Off The Record: The latest rumors and rumblings in North Alabama
Would-be cyber parents fuming
Some parents are not happy the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering will begin accepting out-of-state students. This year, the highly-lauded cyber school accepted 106 in-state students out of 450 applications. Notably, tuition is free to attend the school that was previously only open to Alabama high schoolers. Out-of-state students would be paying $40,000 tuition to attend the public, residential magnet high school in Huntsville. An admissions official said the decision was “growth-based” and made by the board. “To date, we haven’t enrolled any students from out of state,” said a spokesman. “We aren’t promoting or recruiting out-of-state students. But if a current student moved, this would allow them to continue their education.”
BCA On Deck
The Business Council of Alabama’s annual governmental affairs conference is underway this weekend with a stacked lineup of federal, state and local officials alongside the most influential figures across the public and private sectors. The majority of Alabama’s congressional delegation will be in attendance and the state’s top business minds will meet for a strategy session like no other. Expect plenty of news out of this weekend of programming and plenty of policy out of the planning.
Cybertruck sightings on the rise
Sightings of Tesla Cybertrucks in the wild are on the rise in North Alabama. The futuristic looking vehicle that was first released in 2019 has been sighted at local grocery stores, parks and even a few school car lines. While Tesla does not officially release Cybertruck sales numbers, a recent windshield-wiper recall shows around 3,000 have made their way into consumers’ hands and onto the road with apparently quite a few of those here in North Alabama. One Madison neighborhood reportedly has two, with one owner sharing he ordered the truck well over a year ago before it arrived. Despite the recent influx of sightings, with a list price upward of $100,000, Cybertrucks seem destined to remain rare.
Tickets coming
With school systems across the Tennessee Valley back in class, officers are warning motorists to slow down in school zones. Per Alabama law, the operator of the motor vehicle shall be assessed a fine of double the amount prescribed by law outside a school zone. Or, as one officer told OTR, “It’s a double-fine and zero tolerance for speeding in a school zone.” He added a further tip, “Put down your damn phone.” Good advice, thank you officer.
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