Connect with us

Alabama

Tonya Chestnut leads in contest for Alabama State Board of Education • Alabama Reflector

Published

on

Tonya Chestnut leads in contest for Alabama State Board of Education • Alabama Reflector


Tonya Chestnut Tuesday was leading in the polls as the District 5 representative on the State Board of Education.

As of around 11:30 p.m., Chestnut, a retired educator and Democrat who has served on the board since 2021, had 141,374 votes (54.97%) in unofficial returns, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. Republican challenger David Perry had 115,417 votes (44.87%).

There were 414 write-ins, or 0.16%.

The Associated Press had not called the race as of 11:30 p.m.

Advertisement

Chestnut wrote in a text Tuesday evening that the counties in her district had reported 100%, which gave her the victory.

“A special thanks to District 5 for choosing Chestnut Again!” she wrote. “I count it an honor to continue to serve and represent District 5.”

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Advertisement

Perry wrote in a text Tuesday evening that he had no immediate comment and would respond when his camp gets the final numbers.

District 5 includes much of the Black Belt and most of Montgomery County.

Chestnut said saw school safety as a priority. She also highlighted her work seeking funding to help struggling readers beyond third grade. The Alabama State Department of Education has included funding for that program in its fiscal year 2025 Education Trust Fund request.

Advertisement

Chestnut also said that she has been looking into weighted student funding formulas in other states, which has been a topic of discussion for legislative leaders.

In March, Allen Long, District 7, and Kelly Mooney, District 3, won Republican primaries in races without Democratic candidates.

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

Advertisement



Source link

Alabama

Level 1 severe weather risk added for Alabama today

Published

on

Level 1 severe weather risk added for Alabama today


A cold front will bring a low risk for a few strong storms to parts of Alabama starting later today, according to forecasters.

The strongest storms could have wind gusts strong enough to take down tree limbs and power lines, and there is a low risk for a tornado.

And this may not be the only chance for severe weather. The National Weather Service thinks more storms could be possible on Tuesday, although as of now severe weather isn’t officially in the forecast.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 1 out of 5 (marginal) risk for severe weather for part of Alabama for Friday (see the map above).

Advertisement

The Level 1 risk area includes most of north Alabama and northern and western portions of central Alabama.

The weather service said strong storms will be possible in Alabama starting this afternoon, and they could linger into the overnight hours.

Damaging winds are the main threat, but the Storm Prediction Center also has a very low risk for a tornado in its forecast for Alabama:

The areas in green in Alabama will have a very low probability for a tornado starting this afternoon.SPC

Rain was moving into Alabama as of Friday morning, and scattered rain and storms will be possible through the day today.

The chances for stronger storms will increase starting this afternoon as the cold front approaches, according to the weather service.

Advertisement

Areas that don’t get a lot of rain could again come close to record high temperatures, the weather service said.

Highs today are again expected to be in the 70s and 80s statewide:

Friday highs
Near-record high temperatures will be possible on Friday in parts of Alabama. Above is the forecast for Friday.NWS

No big cooldown is expected after this front passes through.

However that won’t be the case with the next system, which could affect Alabama from Tuesday into Wednesday.

There’s a chance for more storms with that system, according to the weather service, although severe weather isn’t in the forecast for Alabama so far.

The weather service said much cooler air will follow the Tuesday system, and Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) looks to be clear and cooler for much of the state.

Advertisement

Here’s more from the weather service:

NORTH ALABAMA

CENTRAL ALABAMA

SOUTH ALABAMA

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Alabama divorce rate considerably higher than many other states. Where it ranks nationally

Published

on

Alabama divorce rate considerably higher than many other states. Where it ranks nationally


play

Divorces in Alabama are climbing, putting the state among the leaders in the nation for marriage splits.

Advertisement

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama had one of the highest divorce rates in the country in 2023. Experts point to economic pressures, cultural factors and changing social norms as reasons more marriages are ending legally rather than quietly.

Here’s what to know about Alabama’s divorce rates and where it stands compared to other states.

What is the divorce rate in Alabama?

Alabama’s divorce rate is notably higher than that of many other states. According to the CDC, the most recent data puts the state’s divorce rate at roughly 3.2 divorces per 1,000 people.

A look at state-level trends shows that this hasn’t always been the case. In 1990, Alabama’s rate was about 6.1 per 1,000, but it has declined significantly over time and has stayed relatively stable in recent years.

The divorce trend explained

Experts point to a cultural shift as one reason Alabama’s divorce rate remains high. A recent Times report notes that more women in the state are rejecting traditional “trad-wife” roles, gaining financial independence and confidence to leave unhappy marriages. Psychologist and divorce attorneys say this trend reflects changing expectations around marriage, religion and personal identity in the Deep South.

Advertisement

How does Alabama rank nationally?

Compared nationally, Alabama’s divorce rate is still among the higher end of U.S. states’ rates. Here are the top 9 states with the highest divorce rates in 2023:

  • Nevada 3.8
  • Idaho: 3.4
  • Wyoming: 3.4
  • Oklahoma: 3.3
  • Alaska: 3.1
  • Utah: 3.1
  • Alabama: 3
  • Arkansas: 3
  • Florida: 3

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.



Source link

Continue Reading

Alabama

Booger McFarland reacts to controversy surrounding Notre Dame over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings

Published

on

Booger McFarland reacts to controversy surrounding Notre Dame over Alabama in College Football Playoff rankings


Three two-loss teams were present in the top-10 of Tuesday night’s updated College Football Playoff rankings. No. 8 Oklahoma led the way, followed by No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Alabama. This led to debate amongst many, who believe that the Crimson Tide boast a much stronger resume than the Irish.

Alabama holds wins over four teams present in the latest CFP Rankings (No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Tennessee, and No. 22 Missouri), while Notre Dame is just 1-2 against such teams. The Irish downed No. 15 USC 34-24 on Oct. 14, but kicked off the season with back-to-back losses to No. 13 Miami and No. 3 Texas A&M.

ESPN‘s Booger McFarland broke down why the committee would have put Notre Dame over Alabama in the Rankings during a hit on Wednesday afternoon’s edition of ‘SportsCenter‘.

“I think the fact that they both have two losses lets you know that the committee views Notre Dame as the better team right now,” McFarland said. “Notre Dame is a hotter team. They lost their first two games, but have won eight in a row. And when you look at how they play and their physicality, they’ve got the best backfield in America with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The offensive line is really good. The defense is big and physical. They can cover man-to-man on the outside, and I think CJ Carr, as a young quarterback, is starting to come along.”

Advertisement

McFarland says committee looked at teams ‘in a vacuum’

“I think the committee just looked at these two teams and said ‘in a vacuum, they both have two losses. Who do we think is better right now?’ And I think they deemed that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are just the better team right now.”

“But let’s just remember, this is an incomplete resume. The committee has an enviable task of trying to figure out what the resume is going to look like when it ends, because we still have a couple weeks left in the season.”

Both teams opened the season with a loss, but in Alabama‘s case, it won its next eight games before falling at home to Oklahoma 23-21 on Saturday. Notre Dame opened with an 0-2 record, but is currently in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. With both programs facing unranked teams in their final two games of the season, it may take a win in the SEC Championship Game for Alabama to jump back over the Irish in the final CFP Rankings.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending