Birmingham-based Regions Financial Corp. is accelerating its Regions branch expansion, Southeast strategy, planning to build between 135 and 150 new locations over the next five years as competition intensifies across the region, according to Banking Dive.

The move comes as Alabama-based financial institutions continue adapting to growth across the region and evolving customer needs, a trend reflected in previous Yellowhammer News coverage of banking and economic development across the state.

Speaking at a recent investor conference, Regions CEO John Turner said the move shortens a strategy that was originally expected to take seven years, with the possibility of moving even faster depending on how quickly properties can be secured.

The expansion will focus on high-growth markets across Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, while maintaining Regions’ overall branch count at roughly current levels. The bank expects to close approximately the same number of locations as it opens, consolidating some branches as it adapts to shifting population patterns.

Regions currently operates about 1,250 branches across 15 states.

Turner emphasized that even as digital banking evolves, physical branches remain essential for customers seeking guidance—especially during major financial decisions. He added that branches also serve as a key reinforcement of the company’s brand identity.

The strategy prioritizes growth within existing markets, which the company has found to be more profitable than entering entirely new ones.

The accelerated push comes as major financial institutions—including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, PNC Financial Services, Fifth Third Bank and Huntington National Bank—expand their presence across the Southeast alongside regional competitor Truist Financial.

Turner pointed to increasing pressure from JPMorgan, which continues growing its branch network in markets where Regions already operates. Federal data shows JPMorgan currently has 14 branches in Alabama and is working toward a goal of 35 statewide by 2030.

In response, Regions is leaning into its “hometown bank” identity, focusing on building long-term customer relationships rather than simply expanding deposits.

While much of the expansion activity will occur outside Alabama, the strategy reinforces Regions’ role as a Birmingham-headquartered institution competing for market share across a rapidly evolving Southern banking landscape.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

54 workers at a Dothan cigar manufacturing facility learned this week their jobs are going away, but the global tobacco company closing its doors in Houston County isn’t leaving them empty-handed.

On Wednesday, PMI U.S. announced they will wind down operations in the Wiregrass in the coming months as part of their public health mission to pivot toward a smoke-free future. Roughly 20 employees will stay on to support ongoing needs of the facility and community.

According to the company, all those impacted by the closure will receive a top-notch severance package that includes extended salary continuation, company-paid health insurance for a period after departure, and help finding their next job.

“Everyone impacted will receive strong support,” the company said in a news release today.

Cigars were not actually originally part of PMI’s core business — the Dothan facility came to the company through its 2022 acquisition of Swedish Match, and the site itself has operated as a cigar maker for roughly 25 years.

But today’s announcement is part of a broader shift toward smoke-free, FDA-authorized nicotine products, such as Zyn, which the company says is intended to help the nearly 30 million American adults who still smoke move away from cigarettes.

“The decision to close our manufacturing operations in Dothan reflects our focus on operating efficiently and sustainably across all aspects of our business and on accelerating the growth of our smoke-free business in America,” Peter Luongo, Managing Director of PMI’s cigar business said Wednesday.

“This change does not diminish the pride we have in the work done in Dothan. The dedication, craftsmanship, and teamwork of our colleagues here have had a meaningful impact on our business.”

PMI said its broader U.S. commitment remains unchanged, having invested more than $1 billion in American manufacturing and workforce development since 2022.

The company said those investments are generating thousands of jobs and more than $800 million in annual economic impact nationwide.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that the Trump administration has approved Alabama’s final Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program proposal, which now officially unlocks nearly $460 million in grants to bring high-speed internet to the last unserved corners of the state.

Today’s milestone is the most powerful testament to well over a decade of sustained attention from state leaders to close Alabama’s digital divide.

“This approval marks an important step forward in our work to close the digital divide in Alabama,” Governor Ivey said in a statement.

“Reliable high-speed internet is essential for economic growth, education, healthcare and everyday life. I am proud of the collaboration between our state leaders, ADECA, local communities and providers that made this plan possible. With this progress, we are ensuring that families and businesses across Alabama will have the connectivity they need to thrive in the modern economy.”

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) signed off on the plan, which funds 63 projects designed to reach approximately 92,000 currently unserved locations statewide.

With completion of those projects, Alabama will achieve full broadband coverage as defined by NTIA.

Of the 63 projects, 71% will use fiber technology, 24% will use low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, and 5% will use hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) technology.

Awardees span a wide range of national and Alabama-based companies and cooperatives:

Amazon – $8.83 million total

• Statewide –$8.83 million to provide access to high-speed internet service to 14,728 locations throughout the state.

Ardmore Telephone Co. – $2.63 million total

• Lowndes County – $2.63 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 251 locations.

AT&T – $72.96 million total

• Autauga County – $2.62 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 366 locations.
• Bibb County – $1.54 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 154 locations.
• Clarke County – $7.79 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 779 locations.
• Cullman County – $3.67 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 368 locations.
• Dallas County – $14.45 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,487 locations.
• Jefferson County – $9.27 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,542 locations.
• Lee County – $9.93 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,132 locations.
• Montgomery County – $4.48 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 862 locations.
• Morgan County – $194,503 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 105 locations.
• Russell County – $1.12 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 639 locations.
• Shelby County – $8.17 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 817 locations.
• Talladega County – $4.68 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 468 locations.
• Walker County – $5.05 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 505 locations.

Brightspeed – $14.31 million total

• Butler County – $1.73 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 707 locations.
• Coffee County – $2.07 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 349 locations.
• Crenshaw County – $3.71 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 466 locations.
• Geneva County – $2.54 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 396 locations.
• Henry County – $1.87 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 680 locations.
• Pickens County – $2.39 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,804 locations.

Comcast – $132.36 million total

• Calhoun County – $10.30 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,231 locations.
• Colbert County – $7.71 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,042 locations.
• Etowah County – $11.61 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,194 locations.
• Houston County – $14.29 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,585 locations.
• Lauderdale County – $8.83 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,190 locations.
• Mobile County – $30.60 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 5,295 locations.
• St. Clair County – $16.61 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,172 locations.
• Tuscaloosa County – $32.41 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 3,389 locations.

Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative – $4.23 million total

• DeKalb County – $2.60 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 322 locations.
• Marshall County – $1.63 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 273 locations.

Millry Telephone Company, Inc. – $9.45 million total

• Washington County – $9.45 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,117 locations.

mStreet Fiber Alabama – $24.21 million total

• Greene County – $2.69 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 384 locations.
• Hale County – $6.37 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 872 locations.
• Marengo County – $3.75 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 511 locations.
• Perry County – $4.79 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,167 locations.
• Sumter County – $6.61 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 886 locations.

Point Broadband – $1.82 million total

• Clay County – $1.82 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,176 locations.

Premier Broadband– $46.35 million total

• Chilton County – $19.91 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,006 locations.
• Cleburne County – $20.55 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 2,066 locations.
• Lawrence County – $5.89 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 658 locations.

SP Broadband – $57.6 million total

• Conecuh County – $22.81 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 3,149 locations.
• Escambia County – $10.84 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,383 locations.
• Monroe County – $23.95 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 3,395 locations.

SpaceX – $7.85 million total

• Statewide – $3.91 million to provide high-speed internet service to 3,461 locations in different parts of the state.
• Bullock County – $41,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 48 locations.
• Chambers County – $306,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 378 locations.
• Choctaw County – $138,750 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 160 locations.
• Covington County – $317,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 406 locations.
• Jackson County – $251,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 260 locations.
• Pike County – $498,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 431 locations.
• Tallapoosa County – $761,250 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 848 locations.
• Wilcox County – $1.47 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,534 locations.
• Winston County – $198,000 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 245 locations.

Spectrum Southeast – $16.61 million

• Blount County – $6.51 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,271 locations.
• Cherokee County – $606,229 to provide access to high-speed internet service in 142 locations.
• Dale County – $9.50 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 1,093 locations.

Windsteam Alabama – $17.86 million total

• Barbour County – $6.19 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 864 locations.
• Coosa County – $2.89 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 514 locations.
• Elmore County – $5.07 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 865 locations.
• Macon County – $3.71 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 531 locations.

Zitel – $41.87 million

• Baldwin County – $29.83 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 9,984 locations.
• Randolph County – $12.04 million to provide access to high-speed internet service in 4,538 locations.

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said the approval reflects years of deliberate groundwork.

“This approval reflects the strong partnership between Alabama, the federal government, internet providers and local communities across our state,” Boswell said.

“Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, our goal has always been clear – deliver reliable, high-speed internet to every eligible location in Alabama in the most responsible and cost-effective way possible. This plan and these projects position our state to do exactly that while ensuring these investments will support Alabama’s communities, businesses and families for generations to come.”

RELATED: Be Linked Alabama: Interactive map lights up broadband growth

The roots of Monday’s announcement stretch back to around 2010, when Republicans took control of both chambers of the Alabama Legislature for the first time in 136 years and broadband connectivity quickly emerged as a priority of the new majorities.

What followed was a massive scale-up of legislative and executive actions spanning more than a decade.

By the time BEAD funds became available, Alabama had the institutional infrastructure, partnerships and policy framework in place to move faster and more efficiently than nearly any other state in the country.

According to ADECA and Governor’s Office, that disciplined focus has paid off in how far Alabama has stretched the available dollars.

Of the original $1.4 billion allocated to Alabama, ADECA is saving more than $800 million, over 60% of the original allocation.

The 63 funded projects average less than $5,000 per location served, a figure that compares favorably to national benchmarks.

When ADECA submitted the final proposal to NTIA in September, many states’ BEAD deployments were running $4,000-$10,000 per location, with remote areas pushing averages even higher.

Alabama came in at the low end of that range, which placed the state among the highest echelon of affordability and effectiveness.

Former Alabama Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, who was central to those efforts during his time in the Alabama Legislature, said today from his role as CEO of the Energy Institute of Alabama, that the Trump administration’s approval, and the state’s award of more than $460 million, is a “transformational milestone in our state’s broadband journey.”

“As a result of Governor Kay Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, and electric utilities and internet service providers across our state developing, prioritizing, and implementing a plan for broadband expansion that has been a model for states across the country to follow, we have secured significant levels of funding from the federal government that will impact the lives of tens of thousands of Alabamians,” Scofield said.

“This is yet another huge leap forward for our state and our mission to extend high-speed internet access to all Alabamians.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Alabama’s housing market showed renewed momentum in February, with home sales and total sales volume rising month-over-month as lower mortgage rates encouraged buyers to act—though economists caution that broader economic pressures could create uncertainty heading into the spring season.

According to the Alabama Association of REALTORS®’ latest Economic and Real Estate Report, the state recorded 5,028 home sales in February, representing a 5.6% increase from January, as improved affordability briefly boosted demand.

“Home sales in Alabama increased from January to February as interested buyers moved quickly to take advantage of low mortgage rates,” Alabama REALTORS® economist Evan Moore said.

At the same time, the pace of the market accelerated significantly. Homes spent an average of 65 days on the market, a 22% drop from January and down nearly 18% compared to a year ago, signaling that buyers are moving more quickly when favorable conditions emerge.

Despite the monthly gains, the broader trend remains mixed. February sales were still down 14.6% compared to the same time last year, reflecting ongoing affordability challenges and broader market adjustments following recent highs.

Home values, however, continue to climb at a strong pace. The median sales price reached $250,113, marking a 2.3% increase from January and a significant 22.3% jump year-over-year, highlighting continued equity growth for homeowners across the state.

Total sales volume mirrored that pattern. Alabama saw $1.43 billion in home sales in February, a 6.7% increase month-over-month, though slightly below last year’s level.

Inventory conditions showed modest improvement. Active listings climbed to 19,283 homes, up 7.4% from a year ago, while the state’s housing supply reached 5.4 months, moving closer to a more balanced market.

“At the same time, days on market dropped significantly in February, down by 16 days relative to January and by two weeks year-over-year, which was also likely prompted by the more affordable rates,” Moore said.

Looking ahead, Moore warned that rising mortgage rates and broader economic uncertainty could temper the market’s momentum.

“The Alabama housing market enters the 2026 spring season facing a tug-of-war between seasonal demand and significant macroeconomic headwinds, including higher than expected inflation, labor market concerns, and geopolitical instability,” Moore said.

With mortgage rates already climbing again in early March, the coming months will likely determine whether February’s gains signal a sustained rebound—or a temporary boost in an otherwise cautious market environment.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

Federal and state leaders converged Friday in Cherokee, Alabama to mark the opening of a massive new defense manufacturing facility, a project expected to transform Northwest Alabama into a key hub for U.S. naval production.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held at the Barton Riverfront Industrial Park on the site of a former railcar manufacturing facility, drew a crowd of military officials, elected leaders, industry partners and community members.

The 2.2-million-square-foot facility will anchor shipbuilding and maritime production tied to the U.S. Navy.

“This is about that kick-ass Alabama spirit,” said Chris Power, founder and CEO of Hadrian. “We’re betting on the people of this state to step up and deliver when it matters most.”

Hadrian, an advanced manufacturing company focused on precision components for defense and aerospace, is partnering with the U.S. Navy on the project.

The facility, known as Factory 4, will mass-produce critical submarine components supporting both Columbia- and Virginia-class programs, helping address long-standing production bottlenecks in the maritime industrial base.

According to company officials, the facility will utilize Hadrian’s AI-powered manufacturing platform to streamline production, reduce supply chain bottlenecks and operate more efficiently than traditional defense manufacturing systems.

“We are done with free money in the Department of the Navy to the defense primes industry”, said Power. “The president directed us to move faster. Congress has cleared a path, the Navy has set the requirement, and today Hadrian is setting the foundation to deliver that capacity to the workers who will fill this facility. You are not just building parts, you’re building the submarines that underpin our nuclear deterrent and our most survivable nuclear deterrent.”

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan, U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Dale Strong (R-Huntsville), and Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside state and local leaders.

The project represents a more than $2.4 billion public-private investment, combining over $1.5 billion in private capital with $900 million in federal funding, and is part of a broader effort to expand domestic shipbuilding capacity.

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan highlighted the project’s role in rebuilding America’s industrial capacity and military readiness.

“This is not just another factory. This is a different model,” Phelan said.

“This is not just an investment in infrastructure. It is an investment in the American worker in Alabama communities and in the future of American security. This is how we begin restoring the industrial base and it returns in service of the American taxpayer and maritime dominance. This is what the Golden Fleet looks like in execution,” he said.

The project revives a long-dormant industrial site, previously home to FreightCar America before its closure in 2021, and positions the Shoals as an emerging center for advanced manufacturing tied to national defense.

RELATED: U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt op-ed: The Shoals is ready for its next encore

Rep. Aderholt, whose district includes the Shoals, called the project a long-awaited milestone after years of effort to redevelop the vacant site.

“We are opening a factory of the future,” Aderholt said. “The Shoals is ready, and this facility shows what’s possible when you invest in communities that are willing to compete and win.”

The facility is expected to create up to 1,000 high-quality jobs and reach full production capacity within about two years. Officials say its highly automated systems will allow workers to be trained and production-ready in as little as 30 days, significantly faster than traditional defense manufacturing.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers warned that the U.S. must rebuild its defense base to meet growing global threats.

“We were at a dangerously low level of defense spending,” Rogers said. “We’re at the beginning of a process to rebuild our defense industrial base, and it’s going to take partners like this to get us where we need to be.”

Sen. Tuberville emphasized both the strategic and economic significance of the project.

“They’re going to be building submarines in Alabama, on a river,” Tuberville said.

“The economy here will boom. It will explode and you will be protecting this country because we’re behind in submarines and ships, behind China,” he said. “China is our number one adversary. And by golly, we’re not going to let them continue to outrun us in anything. And the people here in Muscle Shoals will make sure that that doesn’t happen for years and years to come.”

Senator Britt pointed to the broader impact on American manufacturing and workforce development.

“American manufacturing is the backbone of American strength, and Alabama is going to help revitalize it and make sure that we are ready for whatever the world sends our way,” Britt said.

“Our great state has known this for a long time, and that’s the National Defense means a great deal to Alabama. But what the world continues to find out is that Alabama means a great deal to our National Defense,” she said.

Closing the ceremony, Power had a special message for Northwest Alabama’s workforce.

“I also want to remind everybody that what is the point of having shared responsibility unless you also give the responsibility upside to the workforce,” he said. “So everyone in this building who comes and works for us are also the equity holders in Hadrian, because I cannot ask you to step up unless we also let you share in the rewards and the wealth will be great here.”

Courtesy of 256 Today.

Ben Raines, the award-winning environmental journalist, filmmaker, and charter captain whose documentary and book “Saving America’s Amazon” gave the Mobile-Tensaw Delta its internationally recognized name, weighed in Wednesday on the Stockton solar controversy during an appearance on FM Talk 106.5’s “Midday Mobile with Sean Sullivan.”

His verdict on the land itself was blunt.

“This property is not pristine Baldwin County Wetlands,” Raines said. “It’s heavily impacted already. It’s covered in planted pine – being grown, planted after being cut over.”

The property at the center of the controversy is the proposed site of a 260-megawatt Silicon Ranch solar farm, contracted to supply power to a Meta data center in Montgomery.

The project has drawn fierce local opposition, with residents saying they were blindsided by plans to convert more than 4,500 acres of Mobile County land to solar panels.

That backlash prompted State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) to file SB354, a one-year statewide solar moratorium that has cleared committee and awaits a full Senate vote.

Albritton’s bill has drawn fierce opposition from industry.

The American Clean Power Association, the national trade group representing utility-scale solar developers, expressed to Albritton in a letter this week that a statewide moratorium could hamper an industry employing more than 3,000 Alabamians and send a message to businesses nationwide that Alabama is an unpredictable place to invest.

Ben Raines, whose credibility on Delta ecology is unmatched in the state, acknowledged that beautiful waterways run through the property, specifically calling out Rains Creek, a spring-fed tributary with some personal affection — but he said the broader land picture matters enormously in these decisions.

“EO Wilson described planted pine plantations as biodiversity deserts,” he said, referencing the legendary Alabama-born Harvard biologist who wrote the foreword to Raines’ own book. “That’s what we’re looking at for most of this property.”

Raines also noted that a large residential subdivision had previously been proposed for the same site — and that such development would be “so much more destructive” to the surrounding creeks and Delta ecosystem than solar panels.

“A solar farm can easily avoid the wetlands and not have a dramatic impact on these creeks,” he said, “versus a subdivision or a factory site.”

Raines argued if something is going on that land, solar isn’t the worst option, and Alabamians should be careful which hills they choose to defend.

“You’ve got to pick your ditch to die in,” he said, quoting one of his old editors, “because you can’t die in every one of them.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X at @Grayson270. 

The mayors of Alabama’s ten largest cities have thrown their collective weight behind legislation to extend and expand the state’s historic rehabilitation tax credit program, which is currently set to expire at the end of 2027.

The group, known as the Alabama Big 10 Mayors and representing a nonpartisan coalition of the state’s ten largest cities: Huntsville, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Dothan, Birmingham, Auburn, Decatur, Montgomery, and Madison, endorsed companion bills SB313 and HB452.

The bills would extend the state income tax credit for qualified rehabilitation expenses of certified historic properties and increase the annual credit amount.

The legislation is sponsored across party lines by State Sens. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro), Andrew Jones (R-Centre), and Roger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) in the Senate, and by State Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) in the House.

The Alabama Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is a 25% refundable tax credit available to owners of income-producing properties who substantially rehabilitate historic properties that are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and are at least 75 years old.

The refundable nature of the credit is significant: unlike many tax credits, this one can provide a cash benefit even if a developer’s tax liability is low — a meaningful advantage for nonprofits and smaller developers.

When paired with the federal Historic Tax Credit, a 20% credit permanently established in 1981 as part of a Reagan-era economic stimulus package, projects can potentially receive up to 45% of rehabilitation costs back through tax incentives.

That level of subsidy is often the difference between a historic renovation being financially viable or not, the mayors say.

“Historic tax credits have consistently delivered results for Alabama’s cities and towns,” they said in a joint statement. “This program turns underutilized and vacant properties into thriving assets – creating jobs, generating private investment, and strengthening local economies.”

Alabama’s original Historic Preservation Tax Credit was instituted in 2013 and expired in 2016.

When renewal came up in the 2016 legislative session, the bill was blocked by Senate leadership amid concerns about the program’s cost to the state budget and disparities between urban areas, which had abundant qualifying properties, and rural communities with fewer options.

The credit was re-established in 2017, limited to tax years 2018 through 2022, with $20 million available annually and a 40/60 split between rural and urban counties. The program was subsequently renewed again, and currently provides $20 million in tax credits per calendar year through 2027.

Bills on the table this session would push that expiration to 2032, raise the annual cap, and add enhanced incentives specifically for rural communities.

“These projects are more than preservation—they are catalysts for growth,” the mayors said. “They increase property values, expand the tax base, and create vibrant places where people want to live, work, and invest.”

“This legislation continues a smart, forward-looking investment in Alabama’s future,” the mayors concluded. “We urge the Legislature to pass this legislation and continue supporting a program that delivers real economic impact for communities across our state.”

An earlier impact study commissioned by the Alabama Historical Commission found that for every one dollar of tax credit allocation the state invests in the program, $3.90 is returned to state and local tax collections over a 20-year period.

The same study found developers consistently said rehabilitations would not have been financially possible without the credits.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with “The Rightside” in partnership with Yellowhammer News from the Alabama State House that he hopes his tenure will be remembered for moving Alabama in a conservative direction — and not backing down from big fights.

As he prepares to leave office, Ainsworth says he’s staying in the fight with newly-launched Freedom First Alabama, a coalition he sees as central to Alabama’s conservative political future.

Ainsworth, who is term-limited as lieutenant governor, said the work of he and colleagues in government during his term will lasting mark on the state’s political direction.

“I hope first that I treated people with respect, that we had character, that we made a difference from a conservative standpoint, that the state was in a lot better shape than when we started, and that we weren’t afraid to take on the establishment,” Ainsworth said. “We weren’t afraid to take on big issues.”

Ainsworth said he views public service as a calling with a higher purpose.

“I hope first that I treated people with respect, that we had character, that we made a difference from a conservative standpoint, that the state was in a lot better shape than when we started, and that we weren’t afraid to take on the establishment,” Ainsworth said. “We weren’t afraid to take on big issues.”

Ainsworth said he views public service as a calling with a higher purpose.

“I think you got one life to make a difference. You better make a difference while you’re here,” Ainsworth said. “Why did God put me in this position? Well, I hope I made a difference to improve our state in all the different areas.”

Looking ahead, Ainsworth spoke about his support for Freedom First Alabama, a coalition of conservative lawmakers and business groups launched earlier this session that includes the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Business Council of Alabama, the Alabama Policy Institute, and other prominent statewide organizations.

Ainsworth described the coalition as a necessary counterweight to what he called a well-funded and well-organized liberal infrastructure pushing big-government policies in Montgomery.

“Liberals and Democrats are well-organized, they’re well-funded, and they come in and sometimes attack on all kinds of different fronts — whether it’s property rights, whether it’s supporting traditional teachers unions, whether it’s tort reform,” Ainsworth said. “I think it’s important to have a coalition of conservative lawmakers and conservative business groups.”

Ainsworth said Freedom First Alabama has a two-part mission — pushing back against the liberal agenda while also proactively advancing conservative priorities.

“It’s two-part: one, to push back against the liberal, woke agenda, but then also to push for things we want to get done,” Ainsworth said. “That’s what I do. And I think that’s one of the things I’m pretty good at, is articulating a message for things we want to get done.”

Thursday was day 24 of the legislative session. There are six legislative days remaining.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at sawyer@yellowhammernews.com.

Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed are calling on employers to strengthen their workforce by hiring former service members through a federal recognition program — the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Program.

The application period for the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Program runs from January 30 through April 30, 2026. The program is an official initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor.

“We need our veterans in Alabama’s workforce, and as governor, I’ve made it a priority to connect their diverse talents with meaningful opportunities,” Ivey said. “These extraordinary men and women deserve our very best, and I am proud of Alabama’s world-class employers for helping our veterans provide for themselves and their families after service.”

The awards are the only federal-level veterans’ employment honor recognizing an employer’s commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development.

In 2025, 48 Alabama companies received the HIRE Vets Medallion Award, while 2,000 employers nationwide were recognized. Since the program’s inception, nearly 160 Alabama businesses have received the honor.

“We are fortunate to have a large population of veterans that call Alabama home, and many employers in a variety of industries that are ready to hire them. The HIRE VETS program honors the recruiting and employing of veterans across the state of Alabama.” said Reed.

Award criteria include veteran hiring and retention, veteran-specific resources, leadership programming, dedicated human resources support, and compensation and tuition assistance programs, with requirements varying by employer size. There is no application fee.

Employers can learn more or apply through HireVets.gov, or get assistance at one of Alabama’s 57 Career Centers.

Americans should never have to wonder whether politics in Washington will put their families in danger. 

Unfortunately, that is exactly what’s happening right now because of Democrats’ shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS is responsible for protecting our borders, securing our airports, and supporting the men and women who keep Americans safe every day. When Democrats allowed DHS funding to lapse, they didn’t just create a political standoff in Washington – they created real consequences for families, travelers, and communities across our nation.

The effects are already visible at our nation’s airports. Because funding is stalled, Transportation Security Administration officers are working without pay, and hundreds have already quit under the financial pressure.

Security staffing shortages are leading to longer lines and delays for travelers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. 

Even the aviation industry is sounding the alarm. CEOs from major airlines – including American, Delta, Southwest, and others – recently sent a public letter urging Congress to restore DHS funding immediately. They warned that unpaid aviation workers and staffing shortages are already disrupting travel and threatening the reliability of America’s aviation system. 

This is what happens when politics comes before public safety.

Our border agents, Coast Guard, TSA officers, and other DHS personnel are essential to national security. They show up every day to protect the American people – even when Washington fails to pay them. They deserve better than to be used as leverage in partisan negotiations.

Democrats need to reopen DHS and fund the people who keep our country safe.

House Republicans have pushed to keep these critical security operations running. But Democrats have chosen political gamesmanship instead of responsible governance. House Republicans have passed legislation to fund DHS twice, and Senate Republicans, including my friend Senator Britt who is a leader in the negotiations, have brought legislation to fund DHS to the Senate floor only to have Democrats repeatedly reject it. 

National security should never be a bargaining chip.

The American people expect their government to keep the country safe, protect our borders, and ensure that our transportation systems function properly. Washington should be working for them – not shutting down the department tasked with protecting them.

 It is an honor to serve south Alabamians, and I will continue to work alongside President Trump and my colleagues to reopen DHS. It is time for Democrats to end the shutdown, stop playing politics with public safety, and reopen the Department of Homeland Security before the consequences grow even worse.

Barry Moore represents Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. Born and raised on a family farm in Coffee County, he is a small business owner and veteran who served in the Alabama National Guard and Reserves. He is also a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026. 

Soon-to-be Alabama’s senior U.S. Senator, Katie Britt, received the 2026 Hometown Hero Award from the Alabama League of Municipalities this week.

ALM, known for their advocacy on behalf of Alabama’s municipalities in both Montgomery and Washington, D.C., cited that Britt (R-Montgomery) has secured more than $456 million in federal funding for Alabama communities during her time in the Senate.

“Alabama’s cities and towns depend on strong partnerships at every level of government,” ALM Executive Director Greg Cochran said. “Sen. Tuberville and Sen. Britt have demonstrated a clear commitment to supporting our municipalities and ensuring communities across Alabama have the resources they need to grow and succeed.”

The award honors Britt for her commitment to strengthening Alabama communities and improving the quality of life for Alabamians.

Alabama League of Municipalities President and Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan presented the award alongside other municipal leaders at the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference in Washington on Monday.

Britt was joined in receiving the award by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who was also recognized by the Alabama League of Municipalities at the same event for his efforts to strengthen Alabama communities and usher in growth for the state.

Britt pointed to a vast range of accomplishments in her remarks, from U.S. Space Command in Huntsville, to the Port of Mobile along the Gulf of America.

“Each and every day in the U.S. Senate, I’m fighting hard for our values, our people and our state. Nothing is more important to me than growing opportunity in Alabama, and I am so fortunate to have such outstanding state partners who share this goal and actively communicate the needs and priorities of their communities,” Britt said.

“From working to bring Space Command to its rightful home in Huntsville, to advocating for and securing Birmingham-Southern College as our Coast Guard’s new training center, to championing commerce at the Port of Mobile and seeing it become the deepest port on the Gulf of America, to supporting Eli Lilly’s $6 billion investment in Huntsville, I’m dedicated to strengthening Alabama’s future.

I’ve also directly secured more than $456 million in federal funding for projects across our state to support our military installations, invest in roads and bridges that connect Alabamians, and provide critical resources for our rural communities. I have fought tirelessly for our state, and our work is just getting started.

I am honored to receive the Hometown Hero Award as I continue to ensure that every room I’m in, Alabama has a strong seat at the table.”

According to ALM, their leadership and support of Alabama’s 466 local governments, Britt and Tuberville have demonstrated a lasting commitment to the communities they serve, making them hometown heroes to cities and towns across the state.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at sawyer@yellowhammernews.com.

When NASA’s Artemis astronauts strap in and head toward the Moon, the rocket carrying them will rise on the shoulders of Huntsville.

“This is America’s rocket,” said David Beaman, acting program manager for the Space Launch System at Marshall Space Flight Center. “It’s not NASA’s rocket. This is America’s rocket. And with our international partners, it’s the world’s rocket.”

At the center of that effort is the Space Launch System, or SLS, the most powerful rocket ever built. It is managed in Huntsville and designed to carry humans deeper into space than ever before.

For Beaman, the mission was more than a job. It was a continuation of a story that started long before Artemis. That story began in Huntsville during the Apollo era, when his father worked on the rockets that first carried astronauts to the Moon.

For those who don’t follow space policy closely, Beaman puts it simply. Artemis is America’s return to deep-space exploration.

“It’s our attempt to do deep space exploration,” he said. “And deep space doesn’t just mean going to the Moon. It means going to the Moon, to Mars, to other areas.”

The goal isn’t symbolic. It’s scientific.

“A lot of people don’t understand. It’s not about the journey, it’s about the science,” Beaman said. “That’s the reason we fly.”

From medical research to materials science to learning how to use resources found on the Moon itself, Artemis is designed to answer questions that cannot be solved on Earth.

And while comparisons to Apollo are inevitable, Beaman says the difference is simple.

“The Moon’s the same. We’re different,” he said. “Our technologies are different. The things we want to learn and understand are different.”

Artemis isn’t a single mission. It is a campaign, a sustained series of missions designed to build capability step by step.

“The campaign is the series of missions we use to accomplish what we want,” Beaman said. “We take incremental steps with the technologies that enable us to do the next great mission after that.”

Artemis I successfully sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon in 2022, validating key systems.

Artemis II will take the next step, sending four astronauts around the Moon and back.

The mission will test environmental systems, power systems, communications and redundancies, ensuring everything works without fail.

“We can’t afford to reboot in space,” Beaman said. “Our stuff has to work every time.”

After that comes Artemis III, a crewed docking mission in Earth orbit, then Artemis IV, the mission expected to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since 1972.

“We’re not going to fly by and drop them,” Beaman said. “We’re going to land.”

The long-term goal is to build a sustainable presence on the Moon and use it as a proving ground for Mars.

Marshall Space Flight Center has led propulsion development since the Apollo era, when the Saturn V rocket was designed in Huntsville.

“We’ve been the propulsion center of excellence for the agency since back in the ’60s,” Beaman said.

For Beaman, the story of Huntsville’s rockets began at home.

His father worked on the Apollo program, and as a child he watched the Saturn V rockets thunder into the sky.

“I got to see Apollo 11 launch,” he said.

Decades later, he is helping lead the rocket meant to carry astronauts back.

“I got to see the smart people do it,” he said. “Now I get to try to mimic what they did.”

That generational connection mirrors Huntsville itself, a city built around solving hard engineering problems and pushing the limits of what is possible.

“It’s Huntsville’s DNA,” Beaman said. “We gravitate toward things that challenge us.”

As Artemis timelines have shifted, Beaman frames that as discipline, not dysfunction.

“We have to do it right,” he said. “We can’t afford to be not successful when you’re doing something this important.”

Engineers must validate environmental controls, power, tracking, abort scenarios and redundancies.

“Spaceflight is inherently risky,” Beaman said. “It’s about imagining the unimaginable.”

NASA leadership has discussed increasing launch cadence in coming years, potentially flying every 10 to 12 months.

“That means more missions, more science, more learning,” Beaman said. “The more incremental steps you get, the quicker you learn.”

While Huntsville leads propulsion, Beaman is quick to note that Artemis is a national and international effort. European partners provide Orion’s service module. International payloads will ride along on upcoming missions.

Still, the Rocket City remains central.

“We’re a small part of a very big thing,” Beaman said. “Being a small part of a real big thing is pretty cool.”

For him, that perspective never faded, even after decades working in the space program.

Ultimately, he said, Artemis is about more than flags and footprints.

“It’s about doing hard things,” Beaman said. “When you challenge yourself to do something difficult, you don’t just learn what you think you’re going to learn. You learn so many other things that benefit us here on Earth.”

As the next chapter of lunar exploration unfolds, Huntsville and the people who helped build its legacy remain at the center of America’s return to the Moon.

Courtesy of 256 Today

Alabama parents will soon see new options when shopping for baby essentials as Target’s Baby Boutique arrives in three Alabama stores. The retailer is rolling out a redesigned baby department in select locations as part of a nationwide effort aimed at simplifying the often complicated process of preparing for a new child.

The retailer announced it is introducing nearly 2,000 new baby-related products and a redesigned in-store shopping experience called “Baby Boutique.” The new experience will appear in about 200 stores across the country this month, including several locations in Alabama.

The changes come as retailers respond to evolving consumer habits. Research cited by the company shows parents now spend more than three times longer researching baby products than items in most other retail categories. More than half of parents report that purchasing major gear such as strollers and car seats can feel overwhelming.

Company officials say the redesign is intended to make those decisions easier by allowing parents to compare products in person and access more guidance while shopping.

Among the most notable additions is the arrival of UPPAbaby products for the first time in store, joining higher-end brands such as Bugaboo, Stokke and Doona.

The move expands access to premium strollers, travel systems and other baby gear that parents previously often had to purchase through specialty retailers.

The new “Baby Boutique” areas are designed as dedicated spaces within stores where shoppers can see, touch and compare larger items like strollers, monitors and car seats before making a purchase.

The concept attempts to bring some of the personalized feel of a specialty baby store into a larger retail environment, according to the company.

The retailer is also expanding an appointment-based service that allows parents to meet with trained staff members who can walk them through product options and registry planning.

Officials say the service is intended to provide the kind of guidance typically associated with boutique baby stores while keeping the convenience of a larger retailer.

The expansion also includes nearly 2,000 new products across categories such as baby skincare, feeding and nursery essentials. New brands include Joie, Nanit, Tubby Todd and Little Spoon.

In addition, new seasonal gift displays will appear in about 1,000 stores nationwide, aimed at making it easier to find items for baby showers and milestone celebrations.

For a state like Alabama — where population growth and new job opportunities continue to attract young families — the expanded baby selection reflects a broader effort by retailers to meet the needs of first-time parents navigating a rapidly growing market of products.

Courtesy of 256 Today

Where I grew up, the term “hijacking” usually referred to the disappearance of a fresh load of moonshine on its way to market. Hijacking occurs when something, or even some process, is taken over without the consent and, at times, even the knowledge of the rightful owner.

Hijacking, like classic high-seas piracy, is one of the most direct and forceful means of stealing something from someone.

Well, folks, I’ve recently come to realize you can hijack a whole lot more than moonshine in the South. A bunch of hijackers from California, and even China, have come to recognize our home, the Southeastern United States, as a field ripe for the picking.

Just last year, in the November elections in Georgia, millions of dollars from these hijackers flowed into the Georgia Public Service Commission races. As a result, two incumbent Republican PSC commissioners lost by about 24 points apiece. That is the first time a Democrat has been elected to the PSC in Georgia since 2000. That, my friends, was a good old-fashioned hijacking.

So, who was the hijacker? An operation called the Georgia League of Conservation Voters pumped about $2.2 million into the Georgia PSC races. They got their money from their mothership, a national group called the League of Conservation Voters.

RELATED: Report: Environmental dark money that flipped Georgia’s PSC now targeting Alabama

This organization, with funding from liberal groups across the nation, reckoned that just a little of their money in down-ballot races would let them sneak in under the radar and hijack those Georgia elections. They were right. They pulled it off slick as a whistle. And now they are setting up a hijacking in Alabama.

And while it sounds like something from a John Grisham novel, an outfit headquartered in Beijing is a prominent player in the money trail funneling cash through the League of Conservation Voters and right to Alabama.

Conservation Alabama is the local wing of the League of Conservation Voters, and they partner with and help support a liberal environmentalist group called Energy Alabama.  These two organizations are carrying the water for the same folks who hijacked the elections in Georgia.

So, how do we stop them? 

Last week, the Alabama State Senate took a major step toward derailing these liberal out-of-state hijackers with the passage of SB360 – a bill that passed the Senate without a single dissenting vote 32-0. 

This legislation does three things to deal with rising power bills while stopping the influence of California environmental groups in our elections.

First, it freezes rates for Alabama Power for three years.  Folks, that is an unprecedented action by our Legislature that gives Alabama families and businesses rate assurance that no one else in the nation has.

Second, it enlarges the Public Service Commission from three commissioners elected statewide to seven commissioners elected by Congressional District.  This historic change in the structure of the PSC puts more power in the ballot box and in the hands of the people than has ever existed.

RELATED: Why is an onslaught of dark money flooding Alabama’s energy debate?

Third, it creates a cabinet level position for a Secretary of Energy that will raise the importance of providing affordable, reliable energy to a new level.  But this Secretary will not have ultimate power.  The elected commission members can override the Secretary and nothing, absolutely nothing, happens without a vote of the seven elected commissioners.

These California hijackers, with financial backing that goes all the way to China, have crossed the Chattahoochee River. But they will find it a whole lot harder to work their devious plans with seven elected commissioners rather than three. 

Nevertheless, liberal environmentalists are still going to argue that a three-year rate freeze is a bad thing and that giving the people more control at the ballot box is somehow wrong.

After unanimous passage in the Senate, the House will begin work on the legislation this week.  A unified show of strength against these out-of-state pirates will help serve notice that Alabama cannot be hijacked by paid social media trolls and intentional deception.

With only a few days left in the legislative session, let’s hope our House of Representatives will finish the job and send these hijackers packing back to California.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at steve@steveflowers.us.

The production of goods and services requires scarce inputs like labor and natural resources. Achieving prosperity in a world of scarcity requires careful use of inputs. What then should we think about people working to stop production?

Energy writer Robert Bryce labels this, appropriately, the “anti-industry industry.” In 2021, 25 leading non-profit organizations (or NGOs) opposed to climate change and hydrocarbons had $4.5 billion in revenues. The industry “employs thousands of lawyers, strategists, pollsters, and fund raisers.” These individuals use their talent and training to devise strategies to stop modern industrial production.

Industry leaders include the Environmental Defense Fund, the World Resources Institute, Climate Works Foundation, and the Natural Resources Defense Fund, each with 2021 revenue over $400 million. Mr. Bryce includes older, smaller budget groups like the Sierra Club and Greenpeace.

Much of the funding comes from billionaires and the heirs of billionaires. Supporters include Jeff Bezos, Laurene Powell Jobs, Michael Bloomberg, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Wealthy donors back other progressive NGOs, including George and Alexander Soros.

The groups deploy many tools against industry. Legislation, obviously, but regulation crafts the details with less public scrutiny. Litigation is aggressively employed, including the citizen lawsuit provisions of laws and “sue and settle” cases against the EPA. The industry staffs government commissions making and enforcing rules. And NGOs fund much of mainstream news organizations’ climate reporting.

The National Environmental Policy Act’s costly, lengthy, and frequently litigated environmental impact studies are indispensable. The impact study for Micron’s $100 billion semiconductor facility in upstate New York took two years and ran 20,000 pages. But just as Micron broke ground on a complex that will employ 9,000, the NGO Jobs to Move America sued to halt construction because the impact study was “unnecessarily rushed.”

Climate change litigation illustrates the depth of the anti-industry efforts. To lay the groundwork, groups spent millions on weather attribution research linking individual storms to climate change. Researchers were supported to publish computer models to be used as evidence.

The attribution claims, like Hurricane Helene was 2.5 times more likely due to climate change, are bogus. An impact of this magnitude would be apparent in historical weather records.

The lawsuits are now in court. Earlier this year, litigation proponents inserted a chapter on climate change in the 4^th edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence used by Federal judges to decide the admissibility of evidence. The industry is instructing judges how to rule on their lawsuits.

What do we do about the industry? I would like to see it just disappear. Scarce resources should not be used to try to prevent commerce.

Except that these NGOs engage in speech, research, advocacy, and litigation. People must be free to undertake all these actions, even if promoting causes I oppose. Preventing people from arguing for ideas and causes is pure authoritarianism. No leader should be trusted with the power to silence critics.

I also find George Soros backed district attorneys refusing to prosecute criminals an outrage. But strategists for progressive criminal justice reform NGOs recognized elected prosecutors’ significant discretion over charging accused criminals. Modest campaign contributions in low-profile elections could achieve their desired change.

The First Amendment requires meeting arguments with arguments. The enlightened rationalism of the American Experiment trusts citizens to listen to arguments and correctly judge who speaks the truth.

Trump economic advisor Kevin Hassett made headlines in February criticizing research by Federal Reserve economists on the Liberation Day tariffs. Allowing the government to censor critical research is unacceptable.

Dr. Hassett’s comments, however, reflect frustration with the current situation. Because universities have long skewed left, a massive disparity in research capacity exists between the left and right. Every unrefuted research study from the progressive left can move the public policy needle. The traditional rules ensure further progressive policy drift, which many conservatives refuse to accept.

In liberal democracy, people can advocate for their preferred policies. Many environmentalists want degrowth or a decline in our living standards. Using scarce resources debating industrial society is wasteful but seemingly unavoidable.

Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

A Southern breakfast favorite is set to make its Montgomery debut as Big Bad Breakfast prepares to open in the historic Old Cloverdale District later this month.

The restaurant, created by James Beard Foundation Award-winning restaurateur John Currence, is expected to be the first tenant to open at the new Old Cloverdale Village redevelopment along East Fairview Avenue, with a grand debut planned for late March 2026.

Developers recently announced the project has completed its core and shell construction phase as leasing activity continues. In addition to Big Bad Breakfast, signed tenants include House of Alchemy and Cloverdale Creamery.

House of Alchemy, created by local entrepreneur Morgan Chappell, will feature a wine bar, coffee shop and bookstore concept. Cloverdale Creamery will operate as a neighborhood ice cream shop run by owners Sam and Tara Bush.

“We are thrilled for House of Alchemy and Cloverdale Creamery to be part of this vibrant new chapter for Old Cloverdale Village,” said Michael Reilly of The FiveStone Group and Bayer Ventures. “These concepts fit perfectly into the neighborhood and the retail vision for this property. It’s a privilege to welcome them to the community.”

House of Alchemy is being designed by local architect Andy Graydon and interior designer Laura Dockery of Laura Dockery Design. The concept will offer wines by the glass, charcuterie plates and specialty coffees, along with a retail section selling bottled wines and books.

“I’m excited to bring House of Alchemy to the greater Montgomery community and create a space that’s both inviting and inspiring,” said Chappell. “Whether you’re looking to unwind over a glass of wine with a friend, discover a new favorite book, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, House of Alchemy will offer something for everyone. I look forward to opening our doors to the community early next year.”

Cloverdale Creamery will offer a variety of classic and inventive ice cream flavors served by the scoop.

“Opening a brick-and-mortar ice cream shop has always been a dream of ours, and Old Cloverdale Village presented the perfect opportunity to bring it to life,” said owner Sam Bush. “We can’t wait to introduce our ice cream offerings to the community and make Cloverdale Creamery a new favorite stop.”

The project is being developed through Old Cloverdale Village Holding LLC, a partnership that includes The FiveStone Group, Bayer Ventures, D&A Companies, Fresh Hospitality, and restaurateur Charles Morgan.

Located near the epicenter of Alabama’s state capitol, the Old Cloverdale District is widely known for its historic homes, distinctive architecture and neighborhood character. Developers say the project involves revitalizing a 109-year-old structure to help restore the property as a neighborhood gathering place while contributing to economic activity in the area.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

The Tuscaloosa County Commission has reached an agreement with the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority (PARA) to purchase the historic Bama Theatre and adjoining office space in downtown Tuscaloosa.

County leaders say the move will help preserve one of West Alabama’s most recognizable cultural landmarks while ensuring the venue remains available for community events, performances and public gatherings.

Opened in 1938, the Bama Theatre has long served as a centerpiece for arts and cultural activity in Tuscaloosa County. Over the decades, the venue has hosted musical performances, theatrical productions, school programs and a wide range of community events.

Commission officials said acquiring the property will keep the landmark under civic ownership and preserve its role as a gathering place for residents and visitors.

The theatre itself carries significant historical importance.

It was constructed in the late 1930s as part of a joint city hall and theatre project funded by the Public Works Administration, one of the major New Deal programs created during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s effort to help the country recover from the Great Depression.

The auditorium was designed to resemble a Mediterranean courtyard under a starlit sky and features murals painted by Italian artist Navino Nataloni. In recognition of its historical significance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

County leaders say the facility will continue to play a major role in Tuscaloosa’s cultural life.

The Tuscaloosa County Commission plans to partner with the Arts and Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa County, as well as both the Tuscaloosa County and Tuscaloosa City school systems, to expand use of the theatre for concerts, drama productions, dance performances and pageants.

Officials say the venue will also continue hosting the wide variety of events residents have come to expect, including concerts, movies, dance recitals and live theater performances.

Members of the Tuscaloosa County Commission — Probate Judge and Chairman Rob Robertson and commissioners Stan Acker, Jerry Tingle, Mark Nelson and Reginald Murray — unanimously supported the purchase.

County leaders said the goal is to ensure the Bama Theatre continues serving as Tuscaloosa County’s central hub for arts, entertainment and community gatherings for generations to come.

The freedoms Alabamians enjoy today were secured in no small part by the profound service and sacrifice of the men and women who wore this nation’s uniform. That debt does not end when a veteran comes home.

That’s why the opening of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center matters. Last month, state leaders, veterans, and community partners gathered in Montgomery to mark the launch of the AVRC, a new statewide hub designed to help veterans and their families find support in one place.

The center was created through 2025 legislation as a public corporation built around a public-private partnership model, with a mission focused on easing the often difficult transition from military service to civilian life.

Veterans and their families can visit the center to gain general knowledge about services available to them. Some of these services could be support with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) claims, employment resources, mental health services, and more.

Its impact is already being felt, and outreach is extending beyond the service itself — whether that’s a father bringing his son, a friend supporting a widower, and beyond — Alabamians are spreading the word that the center exists to serve.

Look no further than former Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Alvin Jeffries, who recently retired from the Air Force after 33 years of service.

“During my career, I was assigned to a variety of locations, including Beale AFB, CA; Headquarters Air Force, Washington, D.C.; Buckley SFB, CO; and Maxwell AFB, AL, along with four deployments overseas,” Jeffries says.

“After returning to the area, I came across a local advertisement for the Alabama Veterans Resource Center offering assistance with veterans’ claims.”

“I was immediately impressed by the one-stop-all approach the center provides,” Jeffries continued. “From workplace assistance and family support to legal aid, their comprehensive services have already helped make my transition to civilian life much smoother and far less stressful.

“I am deeply grateful for the professionalism and dedication shown by Executive Director Ms. Alex Karagas and Veteran Service Officers Shawn White and Juan Jones. Their responsiveness, knowledge, and commitment ensured all my questions were answered and every need was met.”

The center has already received extraordinary support from communities and organizations across the state of Alabama, and more than 100 nonprofit organizations have been identified as partners and resources for veterans and their families.

This coordinated and collaborative approach is exactly what the AVRC was established to do. In less than two months, these partners and resources have helped the AVRC serve hundreds of veterans and their families already.

With hundreds of thousands of veterans residing in the state, Alabama has one of the highest state per capita nationwide in veteran population.

RELATED: Alabama enacts new pro-military laws to support service members and their families

RELATED: Military bills signing highlights new laws benefiting Alabama servicemembers and veterans

“I’ve worked closely with veteran advocates across our state to understand where Alabama can do more for those who served,” Chairman of the Alabama Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre), who introduced the legislation that established the Alabama Veterans Resource Center, said.

“The AVRC is designed to help veterans navigate the transition to civilian life by linking them with meaningful career opportunities and resources to expand their skills. Alabama is proud to be known as a military-friendly state, and initiatives like this help ensure we are just as committed to our veterans.”

To learn more about the AVRC, you can visit missionforwardal.org.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270. 

Lockheed Martin will invest more than $150 million in its Pike County production facility over the next five years under a new incentive agreement with the state of Alabama, a move expected to create additional full-time positions and strengthen the Lockheed Martin Pike County workforce pipeline.

The agreement supports the company’s operations in Pike County, where Lockheed Martin manufactures hardware for several major U.S. missile and weapons systems. The expansion reflects rising demand for munitions production and reinforces the company’s long-term presence in southeast Alabama.

“Lockheed Martin has been a longtime pillar of Alabama’s aerospace industry, and we are thrilled to see the company’s continued investment in our state,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “This latest expansion is a testament to the hard work of the highly skilled workforce in Pike County, and the innovative, Alabama-made products that keep turning heads on the global stage.”

Lockheed Martin’s Pike County operations are located on approximately 3,800 acres in northern Pike County and employ more than 800 workers. Since 2019, the facility has added more than 300 full-time positions.

The site produces and supports components for several key defense systems, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system, the Javelin missile, the HELLFIRE missile, the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

Company officials credited the expansion to the performance of the local workforce and long-standing partnerships across Alabama.

“This continued investment in Pike County Operations is a credit to the long history of partnership across every level of government within the state of Alabama, and more importantly, the phenomenal performance of the Alabama workforce that produces a quality product for our customers that perform when it matters most,” said Jen McManus, vice president, site production operations at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

State leaders say the announcement underscores the continued growth of Alabama’s aerospace and defense sector.

“Alabama’s aerospace industry continues its impressive growth trajectory, thanks to companies like Lockheed Martin that have set a standard of excellence in manufacturing products that are in high demand in markets around the world,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of commerce. “The success shows that the company’s strategic vision, an expert workforce and supportive community partnerships are a winning combination.”

Workforce development has also played a role in supporting the facility’s growth. Alabama Industrial Development Training has worked with Lockheed Martin’s Pike County operations for more than 30 years and opened a $2 million, 7,000-square-foot Advanced Training Center on its campus in 2017 to provide hands-on training solutions for the growing workforce.

In 2019, Lockheed Martin also launched a program designed to train local high school students for career opportunities through hands-on classroom instruction. The program is now active in three local school systems, helping build a pipeline into STEM careers.

Lockheed Martin’s Pike County facility first opened in 1994 and has grown into a major contributor to southeast Alabama’s economy while supporting the production of advanced defense technologies used by the U.S. military.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) pressed pharmaceutical and national security experts Wednesday on how to reduce American dependence on Chinese drug manufacturing, warning that the current supply chain leaves the country dangerously exposed.

Tuberville participated in a Senate Committee on Aging hearing focused on China’s control over the American pharmaceutical supply chain, questioning witnesses on regulatory failures, tariff options, and the urgency of returning drug manufacturing to the United States.

Rosemary Gibson, who has written extensively on pharmaceutical supply chains, told Tuberville that China controls approximately 90% of key starting materials used to make generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Asked what would happen if China cut off those exports, Gibson’s answer was stark.

“A lot of people would die in this country,” Gibson said. “Our healthcare systems would cease to function.”

Gibson argued the United States is effectively importing unregulated pharmaceutical products and said the solution is using quality data from Department of Defense testing to exclude manufacturers from countries that do not meet American standards.

Gordon Chang, another witness at the hearing, said breaking China’s pharmaceutical monopoly would require emergency action and could not happen overnight.

“China has been able to outmaneuver the FDA because they do have such a big monopoly on all parts of the chain,” Chang said. “The only way to do that is to break that monopoly. Unfortunately, this is going to take some time. But it is possible.”

Chang said Section 232 tariffs, an enhanced investment tax credit, and invoking the Defense Production Act could help stimulate domestic pharmaceutical production.

He warned that within two to three years the United States faces a period of extreme vulnerability if action is not taken.

Tuberville also highlighted the Clear Labels Act, legislation signed onto by GOP colleagues, including fellow Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), that would require drug labels to disclose the country of origin of ingredients.

Former Congressman Ted Yoho, who also testified, framed the issue in national security terms.

“We’d be beholden to another country, i.e. China,” Yoho said. “This is something it’s imperative that we get right.”

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at sawyer@yellowhammernews.com.

A bill targeting surprise billing for ground ambulance services has cleared the Alabama Senate and is now working through the House, where it faces opposition from the state’s largest farm organization over concerns about higher insurance premiums for rural Alabamians.

SB269, sponsored by State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro), passed the Senate and was referred to the House Insurance Committee. Its companion, HB400, sponsored by State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville), has cleared the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee but has not received a full House vote.

The bills would require health insurers to reimburse ground ambulance providers at 200% of the Medicare Ambulance Fee Schedule rate for in-network providers and 180% for out-of-network providers, beginning October 1, 2026.

Providers would be prohibited from billing patients beyond their in-network cost-sharing amount, effectively banning surprise billing for ambulance services. Both bills would sunset on June 1, 2029.

In a recent op-ed, Oliver framed the legislation around what he described as a systemic failure leaving rural communities without reliable ambulance coverage.

Oliver argued the current reimbursement structure creates an incentive for unnecessary hospital transports because ambulance services receive little or no payment when they treat patients on scene without transport.

The bills’ “treat in place” provision would reimburse EMS providers for evaluating and treating patients at the scene, keeping ambulances available for true emergencies.

“This isn’t just about saving money,” Oliver wrote. “It’s about saving time. And in emergency medicine, time is often the difference between life and death.”

The Alabama Farmers Federation, which operates Alfa Insurance, argues the bills would raise premiums for the Alabamians least able to absorb the cost.

The federation notes that Medicaid and Medicare patients are exempt from the bills’ provisions, and that federal ERISA law prevents Alabama from mandating rates for self-funded employer plans.

That leaves self-employed individuals, farmers, small business owners with commercial plans, and teachers and state employees to bear the increased costs.

Alfa also argues the financial benefits would flow disproportionately to large companies in metro areas rather than the rural providers the bills’ supporters say they are trying to help.

The federation contends that 90% of additional reimbursement money would go to a handful of large metro-area companies, with only 10% reaching the 28 most rural Alabama county EMS providers — and that a single New York private equity firm, KKR, behind Global Medical Response, whose AMR/Lifeguard operations have a footprint in Alabama — stands to collect roughly as much from the bill as all 28 rural counties combined.

According to Alfa’s analysis, that amounts to only about $2 million of the estimated $21 million the bill would generate annually reaching rural Alabama — meaning less than 10 percent of the new money would go to the struggling counties this bill is supposed to help, while more than 90 cents of every new dollar would flow to ambulance companies in cities and suburbs.

“SB 269 will raise insurance premiums for the 10 percent of Alabamians already struggling most to afford health coverage,” the federation said.

Alfa said it remains open to alternative solutions to Alabama’s rural EMS access problems but opposes the bills in their current form.

If enacted, the Alabama Department of Public Health would be required to hire an outside consultant to study the legislation’s impact on EMS access and report findings to legislative leadership by December 1, 2028.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at sawyer@yellowhammernews.com.

Earlier this week, I shared important news about the future of the Shoals area and the role our region will play in strengthening America’s defense industrial base.

It is an announcement that reflects years of work and a belief I have long held: that Northwest Alabama is ready to lead again.

A few months back, I wrote here about how Alabama has always stepped forward when America needed us most.

From the nitrate plants in Muscle Shoals during World War I, to the power generated by TVA that supported victory in World War II, to the rockets that carried us to the moon during the Cold War, our state has never been a bystander in history.

Today, I want to focus on a place that represents both our proud past and our promising future: The Shoals.

For generations, The Shoals has been known around the world for its unmistakable sound. FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound helped shape American music, producing hits that transcended geography, politics, and time. Artists came here because there was something special in the water, special in the “Singing River,” a spirit of craftsmanship, grit, and excellence.

But what is true for the sound that came out of our region is also true for its industry: it is innovative, resilient, and built to last.

That spirit supplied weapons made with American-produced nitrates for our troops overseas. That spirit rolled railcars off the production lines that strengthened our industrial backbone. And that spirit is still with us today as we look toward the next chapter of American strength.

For too long, communities like ours were told that chasing marginal savings overseas was “just the way the world works.” I never accepted that decline was inevitable.

Over the past several years, I have worked alongside my colleagues in the Alabama delegation and on the Appropriations Committee to ensure that when America rebuilds its industrial capacity, Alabama, and particularly the Fourth District, is not an afterthought, but a priority.

That work has included fighting for targeted investments in our defense industrial base, supporting policies that restore America’s maritime dominance, and ensuring that major federal resources are directed toward communities that have the workforce, infrastructure, and determination to lead.

The Shoals checks every one of those boxes.

We have skilled workers.
We have available industrial capacity.
We have river access and strategic geography.

And most importantly, we have a culture that understands what it means to build something that lasts.

That is why I was proud to announce this week that the U.S. Navy will soon hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new defense industrial facility in Muscle Shoals.

This 2.2 million square foot facility will anchor shipbuilding and maritime production in Northwest Alabama, representing a major investment in our nation’s security and our region’s future.

This effort is also the result of important partnerships across the Shoals region. AE Shoals has played a key role in fostering the development of this project and advancing the vision for a manufacturing and technology center of excellence serving the aerospace and national security sectors.

The facility itself was owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, whose investment has helped position this site for new economic opportunity, and we are excited to welcome Hadrian, the company that will be carrying out the advanced manufacturing work here.

This project did not happen overnight. I spent nearly six years working to bring new industry to an unused facility in the Shoals, and that effort ultimately came to fruition through legislation that secured the resources necessary to make this vision a reality. The result is a transformative step forward for our region.

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This facility will help bring thousands of manufacturing jobs and new opportunities to Northwest Alabama. But just as importantly, it will help restore America’s ability to produce the tools necessary to defend freedom and maintain strength at sea.

This project is only just the beginning. In the years to come, I will be dedicated to expanding the Shoals area to be a collaborative campus for both national and international partners working with the Navy and Department of War.

When we talk about national security, we often picture men and women in uniform. We should. But national strength also depends on welders, engineers, machinists, technicians, and the next generation of skilled workers who will power America’s comeback.

The future factory floor will not look like it did in 1942. It will be driven by advanced manufacturing, automation, digital engineering, and cutting-edge technology. It will require precision and innovation. And it will demand a workforce ready to meet that moment.

As current events show, our security at home and abroad demands no less. Northwest Alabama is ready.

Just as The Shoals once surprised the world by becoming the epicenter of American music, I believe it is poised to surprise the country again, this time by strengthening America’s maritime power and helping secure good-paying jobs for generations to come. The sound of industry will ring throughout the world.

When America calls, the Shoals area answers.

And I am proud to help ensure that this region’s next great chapter is written right here at home.

Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) represents Alabama’s 4th Congressional District. He is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.