Even though a legislative effort to expand school choice in Alabama failed to pass during last legislative session, some Republicans have indicated that they will continue to advocate for it in the future. State Rep. Charlotte Meadows (R-Montgomery), the main sponsor of the school choice bill in the Alabama House of Representatives last session, believes […]

Throughout his more than five decades of public service, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) has championed the University of Alabama by directing funds toward multiple areas of campus-led research efforts. During a recent sit-down interview with Yellowhammer News, UA president Dr. Stuart Bell touched on the long-serving senator’s impact on the university. When asked about […]

As I travel South Alabama and speak with folks from around our district and state, it’s hard to find anyone who believes our country is headed in the right direction. Between economic struggles, a lack of border security, drugs and crime, and government corruption, a majority of people are frustrated and looking for change. When […]

On Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey once again dispelled rumors perpetuated by the media that she was experiencing health issues. Earlier this month, Alabama Media Group published an opinion piece authored by left-wing columnist Kyle Whitmire, who detailed his efforts to inquire with the governor’s office concerning Ivey’s health due to her lack of public appearances. […]

Boasting tough-on-crime laws and a thriving economy, Alabama is among one of the nation’s top-10 inbound states for American migration. California, plagued by crime and homelessness, is one of the nation’s top outbound states for migration. Derek Thoms, a California business owner, recently made the decision to move his family and company to Alabama, citing […]

Last week, State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said the extra cash in the state’s Education Trust Fund (ETF) should be used for tax rebates to help Alabamians who are struggling with inflation. After July, the ETF had $9.7 billion in available funds, which is already well above its total yearly obligations of $9 billion. Friday, […]

This past Friday, the Lawrence County NAACP officially called for the resignation of Lawrence County Republican Party chair Shanon Terry. Over the past week, Terry drew immense criticism for posting an image of a GOP elephant with Ku Klux Klan imagery located at the bottom of the graphic. Terry, who maintained that he selected the […]

Libertarians are back on the ballot in Alabama for the first time in two decades. They are showing up in over 50 races across the state. Dr. Jimmy Blake of Jefferson County is a familiar name on the ballot since he served on the Birmingham City Council for years and ran for the U.S. Senate […]

Mountain Brook voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in the city’s hotly contested city council elections. As is the case around the nation, culture and education have risen to the top of the list of central issues facing the wealthy municipality. In recent years, the affluent Birmingham suburb has […]

Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that she had awarded a grant totaling $20,365 to provide new bulletproof vests for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). According to the governor’s office, Ivey awarded the funds due to increased dangers posed to law enforcement. A release noted that the grant was proof that Alabama’s chief executive was […]

The longer I continue to write about Alabama politics, the more I realize that Alabama really is a “Big Front Porch” – a saying made famous by our legendary Alabama storyteller, Kathryn Tucker Wyndham. I have been involved in the world of Alabama politics for 60 years. I have been writing this column for over […]

Lawrence County Republican Party chair Shanon Terry advised that he would not resign from elected office after admitting to posting an altered image of a GOP elephant by “mistake” on the party’s Facebook page. Terry is a sitting member of the Lawrence County School Board, representing District Four. Earlier this week, the county GOP chair […]

The state of Alabama’s July unemployment rate held at a record low 2.6% for the month of July, according to Gov. Kay Ivey’s office. July’s unemployment rate sits nearly a full percentage point lower than that of July 2021, which was 3.4%. Also reaching a new record low is the amount of unemployed individuals, which […]

HUNTSVILLE — A debate among seven of the eight candidates for Huntsville City School Board addressed questions regarding personal political beliefs, mask mandates, and critical race theory in schools. “Cookies and Candidates”, hosted by the group 5 Strong, took place Wednesday at the downtown Huntsville Madison County library. District 2 candidates Sean Lulofs, Holly McCarty and […]

This week, the Study Commission on Renewing Incentives met at the Alabama State House to assess Alabama’s economic development competitiveness. The group was established by the Alabama Legislature in the 2022 session and is responsible for reviewing existing economic incentives and making recommendations ahead of the 2023 session. One of the specific programs the commission […]

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) is seeking a legislative solution to address what he sees as issues that occurred during the 2020 general election. The congressman recently announced that he was cosponsoring the American Confidence in Elections Act (ACE), put forth by U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Bryan Steil (R-Wis.). The bill was crafted […]

The Yellowhammer State is predicted to have record tax revenue for the Education Trust Fund (ETF) at the end of fiscal year 2022 in September. After July, the ETF had $9.7 billion in available funds, which is already well above its total yearly obligations of $9 billion. Wednesday, on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” State Sen. […]

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville recently introduced a critical piece of legislation, the “Financial Freedom Act” (S.4147). The bill was filed in response to an administrative action from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), who earlier this spring issued a guidance document which would effectively limit the ability of investors to manage their 401(k) accounts as […]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday slammed Alabama’s plans to construct new prisons in an effort to help solve the state’s issues with over-crowded criminal detention facilities. The progressive governor took issue with Alabama’s utilization of $400 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to construct the new prisons, which will be built […]

This past weekend, the Alabama Democratic Party (ADP) executive committee elected Huntsville pastor Randy Kelley as the party’s new chairman. Kelley, who served as the party’s vice chairman under former APD chair Nancy Worley, succeeds outgoing chairman and current State Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa). During a Tuesday appearance on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” former U.S. […]

Alabama’s congressional delegation recently joined a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel expressing concern over a new proposal to increase broadcasters’ regulatory fees. The letter, led by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), criticized a proposed 13% regulatory fee increase on television and radio broadcasters. The U.S. representatives argue that the fee “is […]

In 2018, as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I voted for the Fair and Open Competition Act designed to preserve open competition and federal government neutrality. Competition is the only way to ensure our U.S. military receives the very best at the very best price. Right now, the U.S. Air Force is […]

The Alabama Forestry Association (AFA) on Monday announced its endorsement of three Republican nominees seeking election to the legislature’s upper chamber. Lance Bell (R) — Senate District 11 Bell, whose district covers St. Clair, Talladega and Shelby Counties, practices law with a focus on plaintiff and civil defense matters. He has served as chairman of […]

Last year the Alabama legislature passed a $1.3 billion plan to build two new men’s prisons, $400 million of which will come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The new prison plan is an attempt to appease U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) after the federal agency filed a lawsuit against the state in 2020 […]