American prisoner of war Roddie Edmonds stood in front of more than 1,200 fellow POWs, the commandant of a German Stalag holding a Luger to Edmonds’ head. The day before, the commandant had demanded that all Jewish POWs among the 1,200-plus noncommissioned officers captured during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 […]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In the latest quarterly survey by researchers at The University of Alabama, business leaders in the state are feeling more encouraged about the economy than they have since the global pandemic began. The UA Center for Business and Economic Research’s most recent Alabama Business Confidence Index shows that local business leaders have strong expectations […]

President Joe Biden on Friday released his proposed fiscal year 2022 budget, and the leaders in Alabama’s congressional delegation are especially sounding alarm bells about Biden’s defense spending plans. Fortunately, while the White House proposes a budget, it is up to Congress to annually fund the government, so there is still time for lawmakers to […]

NASA is expected in the coming weeks to select up to two prime contractors to continue competing to build the Human Landing System (HLS) that will eventually land the next man and the first woman on the moon through the Artemis program. The agency last year selected three prime contractors to design a HLS: Blue […]

In a major blow to President Joe Biden, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and others on the national left, thousands of employees at Amazon’s state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Bessemer have overwhelmingly voted against joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). The balloting began in February and wrapped up […]

The board of directors of Great State 2019, Inc. on Friday announced the formation of Great State Alabama (GSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. According to a release, GSA was founded in part by former Governor Robert Bentley (R-AL), a board-certified dermatologist who continues to practice medicine in West Alabama. The organization’s website lists Bentley as […]

The Alabama Farmers Federation on Friday announced its endorsement of Republican Leigh Hulsey in House District 73. Hulsey is currently in a special primary runoff election against Kenneth Paschal. The seat was vacated by former Rep. Matt Fridy’s (R-Montevallo) election to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. HD 73 represents portions of Shelby County, including Alabaster, […]

One of the less-publicized casualties of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the termination of passenger rail service on the Gulf Coast east of New Orleans, which included stops in Mobile and Atmore before setting on to its final destination of Jacksonville, Fla. Nearly 16 years later, Amtrak is pushing for the resumption of passenger rail […]

Alabama’s coronavirus numbers have shown incredible improvement from their dangerous highs in early January, and the state is hitting some important pandemic safety benchmarks for the first time. The Yellowhammer State has averaged 196 new cases each day for the last week, down 94% from the average of 3,080 new cases per day on the […]

Republican members of Alabama’s congressional delegation are denouncing President Joe Biden’s recent executive orders on gun control. Biden on Thursday unveiled his slate of executive actions, which took the form of four instructions to the Department of Justice and the appointment of gun control activist David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms […]

Two up-and-coming anglers from Alabama have been selected as 2021 members of the prestigious Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team, it was announced this week. The 12-member team is presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and selected by a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the sportfishing industry, media and conservation groups. “For seven years, […]

The Alabama Workforce Council expressed its strong approval on Thursday of a new state rule that requires high school seniors to complete their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduating. The rule was approved by the Alabama State Board of Education (ALBOE) at its meeting on Thursday. The policy was supported by Governor Kay […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday sent a bill to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk that would establish the Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act. The legislation would standardize the process statewide for the issuance of concealed carry permits. Right now, this process — including fees and forms involved — varies county-by-county. SB 308 […]

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) on Thursday awarded $800,000 via a CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau to develop and implement a tourism recovery marketing campaign in response to the economic downturn that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant will also be […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) to protect Alabamians from a mandate that would require individuals to present a COVID-19 vaccine passport to receive services and goods from a governmental or private entity. The Senate bipartisanly voted 30-0 to pass SB 267 as substituted. […]

Raytheon Technologies on Wednesday announced Connect Up, a 10-year, $500 million corporate responsibility initiative intended to drive generational positive impact related to critical societal challenges. A release from the company advised that this focused philanthropy expands upon and elevates Raytheon’s legacy of community investment through lifelong learning, veteran and military family support, and localized community […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House Judiciary Committee advanced Alabama’s closely watched medical marijuana bill on Wednesday after multiple hours of discussion and numerous amendments. The bill, SB 46, passed the Alabama Senate in the third week of February. The legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence), is bringing a medical marijuana bill for the third year […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature met for the 20th day of its 2021 regular session. Several important committee meetings were also held. Here’s a rundown of the day’s proceedings:

Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders will hold a fundraiser in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday, April 14. Sanders, a Republican, served as press secretary to then-President Donald J. Trump from July 2017 until July 2019. Trump has endorsed her campaign. Also the daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders recently penned the best-selling book, […]

The U.S. Army has awarded two contracts totaling about $4.4 billion to Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC). The company on Wednesday announced one $3.6 billion contract to continue providing engineering services supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) and modeling and simulation development for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation & Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC), Software, Simulation, […]

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill released a statement on Wednesday ruling out a run for public office in 2022. Merrill’s decision comes after a 2019 extramarital affair he conducted with a 44-year-old legal aide in Montgomery surfaced online in recent days. “After much prayer, reflection, and conversations with my wife, Cindy, I have decided […]

In response to a lawsuit from the out-of-state Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office is now offering an opt-out for individuals seeking to register to vote that do not want to include the final four words of the voter declaration oath: “so help me God.” FFRF announced the lawsuit on October […]

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey confirmed on Wednesday that Alabama’s mask mandate is ending this week while announcing that some elements of the State Health Order will remain in place. The newly revised order, called “Safer Apart,” keeps in place the requirement that citizens quarantine if they test positive for COVID-19 and maintains the two […]

State Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) this week emphasized the importance of legislation he worked to pass that extends the coal severance tax for 10 years, which will generate millions of dollars for his district. HB 219 was signed into law by the governor last week. Through 2031, that Allen-backed accomplishment will see $500,000 annually go […]