Each September, National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized as we draw attention to the causes, warning signs, and treatment options for those affected by this tragedy. You may think to yourself that this annual campaign is certainly important, but how does it impact you? The truth is, we can all help to reduce and prevent […]

One aspect of living on Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast is the realization that the best-laid plan is no match for Mother Nature. The original plan was to gather on September 16 at the Gulf State Park Pier to celebrate the grand reopening of the 1,542-foot pier after a $2.4 million renovation. Although I’m a veteran […]

The aftermath of Hurricane Sally has left much of Southwest Alabama in bad shape. From the coasts of Mobile and Baldwin Counties to the northern parts of our district, winds and flooding have let many without essentials like power, water and shelter. Fortunately, help is on the way. As the forecast showed the storm approaching, […]

For a nation which loves sports as much as our land does, there are still a select few who have yet to grasp the concept – to the victor goes the spoils. Despite the temptation to provide participation trophies to all who wear a uniform as opposed to simply awarding those who win championships, there […]

Hillary Clinton … Barack Obama … John Kerry … Al Gore … Bill Clinton … Mike Dukakis … Walter Mondale. This rogue gallery of liberal Democrats was rejected by Alabamians by large margins when each of them sought the presidency, but interim U.S. Senator Doug Jones proudly voted for each of them when they appeared […]

Chick-fil-A makes delicious sandwiches without beef. But not on Sundays. Owned by Christians, the company also gives away millions of dollars each year to charitable organizations that help people who need assistance. Until recently, one of those was the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army, in its own words, “exists to meet human need wherever, whenever, […]

No one really knows how the game is played The art of the trade How the sausage gets made We just assume that it happens But no one else is in The room where it happens This description of 1790s American politics in the well-known musical Hamilton echoes a still-relevant sentiment–that regular Americans really don’t […]

The Houston Astros played at the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend for the first time since the revelation of Houston’s sign-stealing during their 2017 championship season. The biggest offseason story led to the firing of Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow and two other managers. Yet, according to a saying, “If you […]

I grew up in poverty. I know what it’s like to be without electricity and to move because the rent is past-due. I’ve lived the struggles, the poverty that limited opportunity brings. I was one of the students you hear about on TV who receive a free or reduced-price lunch. I saw my single mother […]

Hurricane Sally Recovery Efforts As you know, Hurricane Sally made landfall in Alabama early Wednesday morning as a Category 2 hurricane. On Wednesday afternoon, the storm downgraded to a tropical storm but continued to produce significant flooding, wind damage and power outages across the Second District. My team and I closely tracked the storm upon […]

Last week when I wrote about some good news, I mentioned the recent peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates negotiated by the Trump administration. Just days after I wrote those words another Middle Eastern nation, Bahrain, reached a peace agreement with Israel, again negotiated by the Trump administration. What do these and […]

The summer of 1787 was a pivotal moment in American history. Our young nation had defeated the British in a bloody revolution but was struggling through the early years of independence. The Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia to determine how to put the nation on better footing, with a government that would function capably while […]

Throughout the pandemic, most of Alabama state government has continued to operate. There are still state troopers patrolling the highways, elections held, unemployment compensation paid and the state parks have stayed open in a limited manner. Roads are still being paved and the state offices have been back up and running this summer. Yet, one […]

“If you never change your mind, why have one?” A few weeks ago, I was dead set on how I would vote in the presidential election in November. More accurately, perhaps, I was dead set on how I would not vote. Today, I’m not so sure. Some might accuse me of being wishy-washy or uncommitted. […]

September 17 marks 233 years since the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, the document that sets up our form of government. It is the most impactful government charter in the modern world and is a model for many others. The final major battle of the Revolutionary War happened in 1781 at Yorktown, Virginia. […]

1987 was a quiet year for elections across America but not at Auburn. That was the year Harold Melton, a student in international studies and Spanish, launched and won a campaign to become the first African American president of the Auburn Student Government Association, winning with more than 65 percent of the vote. This was […]

Nineteen years ago, America awoke on a tranquil Tuesday morning only to have that peace destroyed by terrorists. We pause today to remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. We rise to honor the brave first responders who ran into harm’s way. We mourn with the thousands of Americans […]

No American will ever forget where they were and what they were doing on the morning of September 11, 2001. The world changed in an instant before our own eyes, and it is hard to believe these tragic events took place nearly 20 years ago. Like many, I remember watching the horror unfold on television. […]

Labor Day is upcoming on Monday. In bygone days it was the benchmark day for campaign season to start. Historically, Labor Day barbeques were events where political campaigns had their roots. Camp stew and barbequed pork were devoured while folks listened to politicians promise how they were going to bring home the pork. The most […]

The police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha just months after the death of George Floyd sparked new protests. The video appears to clearly show another excessive and unnecessary use of force. What can we do to enact the reforms needed to curb police misconduct? Numerous sound reforms have been offered. Secrecy laws protecting officers’ […]

Summer is peaking and so are utility bills. Historically, the July-September months are always the most expensive electric bills of the year. You’re most likely using more power in a time when so many are crunching their budget, due to COVID-19. Your utility has likely implemented measures for delayed payments and waivers for late fees, […]

When many of us were growing up, Labor Day was the traditional end of summer, and we started back to school the next day. Back in those days, political campaigns did not really begin until Labor Day. I recall President Reagan kicking off his 1980 campaign on Labor Day with the Statue of Liberty behind […]

America’s essential workers continue to work tirelessly and selflessly throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Over 55 million workers in various industries are deemed “essential” at this time. Almost half – 48.7% – of Alabama’s labor force works in essential industries. From doctors, nurses, first responders and law enforcement officers to grocery store employees, manufacturers, truckers, educators […]

Much has been written about the latest rankings from Business Facilities magazine, which gave Alabama overall high marks and cited Birmingham and Huntsville as having the best business climate among all metro areas their size. That Huntsville ranked No. 1 in the small-sized metro category comes as no surprise. The northern Alabama region has been […]