MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill that would reform the state’s civil asset forfeiture law. Sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), the compromise version of SB 210 passed by the upper chamber was supported by the Alabama District Attorneys Association and law enforcement. The purpose of the bill is ultimately […]

Alabama’s U.S. House members are bipartisanly standing strong in the face of Amtrak’s attempt to force the Gulf Coast Passenger Rail project on the Yellowhammer State’s citizens. Last month, Amtrak filed a petition before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) to require CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Company to permit the operation of Amtrak’s passenger rail […]

MONTGOMERY — Ahead of Tuesday’s expected vote by the House of Representatives Committee on Urban and Rural Development, four-year and two-year institutions of higher education are united in support of the proposed Alabama University Research Alliance (AURA). AURA is currently a component of SB 215, which was passed unanimously by the Senate seven weeks ago. […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday will convene for the 24th day of its 2021 regular session. The House will convene at 1:00 p.m., while the Senate gets in at 2:00 p.m. The lower chamber will not take up SB 46, the medical marijuana bill, on this day, April 20.

NASA and Boeing are now targeting August or September for the launch of Starliner’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. A press release noted they will also evaluate options if an earlier launch opportunity becomes available, starting in the next few […]

Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced that Alabama ranks among the top states for economic momentum in a new analysis that evaluates key measurements of economic performance in 2021. The Washington, D.C.-based publication State Policy Reports ranked Alabama No. 8 in its Index of State Economic Momentum for the first quarter. The state’s score was […]

The Birmingham Business Alliance recently presented a virtual business forum featuring University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who shared his candid insight and tips on a range of topics. The event was sponsored by Red Diamond Coffee & Tea and was moderated by bestselling author Jon Gordon. The legendary football coach discussed leadership, team building, […]

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) on Monday announced that Alabama state waters and federal waters will open to private vessel anglers for red snapper fishing on Friday, May 28, 2021. The season will consist of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, continuing until the private angler quota is […]

Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced that the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) has ranked Alabama First Class Pre-K as the nation’s highest quality state pre-kindergarten program for the 15th consecutive year. “Ensuring our youngest learners have a strong start to their educational journeys is important now, more than ever. Alabama continues to […]

NASA on Friday announced a surprising decision to select only SpaceX to continue development of the Human Landing System (HLS) that will eventually land the next man and the first woman on the moon through the Artemis program. The agency last year selected three prime contractors to design a HLS: Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX. Dynetics, […]

The City of Birmingham on Friday announced that Veo shared bikes and electric scooters have launched in a wide service area that includes downtown and many neighborhoods. The Illinois-based company has a presence in many cities around the nation, now including the Magic City. Individuals may download the Veo app to identify available bikes and […]

In conjunction with Governor Kay Ivey’s proclaimed Embrace Alabama Kids Week, a new mural was unveiled this week in downtown Montgomery. Embrace Alabama Kids, a 501(c)(3) faith-based agency based in the state’s capital city, commissioned the project and joined Mayor Steven Reed, city officials and local artists at an unveiling on Wednesday. The mural, located at […]

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) on Thursday visited MGMWERX, the state-of-the-art innovation hub in Alabama’s capital city. Brig. General (Ret.) Trent H. Edwards, the incoming MGMWRX director, led Ainsworth on a tour through the collaborative space and introduced him to the impressive services provided by MGMWERX. “It was our pleasure to host Lt. Governor Ainsworth at […]

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington on Friday announced that the state’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 3.8%, down from February’s rate of 4.0%. The latest rate is still above March 2020’s rate of 2.6%, however it is much better than the pandemic high of 13.2% unemployment in April 2020. Alabama […]

MONTGOMERY — More than six weeks after unanimously passing the Alabama Senate, SB 215 finally got a hearing in the House Urban and Rural Development Committee on Thursday morning. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston) and carried in the House by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), is viewed as a “transformational” piece of legislation aimed […]

Unique Thompson on Thursday evening became the ninth WNBA Draft pick in Auburn University history when she was selected by the Indiana Fever with the 19th overall selection. Thompson, who attended high school at Mobile’s Faith Academy, was the seventh player taken in the second round. “I’m excited, I’m happy,” Thompson commented. “The nerves aren’t there […]

Jasmine Walker on Thursday evening was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft. Walker becomes the seventh Crimson Tide player to be drafted in the WNBA’s 25-year history and just the first since 2005. She is only the second-ever Bama player to […]

The Alabama Legislature on Thursday gave final passage to legislation that would create “Aniah’s Law.” The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Mobile), would allow prosecutors and judges broader discretion in requesting and denying bail to those accused of committing violent crimes. HB 131 is a constitutional amendment and will be up for a […]

Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-03) on Wednesday released a scathing statement regarding House Democrats blocking consideration of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Rogers announced that he has signed onto a discharge petition that would force Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to bring this legislation — H.R. 619 — up for a vote in the House. “As […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed HB 391, which would would prohibit biological males from competing in public school female sports — and vice versa. The legislation, which only applies to public K-12 schools, would prohibit competition by one gender against another, unless the event specifically is intended to include both genders. HB […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed SB 358, which would create the Alabama Second Amendment Preservation Act. Sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), the bill would outlaw state and local governments — including law enforcement agencies thereof — from enforcing any federal firearms act, law, order, rule or regulation that becomes effective after […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday unanimously confirmed Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama CEO Tim Vines as an at-large member of the Auburn University board of trustees. He will complete the final three years of the unexpired term of Gen. Lloyd Austin, who resigned from Auburn’s board in January after he was […]

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday joined the Alabama State Parks Foundation, local corporate leaders and other stakeholders at Oak Mountain State Park to announce unprecedented efforts aimed at investing millions of dollars into park improvements. The governor spoke about an $80 million bond issue for park improvements that must be approved by voters through […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday held committee meetings. Neither chamber gaveled in, so a legislative day was not burned. The Senate’s committee day was highlighted by Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development giving a unanimous favorable report to HB 521, which is sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The bill would generally require health care […]