Last week, State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gambling proposal fell two votes short of the required three-fifths needed for a constitutional amendment, which would have laid the groundwork for a lottery, the proliferation of casino gaming and opened the opportunity for sports gambling in Alabama. The outcome was a surprise to political watchers, and […]

Nationally, some states have pushed to adopt so-called “constitutional” permitless carry, which, according to proponents, would allow someone to exercise their Second Amendment rights and carry a firearm without restrictions on the state level. Despite a vocal effort supporting the practice, Alabama policymakers have been resistant to adopting the policy. State Rep. Proncey Robertson (R-Mt. […]

Mayor Steven L. Reed on Monday announced a proposal to reinvest $50 million in Montgomery capital projects, spanning neighborhoods, community centers, public safety infrastructure, public transportation and more. Reed’s plan will be considered by the Montgomery City Council on Tuesday evening. The funding would come via an advantageous restructuring of existing municipal debt.

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday will meet for the 15th day of its 2021 regular session. The completion of this day will mark the halfway point in legislative days for the session. Here’s what you should look out for on the day:

U.S. Senate candidate Lynda Blanchard on Saturday evening held a fundraiser for her Republican campaign at Mar-a-Lago, the storied Florida resort owned by former President Donald J. Trump. The fundraiser was not hosted by Trump, and he was not scheduled to attend. However, as evidenced by pictures from the event obtained by Yellowhammer News, Trump […]

The Frontier 2021, a groundbreaking international industrial innovation conference, is less than a month away. However, even after the event has concluded, The Frontier is set to leave an indelible mark on Alabama. This year’s version of the conference will be the inaugural time that Birmingham serves as its host site. The Magic City, monikered […]

The rates of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Alabama have fallen to levels the state has not experienced since the late spring of 2020. Alabama was averaging 375 new cases per day over the last week as of Sunday, according to BamaTracker, a site that collects government data on the virus. The last time […]

Dothan-based AAA Cooper Transportation has once again been named as one of the nation’s best midsize employers by Forbes. To compile the 2021 rankings, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista by surveying 50,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Participants were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers […]

A searchable, online database provides the easiest way for Alabamians to find their nearest COVID-19 vaccine provider. The database of providers, courtesy of the website BamaTracker, can be accessed here. Instructions on how to use the database can be found below. Additionally, links to several other web portals with vaccine booking options in Alabama are […]

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) last week delivered a speech on the floor of the United States Senate focused on the worsening crisis at the country’s southwest border. Tuberville in his remarks discussed the impact of President Joe Biden’s unilateral policy rollbacks, cited the unsustainable numbers of migrants flooding across the border and highlighted two […]

Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in January was 4.3%, the lowest rate the state has enjoyed since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The unemployment numbers were released by the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) on Monday morning. The 4.3% rate is down from 4.7% in December. “As we begin a new year, it’s encouraging […]

HomTex, an Alabama-based textile manufacturer, on Monday announced that it has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization for its Level 1 Surgical masks, green lighting their entry into the U.S. governmental and medical personal protective equipment (PPE) markets. HomTex, headquartered in Cullman County, has been family-owned since its founding in 1987. It is a certified minority-owned […]

Last week, the Alabama Attorney General’s office announced it was partnering with U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) in a suit against the U.S. Census Bureau to prevent the Census data from allegedly being manipulated, as the results are slow-walked to the individual states. During an appearance on Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5, Alabama Attorney General […]

MOULTON, Alabama – Red Land Cotton is expanding its home base in Lawrence County, as demand is surging for its heirloom-inspired linens. The company completed construction of a 25,000-square-foot warehouse, distribution center and storefront in December and officially began operations there earlier this year. The move follows a year of strong growth for Red Land […]

BIO Alabama has named entrepreneur Rachel Lane, Ph.D., R.D., as its new executive director. Lane founded The Written Science LLC in Huntsville, where she serves as a liaison between business and cutting-edge research teams to translate science into medicine. As executive director for BIO Alabama, she will focus on: Fostering independent and collaborative initiatives that cultivate a fertile, […]

Last week’s failure by Alabama Senate to pass a comprehensive gambling bill has made the future for gaming uncertain. If the legislature cannot pass a bill this year, history suggests it is unlikely to be considered in the fourth year of a quadrennium with elections on the horizon. However, State House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter […]

Uncertainty prevails over the decades-long saga of the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant in northeastern Alabama, but some clarity could be forthcoming, according to State Sen. Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro). During an appearance on Huntsville radio’s “WVNN Afternoons,” Livingston said he anticipated a ruling from U.S. District Judge Liles Burke that could determine whether or not the […]

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The National Governors Association (NGA) has awarded Alabama a $100,000 Workforce Innovation Network and Workforce Innovation Fund grant to develop innovative policies for reskilling Alabamians who have been displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The NGA grant will be used to support Alabama’s Skills-Based Recovery Initiative, which will provide integrated education, workforce, and […]

The UAB medical community and the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) issued good news: COVID-19 hasn’t yet been defeated, but “we’re at the 10-yard line.” “We need to continue to really follow the rules, get vaccinated and we’ll have the best chance to get through this. … We don’t want to spike the ball before we’re in the end […]

The failure of State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gaming legislation last week has led to some lawmakers scrambling for a simplified back-up plan that could lay the groundwork for at least a lottery in Alabama. Among those are State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), who along with Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), has proposed a so-called […]

ATMORE, Alabama – Governor Kay Ivey joined Escambia County officials in Atmore this week to mark the start of construction on the Coastal Growers LLC peanut shelling facility, which will provide a major boost to peanut farmers in the region. The company — owned by a cooperative of farmers, most of them residing in Alabama […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature held its annual Military Appreciation Day at the State House earlier this week. Senator Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) on Tuesday presented a joint resolution passed by both chambers to Major General Sheryl Gordon, the adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard. The resolution, sponsored by Waggoner, commends Alabama active duty […]

The special election in Alabama House District 73 is shaping up to be a competitive one, with the March 30 primary date quickly approaching. The safely Republican seat was vacated by former Rep. Matt Fridy’s (R-Montevallo) election to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. HD-73 represents portions of Shelby County. Governor Kay Ivey set the […]

Birmingham-headquartered Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, P.C., this week announced its national expansion. The well-known personal injury law firm, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, has grown significantly over the past year and is now making waves across the United States. Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys opened seven new offices in 2020, spanning across Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee […]