We’re talking about the effects (so far) of Alabama’s new school-choice law as the school year draws closer:

Lulu’s (federal) Law

A federal version of Lulu’s Law has passed the U.S. Senate, reports AL.com’s Heather Gann.

Lulu Gribbin was the Mountain Brook teenager who lost a hand and part of a leg in one of two shark attacks on the same day along the Gulf Coast. Lulu’s Law would “empower authorized local, state, tribal, and federal government authorities to quickly deploy warnings via mobile phone alert messages to the public if a shark has attacked someone or if the conditions enhancing the possibility of a shark attack are present,” according to a release from U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who introduced the legislation. Alabama’s other senator, Tommy Tuberville, signed on as a co-sponsor.

The state legislature passed its version of the measure during this year’s legislative session.

It passed the Senate unanimously and goes to the House, where Republican Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer has introduced the bill with Democratic Congressman Shomari Figures on as a co-sponsor.

Reported cuts at Marshall

Politico has reported on the Trump administration’s downsizing at NASA. According to documents, 279 senior-level cuts are happening at Marshall Space Flight Center.

A Trump proposal for cuts includes phasing out the Space Launch System and the lunar spacecraft Orion. Both those vehicles are big programs for Marshall.

Still, during Congressional negotiations some money was moved back to Marshall and the Artemis missions, which are supposed to culminate in a return to the moon.

PSC and energy prices

A judge ruled this week that the Alabama Public Service Commission can continue to determine Alabama Power prices without hearing from the public, reports AL.com’s Margaret Kates.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Brooke Reid denied an appeal from Energy Alabama asking that public input be a part of the proceedings.

The PSC sets the “rate energy cost recovery” for Alabama Power. That’s part of your bill that’s supposed to help the utility cover its costs, and those costs fluctuate so much that the rate requires occasional adjustments.

Talladega quadruple homicide

Crime Stoppers announced a $5,000 reward for information in a quadruple homicide that happened this past weekend in Talladega, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.

Police officers were performing a welfare check on somebody who hadn’t been seen for a couple days when they found three men and a woman dead. All had been shot.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Talladega police or call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP.

In the weeds

Birmingham’s City Council this week passed an ordinance giving the mayor authority to mow and cut weeds on neglected properties, reports AL.com’s Greg Garrison.

As you know, we had a lot of rain last month across Alabama. Anyone with a garden or a flower bed knows that means weeds have been having their way.

But not in Birmingham, by golly. The new budget puts $3 million in weed abatement. There are 18 lawn-service contractors ready to get to work, and this new emergency ordinance is intended to help clear the way.

Said Mayor Randall Woodfin, “We believe we’ll be able to make a significant dent.”

By the Numbers

$16.1 million

That’s the size of the tax package used to lure Germany steel company Butting Global to Loxley.

More Alabama News

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