Alabama

Supreme Court Ruling Today Makes Clear That “Electronic Bingo” Machines Are Illegal

January 29, 2010 -- MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Supreme Court today issued an opinion that again makes clear that the so-called “electronic bingo” machines being used by casino bosses across the State are illegal.    » read more »

Alabamians Can Help Haitian Earthquake Victims Through American Red Cross

January 15, 2010 --
MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley is urging Alabamians who want to help the people of Haiti to make donations to the American Red Cross.

“Many Alabamians have contacted my office wanting to know how they can help. We’ve contacted the U.S. State Department, which is advising us that the best way people can help right now is by donating to the American Red Cross,” Governor Riley said. “Our prayers are with the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Alabamians have always come together in times of crisis to help others.”    » read more »

December 16, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for four counties due to the significant rainfall which began on December 12.

Numerous homes and businesses have suffered damage and more severe weather is expected in the state later this week.

By declaring a state of emergency, the Governor authorizes the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to assist communities, make the appropriate assessments of damage and seek state and federal assistance for the affected areas.

"The state will do everything it can to help our citizens and our communities,” said Governor Riley.

The affected counties are: Covington, Crenshaw, Dale and Escambia Counties.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Bright sent a letter today to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging quick approval of Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s disaster designation request. Governor Riley sent the letter yesterday requesting disaster assistance for all of Alabama’s counties.

Many counties in other parts of Alabama have already been approved for USDA disaster loan assistance, but counties in Southeastern Alabama have yet to receive the same designation.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- AUBURN - After touring a recycling center in Auburn, Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced that eight local governments have received more than $1 million under a new grant program designed to encourage recycling.

Governor Riley signed the Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act into law in 2008. The law created the Alabama Recycling Fund, which provides grants to cities, counties and non-profit organizations to start new recycling programs or expand existing programs at the local level. During its first year, eight local governments have received $1,161,552 from the fund.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - With an Alabama Supreme Court ruling defining bingo in hand, Alabama Governor Bob Riley has contacted gambling commissions throughout the country notifying them of the court’s decision and urging the commissions to make sure the gambling machine manufacturers they regulate cease all illegal activity in Alabama.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling is crystal clear. All these so-called electronic bingo machines are illegal in Alabama and it’s time for them to go,” said Governor Riley. “We warned the gambling commissions and the slot machine manufacturers almost a year ago that these machines are illegal, so the Supreme Court’s ruling can’t be a surprise to them. It certainly isn’t to us.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today commented on the Alabama Supreme Court White Hall casino ruling.

“This ruling from the Supreme Court makes clear all these so-called electronic bingo machines in Alabama are illegal and it’s time for them to go,” said Governor Riley.    » read more »

November 09, 2009 -- MOBILE - Alabama Governor Bob Riley on Monday declared an official state of emergency in Alabama due to the imminent threat posed by Tropical Storm Ida. The emergency declaration enables the Governor to invoke various emergency preparedness measures.

During a press briefing at shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Governor Riley urged Alabama residents to take the threat seriously and to follow the direction of local emergency managers for storm preparation.    » read more »

November 05, 2009
MONTGOMERY - Alabama is reaping rewards from Kia’s decision to build its first U.S. assembly plant just a few miles across the state line in Georgia.

The Alabama Development Office reports Kia is responsible for more than 3,600 new jobs at automotive supplier plants located in Alabama. Those workers are employed at 34 different plants in Alabama, including 12 new suppliers that located in the state since Kia announced its decision in March 2006.

Twenty-five of those 34 plants supply both Alabama’s Hyundai plant and the Kia plant in Georgia.    » read more »

November 02, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today announced the special election dates for House District 40, which became vacant with the death of Representative Lea Fite last month.

The deadline for candidate qualification with the two major political parties is Friday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. Party primaries will be held on Tuesday, January 5. Primary runoffs, if necessary, will take place on Tuesday, February 16. If no runoffs are necessary the general election will be held on Tuesday, February 16. In the event of a runoff, the general election will be held on Tuesday, March 30.

The Governor’s Office has communicated the schedule to the two major political parties and the probate judges of all in House District 40.

Source: Alabama Governor

October 14, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama met the first deadline set by Congress for states to report their use of federal stimulus dollars, Alabama Governor Bob Riley said today.

State agencies reported their use of stimulus dollars and the number of jobs “created or retained” to the federal government over the weekend. It is the first of what will be quarterly updates on how Alabama spends its allotment of stimulus funds.

The federal government will post complete stimulus reports from all states on the Internet on October 30, but Alabama’s stimulus report is already available online at www.stimulus.alabama.gov, Governor Riley said.

Using formulas from the federal government, the stimulus is credited with creating or retaining 4,505 jobs so far.    » read more »

Warns counties and communities about getting involved with organized gambling

September 28, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - “The federal judge’s ruling could not be clearer, and it echoes exactly what we have been saying about the illegality of so-called ‘bingo’ machines in Alabama. Machines that look and act like slot machines constitute illegal slot machines, no matter what they’re called.”    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s office today commented on Georgia’s decision to appeal a definitive federal court ruling that water withdrawals from Lake Lanier to provide water supply to the Atlanta area are illegal under federal law.

Governor Riley’s Press Secretary Todd Stacy made the following statement:    » read more »

August 21, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama's State General Fund agencies are being told to revise their operating plans for Fiscal Year 2010 because of declines in available revenue.

“Due to the ongoing recession, tax revenues have declined and so state agencies will have to slow down their anticipated spending from the General Fund,” said Acting Director of Finance Bill Newton.

Newton sent a memorandum to General Fund agencies on Friday saying they will have to submit a revised FY2010 operations plan. The adjusted plans will need to reflect quarterly allotments to agencies from the General Fund of 22 percent in the first three quarters of the new fiscal year and 34 percent in the last quarter. State agencies normally receive allotments of 25 percent each quarter.    » read more »

Expansion brings 240 new jobs to North Alabama

August 21, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today commented on news that Toyota plans to expand its Huntsville engine production facility, investing an additional $147 million and adding at least 240 new jobs. The expansion will bring total investment at Toyota’s Alabama plant to $637 million and the total number of jobs to more than 1000.

Governor Riley made the following statement:    » read more »