The federal government is granting the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) $500,000 to help fund a project that aims to reduce the amount of litter in the state’s waterways. ADEM’s initiative is called “Help Keep Our Waters Clean,” and the federal money comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “This grant will help the […]

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsed former State Senator Bill Hightower’s (R-Mobile) campaign for Congress on Thursday. Cruz announced the endorsement via tweet, saying, “I’m proud to support and endorse [Bill Hightower] for Congress in #AL01” Widely thought of as one of the most conservative members of Congress, Cruz placed second in the 2016 Republican […]

Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) sponsored a Senate resolution this week to honor the eight police officers in Alabama who were killed in the line of duty in 2019, which was the deadliest year for Alabama’s officers of the law in recent memory. Shelby’s resolution comes as the nation observes National Police Week, a yearly week-long […]

Cullen Stafford, an officer in the Birmingham Police Department, hopes to make a return to the force in 2021 after being shot multiple times in 2019 while responding to a robbery. Stafford’s updated recovery and initial shooting were both first reported by WBRC. The 36-year-old officer was gifted a t-shirt, signed by dozens of his […]

Former State Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) released a video on Tuesday evening comparing his 2014 prosecution for perjury to the legal treatment received by Lt. General Michael Flynn. Moore is currently in a runoff against Wiregrass businessman Jeff Coleman to be the Republican nominee in the race to represent Alabama’s Second Congressional District. In 2014, […]

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has signed on to a letter with 20 other attorneys general asking the U.S. Congress to grant businesses legal protections against frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits. The letter was primarily authored by Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr, and all of its signatories are members of the Republican Party. The undersigned attorneys general […]

Alabamians looking to buy local have a new tool at their disposal. Sweet Grown Alabama has launched a searchable database which members of the public can use to search for locally grown products in their area. “The mission of Sweet Grown Alabama is to connect farmers and families, and this database does just that,” said […]

Alabama State University announced Tuesday the hiring of former NBA star guard Mo Williams as the Hornets’ new head basketball coach. Williams had a 14-year NBA career highlighted by a championship ring from playing on the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers. “I am extremely excited to become part of the family, and I am looking forward to […]

Two drive-thru COVID-19 screening locations will open this week in the Montgomery area as part of a partnership between the City of Montgomery and Hyundai Motor Manufacturing. The sites are on Mobile Highway in the city Montgomery and in the small town of Hayneville, around 30 minutes southwest of Montgomery’s city limits. Testing is free […]

State Representative Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden) is by profession the only architect in the Alabama legislature and shared with Yellowhammer News his thoughts on building a new statehouse. The topic of building a new statehouse drew the ire of the public when it was highlighted by Governor Kay Ivey for its inclusion in a wishlist for […]

The Archdiocese of Mobile is resuming public masses on Tuesday in light of Governor Kay Ivey’s amended safer-at-home order, but other Christian denominations are waiting a little longer. Ivey’s order removed the 10-person limit on gatherings, allowing houses of worship to legally resume on Monday, May 11. However, the governor urged each faith leader to […]

Add the plans of Alabama legislators to the many facets of life disrupted by the coronavirus. After a pandemic-induced six-week break from mid-March until early May, state leaders agreed that upon resumption of session, only local bills and the budgets would be voted upon because the statehouse had to be closed to the public as […]

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, alongside 16 other state attorneys general, has signed on to a letter asking Congress to investigate China’s role in the coronavirus pandemic. The letter is dated May 9, and was primarily authored by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “[W]e are writing to ask for Congressional Hearings into the communist […]

Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson is strongly recommending members of the public refrain from gathering in groups of 10 or more people for the next two weeks, but is not going issue a health order making that a requirement. Wilson specifically mentioned houses of worship as, in his view, a risky place for […]

A number of business and workforce development groups have partnered with Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth’s (R-AL) office to create a database of personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers. The coalition is hoping to connect business operators with the supplies they will need as more companies resume operations. The effort is being hosted on the Tuscaloosa Chamber […]

Automatic Seafood & Oysters in Birmingham is one of 10 finalists for the James Beard Foundation’s “Best New Restaurant” award. The foundation defines the category as “A restaurant opened in 2019 that already demonstrates excellence in cuisine and hospitality, and that is likely to make a significant impact in years to come.” A James Beard […]

NFL quarterback and Alabama native Jameis Winston gave away $25,000 in free meals to Birmingham families on Friday. “People in this city and people all over the world are going through a tough time right now so the least I can do is come out here and serve my community the best way I can,” […]

MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Friday announced that she is amending her administration’s current “Safer-At-Home” order effective Monday, May 11. This amended order will expire on Friday, May 22, at 5:00 p.m. Key changes in the amended order include the governor allowing restaurants to provide onsite dining and close-contact services such as barbershops and salons […]

A group of Republican House Representatives was stopped from making an unannounced inspection of the Alabama Department of Labor on Wednesday. The representatives wanted answers as to why so many of their constituents have not been able to receive the unemployment benefits for which they applied. The group was instead welcomed into Secretary of Labor […]

Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed Thursday that Alabama will join the United States in celebrating the 69th annual National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 7. The governor’s proclamation says, “[W]e specifically thank God for those who defend our freedoms and ask for peace throughout our state, nation and world.” The National Day of Prayer traces […]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has released a survey that shows 70% of America’s small business owners are concerned about unfounded COVID-19 lawsuits being brought against their companies. The survey was conducted among some of its 325,000-member businesses. In Alabama, State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) has introduced a bill that would grant civil […]

The Alabama Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that certain new groups of people are eligible for COVID-19 testing, including all Alabamians who have underlying medical conditions making them more vulnerable to the virus. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 43.1% of Alabamians over age 18 have a health condition that puts them […]

State Senator Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) has introduced a bill that would limit the powers of the State Health Officer and put a 14-day limit on the amount of time a governor can unilaterally declare a State of Emergency. If voted into law, the legislation would require the state health officer to get the governor’s approval […]

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce was announced as a winner of the Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development on Tuesday. The award is given out by Site Selection magazine, a publication focused on economic development in the United States. The award winners are based on “total projects, total investment associated with those […]