State Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) filed a bill in the Alabama legislature late last week that could be a game-changer for college athletes in Alabama. HB240, also known as the “Competitive Edge NIL Tax Cut Act,” would exempt any compensation earned by student-athletes through the use of their name, image, and likeness from the state’s […]

In a special announcement by the Alabama Agribusiness council, state leaders revealed the economic impact of Alabama’s agriculture and forestry industries.  According to the newly released study, agriculture and forestry contribute a staggering $77.3 billion annually to Alabama’s economy, making it one of the top industries in the state. These industries account for 273,271 jobs, […]

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth spoke to the importance of supporting servicemembers, veterans, and their families during his address to the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Tuesday morning. Ainsworth promoted the creation of a new veterans resource center to concentrate that support — while further articulating his opposition to a separate proposal under consideration by […]

After at least two Alabama cities moved to ban Delta-8 THC products, State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) has introduced a bill that would outlaw the substances statewide. SB132 would classify Delta-8, Delta-10, and other psychoactive THC variants as Schedule I controlled substances, placing them in the same category as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Currently, Delta-8 […]

On Monday evening, Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth publicly announced his opposition to a proposal by Governor Kay Ivey to reform the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA). According to Ainsworth, the proposal would transform the entity from “an independent, veteran-led agency to one that is subject to the full authority and direction of the […]

An Athens man pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a conspiracy last year to hack into the X account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and publish fraudulent posts in the name of the then-SEC Chairman. Eric Council, 25, entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated […]

On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey announced appointments to fill vacancies in three district judgeship positions and one sheriff position across the state: Lauderdale County District Judgeship Governor Ivey has appointed William D. Motlow, III, as District Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Motlow, a graduate of the University of North Alabama and […]

New evidence has emerged suggesting foul play in the disappearance of Ronald Leslie Dumas Jr., a Huntsville real estate agent missing since mid-December. Authorities now believe Dumas, 37, was abducted, and five individuals are now wanted in connection with the case, marking a significant shift in the investigation. Dumas was last seen on December 15, […]

On Friday night, a routine traffic stop in Calera led to the seizure of 21 kilograms of cocaine and the arrest of two Colombian men who are in the United States illegally. According to authorities, Calera police stopped a vehicle near a gas station off Interstate 65 due to a malfunctioning tag light. Officers discovered […]

A deep-dive analysis conducted by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has revealed a trend being praised as an advantage by the state’s affiliate, ABC Alabama. According to data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership within in the construction industry has hit a record low of 10.3%. That follows a decrease […]

After a productive first week back in session, several members of the Alabama Senate will step into new and elevated committee roles beginning next week. State Sen. Lance Bell will fill the chairmanship on the Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, left by State Sen. Garlan Gudger upon his confirmation as President Pro Tem. RELATED: […]

A $29 million meat processing facility and retail market owned by the Poarch Creek Indians has officially begun operations in Atmore after a grand opening ceremony earlier this week. The new location, Perdido River Meats, spans an impressive 23,000 square feet and is now the largest enterprise of its kind in the state. Perdido River […]

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees has appointed Sid J. Trant as chancellor, entrusting him with the leadership of the state’s most influential higher education and health care enterprise. Trant, who has served as interim chancellor for the past ten months, now assumes the permanent role, guiding the UA System’s three world-class research […]

On Thursday, a scary situation for parents, faculty, and students took place at Challenger Elementary School in Huntsville. It all happened around 2:45 as students were being dismissed from school. According to officials with Huntsville City Schools, students were in the hallway preparing to go home when a firearm accidentally went off in a second-grade […]

In an effort to reduce digital distractions in Alabama classrooms, Governor Kay Ivey has thrown her weight behind legislation that would ban smartphones in public school classrooms statewide. Announced during her State of the State address, the legislation has already been filed in both the House and Senate and is expected to generate a range […]

An alleged massive gun battle took place in Birmingham on Wednesday evening leaving one man dead. Authorities say at least 40 shots from various weapons were fired in the densely populated Kingston community. At approximately 9:40 p.m., police were in the Kingston area when they heard a large amount of gunfire being discharged. South Precinct […]

Marcus Martin, a 40-year-old Selma resident and gifted musician known for his dedication to his church and community, was tragically killed on January 31, after being struck by gunfire in the parking lot of a Selma Walmart. Martin was sitting in his vehicle when the gunfire erupted between four young men in an unrelated argument. […]

On Thursday, the Alabama Senate passed SB70, a proposal establishing the Alabama Veterans Resource Center (AVRC) to streamline services for the state’s more than 400,000 veterans.  If signed into law, a veterans resource center would be created as an umbrella to connect veterans with employment opportunities, healthcare services, education benefits, and mental health resources. A nine-member […]

After several hours of resistance by Democrats, Alabama Senators passed legislation setting forth a clear definition of gender into state law using the terms man, woman, boy, girl, father, mother, male, female — and no others.  SB79 would require that public spaces designate multi-occupancy restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters for exclusive use by either […]

Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys and Mayor Steven Reed provided an update on public safety efforts in the city during a news conference focusing on the fight against illegal firearms. Several confiscated guns were on display, with officials noting that they represented just 4% of the firearms seized by Montgomery police in 2024. “In 2024, […]

Jackson Hospital & Clinic will remain open with “uninterrupted service” after receiving a debtor in possession (DIP) loan. The hospital recently defaulted on roughly $60 million worth of municipal bonds, declared bankruptcy, and faced closure. But on Thursday, it was announced that Jackson Healthcare and its parent company, Jackson Investment Group, will keep the hospital’s […]

Yellowhammer News is excited to welcome Grace Heim to the news team as a state and political reporter. She is a senior at Auburn University majoring in political science and minoring in English and currently works at the Assistant Sports Editor for Auburn’s student newspaper The Plainsman.  With a background in covering everything from politics […]

Global steel giant ArcelorMittal will invest $1.2 billion to build a cutting-edge electrical steel manufacturing facility in Alabama and create 200 permanent jobs in Mobile. Set to begin construction later this year and set to open in 2027, the future facility will produce up to 150,000 metric tons of non-grain-oriented electrical steel (NOES) every year. […]

Alabama families relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are increasingly vulnerable to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud. According to the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), more than $5 million has been stolen from Alabama SNAP recipients over the past few months. Unfortunately, federal reimbursement for stolen benefits ended on December 20, 2024, […]