One Alabama politician has excused himself from the race for the state's senate seat being made available next year.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said he will not run for the seat given up by longtime incumbent Richard Shelby. He announced last week that he would not be running so that he can be present with his three children. Ainsworth said he plans on continuing serving at the state level but will not be running for federal office.

Shelby announced in February that he would not be seeking a seventh term.

A Mobile area support group for military veterans is working to expand substance abuse treatment. Veterans Recovery Resources is working to raise just over two million dollars. The money will go toward building a substance abuse residential treatment center. The group opened its outpatient clinic in Mobile in November of 2018. Executive Director John Kilpatrick says the facility has served more than four hundred service members, veterans, first responders and their families.

Blood donations are in high demand after last month’s winter storm cancelled blood drives across the state.

The severe weather caused twelve blood drives in Alabama to be called off. About 200 pints of blood were unable to be collected. Each pint can save up to three lives. Drivers were also unable to deliver blood because of the poor road conditions. 

  Annette Rowland is Communications Director for the Alabama and Mississippi Region of the Red Cross. She said blood donations are continually needed regardless of circumstances.

Some emergency preparedness goods will be a little cheaper this weekend.

The severe weather tax holiday starts on Friday, and will let shoppers buy tax free certain emergency preparedness items that cost $60 or less, like batteries, portable radios, and tie-down kits.

This is the tenth year that the state of Alabama has partnered with the Alabama Retail Association to tax-exempt emergency goods.

A bill that would make it a felony for doctors to treat transgender youth with hormonal therapy and puberty blockers was passed by the Alabama House Judiciary Committee.

It was approved with an 11-3 vote and will now be voted on by the entire House of Representatives.

The Southern Poverty Law Center released a responded to the bill with a statement. 

Medical marijuana legislation has been approved by the Alabama Senate in a 21-8 vote.

The proposal will now move to the House of Representatives where similar bills have been voted down before.

The Tuscaloosa Africana Film Festival is moving online in its ninth year, while continuing to support public health initiatives in West Alabama and West Africa alike.

Proceeds from the festival go to benefit the Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation, and Afram South. Inc, two non-profits support education and public health programs in West Africa and West Alabama.

Thad Ulzen, co-founder of the Tuscaloosa Africana Film Festival, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has made supporting public health in communities even more critical.