Gov. Ivey to Touch on the Census, Prisons and Education in State of the State Address

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/06/48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:4:"file";s:51:"2019/06/48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:49:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:51:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-e1560959872149-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:10:"Hal Yeager";s:6:"camera";s:6:"ILCE-9";s:7:"caption";s:178:"Governor Kay Ivey participated in a Historical Marker Installation Ceremony at Salem Missionary Baptist Saturday, June 8, 2019 in Greensboro, Ala.  (Governor's Office/Hal Yeager)";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:1560012202;s:9:"copyright";s:4:"2019";s:12:"focal_length";s:3:"191";s:3:"iso";s:4:"2500";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:6:"0.0005";s:5:"title";s:57:"Governor Kay Ivey Historical Marker Installation Ceremony";s:11:"orientation";i:0;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Hal Yeager
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Alabama Governor's Office
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1560792001:74
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:10:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1365;s:4:"file";s:28:"48027991682_123f37a264_k.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"48027991682_123f37a264_k-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:52:"Backup failed: The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

)
1656191345 
1580486347

Governor Kay Ivey will discuss the 2020 census, Alabama’s prison crisis and education in her State of the State Address on Tuesday. Ivey offered the preview during a speech Friday at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama’s annual meeting in Birmingham.

Ivey calls this year’s federal census “make or break” for Alabama and says everyone needs to respond when the census count begins April 1st. Alabama is at risk of losing a congressional seat because it has not grown as fast relative to other states. The census also determines funding for an array of government programs.

“This is a critical time and the outcome will affect the future of our state and every citizen,” Ivey says.  “Leave no stone unturned.”

Ivey mentioned Alabama’s ongoing prison crisis. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice threatened a federal lawsuit because of violence and overcrowding in state prisons. The Alabama Department of Corrections is under a court order to increase staffing in the next few years. Prison staff numbers are far below recommended levels.

A prison study group set up by Ivey issued recommendations this week. The governor is also pursing a plan to build three new, larger prisons and close most others. She says that will “transition our facilities from being warehouses to rehabilitation.”

Ivey says education is a high priority for her administration, but lamented Alabama’s often poor showing in state rankings.

“It seems to me we’ve just gotten complacent and accustomed to being at or near the bottom,” Ivey says. “But our children are suffering from this. We need to get energized about fixing the education system.”

Ivey encouraged those at the meeting to vote in favor of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot March 3rd. Under the amendment, members of the state school board would be appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate. Board members are currently elected.

Ivey will give her State of the State Address Tuesday evening at 6:30. WBHM will carry that speech live.

 

Expert panel picked by RFK Jr. will scrutinize the vaccine schedule for kids

The advisory committee makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the nation's vaccine schedule. Any changes could affect vaccinations for millions of children.

Trump’s signature policy bill is facing trouble on multiple fronts in the Senate

While Senate leaders have made several significant changes to the bill in recent days, the issue of funding for rural hospitals has emerged as a major roadblock.

Hold the yelling: Ebon Moss-Bachrach says ‘The Bear’ set is ‘very loving’

Moss-Bachrach has won two Emmys for his portrayal of an abrasive and ornery cook/maître d on the FX series The Bear. The show is known for kitchen chaos, but he says the set is calm and well run.

4 things to know about Zohran Mamdani, presumptive Democratic nominee for NYC mayor

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assembly member and democratic socialist, came in first in Tuesday's ranked-choice primary. Here's what to know about his policies, personal life and past.

‘Law & Order’ star investigates her own family’s tragic car crash in ‘My Mom Jayne’

Mariska Hargitay has only the vaguest memories of her mother, Jayne Mansfield, the sex-symbol movie star who died in the 1967 crash. Now, Hargitay examines her family history in a new documentary.

Greetings from Odesa, Ukraine, where a Black Sea beach offers respite from war

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares snapshots of moments from their lives and work around the world.

More Front Page Coverage