The “Sweet 16” Finalists have been selected from a group of dedicated elementary and secondary school educators who were chosen by their school districts as candidates for Alabama’s 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year. The field will soon be narrowed down to the “Final Four,” with the Teacher of the Year winner being revealed at a ceremony hosted by the Alabama State Department of Education on Wednesday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the RSA Plaza Terrace.

“The educators nominated for this prestigious award nurture the character, intellect, and talent of Alabama’s students,” said Dr. Tommy Bice, State Superintendent of Education. “They exemplify teaching at its best and we are proud to have them teaching in our state.”
 
Alabama’s Teacher of the Year spends the majority of the school year serving as the spokesperson for education and the teaching profession as well as presenting workshops to various groups.

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that Alabama is no longer eligible for nine weeks of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits. Alabama no longer meets the eligibility requirements for this particular tier of benefits, known as Tier 3, because the state’s average three month unemployment rate fell below 7.0% with January 2013’s rate announcement.

Following federal end-of-year revisions, Alabama’s November 2012 rate (6.9%), December 2012 rate (6.8%), and January 2013 rate (6.9%) average to a rate of 6.9%, which is below the 7.0% threshold needed to qualify for these weeks of benefits.

Unemployed Alabamians are now currently eligible for up to 54 weeks of unemployment compensation (UC) benefits. The state of Alabama is responsible for paying up to the first 26 weeks of benefits, known as “regular” UC. Any additional weeks are paid by the federal government.

DOTHAN, AL (WSFA) - Florida aviation service company Commercial Jet announced this morning that they're setting up shop in Dothan.

The company, which provides service to some of the "world's leading aircrafts" will begin hiring immediately and the first plane will arrive for service in Dothan in May.

The company will be opening in the old Pemco location at the Dothan Regional Airport. The company is investing approximately $12 Million in the project.

“I am proud that the State of Alabama could play a key role in providing hundreds of new jobs for the people of Dothan and the Wiregrass area,” Governor Bentley said.  “We know that Alabama is the ideal location for the aerospace and aviation industries.  This announcement further strengthens our emerging role as an aerospace leader in the Southeast.  Nothing is more important to me than creating new jobs, and we will continue our work to recruit companies and help them succeed.”