• Deteriorating underground utilities at William C. Holman Correctional Facility are forcing the closure of parts of the prison and the transfer of more than 600 inmates to other crowded facilities around the state, officials announced Wednesday.
• Commissioner Jeff Dunn said plans to decommission the facility were made in August 2018 but were hastened because of the increasing risk involved with maintaining an underground utility tunnel that houses essential power, water and sewer services.
• About three weeks ago, officials learned of an increasing risk of sending ADOC maintenance staff into the tunnel.
• "It became obvious to me that it was not sustainable and we had to accelerate our plans," Dunn said. Holman is 51-years old and one of the state's highest-security prisons. It houses most death row inmates and the state's only execution chamber. As of October, it had 752 inmates. It was originally built to house 581.
• The process of moving about 617 inmates from Holman in Escambia County to other prisons was to begin Wednesday, Dunn said. Citing security concerns, a timetable for the moves wasn't disclosed.
• The announcement comes as lawmakers prepare to begin their 2020 legislative session next week. Prison construction, crowding and inmate and staff safety are expected to be significant topics in the session. According to ADOC, its systemwide occupancy rate is about 169 percent. That number doesn't include additions to prisons after their original construction.
• Full story from ADN's Caroline Beck HERE.

• Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey fractured her shoulder after being tripped by the state's "first dog," her office said Wednesday. 
• Ivey spokeswoman Gina Maiola said the governor is in an arm sling after being tripped by her dog named Missy. The rescue pooch unintentionally tripped the governor at home Tuesday night, Ivey's office said. 
• The 75-year-old Republican governor issued a statement about the injury, saying, "You'll see me in a sling but this won't slow me down one bit."
• "I'll keep you posted on the recovery, but most importantly, Missy is also doing just fine," Ivey said.
• Ivey is scheduled to deliver Alabama's annual State of the State address Tuesday night to mark the opening of the legislative session. 
• Story link.

• John Mazyk has been elected Chairman of the Business Council of Alabama's Board of Directors, the group announced Wednesday.
• He succeeds outgoing chairman Mark Crosswhite, CEO of Alabama Power Company.
• Mazyck is the owner of The Frazer Lanier Company, a Montgomery-based investment banking firm.
• BCA is one of Alabama’s most influential political organizations, pooling resources from the state’s business community to support its endorsed candidates for office and lobby the Alabama Legislature for business-friendly policies.
• "John Mazyck has been a dedicated leader of the business community in the state of Alabama for years," said BCA President and CEO Katie Boyd Britt. "He has already begun to leave his mark on BCA through his innovative approach and intentional outreach to other business leaders across the state. We look forward to working alongside John as he leads our state's business community into the next decade."
• Read more HERE.