Chairman of the Alabama House Education Trust Fund Committee, State Rep. Danny Garrett joined Capitol Journal last Friday to discuss the state’s educational trust fund budget and its continued increase. Garrett said the Alabama Education Trust Fund for FY2025, as passed by the Alabama House, is the largest ever, marking the sixth consecutive year the […]

This week, both chambers of the Alabama Legislature advanced bills to address a vulnerability in Alabama’s workforce and economy: Almost half of the state’s working-age individuals are neither employed nor seeking to participate in the workforce, reflected by one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the nation.  A seven-bill package entitled “Working for […]

On Saturday, the University of Alabama System unveiled a plaque at Bryant-Denny Stadium honoring late trustee Jim Wilson, a longtime member of the board who passed away in 2023. “Jim Wilson was a remarkable individual whose impact on The University of Alabama is truly immeasurable,” said UA President Stuart Bell. “Jim’s leadership was instrumental in […]

Alabama households with modest incomes will soon benefit from new below-market mortgage interest rates offered by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority’s First Step Mortgage Revenue Bond program. Homebuyers who earn less than the median income for their area can apply for two special 30-year fixed mortgage interest rates: either 5.5% on FHA, VA, or USDA loans, […]

Thursday morning, Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin signed into law legislation permitting Virginia’s universities to directly sign student-athletes to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, a development that could spell massive changes across college athletics. The NCAA currently prohibits schools from directly paying players, meaning most NIL money is raised and distributed through third-party organizations called […]

Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE)  announced that Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program is once again recognized for the highest quality in today’s release of the national report, The 2023 State of Preschool. Alabama is one of only five states in the country to meet 10 of 10 research-based […]

Innovate Alabama has announced recipients for the fourth round of the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, awarding nearly $4 million to 22 small businesses. 17 of the 22 recipients are currently based in Alabama and received an average of more than $175,000. For the first time, the Supplemental Grant Program has expanded beyond the borders […]

On Thursday, Governor Ivey announced the acquisition of the Foley Beach Express Bridge after finalizing a $60 million purchase from American Roads LLC, with plans to cease toll collections at noon the Friday before Memorial Day. Ivey, along with Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon and representatives from the Baldwin County Bridge Company, celebrated the agreement […]

On Thursday, the Alabama Republican Party officially backed the legislative fix proposed by Democrats to ensure President Joe Biden will be certified in accordance with deadlines enforced by the Alabama Secretary of State. Alabama’s deadline to certify is August 15, 2024. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin August 19, 2024. Secretary of State […]

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate considered the impeachment brought by the House of Representatives against U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, led by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), voted to dismiss the charges against Mayorkas in a party-line vote. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville was livid at what he […]

On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee voted to give a favorable report to legislation creating new supervisory positions at the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC). SB322, sponsored by State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville). Sen. Chambliss chairs the Joint Prison Oversight Committee. That committee holds an annual public hearing every year. In […]

When storms impact Alabama, linemen put themselves in harm’s way during treacherous conditions to restore power and provide an invaluable service to the communities they serve, the Energy Institute of Alabama (EIA) says. Today, they celebrated Lineman Appreciation Day to recognize Alabama’s lineworkers alongside state leaders. Each year, the group presents an Outstanding Service Award […]

On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill that would issue a one-time fix for a timeline issue between the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention and the Alabama Secretary of State’s certification of party candidates for the U.S. presidential election in November 2024. State Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) and State Sen. Merika […]

According to an early morning campaign release just hours after officially securing victory in the runoff election, Republican candidate for Alabama’s newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District, Caroleene Dobson, has earned the endorsement of U.S. Senator Katie Britt. On Tuesday night, Democratic voters chose Shomari Figures, a Mobile native with a historical connection to Alabama politics and […]

First-time political candidate Caroleene Dobson emerged victorious over former State Sen. Dick Brewbaker on Tuesday in a primary runoff election to become the Republican nominee for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Dobson will now compete with Mobile native Shomari Figures in the November general election to decide the fate of a newly-drawn district.  At time of […]

On Tuesday night, the Democratic Party chose their nominee to Alabama’s newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District in a runoff election between State Rep. Anthony Daniels and Shomari Figures, son of civil rights attorney and former State Sen. Michael Figures and current State Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile). According to unofficial results from the Alabama Secretary of State’s […]

On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed bills of the education budget package combined, which allocated over $11 billion to k-12 schools, the two-year college system, specialty schools, state four-year colleges and universities, and other state agencies. Most of the bills of the education budget package were carried by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) […]

Both parties will decide their nominee for Alabama’s newly-drawn 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday as voters cast their ballots in a primary runoff election that narrowed a wide field of candidates. The election is historic for Alabama as product of a 2023 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court and subsequent court-imposed redistricting of congressional maps […]

On Tuesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, along with the governors of Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, issued a joint statement amid a coordinated organizing push by the United Auto Workers (UAW) across the Southern United States. On Monday, it was reported that UAW’s top official, Shawn Fain, made comments ambitious about the prospect […]

Alabama lawmakers and Governor Kay Ivey took a major step toward preserving the right for families and businesses to choose their own source of energy — free from mandates handed down by the federal government or burdensome regulations on the local level. State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) authored SB50 to prohibit governmental entities from enacting […]

Alabama A&M is adding several additional campus protection measures after a recent student-officer involved shooting occurred at one of the school’s dormitories. The shooting was the second to take place on the Huntsville campus within the past two years. As part of the new precautions, the school announced last Friday that a K-9 officer capable […]

On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation that would define biological sex as the gender of legal record for purposes of the state of Alabama. The legislation is sponsored by State Representative Susan DuBose (R-Hoover). ‘The What is a Woman Act’ defines man, woman, boy, girl, father, mother, male, female, sex for purpose […]

On Monday, Alabama State Board of Education Member Jackie Zeigler announced that she has endorsed Caroleene Dobson in the Tuesday, April 16 Republican runoff election for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. “Reckless policies from Washington, D.C. are corrupting education and putting a burden on Alabama students. Caroleene Dobson is ready to fight,” said Zeigler. “We need […]

It’s now been several months since a fatal Mediterranean Sea helicopter crash killed five elite U.S. Army Special Operations aviation soldiers. One of those soldiers graduated from Enterprise High School in 2004. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38, was taking part in an air refueling mission as part of a training exercise on […]