State government groups are conducting a survey to better identify in-demand jobs in Alabama. Business owners and executives — any that oversee employment — are asked to respond. Officially termed the Governor’s Survey on Employer Competencies, the effort is a joint product of The Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation and AlabamaWorks. “As Alabama […]

The State of Alabama is mirroring a recent decision by the federal government to extend the deadline for citizens to file their income taxes until May 17. “While many Alabamians are getting their ducks in a row this tax season, they can rest a little easier knowing there will be an extension for filing both […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House on Thursday afternoon passed HB 445 as substituted and amended in committee; this is the anti-rioting bill sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) that would create new crimes and penalties for individuals who incite or participate in riots. Treadaway, a 31-year career law enforcement officer who recently retired as Birmingham Police […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that criminalizes doctors that don’t provide reasonable care for babies born alive during abortion procedures. Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) sponsored the legislation. Shaver has long been dedicated to the anti-infanticide cause; 2021 is the third year in a row she has introduced legislation […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday afternoon unanimously passed a $7.67 billion Education Trust Fund budget for fiscal year 2022, the largest education budget in state history. The budget bill, SB 189, is sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), the chairman of the Committee on Finance and Taxation Education. The legislation was approved unanimously […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill that would require athletes in public schools to compete in athletic competitions based on the gender on their birth certificate. Sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), HB 391 passed the House on a vote of 74-19 with two abstentions. All Republican members voted […]

Attorney General Steve Marshall, on behalf of the State of Alabama, has joined 20 other state attorneys general in filing suit to block President Joe Biden’s attempt to kill the Keystone XL pipeline project. The multistate lawsuit led by Montana and Texas was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of […]

MONTGOMERY — A bill was introduced this week in the Alabama Legislature to repeal the death penalty. Under existing law, a person who is convicted of a capital offense may be sentenced to death or life without the possibility of parole. HB 544, sponsored by Rep. Neil Rafferty (D-Birmingham) and cosponsored by Reps. Rolanda Hollis […]

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Wednesday held a weekly press briefing, speaking about key items of interest on which he is focused in Washington, D.C. Alabama’s junior senator first built on the floor speech he delivered last week on the growing “national security and humanitarian crisis” at the United States’ southwest border. “A week […]

The front-and-center issue on the national political scene has been the turmoil underway at the U.S.-Mexico border and how the Biden administration is attempting to diffuse the situation. Some Democrats have said the crisis underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to solving the country’s immigration woes. However, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) said he […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday held committee meetings. Neither chamber convened, so a legislative day was not burned. The committee schedule was relatively light compared to an average week this session. Here is a rundown of the day’s proceedings:

U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) explained on Wednesday that changes made by members of the Democratic Party are the reason he doesn’t support an altered version of the Violence Against Women Act. The U.S. House of Representatives passed what is being called the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021” on Wednesday. It contains changes […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate Tourism Committee on Wednesday afternoon gave a favorable report to SB 319 as substituted. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), would propose a constitutional amendment to legalize a lottery in the state of Alabama. The committee action came via a voice vote, with no dissension noted. McClendon referred […]

The Alabama Department of Public Health has banned over-the-counter sales of the supplement tianeptine in Alabama amid growing concerns about its addictiveness and harmful impact on citizens. Tianeptine was often at gas stations under brand names like “ZaZa,” “Pegasus” and “Tianaa.” Morgan County Judge Charles Elliott, whose profile includes the local drug court, has described […]

The Montgomery City Council on Tuesday night unanimously voted in favor of Mayor Steven L. Reed’s landmark initiative to reinvest $50 million in capital projects, spanning neighborhoods, community centers, public safety infrastructure, public transportation and more. The proposal was announced Monday by Reed and is made possible by the City’s success in advantageously restructuring existing municipal […]

One of the “no” votes that was thought to be a possible “yes” vote on State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gambling package, which included a constitutional amendment that fell just two votes shy of meeting the three-fifths majority required, was State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road). Barfoot, similar to his Montgomery-area colleague State Sen. […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday evening passed HB 167 as amended; this bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City), would prohibit an individual from voting multiple times in a single election. Under current state law, it is already illegal to vote more than once in Alabama in the same election; […]

MONTGOMERY — Legislation has been introduced to further advance innovation and the 21st-century economy in Alabama. HB 540, sponsored by State Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), was introduced last week; SB 339, sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper), was introduced on Tuesday. The companion bills would establish the Alabama Innovation Corporation. This proposal comes in […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday met for the 15th day of its 2021 regular session. This marked the halfway point in legislative days for the session. Here is a rundown of the day’s proceedings:

MONTGOMERY — A bicameral group of Democrats in the Alabama Legislature has renewed calls for the state to expand the number of citizens it covers via Medicaid, arguing a financial incentive in the federal government’s recent stimulus bill will ease the financial burden of the much-debated proposal. Senator Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) hosted a press conference […]

Governor Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for all 67 counties ahead of potential severe weather from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning. The state of emergency goes into effect Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. CST and will allow the State of Alabama to rapidly respond to any consequences that may arise from the weather […]

Birmingham-based Robins & Morton in recent days won three 2020 National Excellence in Construction Awards in the health care and institutional categories. The honors were announced at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Excellence in Construction Award Gala held March 10. Projects are eligible to compete for a national excellence designation after earning award-winning status […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday advanced HB 445, the anti-rioting bill sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris). In a party-line vote, the committee gave a favorable report to the bill as substituted and then amended once. Reps. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham) and Prince Chestnut (D-Selma) voted against the legislation. […]

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Monday took to the floor of the United States Senate regarding H.R. 1, a bill passed by House Democrats that seeks to usurp states’ control of their own elections. “Democrats have labeled the bill the For the People Act, but it really should be called ‘For the Democrats Act.’ […]