Overview

• The state rate on qualifying food drops from 3% to 2%, with estimated savings of about $122 million a year for shoppers.
• Alabama stops collecting its 4% tax on diapers and specified baby supplies under a three-year exemption projected to save about $13 million annually.
• Local sales tax rates on groceries do not change, though lawmakers removed a prior restriction to make local food-tax cuts easier.
• Homewood police arrested Mercutio Southall on first-degree arson and criminal mischief charges after a Walmart fire that caused about $130,000 in damage.
• Red snapper season expands to up to seven days a week until the 664,552-pound state quota is reached, with roughly two-thirds already landed by Aug. 24.