nancy says organized crime is an industry in itself.

“There are people who will steal from retailers in various ways, then they will sell it online at a lesser price,” Dennis shared.

She says these criminals were not being prosecuted, stealing just under the threshold for charges. Now, prosecutors can group multiple thefts together.

Stealing over $2,500 of products is now a class B felony, and people caught four or more times for any amount will face a class C felony.

“The goal is to hopefully make these kinds of incidents be less and less,” the spokesperson said.

The Alabama Retail Association says this law also allows businesses to sign out warrants for arrests without leaving their stores, and provides training for prosecutors and law enforcement officials.

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

Copyright 2024 WBRC. All rights reserved.

Retail Salespersons, Registered Nurses, and Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers are the Top Jobs in May

MONTGOMERY – Data collected and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information (LMI) Division shows that in May 2024, there were 79,602 job ads posted in Alabama, representing a monthly increase of 1.3%.

The five occupations with the most online job ads are for Retail Salespersons, Registered Nurses, Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers and Fast Food and Counter Workers, with 12,517 ads placed for those occupations in May.

The HWOL data is compiled from all online job postings in the state, including those posted on the state’s free online jobs database, AlabamaWorks.alabama.gov, and other sources, such as traditional job boards, corporate boards, and social media sites.

In May 2024, there were 29,786 total job ads with salaries, including 7,089 jobs ads with salaries of $70,000 and above; 7,924 jobs ads with salaries in the $35-49,000 range; 5,150 jobs ads with salaries in the $50-69,000 range, and 9,623 jobs ads with salaries less than $35,000.

The top two employers posting the most online ads in May were Walmart with 1,059 ads and Huntsville Hospital with 923 ads. The rest of the top 10 were: UAB Medicine (845), The University of Alabama at Birmingham (707), Auburn University (574), Baptist Health (511), Taco Bell (496), USA Health (432), The University of Alabama (424), and Jack’s Family Restaurants (416).

This month’s HWOL Occupation Focus is Computer Systems Analysts. Those employed in this occupation analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software. They may also provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems. Typically, employees in these occupations usually need a Bachelor’s degree. The advertised median salary for Computer Systems Analysts in Alabama is $107,264. This occupation has 390 Annual Total Openings in Alabama.

Members of the media seeking more information should contact Communications Director Tara Hutchison.

An Equal Opportunity Employer / Program

Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Dial 711 for TTY Accessibility

Special to the Advance

The Apiary Protection Unit of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) confirmed the presence of Africanized honeybees (AHBs) in beehives in Jackson and St. Clair counties through genetic testing.

Officials at ADAI are developing a strategic monitoring plan for AHBs. Swarm traps will be placed within a five- to 10-mile radius of the confirmed cases. Bees from nearby beekeepers will also be sampled as a precaution. ADAI said this proactive measure aims to assess the extent of AHB infiltration and prevent future spread.

Jack Rowe, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System bee specialist, said Alabama hasn’t had an AHB presence before, which keeps the state’s beekeepers from having colony management problems.

“The Apiary Protection Unit maintains a careful watch on the Port of Mobile to prevent an AHB invasion,” Rowe said. “It is up to the rest of us to ensure that we don’t bring AHBs in by accident. Vigilance is important, as is compliance with Alabama’s apiary laws.”

AHBs look like European Honeybees, but their behaviors are different. AHBs are more defensive, more easily disturbed and respond in greater numbers. Other identifying qualities are outlined in the press release from the ADAI.

Apiculturists who regularly collect swarms or conduct bee removals should be alert for bees that seem highly aggressive to humans or animals. If encountered, Phillip Carter, an apiary inspector with the plant protection division of ADAI, encourages apiculturists to contact the plant protection division so a sample can be collected and tested for AHB genes.

“Investigators are speculating the two confirmed AHB colonies are a result of purchasing queens, packages and illegal nucs from other states with the presence of AHBs,” Carter said.

Rowe said Carter is asking all beekeepers to obey the No Comb Law by not purchasing nucs from out of state.

“We have this law in place to prevent exactly what is now happening, not just honeybee pests and diseases,” Carter said.

When purchasing mated queens or packages from another state with a confirmed presence of AHBs, it is imperative that the buyer request the seller’s certificate, confirming their testing for AHBs through their state’s apiary program.

“We must all comply with Alabama’s apiary laws to protect the bee population in Alabama and prevent the spread of AHBs in our state,” Rowe said.

Rowe said if beekeepers are receiving packages or queens from the following states, it is best to request certificates stating that the bee stock that they were raised from are free from AHB genes:

• Florida
• Louisiana
• Arkansas
• Texas
• New Mexico
• Arizona
• Nevada
• California

If you think you’ve encountered an unusually aggressive hive, contact Rowe or Allyson Shabel, both members of Alabama Extension’s beekeeping team. Also reach out to the Apiary Protection Unit through the following contact information:

Central and north Alabama beekeepers, contact Jason James at 334-850-7757. South central and south Alabama beekeepers, contact Phillip Carter at 334-414-1666 or Randy Hamann at 334-850-7758. You may also contact Daniele Sisk in the ADAI Montgomery office at 334-240-7228.