As is the case with many major east-west thoroughfares crossing from Mississippi into Alabama, U.S. Highway 98 narrows from a four-lane highway to a two-lane road as it crosses the state line and across the Escatawpa River into Wilmer headed southeast toward Semmes and Mobile. That is where what has been deemed “Bloody 98” begins, […]

Governor Kay Ivey’s proposed lease-build prison plan took a hit last week after investment bank Barclays withdrew as an underwriter for the financing of two of the three proposed new facilities. Barclays, along with other financial institutions, have been reluctant to invest in prison construction given the current political climate. State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), […]

For decades, travelers making their way between Memphis and Birmingham had to rely on U.S. Highway 78, which at times through Alabama was a windy two-lane road beyond Jasper as it made its way through Carbon Hill, Winfield, Hamilton and to the Alabama-Mississippi state line. However, over a period of 30 years, transportation officials in […]

Although Alabama’s congressional delegation is opposing Amtrak’s approach to restoring service to Mobile, given it could negatively impact the Port of Mobile, Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson, a candidate in Mobile’s upcoming mayoral election, is not buying it. During an interview with Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Richardson dismissed the Port’s issues with passenger rail […]

Although it took a while, last week, the State Senate sent comprehensive gaming legislation to the State House of Representatives for consideration, with a few weeks remaining until adjournment sine die. There are signs of progress in the House, especially given the bill picked up a lead sponsor earlier this week. However, the bill is […]

Last week’s passage of a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling in Alabama by the state senate was major breakthrough in a process that has eluded the state for decades. One objective repeatedly stated by the bill’s first sponsor State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston), which would be made possible by enabling legislation accompanying the constitutional amendment, […]

Alabama appears to be inching closer to legalized gambling now that so-called comprehensive gaming legislation has made it out of the Senate and is awaiting consideration by the House of Representatives. Although the details of what the future holds in the lower chamber for the series of bills related to the issue have not yet […]

With just a handful of days remaining in the 2021 legislative session, the clocking is ticking for the Alabama House of Representatives to move on late-arriving legislation passed by the Alabama Senate last week on a comprehensive gaming package. The prospects got a boost this week as State Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City) revealed he […]

While there has been some discussion in recent weeks to revive the push for improvements to the Interstate 10 bridge connecting Mobile and Baldwin Counties, do not expect the $2.5 trillion infrastructure proposal promoted by Democrats and President Joe Biden to include it says U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile). During an interview with Mobile radio […]

With just a handful of days remaining in the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session, getting a gaming proposal through the Alabama House of Representatives that the Alabama Senate passed this week could prove to be a difficult challenge. However, State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) argues his House colleagues could have an added incentive to push ahead […]

Even as the number of individuals vaccinated for COVID-19 is on the rise, health officials are still insisting the stringent guidelines established at the onset of the pandemic are maintained or even increased. On Sunday, White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci told MSNBC that people who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 should still […]

Earlier this month, a head-on collision just north of Mobile on U.S. Highway 45 killed four, including a couple and an infant child. For years, those types of accidents have plagued the narrow stretch of roadway from the Alabama-Mississippi state line to Prichard that has been neglected by administration after administration over the past half-century. […]

Last week, the Alabama Senate unanimously passed a bill that banned so-called vaccine passports from being required in Alabama. The legislation was sponsored by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), and it protects Alabamians from being mandated to hold a COVID-19 vaccine “passport” to receive services and goods from a government or private entity. During an […]

Last week, the Arkansas Legislature overrode a veto from Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) on legislation that prohibited a minor from being issued transgender drugs and gender transition surgeries. Similar legislation is before the Alabama Legislature, which is sponsored by State Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy) and State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville). During an appearance on Mobile […]

NEW BROCKTON — Saturday before a few hundred people gathered at the Coffee County Farm Center for a pro-free speech rally, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) endorsed his congressional colleague U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) in his bid for the U.S. Senate seat up in 2022. The freshman congressman’s endorsement is the first high-profile state […]

One of the less-publicized casualties of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the termination of passenger rail service on the Gulf Coast east of New Orleans, which included stops in Mobile and Atmore before setting on to its final destination of Jacksonville, Fla. Nearly 16 years later, Amtrak is pushing for the resumption of passenger rail […]

Although it was not totally unexpected, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) got a shot in the arm for his 2022 U.S. Senate bid on Wednesday. Through a statement, Brooks was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, which is considered to be pivotal for statewide contests in Alabama. The endorsement eluded Brooks in his 2017 bid […]

Last week, the State House Judiciary Committee voted to advance a bill that would repeal the state’s so-called Habitual Felony Offender Act. To the surprise of many, a handful of Republican lawmakers on the committee voted with the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), to advance HB 107, the legislation that would repeal the […]

Earlier this week, reports surfaced the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) had entered into a public relations contract valued at $1.5 million, which is coming at a time when the agency is facing heat for a controversial lease-build prison construction plan and the scrutiny of the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged Eighth Amendment violations. […]

Last week, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) formally launched his 2022 U.S. Senate bid. In attendance introducing Brooks was former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who espoused the potential benefits of having the Fifth Congressional District representative as Republicans’ choice to fill the U.S. Senate seat occupied by outgoing U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa). During an […]

With just a little over two months into the new Biden administration, Democrats are expected to push what they’re deeming an infrastructure bill through Congress and to President Joe Biden’s desk. However, according to U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), the bill is not what its moniker suggests. During an appearance on Mobile radio’s FM Talk […]

State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gaming proposal will reportedly get a second look next week when lawmakers return from their spring break recess. Marsh’s effort tried earlier in the session came up two votes short of the three-fifths required for a constitutional amendment. While most of the action of gaming has been in the […]

Now that Democrats control the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and the White House, there is little Republicans can do to slow the massive spending packages that Democrats are poised to push through into law. Among those is the $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, which includes funding for more than just coronavirus-related government programs. […]

Last month, State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) introduced legislation that would reconstitute the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and remake the agency’s leadership. McClendon, the chairman of the State Senate Health Committee, proposed abolishing the State Board of Health and the State Health Officer. Also included in his proposal would be creating a Secretary […]