The COVID-19 outlook for 2021 has cast some doubt on the ability of the Alabama Legislature to meet in 2021, given the threat the virus could pose to some of the body’s vulnerable members. However, State Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) said he anticipates many in the legislature having been inoculated for the coronavirus or having […]

Last week, Gov. Kay Ivey announced she would exercise power granted to her under a state of emergency to extend the expiration date on economic incentive packages and waive tax liabilities on CARES Act benefits. Those actions taken had broad support from members of the legislature, as Ivey had pointed out in a tweet. However, […]

Governor Kay Ivey’s decision to exercise emergency powers last week to extend the expiration date on economic incentive packages and waive tax liabilities on CARES Act benefits tested the limits of her powers under the pandemic state of emergency. While some have applauded Ivey’s willingness to act where she has seen it as necessary, a […]

Last week, Gov. Kay Ivey announced she was exercising emergency powers under the COVID-19 state of emergency to extend economic incentive programs and limit potential state tax liabilities created by benefits generated by the federal government under the CARES Act. It was a move made without an official act of the Alabama Legislature but has gotten approval […]

On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced she was using her emergency powers under the COVID-19 state of emergency to extend economic incentive programs and limit potential state tax liabilities created by benefits generated by the federal government under the CARES Act. The action raised constitutional questions from some lawmakers. However, State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville), […]

Earlier this week, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Corrections for long-standing violations of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, adding that “constitutional compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means,” and therefore legal action would be required. State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) warned of such […]

In what could be a prolonged economic downturn because of COVID-19, it is hard for some to imagine turning down economic development opportunities under the current conditions. However, according to State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) and some Etowah County residents, you have to draw the line somewhere. Jones is in the middle of a dispute […]

Last month, the Republicans in the Alabama State Senate unanimously nominated State Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper) to replace State Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) as the caucus’ choice for Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore. Reed, who currently serves as the body’s majority leader, is set to have his current majority leader role filled by State Sen. […]

Back in October, a group called the Alabama New South Coalition advertised an offer to pastors of money in exchange for getting church parishioners to vote early via absentee ballot. Subsequently, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, the state’s chief election official, called it not a “best practice,” but said such an effort by the […]

Since late March, the Alabama Department of Corrections has drastically limited the number of inmates it is allowing into its facilities, an action which was taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, as the courts are resuming criminal trials, the ADOC has created a burden for the jails in Alabama’s 67 counties, which have […]

Over the last month, there have been hopeful signs for an approved vaccine for the COVID-19 virus from different pharmaceutical companies being made available to the public.  According to President Donald Trump, a tremendous federal effort is underway to distribute and administer the vaccine. Will Alabama be ready when the time comes? State Sen. Tom […]

On January 5, voters in Alabama’s eastern neighbor of Georgia will go to the polls to select who they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. Both incumbents Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) have formidable Democrat opposition in Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively. Should Democrats win both […]

Earlier this week, Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statement urging public school systems around the state to resume in-person instruction over virtual learning, where possible. That goes against a trend underway in other parts of the country, where state and local officials are returning to virtual learning and shutting down aspects of the economy to […]

On Election Day, U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) came up short in his bid to win reelection, losing to Republican Tommy Tuberville. Some political watchers suggest that Jones may have fared better against his GOP opponent had he not vote for President Donald Trump’s impeachment earlier this year or against Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation in […]

Last week, State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) stunned a lot of people by saying that he had no interest in discussions with Gov. Kay Ivey or Alabama Department of Transportation direction John Cooper after reports that local officials were considering re-upping an effort to build a new Interstate 10 bridge across Mobile Bay. One of […]

Last month,  State Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville) revealed he had a 10-day stint in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham after contracting coronavirus.  He had since recovered and returned to “full speed,” working on his farm with what he deemed to be minuscule residual effects. On Tuesday’s broadcast of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff […]

As talk about construction for a new I-10 Mobile Bay bridge heats up, opponents of the infamous 2019 public-private partnership plan developed by the Alabama Department of Transportation are restating their opposition to any proposal that includes tolling. State Auditor Jim Zeigler, who led an online campaign against the 2019 plan, is among those still […]

Add another prominent Alabama elected official to the list of those that oppose another shutdown in the name of COVID-19. Although State Sen. Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) sees the mask mandate and other measures done in the name of mitigating the spread of coronavirus as something that should be “optional,” he also said he recognizes that […]

Earlier this week, State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) announced he had no interest in having discussions about a new I-10 Mobile Bay bridge until Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Transportation director John Cooper were out of office given the way the 2019 toll bridge saga unfolded, which was canceled after the Eastern Shore […]

According to a report last week, efforts were underway for the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to put a new I-10 Mobile Bay Bridge proposal back on its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) after being removed in 2019 to prevent the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) from proceeding with a controversial toll bridge proposal. Under […]

Last week, state and local officials in the Mobile and Baldwin County areas had reportedly resumed discussions about a new I-10 Mobile Bay Bridge. A now-infamous proposal came to a halt last year after the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to remove the bridge from the organization’s Transportation Improvement Program, which resulted in Gov. […]

One of the names being mentioned to fill the U.S. Attorney General’s role in a potential Biden administration has been U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook), who lost his reelection bid earlier this month to former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville. During an appearance on MSNBC on Monday, Jones declined to address that possibility. […]

It has now been three weeks since Americans voted in the presidential election, and still, questions remain about its outcome. Joe Biden is moving forward with the transition despite no official concession to have come from incumbent President Donald Trump, who is vowing to fight on. During an appearance on Mobile’s FM Talk 106.5 on […]

With Gov. Kay Ivey’s administration taking an active role on coronavirus, prisons and possibly gambling in the near future, the Alabama Legislature has not been in session and because of that, on the sidelines. The legislature adjourned an abbreviated session sine die on May 18, and some speculated a special session would be called by Ivey […]