Gov. Kay Ivey delivered her final State of the State address at the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery on Jan. 13. The governor asked legislators to approve 2% pay raises for teachers and education employees, as well as state employees. Ivey also said she would support increased funding for the CHOOSE Act, the school choice program that allows parents to receive up to $7,000 to help pay for private school. Ivey proposed $250 million for the CHOOSE Act for the 2027-28 school year. In its first year, 2

Governor Kay Ivey extended Alabama’s mask order through April 9 but said that the requirement will then end. “Even when we lift the mask order, I will continue to wear my mask while I’m around others and strongly urge my fellow citizens to use common sense and do the same thing,” she said. “But at that time it will become a matter of personal responsibility and not a government mandate.” More: https://trib.al/l6UIF2l | Bloomberg Originals