A Trump-era pandemic policy to turn back migrants at the southern border is set to expire, and Republicans continue to sound the alarm on how that will worsen the border crisis. Since President Biden signed an end to the COVID emergency declaration, Title 42 is ending Thursday. According to several reports, Customs and Border Patrol […]

In April, Reuters reported “US manufacturing boom has a real estate problem.” According to state leaders, Alabama, like many other states, is encountering a symptom of economic development success: Running low on available sites for industrial development.  With the state’s tool kit of economic incentives renewed officially until 2028, one component of the “Game Plan” […]

Most if not all of us grew up hunting and fishing with our parents, grandparents, and friends. Some of my best memories with my kids and grandkids are when I have taken them hunting and fishing, and this is when some of the best life lessons and family stories are passed on from one generation […]

Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced Monday 12 high school students from the Yellowhammer State have accepted their appointments to military academies across the country. “America’s national security depends on brave young men and women who are willing to serve in our armed forces,” Tuberville (R-Auburn) said. “I am proud that some of our most talented young […]

Today begins the ninth full week of the 2023 regular session; there are 12 legislative days remaining. Here are some things to watch this week: Education Budget After a unanimous passage by the Senate, the $8.8 billion Education Trust Fund budget and its $2.8 billion supplemental makes its way to the House. The base budget […]

After many thought that the Alabama Democratic Party couldn’t possibly become more chaotic, the minority party in the Yellowhammer State appears to have descended further into that same chaos over the weekend. In fact, Tabitha Isner, vice chair of the party, called the whole day “a sham from start to finish.” In a controversial executive […]

There are several pieces of legislation being proposed that would cut taxes in Alabama. State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is warning, though, that not every proposal has a chance of making it through this session because of the potential effects they could have on the state’s budgets. The Alabama House of Representatives has already passed […]

As I stroll down the halls of the Alabama Senate during this current regular session of the Alabama Legislature, I will stop and visit in the offices of my favorite legislative buddies. My favorite and first stop is with my longtime friend Jabo Waggoner. Jabo, being the dean of the Legislature, has the first prime […]

This week, both chambers of the state Legislature passed legislation to outlaw exhibition driving. Intentionally creating tire skids, doing donuts and burnouts, and street racing are all slated to become illegal in Alabama, pending Gov. Ivey’s signature on the bills. Exhibition driving has become a cause for concern in Alabama cities, as it poses a […]

State Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City) said his recent visit to the U.S. southern border was “eye-opening.” Bell, a former prosecutor, joined state leaders and law enforcement officials on a trip to see the border situation first hand. “Not really knowing what to expect, it was a very eye-opening experience. We have a crisis on […]

Alabama’s state auditor is joining the fight against environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing. Last week, State Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) filed a bill, SB261, that would not allow government entities from entering into contracts with companies that use ESG policies in their business practices. State Auditor Andrew Sorrell discussed his support for Roberts’ […]

State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, a Democrat from Birmingham, lambasted Rep. Kenneth Paschal, a Republican from Pelham who is the only Black member of his party in the Alabama Legislature, using a racial slur while referencing a song by Jay-Z. “When Jay-Z penned that song, he penned that song for a time such as this,” Givan […]

The Alabama Senate approved an $8.8 billion education trust fund budget Thursday. The spending plan includes a 2% pay raise for education employees, a $2.8 billion surplus, and gives the go-ahead for a one-time, $100 direct rebate to taxpayers. “The passage of this record budget and its additional supporting legislation was a culmination of bipartisan […]

It was reported this week that the state is considering building a State House on a 2.5-acre site in Montgomery. Some lawmakers believe it would cost less for new building than it would be to renovate the current one. Recent assessments by the Alabama Department of Finance estimate it would cost more than $70 million […]

A group of state officials recently returned from what they called an “eye-opening” visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. “The influx of immigrants coming across our border, and it’s not just Latin American, I mean, we’re getting Chinese immigrants, we’re getting immigrants from the Middle East,” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter told Yellowhammer News. Ledbetter, […]

The overall cost of rent could be increasing in the Yellowhammer State. Legislation has been introduced in the Alabama Senate that would effectively remove price caps on security deposits for renters across the state. The bill, SB 242, is being sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley (R-Anniston). Some believe the bill could make an already difficult […]

The Biden administration recently revealed that they are making preparations to send 1,500 troops to the southern border. This, the White House said, will be in an effort to deter illegal immigration. Since 2020, millions of illegal immigrants have surged into the United States unchecked. Some in Washington feel President Biden doesn’t understand the significance […]

A “nightmare” drug that has caused devastation and death throughout Alabama and across the country was the central topic Wednesday at a hearing of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and  Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) led the hearing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security officials. […]

The current state financial standpoint is a major contrast to what Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield encountered when he took office in 2010. During an informative presentation to the Business Council of Alabama on Tuesday morning, Scofield highlighted that current opportunities afforded by a $2.7 billion surplus in the Education Trust Fund shouldn’t be taken […]

In the first major overhaul to Alabama’s adoption system in more than 30 years, Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law Wednesday a bill to ease the adoption process. The 80-page revision of Alabama’s adoption code was put into place after extensive work from lawmakers, state agencies and families. It’s intended to simplify communication between case […]

Sen. Tommy Tuberville continued his push for Alabama’s farmers and agricultural interests  at a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing Tuesday. The hearing was about commodity programs and farm safety nets. Tuberville (R-Auburn) questioned Patrick Johnson of the National Cotton Council on financial protection programs and Karla Baker Thompson of the U.S. Peanut Federation, […]

Around all the conversation this session about cutting the grocery tax, lawmakers in the House voted Tuesday to advance a proposal to eliminate another kind of tax: Overtime income. Lawmakers from both parties commended Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) for the idea, which would be a first in the country. All other states impose a state […]

Next week, voters in the North Alabama city of Madison will head to the polls to decide if they want to change their form of government. If the referendum is adopted, a city manager will be hired by the mayor and city council to oversee the day-to-day business of Alabama’s ninth largest city. The vote […]

Last week, at an appropriations committee hearing, Sen. Katie Britt had a candid moment after a surprise request. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) asked her to take over as chair of the meeting after other ranking members had already thinned out, leaving Britt to wield the gavel. See her reaction: “This is the first time number […]