7 Things: FBI expanding Alabama footprint; Trump could be caving on tariffs; backdoor gambling legalization; and more …

7. Carlee Russell, who faked her own kidnapping and was convicted for it, has paid only $500 of the $18,000 restitution she owes in $50 monthly installments and is getting crushed by the Attorney General’s office.

6. A proposed police immunity bill in the Alabama State House has sparked controversy, with critics warning it could lead to more black people being killed by giving a “green light for black folks to get killed” to excessive force.

5. The Alabama State Senate’s proposed pornography filter bill nears passage to mandate device-level content restrictions with one lawmaker saying, “this is far worse than library books.”

4. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) remains noncommittal about a potential 2026 gubernatorial run, causing the speculation he undoubtedly loves.

3. State Sen. Robert Stewart (D-Selma) passed legislation in the Senate to potentially legalize gambling in Lowndes County. Aiming to boost local revenue, it’s a backdoor way to legalize gambling in one county.

2. The Trump administration is exploring reductions in tariffs on Chinese goods to ease trade tensions and is being touted as a backtrack by the president.

1. FBI Director Kash Patel, alongside U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), announced a major expansion of the agency’s presence on Redstone Arsenal to support the relocation of 500 agents.

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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

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