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Chip shortage and vehicles A chip shortage is expected to affect at least some automakers in the state, reports AL.com’s William Thornton. The reason for the backlog? A disagreement between the Chinese and Dutch governments. Reuters reported that the Netherlands took over Nexperia, a chipmaking company that is a subsidiary of a company that is partially owned by the Chinese government. According to Reuters sources, the takeover happened because of the Netherlands’ concern that Nexperia was about to move production to China. So the Chinese government is stopping Nexperia China and its subcontractors from exporting some products manufactured in China. Nexperia normally produces huge numbers of chips that are used in the electronic systems of cars. It’s expected to quickly affect the auto industry here in the States. The Honda and Mercedes-Benz plants in Alabama have both indicated there is concern. Honda representatives have said they will be adjusting production schedules -- which means they’ll be cutting production beginning this week in some of their plants. A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson said the “entire industry is affected.” State food program While Gov. Kay Ivey said Monday that the state doesn’t have the money to replace federal SNAP benefits that appear to be suspended for November, it’s worth noting that the WIC program -- that’s a supplemental state food-assistance program for women, infants and children, will continue, reports AL.com’s Savannah Tryens-Fernandes. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, WIC provides free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutritional education and referrals to other services to support the health of infants, children up to 5 and pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women. As of last year, the WIC program served 111,000 Alabamians. The federal SNAP program, or what we’ve known in the past as food stamps, supports around 750,000 Alabamians. Using the county jail The City of Birmingham has not been able to get much legal traction in its lawsuit over whether Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway must accept city inmates without a valid warrant. AL.com’s Heather Gann reports that, on Friday, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a court’s dismissal of that suit. The case dates to February 2024. The county jail was once open to the city under a memorandum of understanding, but the sheriff’s office said that agreement was ended after the two parties couldn’t settle on the terms going forward. The state Supreme Court actually disagreed with the Jefferson County Circuit Court’s reasoning, but the justices did back the decision to dismiss the lawsuit. Their reasoning was that there is no state law requiring the county jail to house city inmates without a warrant. Chick-fil-A machine? If you’re tired of waiting in a drive-thru line for your Chick-fil-A fix -- as they seemingly serve in the neighborhood of 4,000 cars in approximately 3 minutes -- the company is trying to reach customers in a new old way. Vending machines. AL.com’s Mary Colurso reports that Chick-fil-A opened its first vending machine this month at the Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. USA Today had a reporter go over and check it out. Chick-fil-A hasn’t apparently committed to expanding this effort, and the Augusta location isn’t dishing out hot food. There is an option of two wraps with waffle potato chips. It’s a temperature-controlled machine that nearby Chick-fil-A employees monitor to keep fresh food inside. It takes credit cards, debit cards and digital pay, but no cash, if you carry that sort of thing. And, like Chick-fil-A restaurants themselves, it doesn’t do business on Sundays. Quoting “I’m not sure what I’ll dress up as, but it won’t be as the mayor.” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, who is leaving office on Halloween. By the Numbers 0 The number of times former quarterback A.J. McCarron, who has announced a run for lieutenant governor, has voted. More Alabama News Furloughed federal workers in Alabama: Many are ‘scrambling at this point’ Paul Finebaum ‘getting close to decision’ on 2026 Senate run Lawsuit puts a hold on sweeping vape regulations Manufacturer picks Fort Payne for plant that will hire 60 The podcast
