The people of Alabama must confront an undeniable truth: the horrific events in Bibb County are not an anomaly. This isn’t a 100-year flood. Child sexual abuse is a persistent crisis that is affecting every county in our state. On December 4, 2024—before I ever announced my candidacy for Attorney General—I sent Representative Matt Simpson […]

Three Hundred years ago this month, in a dockside community in the East End of London, John Newton was born. Following in his father’s footsteps, he would become one of the hordes of Englishmen who “go down to the sea in ships.”   Initially, he served on a commercial vessel, but while at port, he […]

Educators are expanding their education this summer in a rather unusual class setting – Alabama State Parks. The Teacher-Educator Workshop Adventures series takes 25 educators on a first-come basis to visit State Parks in the five different districts in the state to learn about the wealth of outdoor educational opportunities.   The 2025 workshop series, […]

One of the best races in this blockbuster election year will be for Lt. Governor. In bygone years, this was a much more powerful position than it is today. For about 50 years, from the 1950’s through the 1990’s, the Lt. Governor controlled the State Senate.  The Constitution gives the power to the State House […]

A recent U.S. Senate hearing – “Enter the Dragon” – raised alarms about the Chinese government using U.S. nonprofits to shape American energy policy. Experts warned the strategy could weaken the reliability of our power grid. These concerns aren’t just national – they hit home right here in Alabama. Daniel Tait leads Energy Alabama and […]

In recent days, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville raised concerns about unfair trade practices hurting thousands of Alabama residents, declaring at the National Press Club that “this is war. Just as with other domestic industries, China is undercutting our cabinet businesses, basically cutting our throats.” Senator Tuberville is a champion for Alabama’s manufacturing jobs, and the […]

After months of negotiations and an all-nighter in the Senate a few weeks ago, Congress finally passed President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — or “OBBB” as we like to call it. This bill will be remembered as a generational win for Americans of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. I’m extremely proud of the work […]

For the last few years after every Civic Group or Chamber banquet I spoke to, I would typically open the floor for questions, and invariably the most prominent inquiry was who is going to run for Governor in 2026. Alabamians love the Governor’s race. Always have and it stays the same. Also, they seemed to […]

Good news was abundant at the 92nd annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), certified as the largest saltwater fishing tournament in the world. With a low-pressure system threatening to make for a bumpy weekend, the skies around Dauphin Island and in the Gulf cleared and made for a great weekend of fishing. Dr. Sean Powers, […]

As we work to create positive outcomes for our young people in Alabama we still have some laws on the books which work against this goal. Section 16-28-40 of the Code of Alabama is one such law. This applies to the suspension of drivers licenses of drivers under the age of 19 years for school […]

‌Today marks the beginning of my tenure as the 30th president of The University of Alabama, and I thank you for such a warm welcome. In the short time since my arrival, I have already felt the kindness and hospitality that reflect the unique pride and spirit that make UA such a special place. ‌Excellence […]

In the not-so-distant past, the United States’ relationship with the Soviet Union was best summed up by the policy of containment. The idea was very simple — communism in general and the Soviet Union in particular were menaces to the world order. Communism could be dealt with intellectually, but once the Soviet Union began to […]

As early as last Thanksgiving, there were smoke signals coming out of Washington that our popular Senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, was going to forgo an easy re-election jaunt to a second, six-year term in the United States Senate, to run for Governor of Alabama in 2026. The coveted Governor’s office was going to be open […]

Those of us who follow Alabama politics had been awaiting late May like kids waiting for Santa Claus at Christmas. We knew May 19 would be the golden opening date for candidates to begin making their announcements for Governor and other statewide Constitutional offices. Why? Because the law stipulates that candidates can begin raising campaign […]

Butting, a global stainless steel pipe manufacturer, announced plans today to establish its North American headquarters and first United States production facility in Baldwin County as part of a $61 million growth project. The company’s plans will unfold in two strategic phases, triggering the creation of up to 100 high-quality jobs with wages significantly above […]

Southeast small business owners, homeowners, and renters: hurricane season is in full swing, and will run through the end of November. At the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), we don’t ask if a storm’s coming; we ask when. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a busy Atlantic season — with 19 named storms and up […]

Before the Declaration of Independence, there was the Olive Branch Petition. Written 250 years ago today, the Olive Branch Petition was Thomas Jefferson’s first attempt to explain to King George III why the American Colonies were rebelling and ask for reconciliation. The “Shot heard ‘round the world” had been fired almost three months earlier, and […]

In bygone days in Alabama politics, there were several what I call “go to” events for statewide Alabama politicians and potential candidates. Today, there is one, the Dekalb/Henager Ledbetter/Livingston 4th of July Breakfast. About 10 years ago, two powerful North Alabama legislators – Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter and State Senator […]

The national debt exceeds $36 trillion with a projected $1.9 trillion to be added in 2025. Critics contend that placing entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare off limits dooms Uncle Sam to bankruptcy. Can we contain entitlement spending? Let’s first be precise about entitlement programs. Despite the name, the U.S. recognizes no right to […]

The 2025 Legislative Session was my second representing House District 16, which includes all of Fayette, northern Tuscaloosa, and western Jefferson Counties. After winning this seat in a contested special election in 2024, I have worked every day with one goal — to bring more jobs and opportunity and an even higher quality of life […]

A political stalwart in our state, George McMillan, passed away Easter weekend at 81 in Birmingham. George was born for politics in Alabama. He was a born leader. He had an exuberant, vivacious personality that people gravitated to and made it difficult not to like him. It was apropos that his funeral was really like […]

This July, hundreds of newly matched medical residents are expected to begin their postgraduate training in hospitals and clinics across Alabama. It’s a time-honored transition that sustains the future of healthcare in our state—particularly in underserved and rural areas. But this year, a crisis threatens to halt that process entirely, with devastating consequences for communities […]

We’re done with the days of Alabama being overlooked in discussions of national economic vitality. It’s taken decades of regional cooperation, ingenuity and soft diplomacy, but a new era has emerged across the state as more and more industries are planting their flag in Alabama’s rich red soil. We’re all aware of the stereotypes about […]

As a physician and as a legislator, my duty is to safeguard the well-being of the people I serve—both in the exam room and in the statehouse. That is why, in 2021, I proudly sponsored Alabama’s Compassion Act, which legalized medical cannabis for patients with debilitating conditions. As an anesthesiologist, I have seen firsthand how […]