Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday announced the creation of a strategic plan for preventing and responding to active shooter events at various types of facilities.

The plan was compiled by Secretary of Law Enforcement and Alabama Department of Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier.  Collier compiled the plan at the direction of Governor Bentley and delivered the plan to the Governor.

“We have been working for some time on various methods of preventing and responding to active shooters, and this formal plan will help us coordinate those efforts,” Governor Bentley said.  “By increasing law enforcement training, educating the public and preparing response plans, we can take steps now that could help save lives in the future.”

“From the perspective of law enforcement, we are not at a point where we can predict active shooter incidents, but we can be as trained and prepared as possible should they occur,” Collier said.  “To be able to notify

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.