🌱 Unemployment Rate Update + Trucking Labor Shortage Bill

Happy Tuesday, people of Montgomery! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Periods of rain and a t-storm. High: 58 Low: 52.

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Here are the top three stories in Montgomery today:

1. State lawmakers in Montgomery are working to solve the trucking industry labor shortage. House Bill 368 seeks to increase the weight limits on timber trucks by ten percent which could add as much as 10,000 pounds per vehicle. The increased weight would decrease roadway safety while causing more damage to Alabama roads over time. (News19)
2. Montgomery Police Department has charged Ray Vaughn Thomas Jr. on first-degree robbery charges. Thomas Jr. allegedly stole $10 from a victim in the 3800 block of South Court Street by gunpoint. A U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force apprehended Thomas Jr. on Friday and is now awaiting trial. (WSFA12 News)
3. Alabama's unemployment rate remains at 3.1 percent for the fourth month in a row, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. The state's rate is still lower than the national average of 4 percent and lower than where the state was at this time last year. Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington reports that a steady unemployment rate is ideal when the national economy remains uncertain. (U.S. News & World Report)

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Today in Montgomery:

• Council Session At The County of Montgomery (9:45 AM)
• YOGA At Bell Road Branch YMCA (5:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Montgomery Forward is investing $50 million into neighborhood renewal efforts. Click for the full announcement. (Twitter)
• Have you always wanted to start a food truck? The City of Montgomery has an infographic dedicated to starting a food truck business in 2022. (Twitter)
• USA Today announces Montgomery artist Michelle Browder as one of its Women of the Year. Click to learn more about her art. (Twitter)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Danielle Fallon

About me: Danielle Fallon is a writer who loves using her creativity to fuel her passion for communication. She is an employee of content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.