When I first ran for office, Alabama was reeling from the Great Recession. Unemployment was high. Our state budgets were maxed out. The Rainy-Day accounts were drained, and the state was borrowing money just to keep government running. State revenues were so bad that mid-year budget cuts for schools and state agencies – known as […]

Friday, U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) announced that he and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) have introduced legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion. The 761st, known as the “Black Panthers,” enshrined its legacy in World War II as part of Gen. George Patton’s Third Army by serving as the […]

As an increasing number of Alabama academic institutions are opting to remove mask mandates, Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday called for the remaining schools and universities that have such requirements to end forced mask-wearing. The governor pointed to the state’s COVID-19 data, which she said indicated that mask mandates were no longer necessary for students. […]

AARP is making it clear they are in support of the passage of the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act (UGCOPAA) in Alabama. Candi Williams, AARP Alabama state director states, “Unfortunately, Alabama’s current guardianship laws are outdated, relying on a one size fits all, cookie-cutter approach that often robs seniors and people with disabilities […]

Thursday, the Alabama Senate passed legislation that would provide tax relief for the state’s small business and agricultural communities. The “Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act of 2022,” sponsored by State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), aims to help small businesses battle financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would ensure that loan forgiveness […]

7. People who tried to find shortcuts to degrees just stuck you with the bill President Joe Biden’s administration has forgiven the student loans of about 16,000 individuals, totaling $415 million, according to the Education Department. These specific loans were forgiven after students proved that they were defrauded by their school. Some of the schools […]

Earlier on Thursday, Politico Playbook reported U.S. Senate hopeful Katie Britt met with former President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Fla. at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago earlier in the week. The suggestion from Playbook was Trump was warming up to Britt and had soured on Brooks. However, Brooks downplayed the Britt-Trump meeting during an interview that aired […]

Residents in the unincorporated Jefferson County community of Eastern Valley are voicing their concerns to local officials regarding the operation of bingo halls that are located in close proximity to homes, schools and churches. According to Jason Leight, pastor of Eastern Valley Baptist Church, two bingo halls being located within the community have resulted in […]

Wednesday, the Alabama Senate approved legislation to allow individuals age 65 or older to exempt up to $6,000 of taxable retirement income from state income tax. Presently, certain 401(K) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) distributions are considered taxable income under state law. Senate Bill 18, sponsored by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), would enable a […]

The Alabama Farmers Federation on Thursday released its 12th slate of endorsements for candidates seeking election to the state legislature. ALFA’s preferred candidates seeking public office are selected by a vote of its membership and endorsed through FarmPAC, its political arm. The reelection campaigns of State Reps. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville) and Ralph Howard (D-Greensboro) have […]

Thursday, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) commended efforts by special counsel John Durham to investigate potential surveillance of former President Donald Trump conducted by lawyers representing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Earlier this week, Fox News reported that a recent court filing by Durham found that the Clinton campaign’s lawyers paid a technology firm to […]

After the 2018 murder of three victims in Marshall County by a parolee, the Alabama Legislature and governor enacted a law overhauling how the Board of Pardons and Paroles operates. Since then, the current parole board has earned the reputation of putting public safety first when making decisions on who to release early from Alabama […]

7. Don’t mess with Texas airports The State of Texas and Attorney General Ken Paxton have filed a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration for the federal mask mandate currently on airports and airplanes. Paxton argued that the mandate “was unlawfully issued” and “not authorized by Congress.” Paxton also mentioned how the mandate through the […]

Thursday, Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Katie Britt released her campaign’s second broadcast television advertisement of the 2022 GOP primary election cycle. In her ad, titled “Man Up,” Britt blasts President Joe Biden and White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci over COVID-19 pandemic-related school and business closures. The first-time candidate also touts her record […]

For months, State Auditor Jim Zeigler had explored launching a primary challenge against Gov. Kay Ivey. In late January, he announced that he would forgo a bid to become the state’s chief executive and instead seek Alabama’s open Secretary of State seat. The current state auditor joined State Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy), former Alabama elections […]

AARP is making it clear they are in support of the passage of the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Arrangements Act (UGCOPAA) in Alabama. Candi Williams, AARP Alabama state director states, “Unfortunately, Alabama’s current guardianship laws are outdated, relying on a one size fits all, cookie-cutter approach that often robs seniors and people with disabilities […]

Republican State Auditor hopeful Stan Cooke is taking a different approach than his opponents to set himself apart in his bid for public office. During an appearance on Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5 on Monday, Cooke pledged to use the power of the State Auditor’s office to pressure the state to get out of the […]

A series of bills passed by the Alabama Senate on Tuesday would serve to bolster the Yellowhammer State’s military-friendly environment, according to Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth. The legislative package put forth by the Alabama Military Stability Commission, a panel chaired by Ainsworth, aims to retain and enhance the federal government’s military investment and presence across […]

Wednesday, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant released his campaign’s latest ad lambasting President Joe Biden on the issue of illegal immigration. In the 30-second spot, Durant uses language mirroring that of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during his 2015 campaign announcement speech taking aim at open border policies. The ad also features clips of an […]

7. Wardynski pushing to bring Space Force Academy to Alabama Fifth congressional district candidate Casey Wardynski has started advocating for bringing a U.S. Space Force (USSF) academy to Huntsville through the Redstone Arsenal, since the U.S. Space Command is coming to Redstone as well. Wardynski said, “[T]he concept would be to create an educational environment, […]

Brad Tompkins, Republican candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives District 15, recently announced that his bid had been endorsed by the Alabama Trucking Association. House District 15 is a seat currently occupied by State Rep. Allen Farley (R-McCalla), who has opted against seeking reelection. The district includes portions of Jefferson and Shelby Counties. Mark […]

The Alabama Conservatives Fund (ACF), a super PAC supporting the U.S. Senate candidacy of Katie Britt, on Wednesday released a new ad and announced an ambitious media strategy to promote the candidate in the state’s three largest media markets. According to the PAC, the ad launch spends well in excess of six figures on each […]

A poll commissioned by FarmPAC, the political arm of the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA), shows Madison County Commission chairman Dale Strong holding a substantial lead in Alabama’s fifth congressional district race. According to ALFA, the poll was conducted February 2-6 with 600 likely Republican primary voters via live calls. The survey asked participants who they […]

According to Casey Wardynski, Republican candidate for Alabama’s fifth congressional district, Huntsville would be the ideal home for a hypothetical U.S. Space Force (USSF) academy. As the Air Force is moving forward with its plans to relocate the U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama’s most populous metropolitan city is poised to further expand […]