Strong to severe thunderstorms along with a flash flood threat are expected on Saturday. By Sunday, a strong arctic cold front will move through the region ushering in the coldest air of this winter season. There is a low chance (20-30%) of wintry precipitation across portions of the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thunderstorms will move into the region on Saturday morning and move to the east of the region by late Saturday afternoon. Some of these storms could be strong to severe with damaging winds being the main severe threat. These storms will also produce heavy rainfall, with localized heavier amounts up to 4 inches. A marginal risk (level 1 of 4) for flash flooding is in place across the region for Saturday.
By Sunday, a strong arctic cold front will pass through the region and the coldest air of this winter season will arrive. Multiple mornings from Monday morning through Wednesday morning will feature wind chills into the teens across Southeast Alabama, South Georgia and portions of the Florida Panhandle with lower twenties elsewhere.
A low pressure system is expected to move near or just south of the region on Tuesday into Wednesday. With the chilly air mass in place, there is currently a low chance (20-30%) that wintry precipitation in the form of sleet and/or freezing rain could occur across Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, and portions of the Florida Panhandle.
Roughly 24% of Dothan City Schools students are “chronically absent,” according to a DCS release.
Research shows students who miss at least 18 days of schools are 7 times more likely not to graduate. Elementary students with chronic absenteeism are more likely to read below grade level as early as 3rd grade.
DCS code allows for 10 excused absences per year. Absences beyond that number must have a doctor’s note.
Parents are notified the third and fourth times a student is not in school without an excuse. The student is referred to Houston County Truancy Prevention Project or direct to early warning court upon their fifth and sixth absences.
A complaint and/or referral can then be filed with the Houston County Juvenile Court Services with subsequent unexcused absences. That referral may result in petition for arrest and prosecution by the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.
Thirteen or more absences could result in a student being held back.
“We want your children to be in school 100% of the time because we know in order for students to be academically successful they must be in school. If your child has to be out of school please make sure it is an excused absence so you can avoid Truancy Court and potentially being charged with a Class A misdemeanor,” Director of DCS Student Services Dr. Charles Corbitt explained. “This world will pay you for what you know. How do you know something? By learning from the teacher! How do you learn? From a teacher and by being in school!”
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Monday reintroduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to impose term limits on members of Congress.
The proposal would limit U.S. Senators to two six-year terms and U.S. Representatives to three two-year terms.
Ten Republican colleagues joined them in the proposal.
Britt previously signed a proposal pledging to vote for term limits in Congress. She cosponsored a term limit bill in the last Congress, but that bill did not advance.
