UPDATED 1:30 p.m. – Schools Dismiss Early Due to Severe Weather Threat
Severe storms are expected in Alabama on Thursday. The National Weather Service says much of the northern half of Alabama could see severe weather with an area from roughly northern Jefferson County north toward Florence and Huntsville facing the biggest risk. The storms could produce tornadoes, hail and damaging winds.
With the threat of severe weather, a number school systems will dismiss early.
Albertville City School — dismiss at 1:30 p.m.
Athens City School — will not dismiss early but all after school activities are canceled
Athens State University — dismiss at 2 p.m.
Arab City Schools — Pre-K dismiss at 1 p.m., All other Arab City Schools dismiss at 1:30 p.m.
Bevill State Community College — dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
Blount County Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Calhoun Community College — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Colbert County Schools — dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
Cornerstone Christian Academy — dismiss at 2 p.m.
Country Day School in Huntsville — dismiss at 11:30 p.m.
Cullman City Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Cullman County Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Decatur City Schools — dismiss at 1:45 p.m.
DeKalb County Schools — dismiss at 2 p.m.
Fort Payne City Schools — dismiss at 2 p.m
Florence City Schools — early dismissal
Franklin County Schools — dismiss at 12 p.m.
Hartselle City Schools — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:45 p.m., Junior High and High School dismiss at 1 p.m.
Huntsville City Schools — Elementary Schools dismiss at 12 p.m., Middle Schools and Junior High dismiss at 12:30 p.m., High Schools at 1 p.m.
Jackson County Schools — All after school activities have been canceled
Jasper City Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Lauderdale County Schools — dismiss at 12 p.m.
Lawerence County Schools, Tennessee — dismiss at 12 p.m.
Legacy Christian Academy — dismiss at 12 p.m.
Limestone County Schools — Elementary Schools dismiss at 11:40 p.m., High Schools dismiss at 12 p.m.
Lincoln County Schools, Tennessee — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Madison City Schools — Pre-K Schools dismiss at 12 p.m., Elementary Schools dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Middle and High Schools dismiss at 1:15 p.m.
Madison County Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Madison Academy School — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Mars Hill School — dismiss at 12 p.m.
Marshall County Schools, Tennessee — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Morgan County Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Muscle Shoals City Schools — dismiss at 1p.m.
Randolph School — K-4 dismiss at 12:30 p.m., Grades 5-8 dismiss at 1 p.m.
Russellville City Schools — dismiss at 12 p.m.
Shoals Christian School — dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
Snead State Community College — dismiss at 4 p.m.
Tuscaloosa County Schools — dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
Oneonta City Schools — dismiss at 1:15 p.m.
Walker County Schools — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Wallace State Community College in Hanceville — dismiss at 1 p.m.
Westminister Christian Academy — High School dismiss at 12 p.m., Middle School dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
Government Closures:
DeKalb County Government — closed at 2 p.m.
Birmingham is 3rd worst in the Southeast for ozone pollution, new report says
The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report shows some metro areas in the Gulf States continue to have poor air quality.
Why haven’t Kansas and Alabama — among other holdouts — expanded access to Medicaid?
Only 10 states have not joined the federal program that expands Medicaid to people who are still in the "coverage gap" for health care
Once praised, settlement to help sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with nearly nothing
Thousands of ordinary people who helped clean up after the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico say they got sick. A court settlement was supposed to help compensate them, but it hasn’t turned out as expected.
Q&A: How harm reduction can help mitigate the opioid crisis
Maia Szalavitz discusses harm reduction's effectiveness against drug addiction, how punitive policies can hurt people who need pain medication and more.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring a Community Engagement Producer
The Gulf States Newsroom is seeking a curious, creative and collaborative professional to work with our regional team to build up engaged journalism efforts.
Gambling bills face uncertain future in the Alabama legislature
This year looked to be different for lottery and gambling legislation, which has fallen short for years in the Alabama legislature. But this week, with only a handful of meeting days left, competing House and Senate proposals were sent to a conference committee to work out differences.
