Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has issued a directive for flags in the state to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of the more than 10,000 Alabamians who have died from COVID-19. Saturday, March 13, also marks one year since Alabama’s first confirmed case of the coronavirus was identified. “On the one year anniversary […]

Additional categories of Alabamians will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 22, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Friday. Every citizen over age 55 will be eligible, as will people with a number of underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus. Additionally, a number of employees […]

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has announced Congressman Gary Palmer (AL-06) will continue to serve as a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Palmer was originally appointed to a slot on this committee when it was created by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in 2019. “I look forward to continuing to serve […]

MONTGOMERY — Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) says expanding high-speed broadband access to all Alabamians continues to be a top priority for state officials. On Tuesday, Scofield was one of 13 Senate Republicans to vote against SB 214, a comprehensive gambling legalization bill that would have seen more than $1 billion in revenue go […]

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama House of Representatives passed on Thursday a bill to legalize yoga as a physical education offering at K-12 schools in Alabama. Sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), HB 246 passed the House on a vote of 73-25. Alabama is currently the only state in America that has any kind of ban […]

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that would give hunters the ability to buy a license to hunt feral hogs and coyotes at night. Under the proposed legislation, HB 458, citizens would be allowed to purchase a license to hunt swine and coyotes on privately owned or leased lands. […]

The newly formed Defend Our Values PAC’s (DOVPAC) first foray into a federal election is already making waves. Based in Alabama, the super PAC was recently launched with one core mission: “winning a Republican Majority in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.” To that end, DOVPAC on Thursday announced its endorsement of Dr. […]

MONTGOMERY — Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) on Thursday afternoon reaffirmed the standalone importance of SB 215, the “Connect Alabama Act.” Speaking to reporters following the 14th day of the legislature’s 2021 regular session, Reed commented on Tuesday’s failure of SB 214 on the Senate floor; that bill would have funded high-speed broadband […]

The Alabama House of Representatives passed on Thursday a bill allowing the photos of individuals arrested for hiring prostitutes to be made public. A 2016 law designed to protect the privacy of those arrested for prostitution has been interpreted by some to protect the privacy of the individuals who hire prostitutes. Arrest photos for nearly […]

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Thursday attended his first hearing as a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. During the meeting, Tuberville continued his advocacy for rural Alabama, highlighting the importance of the Yellowhammer State’s agriculture industry. “I’m excited about being here,” he said in his opening statement. “Alabama’s farmers […]

More than $2 billion has recently been invested to grow and enhance the Port of Mobile, which already contributes over 150,000 jobs and $25.4 billion in economic impact as Alabama’s seaport. However, that value — and the Port’s status as one of the nation’s fastest growing seaports — is now in jeopardy. Yellowhammer News began […]

State and federal authorities have relaxed restrictions on nursing home visitation in recent days. The changes were welcomed by the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA). Governor Kay Ivey last week increased the number of visitors a nursing home resident could receive from one to two. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released updated […]

Immediately upon the failure of Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gambling legislation earlier this week, Marsh’s colleague, Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville), dropped a bill with a stated objective of creating a “simple lottery.” The legislation, SB320, which is co-sponsored by Marsh and Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), also includes a provision for five locations with so-called […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Wednesday held a public hearing on SB 227, which is sponsored by Sen. Tom Butler (R-Madison). While it has flown under the public radar thus far, the bill could potentially be one of the most costly pieces of legislation for hardworking Alabama families proposed in […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday worked through a packed slate of committee meetings amid its 2021 regular session. Neither chamber gaveled in, and a legislative day was not burned. Here is a rundown of the day’s proceedings:

Two of Alabama’s most prominent elected officials are suing the United States Census Bureau. They allege the bureau’s ongoing delay in providing results from the 2020 Census is illegal, as is, they argue, the bureau’s new method of manipulating its granular data. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) have partnered […]

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) on Wednesday announced that the Consortium for Alabama Rural Water and Wastewater Management has been granted $4.85 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a technical assistance and training program and develop construction-ready plans for innovative rural wastewater treatment solutions in Alabama’s Black Belt region. The Consortium […]

The Republican Secretaries of State Committee (RSSC), which is a caucus of the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), this week announced its executive committee for 2021. Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill has once again been chosen as the chair of the national group. He was originally elected to this role for the 2020 […]

Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Chancellor Jimmy Baker on Wednesday announced tuition will not increase for the 2021-2022 academic year across the state’s public two-year institutions. As a result of the declining number of reported COVID cases and an increase in the number of students, faculty and staff taking advantage of access to vaccines, the […]

Alabama’s first pre-apprenticeship program is launching this spring at Wallace Community College (WCC) in Dothan. News of the program’s launch was announced Wednesday by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship (AOA), the state agency that oversees all apprenticeship matters in Alabama. AOA is partnering with Wallace to create the program. Pre-apprenticeships are programs offered by educational […]

MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced in a written release that the Alabama State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion are once again back open to the public effective immediately. The two historic buildings had been closed to unscheduled visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals visiting the locations are still required to observe […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday gave a unanimous favorable report to HB 103. Sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), the bill would effectively end the distinction between so-called “non-essential” and “essential” businesses when it comes to states of emergency imposed by the State of Alabama. If a […]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released the results this week of a February survey of small business owners that showed optimism improving amid a waning pandemic. Details in the report showed that owners were increasingly looking to hire new employees in February and proprietors reporting increased earnings increased as well. Rosemary Elebash, NFIB […]

MONTGOMERY — State Sen. Del Marsh’s (R-Anniston) comprehensive gaming proposal appears to be dead after a Senate vote on Tuesday afternoon, however chatter around a lottery has only increased in the subsequent hours. A clean lottery bill fell 10 votes short in the House earlier this quadrennium in 2019, yet there is some hope — […]