I’ve been chief of the Florence Police Department for 10 years this summer. Needless to say, the safety, wellbeing, and support of law enforcement officers is deeply personally for me.

It was unique in the history of telephone calls. She asked the ministry assistant if she could talk with the pastor and we connected. “I won’t give my name,” she said, so I conversed with this unknown person for some time. She explained she was married to an area pastor, and her husband thought he […]

Alabama has lots of money. The general fund budget and education trust fund budget saw investments of almost $11 billion in spending for 2023. Since we have it, why not spend it is the mentality. And that’s what has been planned – including pay raises for state employees and educators. There were a number of […]

One of President Biden’s first actions when he took office was banning new oil and gas lease sales on federal lands and waters. This moratorium on new leases in federal waters has been particularly devastating to south Alabama and the Gulf Coast region. These actions resulted in the cancellation of scheduled lease sales under the […]

Cities across America own golf courses, but is subsidizing golf a proper function of government?

American society, and human civilization for that matter, rests on a constantly shifting balance.

The wind in my face was bitterly cold in downtown Dallas a few years ago since the winter weather was yet lingering. My continuing education classes had ended at the seminary in nearby Ft. Worth, so the afternoon was free for some sightseeing. A chill came over me independent of the temperature when I walked […]

For years leading up to the 2020 Census count, the national projections were that Alabama would lose one of our congressional districts.

Our country faces an unprecedented mental health crisis. Two out of five adults report suffering from symptoms of anxiety and depression. More than half of those age 18-24 report these same symptoms and roughly one out of five say they have suicidal thoughts. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of anxiety, depression and suicide in […]

Often lost among the more provocative and controversial bills that generate headlines and hullabaloo during legislative sessions are the solid policy measures designed to address long-standing problems endemic to state government. As the chair of the House Education Policy Committee, I can attest that we passed more than two dozen bills and measures to support […]

The legislative session just concluded and coincided with the release of VOICES for Alabama’s Children’s annual data book. The VOICES report indicated we have many more issues ahead that need attention. The research results provided by VOICES are not good. (But keep reading, help is on the way.) Too many children can’t read or perform […]

President Biden’s policies have made every community in America a border city, and deadly fentanyl is flowing across the southern border and into communities all over the country. Even worse, fentanyl overdoses have become the number one cause of death for Americans between 18 and 45 years old.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent already rising oil prices even higher. Record gas prices are fueling the highest inflation rate in 40 years. President Biden blames high gas prices on Mr. Putin, but administration policies are hampering U.S. oil production. Markets are forward-looking and incorporate new information almost instantaneously. Anticipated events will affect commodity and […]

The scandal rocked the nation for two years. It was the origin of the “gate” reference to most every other scandal and the genesis of my interest in presidential history.

The crowded field for governor striving to oust incumbent Governor Kay Ivey, includes Tim James. He has run before. In fact, this is his third try for the brass ring. His last race was in 2010 when he barely missed the runoff by a few votes. He was edged out by Robert Bentley, who went […]

During his first few months in office, President Biden tried to brush off the surge in illegal immigrant apprehensions as nothing more than a seasonal trend.

Every year, the President of the United States puts forth a budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. While a president’s budget proposal is largely symbolic, it shows Americans what the top priorities are for the administration. Typically, the president’s budget proposal is rolled out in February each year, but it has been significantly delayed […]

It was no surprise when 60 years ago President Kennedy nominated Byron White as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. With few detractors and almost nationwide acclaim, White was almost everyone’s choice, and his confirmation was dizzying. Nominated on April 3, his judiciary committee hearing began just eight days later. After White […]

The house always wins. But when it comes to half of the casinos that may open across Alabama if the current gambling bill passes, the public will have no idea who actually owns the house. The public will have no idea who is raking-in all of those profits. And the public will have no idea which casino owners are […]

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Children’s charities will cover the doors of local businesses with symbolic blue ribbons, schools will have poster contests, and charities will take advantage of a heightened awareness and additional fundraising dollars. But what will you do? On average, child abuse is reported every 10 seconds in this country, totaling […]

Young Boozer is state treasurer, again, and deservedly so.

No one is immune to the impact of mental health or substance use, especially in Alabama.

The month of March marks National Kidney Month in the U.S., an opportunity to bring awareness to something that affects more than one in seven adults, and a chance to reflect on the struggles kidney patients across the U.S. face every day.

As policy director for Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, my work is centered around the intersection of poverty and criminal justice – the criminalization of poverty. As an Alabama native and graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, I work as a legislative attorney and non-profit lobbyist committed to advocating for […]