Hamm Steps Down, Lovelace Takes Over Alabama Corrections

0:00It's April 29th. This is Birmingham News Today, powered by AI. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey just announced that John Hamm is stepping down as the head of the State's Department of Corrections. She's tapping Chief Deputy Greg Lovelace to take over the role starting this Friday. Hamm's been leading since January 2022. Ivey praised Hamm for major improvements since she took office back in 2017, calling the job one of the toughest around. Hamm brought more than 35 years of law enforcement know-how to the table and credits her support for pushing the department forward. Folks like Senate President Albert and Echo that, saying Hamm's professionalism moved the system further than anyone in generations. They hate to see him go, but trust Lovelace to keep things steady through Ivey's last months in office, ending next January. Lovelace, a corrections expert, is ready to tackle the ongoing challenges head on. He highlighted Ivey's unmatched efforts on longstanding issues and vowed to finish strong for a smooth handoff to the next team.

1:01With this switch, Alabama's corrections crew stays locked in on progress, building momentum no matter who's calling the shots next.