Beginning January 15th, 2011, Impact Alabama in collaboration with the Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility at The University of Alabama will introduce its newest initiative, SaveNow WinLater, offering families in Alabama a simple but compelling proposition: for every $50 they invest in a federal savings bond, they will earn a chance to win a $20,000 grand prize jackpot at the end of tax season as well as two smaller monthly prizes awarded February 8th and March 8th. 

Families making less than $50,000 per year with one or more children in the home or $25,000 per year without children are eligible to participate. 

This nationally unique prize-linked savings opportunity is a partnership with Doorways to Dreams (D2D), headed by Harvard University economist Peter Tufano.  D2D's similar prize-linked savings initiative based in Michigan, Save to Win, garnered incredible success in 2009 after only eleven months; over 11,500 Michigan residents opened accounts and saved $8.5 million.

The warm glow of candles can help set the mood for holiday celebrations, but did you know that a home fire caused by candles is reported in the United States every 34 minutes? 

The majority of candle fires result from human error and negligence.  Candle fires and the damage they can cause are preventable. 

Eight people died on Alabama's roadways last Thanksgiving weekend, and Alabama state troopers estimate that alcohol was a factor in half of those fatalities.

Making every effort to prevent crashes, injuries and fatalities on roadways, troopers will be out in full force November 24th through 28th as part of the Department of Public Safety's Take Back Our Highways campaign. During this 102-hour highway safety program, holiday travelers will see more state troopers on patrol and more citations being written.