The MGMWERX innovation hub, which began operations at its current location in December 2018, supports the U.S. Air Force’s Air University through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory to align with the education initiatives of the university.

During the tour, Ainsworth was briefed on several Air University projects being brought to life by MGMWERX. The lieutenant governor also interacted with Air University students taking part in the U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College elective course titled Innovators by Design. This course helps develop future innovators in the Air Force and is regularly hosted at MGMWERX.

“MGMWERX strengthens and supports ongoing educational programs for military leaders training at Maxwell’s USAF Air University,” Ainsworth shared on social media. “Its mission, work, and results are much appreciated.”

Military bases play a vital role in our state, it’s economy, and it’s job opportunities. @mgmwerx strengthens and supports ongoing educational programs for military leaders training at Maxwell’s @HQAirUniversity. Its mission, work, and results are much appreciated. #MilitaryAL pic.twitter.com/yWA8oBeiu4

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) April 16, 2021

This continues Ainsworth’s leadership on military, defense and aerospace matters. He currently serves as chair of both the Alabama Military Stability Commission and the national Aerospace States Association.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

March’s Yellowhammer State rate represents 84,670 unemployed persons, compared to 91,041 in February.

“Once again, our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since the pandemic began. We’re still not where we were before, but tremendous progress is being made,” stated Washington. “We have more jobs in March than we’ve had all year, and we’re seeing monthly wage growth in several industries.”

Wage and salary employment increased in March by 9,100 to 2,019,500, the highest recorded level in 2021.

“As the unemployment rate steadily drops, our focus must turn to the number of people still unemployed in Alabama. ADOL launched its 53rd Career Center in Washington County on April 6. This new center furthers our efforts to serve EVERY county in Alabama,” Washington added. “Our career centers stand ready to assist the unemployed in getting back into the workforce by providing training, educational assistance, and assistance in finding and applying for jobs. We can also assist employers with their hiring needs.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates in March were: Shelby and Cullman Counties at 2.0%; Limestone, Franklin and Blount Counties at 2.1%; and Marshall and Cleburne Counties at 2.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox County at 11.6%, Lowndes County at 10.6% and Perry County at 8.1%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were: Madison at 1.8%; Alabaster, Homewood, Hoover and Vestavia Hills at 1.9%; and Athens at 2.1%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates were: Prichard at 10.0%, Selma at 9.4% and Bessemer at 6.4%.

Alabama’s preliminary March unemployment rate is 3.8%
Alabama’s preliminary January 2021 unemployment rate is 4.3%. https://t.co/lngjo9dtdR@GovernorKayIvey @ADOLSecretary @ALWorksSystem pic.twitter.com/KWaFekyR50

— ADOL (@al_labor) April 16, 2021

Alabama’s recent unemployment rate declines come after the successful Keep Alabama Open campaign over the winter months, which was spearheaded by the Business Council of Alabama. As other states shut down, Alabama focused on allowing businesses and other entities to stay open while following health guidelines in a safe and responsible manner.

Following this movement, Alabama in March once again recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast. The state’s rate is eighth best in the country.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“One of the things I heard, Jeff, I thought was interesting was that, ‘Well, they’re giving me a hard time back home about voting on that gas tax — voting ‘yes’ on that tax,'” he said. “So, what I’d like to do is turn around and give them a right to vote on this to kind of make up for it. I thought that was an interesting take.”

“I tell you what, if I was going to run against an incumbent, and they didn’t give them people the right to vote for this, I would make an issue out of it, big time,” McClendon added. “I’d bring it up. I wouldn’t let them get a free ride on denying the people the right to vote.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.

• In the Alabama Legislature, the State Senate has passed the Alabama Second Amendment Preservation Act, which is meant to prevent local and state governments from enforcing gun control laws and regulations. This only applies to regulations made effective after January 1, 2021, and the Senate approving this measure is after President Joe Biden announced executive action on gun control.
• State Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), who sponsors the bill, said this is going to protect people in Alabama “from any unnecessary overreach by the federal government and is meant to be a check on proposals that infringe on our right to self-defense coming from the Biden Administration or the Democrat-controlled Congress.”

5. Another fake news story completely discredited after an election 

• In news that will shock absolutely no one, one of the more salacious stories of the 2020 election cycle turned out to be completely based on nothing. The reports of Russian bounties places on U.S. troops came from Afghan prisoners of war looking to “get out of a cage.” Friendlies in the media and now-President Joe Biden treated them as fact. He stated in 2020, “I don’t understand why this president is unwilling to take on Putin when he’s actually paying bounties to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.”
• Even with the low confidence the intelligence agencies now say they have in this story, it was a main thread in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, it was referenced in debates, and received wall-to-wall coverage even after it was denied by the Trump White House and the intelligence communities.

4. Bill protecting women’s sports passes

• The legislation that prohibits biological males from competing in female sports in K-12 has been passed by the Alabama State Senate. It has been clarified that this doesn’t apply to sports that don’t have separate genders for competitions, as with football, where both genders would be able to compete still.
• In the Senate, the bill passed 25-5 and now goes back to the State House of Representatives where it has already passed in a lower chamber vote of 74-19. Currently, many other states are considering similar legislation as there’s been a stronger push to allow transgender females to compete with biological females in sports.

3. Pelosi attempts to end the conversation on packing the U.S. Supreme Court

• As legislation came up in the U.S. House of Representatives to expand the U.S. Supreme Court to 13 judges, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that she doesn’t “know that that’s a good idea or a bad idea.” Pelosi did note that there are “no plans” to put the issue to a vote, but that “it’s an idea that should be considered.” She supports President Joe Biden’s method of having a committee study the issue.
• After she said this, other prominent Democrats held a press conference on the matter. Incrompehensibly, U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) declared this isn’t about packing the court, stating, “We are not packing the Supreme Court, we are unpacking it.”

2. You’ll probably have to get a third shot within a year

• It’s expected that people who received the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine will “likely” have to get a third shot within a year of their initial vaccination, according to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. This third shot would act as a booster to keep people protected from the virus.
• Bourla is also anticipating people will need to get the vaccine every year, but Pfizer has been testing booster shots since February; Moderna is also testing booster shots for their coronavirus vaccine.

1. Palmer: This isn’t about science anymore

• U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is speaking out against how public health officials, such as White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, are releasing information and guidance to the public.
• Palmer said this guidance to continue coronavirus precautions after being vaccinated isn’t following the science, adding, “If they followed the science, kids wouldn’t be required to wear a mask … schools would be open.” Palmer also noted that he has “zero confidence” in those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He went on to add that “we’re to the point where it is more about control than it is about science.”

Garrett reiterated that Alabama is 47th in the nation in broadband connectivity, even lagging well behind Mississippi, as well as other neighboring states.

He said SB 215 is an “effort to develop a comprehensive, aggressive and robust strategy and process to expand broadband across the state.”

“Doing so will enhance Alabama’s education, health care system and economy,” added Garrett. “The state actually has no connectivity strategy or plan right now. All we really have is the ADECA (grant) program — which works very successfully, it’s a very good program. We like the way it operates. But $20 million a year is not going to solve the problem, which is to get internet access throughout this entire state.”

He explained that the endeavor to expand broadband access to all Alabamians carries a price tag between four and six billion dollars.

“So chipping away $20 million or so a year on a grant program is not going to do it,” Garrett added.

“This is a very serious issue for the state,” he stressed.

Proponents of the bill participating in the hearing included Blake Hardwich, speaking on behalf of the Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition; Jeremy Walker, CEO of the Alabama Association of Realtors; and Sean Strickler, vice president of public affairs for the ‎Alabama Rural Electric Association. Other key industry leaders, such as NFIB Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash, have also expressed their support for SB 215.

“We’re in full support of SB 215,” emphasized Hardwich. The Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition is comprised of a diverse membership across the business, education, health care and agriculture communities.

“We all believe that SB 215 will benefit the state of Alabama,” she added, speaking to the wide swath the coalition represents. “It is my belief, and our belief, if we continue down the current path that we’re on, Alabama will continue to fall further and further behind. We cannot afford to do that.”

Committee Chairman Randall Shedd (R-Cullman) noted that there is a draft of a substitute version of SB 215 that the committee members have; a final version of that sub is expected to be completed in time for a committee vote next week.

Some potential “tweaks” aside, multiple members of the committee expressed an urgency to bridge the digital divide.

Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley) said, “We cannot keep doing business in Alabama without proper internet services.”

She outlined an account of children in her district having to sit in cars parked near a bus with a hotspot during the pandemic to even do school work.

“That’s why we need this,” Wood underscored. “It’s vitally important.”

“We want a plan that’s best for the state, that utilizes all the tools in the toolbox,” Garrett reiterated. “We’re trying to do what’s best to provide internet access throughout the state.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn