Per a Tuesday press release by the office of Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-5), he, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) and Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to devote more resources to protect American election integrity from foreigners who interfere in American elections by illegally voting in them.
The three Alabama representatives were joined by 20 other members of Congress in signing the letter.
Brooks said, “Every single illegal vote by a foreigner in American elections dilutes and cancels the votes of American citizens and rightful voters! All Americans, whether Democrat or Republican, should agree that foreigners should not be influencing U.S. elections.” (more…)
Tuesday, “socialist” candidate Francis Akridge beat out longtime public servant Dr. Mary Jane Caylor in the runoff election for Huntsville City Council District Two.
With all precincts reporting, Akridge had 3,364 votes (59.38 percent) to Caylor’s 2,301 votes (40.62 percent).
During the campaign, Caylor produced multiple digital and print ads pointing out Akridge’s ties to far-left politics and policies.
In a Halloween themed post circulating on social media, Caylor’s campaign invoked her opponent’s ties to socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The tagline read, “[F]ew things are scarier than socialism… Especially in our local government.” (more…)
After U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced her surprise resignation Tuesday in an Oval Office media event with President Donald Trump, political and foreign affairs observers around the world reacted with shock and concern.
While the true reason behind Haley’s resignation, which is effective at the end of the year, and the timing and manner of the announcement are still drawing speculative theories from the media, Birmingham-based foreign affairs expert Greg Keeley talked to Yellowhammer News about the tangible impact her departure will have on the pressing national security issues facing America.
“I think Nikki Haley’s done a remarkable job under pretty trying circumstances on the world stage,” Keeley advised. “The Trump administration hasn’t been bashful in coming forward on really thorny issues like Iran, North Korea, issues with China, obviously with Russia.”
“Unlike the Obama administration, who really had no foreign policy, the Trump administration, led by Secretary Pompeo and certainly by Ambassador Haley, have been very straightforward. They’ve been aggressive, and they’ve put America back on the map,” Keeley continued. (more…)
Engineering researchers at the University of Alabama are introducing a solution to prevent children and pets from dying while being trapped inside a hot car.
The patent-pending device monitors carbon dioxide levels from human breath, temperature and car movement and can send an alert to a cell phone when the human or animal inside a parked vehicle are getting too hot.
UA students developed the device using a concept from Dr. Timothy A. Haskew, department head and UA professor of electrical and computer engineering. (more…)
In a Tuesday interview on Talk 99.5’s “Matt & Aunie Show,” Governor Kay Ivey criticized her Democratic opponent, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, for the disconnect between his rhetoric and his actions on pro-life issues.
Maddox has consistently said he is pro-life throughout the campaign, including in a campaign ad released on Saturday, however, he opposes a pro-life state constitutional amendment and a separate pro-life Alabama law that faces a possible appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
“He says one thing, but his actions say differently,” Ivey remarked.
“He’s definitely close to Planned Parenthood,” she added, before pointing directly to his opposition to Amendment Two, which will be up for constitutional referendum on the November 6 general election ballot. (more…)
Tuesday, NBC “Nightly News” with Lester Holt will broadcast from downtown Montgomery as part of its “Across America Tour.”
The nationwide news program begins at 5:30 p.m. CT and will feature a special performance by the Alabama State University (ASU) Mighty Marching Hornets Band, per a university press release.
The band, under the direction of Dr. James Oliver, will march and perform as it joins Holt and NBC’s national news team during a live broadcast from the steps of the historic Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. (more…)
Earlier this month, the National Rifle Association-Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) released its report card rating candidates based on voting records, public statements and their responses to a questionnaire so that voters have the organization’s assessment of the candidates headed into the next month’s general election.
Coming out on top in the race between incumbent Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) and his Democratic opponent Mallory Hagan was Rogers with an A+ rating. Hagan received an F rating.
That A+ rating is the highest among the seven-member Alabama U.S. House delegation.
Charges have been dropped against protesters who police said splashed ketchup and colored powder on statues honoring Confederate figures at the Alabama Capitol.
Jon Broadway was arrested in April after smearing ketchup at the base of the statue honoring a 19th century doctor who did surgery without anesthesia on enslaved African-American women. (more…)
The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) announced on Friday that 12 early-stage companies have advanced as semifinalists in the Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition.
Last week, a judging panel comprised of individuals representing investors, entrepreneurs and corporate stakeholders of varying experience from across Alabama selected a dozen startups to face-off in Cycle 4 of the competition.
Startups are competing in one of two tracks – “concept stage,” which is for entrepreneurs launching businesses and “seed stage,” which is comprised of businesses accelerating growth.
The semifinalists for the concept stage are: (more…)
Tuesday on Birmingham Talk 99.5’s “Matt & Aunie Show,” Gov. Kay Ivey offered specifics on her position on a future lottery.
While Ivey’s opponent Democratic gubernatorial nominee Walt Maddox has made a lottery a centerpiece of his campaign, Ivey offered only tepid support and warned of possible additional forms of gambling being added to any future gambling referendum.
“The bottom line is a lottery will probably be up in the next legislative session,” she said. “I fully expect it to be introduced and by and large, most people — if it’s a pure and simple plain lottery, just a real simple sure-enough plain lottery, I think most folks would vote for that. But the catch comes when you get it in the legislature, and you start adding on.”
In a speech last week at the University of Alabama’s fall assembly, school president Stuart Bell emphasized that the university maintains an unwavering, optimistic commitment to the state’s students – even as the institution offers opportunities to enrollees from all 50 states and 78 countries.
Bell also pointed out that the university did not raise in-state tuition in 2018 and continues to enroll students from every Alabama county.
“We remain firmly committed to educating and graduating students from around the world, but especially from Alabama; as the flagship university, this is a vital part of our mission,” Bell outlined. “To underscore that commitment to students residing in Alabama, UA is offering more competitive scholarships for in-state students. And, unlike all other in-state universities, we did not raise in-state tuition this fall. We want to continue to enroll all qualified students from the state of Alabama. We want them here on our campus.” (more…)
In an appearance on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” on Friday, Rep. Allen Farley (R-McCalla) explained why he sees Amazon’s arrival in southwestern Jefferson County as what turns around a long-ailing Bessemer.
Presently, Bessemer has a 5.5 percent unemployment rate, which far exceeds the state average of 3.9 percent, according to statistics from the Alabama Department of Labor. Last week, public officials participated in a groundbreaking ceremony on the $325 million fulfillment facility located off of I-20/59 west of downtown Bessemer, which Farley signaled was the beginning of a positive direction for Bessemer and the surrounding area.
“We can’t overexaggerate how huge it is, for not only Jefferson County in Central Alabama but especially the city of Bessemer – where I was born, where I was raised,” he said. “At the ground-breaking, the Amazon representative stood up there and talked about the initial plant size. He compared it to 15 football fields, initially. And initially 1,500 jobs – starting pay $15 per hour.”
Saturday, NBC 13 posted an interview with Democratic gubernatorial nominee and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, in which the candidate came out against the pro-life Alabama Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Act and attacked the legislators who passed it and other similar legislation as “disgusting.”
The interview came the same day as Maddox releasing his first television ad of the general election season. In this ad, he calls himself “pro-life” and claims he will “never lie” to Alabamians.
When first asked whether he supported the act, which has been struck down by a federal appellate court and will likely be appealed to the now-conservative leaning Supreme Court, Maddox appeared to want to give a non-answer answer.
“Here’s what I don’t want us to do: I’m tired of us chasing down issues just for the sake of rhetoric and not results. Anything that’s not going to match a constitutional test, is going to cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of dollars, we have simply got to avoid that type of leadership,” Maddox began.
(more…)
Radio host and Yellowhammer News contributor Dale Jackson is pushing for a statue of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the senator’s birthplace of Sheffield, Alabama, after he led the successful effort to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
McConnell was born on February 20, 1942 in Sheffield and lived in Athens, Alabama, until his family moved to Georgia when he was eight. The Republican from Kentucky received a key to the city of Sheffield in 2001, along with the late Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN), who was born within six months of McConnell at the same facility – Colbert County Hospital, which is now known as Helen Keller Memorial Hospital.
“After Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, the citizens of Sheffield, Alabama should honor Cocaine Mitch by building a statue in his honor,” Jackson said, referring to McConnell’s newfound nickname. (more…)
Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey is criticizing Alabama’s parole board, saying violent offenders are being released at an “alarming rate.”
WSFA -TV reports that Bailey sent a letter to Gov. Kay Ivey urging her to investigate the parole board’s actions. (more…)
In an interview with the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce posted to YouTube on Monday, Alabama Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), who is running for reelection in his Alabama Senate District 12 race, predicted the legislature would pass the largest education budget in the history of the state in the next session.
The interviewer asked Marsh what his budget priorities were for the upcoming legislative session, to which the Anniston Republican said was education.
He noted that for the previous state budget, education funding was at its highest since 2008, which he indicated was something he wanted to build upon in the future.
The bus will be free this week in one west Alabama city.
The Tuscaloosa News reports the city’s transit authority is offering free rides across the city as it unveils an entirely new bus route. (more…)
She might be a little girl, but Dothan’s Kayla Glover has a big heart for a person of any age.
As reported by WSFA, Kayla, at first look, is your typical eight-year-old. The Alabama girl loves watching her favorite show, Spongebob Squarepants, and spends the weekend working on her multiplication skills.
However, her caring nature and generosity display a unique personality that transcends her years. (more…)
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North Alabama’s largest county is spending $3 million to buy land where a former supermarket stood with plans to build a county service center.
Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong tells WHNT-TV the decision was sparked by a lack of parking spaces around the current Madison County Courthouse in downtown Huntsville. (more…)
After Yellowhammer News reported last week that Planned Parenthood Southeast’s Alabama PAC had accepted $50,000 in dark-money from California-based “Planned Parenthood Advocates of Mar Monte,” a new financial disclosure filed Friday night revealed that initial out-of-state contribution was only the tip of the iceberg.
According to the filing, “Alabama for Healthy Families,” the PAC that is working to defeat Alabama’s proposed Amendment Two, on Wednesday received three contributions totaling $750,000.
New York City-based “Planned Parenthood Action Fund” donated a whopping $500,000 while “Planned Parenthood Federation of America,” of the same exact address, contributed $150,000. The third contribution was from another California entity, “Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties,” for $100,000.
While the Alabama PAC reported that all three of these contributors are each a “Business or Corporation,” Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the name of Planned Parenthood’s main federal PAC registered with the FEC. (more…)
In a video posted last week by CBS 42’s Simone Eli, Auburn football player Deshaun Davis can be seen walking hand-in-hand with a young boy to the edge of the end zone, where the two kneel in prayer together before the Tigers’ game versus Southern Miss.
MUST WATCH: #Auburn LB Deshaun Davis is EXACTLY the type of young man & person you want on your team. @_Davis_Boy12 leads the Tigers in tackles, but where he REALLY leads his team is pretty clear in this video from pregame. Powerful & special stuff, y’all. #WarEagle #BeABlessing pic.twitter.com/MbwwrYomcA
— Simone Eli (@SimoneEli_TV) October 2, 2018
In a tweet of his own, Davis responded to the video by saying, “God blessed me with this platform and I’ll be sure to use mine the RIGHT way!” (more…)
Members of Alabama’s congressional delegation celebrated the nation’s strong September jobs report, which was released on Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
“It’s no surprise that our economy continues to thrive. This Congress, we’ve implemented policy changes that have increased wages, created jobs, & lowered unemployment rates. I’m determined to work with my colleagues to keep up this historic progress,” Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) said in a tweet.
In a press release, Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-5) said that while the mainstream media continues to “obsess about other matters,” every day Alabamians are happy that Republican leadership has delivered real results on issues that matter. (more…)
In one of the most-watched state legislative races this fall, longtime Democratic state Rep. Craig Ford is raking in big Montgomery money against Republican nominee and small businessman Andrew Jones.
The two have been locked in a heated battle to represent state Senate district 10, which spans the Gadsden area, with incumbent Republican state Sen. Phil Williams not seeking another term.
As his September financial disclosure shows, Ford is being backed in a major way by gambling, union and entrenched special interests. (more…)
The Alabama Department of Commerce and AIDT announced that Chuck Ernst, a former Honda manufacturing executive, has been appointed to lead Alabama Robotics Technology Park (RTP) as it embarks on a strategic plan to prepare the training facility for new technologies and additional capabilities.
The goal of the “RTP 2.0” initiative is to ensure that the $73 million center in Tanner is positioned to meet the evolving workforce development needs of Alabama companies as technology brings radical changes to manufacturing techniques.
(more…)