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Jobs Bill, Gulf Shores sea turtles and Selma Chili Cookoff

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley's cornerstone economic development bill is headed to a conference committee.

House members want more time to review Senate changes to legislation that would change the way Alabama recruits companies to the state.

The Senate added multiple amendments before passing the bill on Tuesday. One of those added an $850 million cap on annual incentives.

The bill would create a pay-as-you-go model for tax abatements and other benefits Alabama offers to companies that create jobs or capital investment in the state. Alabama's present model offers companies incentives upfront.

The bill also requires a contract that would require companies to repay the state if they fail to meet their investment or job-creating obligations.

As sea turtle nesting season approaches, volunteers in Gulf Shores begin prepping. Share the Beach is a conservation project for sea turtles here in Alabama.

Their goal is to help mitigate the effects of human development, such as lights on Alabama’s beaches.

Mike Reynolds is the director of the project as well as the holder of the endangered species permit. He says volunteers get to experience all of the action.

 “The nest on average contains 112 eggs. When they come out we may have 80 or 90 turtles blowing out of the sand within a couple of minutes. And it’s kind of all hands on deck to make sure that all of the turtles make it safely to the water.”

Together, Share the Beach volunteers walk the 47 miles of nesting habitat in search of female turtle tracks. They usually find 83 nests with an average of 112 eggs in each.

The eggs incubate for about 65 days almost a foot underneath the sand. Nesting season begins on May 1 and ends on October 31.

Training for new and returning volunteers will start on April 2nd at the Gulf Shores Activity Center.

The Alabama River Chili Cook-off is now in progress following a rain delay last month. An estimated thirty chili teams will compete before a panel of five judges.

The community can also taste the entries and pick their own winner. Proceeds will go to benefit the SABRA sanctuary shelter for battered women and children.

Leslie Free is the Co-Chair of the cook-off. She says it’s a great event that brings the community together.

“The first year we didn’t have, I mean we had like maybe 20 teams cooking and we thought that was fantastic. And then the second year more, the third year more, and this year more. I mean, it just blows your mind every year that people of all walks of life will be on Water Avenue sampling all the chili and just having a fantastic time.”

This is the fourth annual Alabama River Chili cook-off. The event is being held at Water Avenue in Selma. 

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