MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama House Wednesday evening approved a General Fund budget cutting $156 million from Medicaid. After an initial vote of 45-46, a second vote flipped enough members to provide an outcome of 46-44. Every yes vote was made by a Republican member. Sixteen Republicans joined with every Democrat to vote against the […]

MONGTOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama House Wednesday passed a bill removing earmarks from 30 state agencies and revenue streams in the General Fund, giving lawmakers more room to prioritize during the budgeting process. The bill, HB46 passed on a wide bipartisan vote of 83-13, and will go into effect during the 2017 fiscal year, meaning […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A surprise move in the Alabama Legislature Tuesday afternoon has seemingly left the state’s lawmakers with the choice to vote for either tax increases or a massive cut to Medicaid. Alabama is one of only three states that budgets education separately from Medicaid, corrections, law enforcement, and other non-education programs. Coupled with […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A memo being circulated by Alabama State Superintendent Tommy Bice Tuesday is drawing the criticism of conservative lawmakers who say Bice’s characterization of legislation before the State Senate is untruthful. The bill in contention is Senate Bill 30, which moves $225 million in Use Tax revenue from the Education Trust Fund to […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Among the tax increases initially considered most politically palatable by members of the Alabama Legislature has been a 25 cent-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax—a proposal which prompted a dramatic series of events in a House committee meeting Tuesday and ultimately failed. A tobacco tax increase is a major part of both […]

Between the Confederate battle flag debate, the Special Legislative Session, and the heat of Summer, things have been getting a little bit tense in the Yellowhammer State as of late. An image with a topical reference to the outrage over “Cecil the Lion,” a male lion hunted and killed by an American dentist, is making […]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Monday failed to get the 60 votes necessary to overcome a procedural hurdle to block all federal funding to Planned Parenthood. The effort, dubbed “Defund Planned Parenthood,” received 53 votes, seven short of the 60 needed to end a Democratic filibuster and begin debate on the bill. The abortion provider […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) told Yellowhammer Monday afternoon that Governor Bentley’s (R-AL) more than $300 million in proposed tax increases only have 8 Republican votes in the Senate, rendering them effectively dead-on-arrival. “I just don’t see the body as warm enough toward any new taxes,” Sen. Marsh said. […]

AUBURN, Ala. — It’s become a beloved tradition for college football fans: We wake up early on the crisp fall Saturday mornings to read the comedic signs and watch the hilarious antics of the hosts of College GameDay as they discuss the weekend’s upcoming contests. At the end of the program the hosts share their […]

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. — Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza recently placed small decals on the back of every patrol car in his service with an excerpt from Matthew 5:9, stating “Blessed are the peacemakers.” “I’ve always had religious belief, and I feel like that’s kept me alive,” Valenza told the Dothan Eagle. “We’ve used that […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The White House, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is releasing Monday a detailed update to the Obama administration’s power plan, including what the Associated Press calls “unprecedented” limits on emissions at electricity plants. The AP reports the plan will make consumers huge “losers,” increasing electricity rates as power providers spend billions […]

ONEONTA, Ala. — Dr. David R. Wilson, a physician from Oneonta, Alabama, is reportedly under house arrest in China after being accused by its notoriously anti-Christian government of having a “religious discussion” in public. According to reports, Dr. Wilson was arrested in a book store and detained until a hearing Monday. The results of that […]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es6PlZmX81k (Video Above: The Alabama Free Market Alliance explains the true cost of regulations) The Alabama Free Market Alliance released a video over the weekend describing what they say are the true costs of government regulations. Here are a few highlights from the video: – Regulations cost Americans $2 trillion every year, more than the […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After hearing from hundreds of distressed senior citizens across Central Alabama during the extreme July climate over the last several weeks, United Way of Central Alabama through a program called “Senior Cool” has teamed up with other area to distribute fans to help beat the heat. Senior Cool and United Way are […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Business Council of Alabama presented Honda Manufacturing of Alabama general counsel Raymond W. Perez with the BCA Distinguished Service and Leadership Award at a reception in Birmingham on Tuesday. Perez, a board member of both the BCA and the BCA’s Manufacturing Advisory Council, is a longtime friend of the business community […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A survey taken of recipients of the state’s first school choice program shows parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with their child’s new school and academic progress. 2013’s Alabama Accountability Act provided children in habitually failing schools an opportunity to apply for a scholarship to a participating non-failing public or private school. Though the […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A group of Alabamians is hosting a rally Friday in hopes of showing Birmingham City Councilors just how much support there is for app-based ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft in the Magic City. The event’s organizer, Leigh LaChine of the Alabama Libertarian Party, says that though the lack of transportation options […]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed a bill Wednesday giving the Department of Veterans Affairs more power to remove underperforming employees in an effort to bring more accountability to the agency plagued with scandals. The VA Accountability Act, sponsored by Florida Congressman Jeff Miller and cosponsored by Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL2), authorizes the VA to […]

As one of the nation’s fastest growing retailers, Hibbett Sports is the go-to store for many amateur athletes, but did you know the company is headquartered right here in Alabama? Founded in 1945 as a boats and marine equipment retailer named Dixie Supply Company, Hibbett Sports has since grown to more than 1000 stores in […]

WASHINGTON — A bill which could drastically roll back many of the costly regulations passed each year by executive agencies won overwhelming support from U.S. House Republicans Tuesday, including the affirmative vote of every Republican member of Alabama’s delegation. The “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny,” or REINS Act, would require congressional approval […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Wednesday morning Yellowhammer obtained a copy of each bill the Bentley administration sent to legislators to consider during the upcoming special session, as well as an email the governor’s top legislative affairs staffer sent to lawmakers. The draft bills and email show that the governor is recommending a dual approach to the […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Craft Beer Craze has firmly taken hold of Alabama, highlighted by a new report from data measuring company Nielson saying the Birmingham metropolitan area leads the nation in craft beer sales by both volume and market share growth. According to Nielson, the volume of craft beer being purchased at retail increased […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Former Alabama Education Association (AEA) leaders are lashing out at the teachers’ union’s current trusteeship under its parent organization, the National Education Association (NEA), saying in a letter that the AEA is being “occupied” by the NEA. The letter, dated July 2nd, is signed by former AEA leaders Joe Reed and Nancy […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — According to a report from the Associated Press, Birmingham is currently enjoying the lowest average gas prices in the nation. Clocking in at $2.33 a gallon, the Birmingham metro area’s gas prices are the lowest in the country in a time when gas prices have declined across the board in response to […]