Earlier this week, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a candidate for the Republican nomination in the election for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate later this year, challenged his opponent former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville to a series of five debates before the voters of Alabama in an open letter posted on his campaign […]

For congressional Democrats, the coronavirus pandemic has offered them an opportunity to promote a long-sought change to voting procedures, which is a vote-by-mail system. Under a Democrat proposal, registered voters would be sent a ballot by mail with return postage, which differs from the absentee ballot process currently in place in Alabama, which requires those […]

The recent flare-up of the saga of President Donald Trump’s disdain for his former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, continued in an interview with Sinclair Broadcasting’s Sharyl Attkisson that aired on Sunday. What began as a Twitter spat on Friday night and extended into Saturday between Trump and Sessions, who faces former Auburn head football coach […]

Last week on the final day of the 2020 legislative sessions, both chambers of the Alabama legislature voted by an overwhelming margin to accept an executive amendment to a supplemental funding bill dealing with monies appropriated by the federal government for coronavirus relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. However, it […]

As city leaders in Montgomery, including Mayor Steven Reed, have sounded the alarm about an alleged shortage of resources as coronavirus case have spiked in Alabama’s capital city, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris acknowledged there is cause for concern in an interview with Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal.” However, Harris revealed hospitals have indicated […]

On this week’s broadcast of Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) reiterated his call for a proper balance in the state’s coronavirus response. He said while State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Gov. Kay Ivey had the best interests in mind, Marsh deemed their shutdown orders to […]

The economic recovery from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic may take some time. However, an analysis of the numbers may show a degree of the initial panic was not necessary, according to State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road). During an interview with Huntsville radio WVNN’s “The Jeff Poor Show,” Barfoot, while acknowledging he was […]

On Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey further relaxed restrictions under her so-called Safer-at-Home Order to allow theaters, bowling alleys, museums and other establishments to open at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, with some limitations. Now that some time has passed since the height of the state’s restrictions a month ago, State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) said he […]

It has been a few days since the Alabama legislature adjourned sine die after a tense lead-up on Goat Hill between Gov. Kay Ivey’s office, the House and the Senate. It may, however, take some more time for relationships to fully heal, especially between the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives. Senate President Pro Tem […]

Calls from the White House for the U.S. Senate to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden’s relationship with Ukrainian energy company Burisma are being dismissed by U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook). On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday voted to authorize subpoenas related to an investigation into the […]

The coronavirus pandemic has seemingly had an impact on every aspect of Alabama’s economy, and the state’s seafood industry is not immune. Much like the disparity in cattle and beef prices, which is due in part to measures implemented to mitigate COVID-19’s spread, including the closures of restaurant dining areas, a similar phenomenon is underway […]

The month-plus shutdown of the economy to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 demonstrated why society should rethink the role of internet connectivity, especially in Alabama. While much of the country touts kitschy slogans like, “We’re all in this together,” being together has proven difficult in some parts of the state because of the lack of […]

There are many uncertainties ahead regarding the coronavirus pandemic, particularly regarding the economy. Under the current operating assumptions, the worst is behind the country and Alabama. For lawmakers in Montgomery, the difficulties regarding the economy include not having a precise number on what tax revenues to expect to apply to an education budget. However, despite […]

There is a level of uncertainty as to what Monday’s last day of the 2020 general session has in store regarding the passage of the $7.2 billion education budget and the $2.3 billion general fund budget. The unknown centers around an executive amendment to the general fund budget proposed by Gov. Kay Ivey dealing with […]

Tensions appear to have subsided between the legislature and the governor’s office over an apparent dispute for control of some $1.8 billion in funding allocated by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. On Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statement of intent to sign the $7.2 billion education budget and […]

Still to go with one last calendar day for the Alabama legislature before the sine die adjournment are the FY 2021 education trust fund and general fund budgets, both of which are expected to be considered on Monday. However, also looming is $1.8 billion funding allocated to Alabama by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, […]

Earlier this week, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued an open letter to the people of Alabama about his 2017 recusal from the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Sessions, a candidate for the Republican nomination for November’s U.S. Senate election, argued that given he was a part of the […]

As it appears that Gov. Kay Ivey “intends” to work with the Alabama legislature to resolve an impasse regarding funding allocated by Congress through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for COVID-19 relief efforts, disappointment in the governor is still widespread within the legislature. Count State Sen. Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) among those […]

Race fans will have to wait to attend a race in person at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway. But there is relief on the way. On Thursday, Talladega Superspeedway officials announced racing would return to the Talladega Superspeedway June 20-21 for a tripleheader weekend with the GEICO 500, MoneyLion 300 and General Tire 200. The weekend’s events, […]

One thing that will not have support even among Republican members of Congress is a proposal for funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be applied to the cost of building a new Alabama State House. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) joined his colleague U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) in […]

Earlier this week, the Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate explained the counterintuitiveness of low cattle prices as high retail beef prices are in effect. Pate has been pushing for Alabama’s two U.S. Senators to back a proposal of a Department of Justice investigation into allegations of domestic meat-packing companies manipulating beef […]

Last week’s falling-out between Gov. Kay Ivey and the legislature over who should control an estimated $1.8 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding from the federal government allocated to the states was not a bad thing, according to State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville). Despite a dispute that played out in […]

It has been nearly a week since Gov. Kay Ivey revealed a $200 million line-item proposal for a new statehouse in a so-called “wish list” the legislature offered for funds allocated to Alabama from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, done as a way according to some to embarrass members of the […]

Last week’s dispute between members of the Alabama legislature hierarchy and Gov. Kay Ivey’s administration over $1.8 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act spending sent shockwaves through Montgomery and the rest of the state. Revealed in that dispute was a since-recanted proposal apparently offered by lawmakers to use $200 million in […]