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Ethics panel wants scrutiny of outside pay for state workers, Grant money for roads

The Alabama Ethics Commission have released an opinion on  the idea of public employees being paid by outside sources.

Commissioners say the arrangements are presumed to be in conflict with the underlying principles of state ethics law. Commissioners say they will only approve such arrangements on a case-by case basis made through formal opinion requests.

Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Albritton says the opinion process will bring the arrangements into the open and allow public scrutiny.

Gov. Robert Bentley has used the so-called executive loan arrangement to fill a key position in his cabinet. Former Bentley Chief of Staff Seth Hammett was paid by PowerSouth Energy Cooperative during his 17 months working for the governor

Hammett has returned to his job in the private sector.

Alabama’s roads might get a little bit safer thanks to some new grant money. A-P-R student reporter Kendall Worman has more…

1.2 million dollars in grants will be allocated to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in order to improve highway safety programs in Alabama.        Officials say the money will help troopers set up checkpoints in high-crash rate areas. Officials say the grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will also support state troopers' participation in national "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" traffic safety campaigns.

While this goes on, the Alabama Department of Transportation is updating its plan to for bicycle and pedestrian safety. The goal is build new roads that provide a safe environment for people on bikes and foot as well those behind the wheel. The new plan should be done by the Spring of next year.

Game day is happening this weekend but it is not all about football.

Middle and high school students from all over Alabama are building robots for a statewide competition. It’s called the BEST Robotics competitions and it takes place this Saturday. 250 schools will be participating at eleven different sites. The goal is to build robots that can work in the mining industry.

Contest organizer Robin Fenton says the competitions fuel inspiration in math and science.

“So, now these teams bring fans; and cheerleaders; and school mascots. So, now you have the atmosphere of a football game but you have it for something academic. We kind of have a saying within the BEST family- the nerds are cool for a day.”

 The teams have been working on their robots for forty two days. Eleven teams will advance to the South BEST Regional Competition at Auburn University.

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