Sep 10, 2024

Welcome back.

Might some much-needed rain be coming to the state in the coming days? Keep an eye on Francine.

Today’s report follows.

Ike

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Gov. Kay Ivey said Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis has agreed to resign at the end of the year, reports AL.com's Mike Cason.

Davis has been the VA chief in Alabama since 2019. He's a retired Navy rear admiral.

In a letter to Davis last week, Ivey called on Davis to step down. She cited the management of grant funds from ARPA and said delays put veterans service providers at risk of missing out on funds. She also referenced Davis' relationships with other agencies and cited the Mental Health Commissioner's cancelation of an agreement between the state VA and Mental Health to manage ARPA grants out of fear that Mental Health could face negative audit findings.

According to media reports, last month Davis filed an ethics complaint against Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell that was dismissed by the Ethics Commission.

Last week, Davis denied that ARPA grants were put in jeopardy and balked at Ivey's request for his resignation. But after meeting with the governor on Monday, he agreed to a Dec. 31 resignation.

ESPN analyst Nick Saban -- some may recall he recently worked a stint as the University of Alabama’s head football coach, bridging the Shula and DeBoer Eras, will be in Washington D.C. on Thursday to lead a panel discussion on name, image and likeness rules, reports AL.com’s Joseph D. Bryant.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell, a Birmingham Democrat, organized the panel as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual legislative conference.

It’s not a new topic for Saban. And it’s not a new topic for Saban on Capitol Hill: In March he told a panel presented by Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, that the new rules allowing players to make NIL money actually contributed to his decision to retire from coaching.

Right now states make the NIL rules for their colleges and universities. Sewell said that’s led to a “wild, wild west” situation and that federal intervention is needed to set some standards.

Demolition has begun on a church building that has stood in Mountain Brook for just over 70 years, reports AL.com’s Greg Garrison.

Shades Valley Presbyterian Church was built in 1953. Sunday attendance had fallen to around 75-80 by the time the church stopped holding services in the building a couple years ago. Southminster Presbyterian Church in Vestavia Hills absorbed the Shades Valley congregation.

The property, which is on Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook, will be developed into 14 home sites.

Five Presbyterian churches in the Birmingham area have shut down over the past five years.

Two cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Mobile County, reports AL.com’s John Sharp.

They’re the first two human cases this year. And it’s a signal for folks, if you aren’t already, to put extra effort into not being bitten by the South’s unofficial regional bird of prey, the mosquito.

That means use skeeter spray that’s 25% DEET. And get on the young’ns about leaving the door open. That lets the air conditioning out and the mosquitoes in. (Young’ns are like cats: They can’t decide whether they want to be in or out.)

Also, if you’ve been lucky enough to get rain recently, then now’s a great time to make sure you don’t have standing water around the house. Especially those with old tires stacked up behind the shed.

Stacks of old tires look great but are bad about collecting rain water.

In 1898 inventor Waldo Semon of Demopolis. He worked for B.F. Goodrich Company and discovered a way to plasticize polyvinyl chloride. What that means is that we owe him a debt of gratitude every time we use PVC to conduct important functions.

In 1947, the PGA's Larry Nelson of Fort Payne. He won the PGA Championship in '81 and the U.S. Open in '83.

In 1964, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Tim Harris.

In 1974, basketball hall of famer Ben Wallace of Lowndes County.

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Looking ahead to possible vaping rules and looking back at cigarette culture.

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