The Alabama Political Reporter (APR) released a story this morning saying State Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) told federal investigators “executives from Drummond Coal” approached him with what he deemed to be a bribe, and that Luther Strange (then the Alabama Attorney General) was present at the time. The article says Rogers told investigators he was […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S House of Representatives Armed Services Committee passed the latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act that will fund three more Alabama-built Littoral Combat Ships. The bill passed the committee by a vote of 60-1. The Littoral Combat Ship is a class of vessels used in operations close to shore (the […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — One application for a public charter school was approved in full and another was conditionally approved in the latest meeting of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission on Tuesday. The University of West Alabama’s application to open a University Charter school impressed the committee, but the committee will require further action from […]

Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) asked Colorado to reconsider its decision that prohibits families from using school vouchers (public funds) to pay for private religious schools. This move came on the heels of a major ruling Monday in which the Supreme Court sent a strong message favoring religious institutions in similar […]

In January of 2014, Yellowhammer Founder Cliff Sims wrote a story predicting what happened today—Alabama failed to reform its prisons, so a federal judge is intervening as a result of a lawsuit against the state’s prisons. As Sims said in that article, To put it plainly, Alabama has the most serious prison crowding problem in […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case from Colorado regarding a bakery’s right to refuse service to a gay couple wanting to buy a wedding cake. The culture war case has the potential for widespread social implications, including right here in Alabama. Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil […]

A little over a year ago, Alabama passed a law that blocks cities from imposing minimum wage hikes shortly after Birmingham tried to raise its minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. But across the country in Washington, the city of Seattle raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour and is now seeing negative economic […]

MOBILE, Ala. — The U.S. Navy ordered more Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) from Austal USA’s Mobile manufacturing facility last week, a move that shows the military’s confidence in the top-notch vessels. Austal will deliver to LCS to the Navy this year after delivering two last year on time and under budget. “We’re very proud to […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On a busy Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court, the nation’s highest judicial body turned down the opportunity to hear a Second-Amendment-based challenge to a California gun law. California passed a law effectively prohibiting certain residents from conceal carry of firearms outside of their homes, and Alabama joined the charge to have […]

Workforce Development key in providing skilled workers Alabama recently announced that the latest statewide unemployment rate is down to 4.9 %— it’s lowest mark since the 2008 recession. Among the state’s big five metro areas, Huntsville leads the way with only is 3.7% unemployment, and Mayor Tommy Battle was effusive in his praise: I congratulate […]

The results of a new study published by Market Watch reveal that Alabama has the second lowest property tax burden in the United States. The state with the highest property tax burden is New Jersey, and the only state with a lower burden than Alabama is Hawaii. According to the statistics provided by Attom Data, […]

(News analysis by Quin Hillyer) The rest of Alabama may want to watch to the race for mayor in Mobile, where fiscally responsible reformer Sandy Stimpson is trying to ward off a comeback attempt by liberal former mayor Sam Jones. Stimpson, a leading timber executive with a long and varied record of local and state […]

Last week we reported that the outgoing head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) initiated the process of insourcing the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program (GMD)—the only system that can protect the U.S. from the threat of ICBM-delivered nuclear weapons. In other words, he moved to take the program out of the hands of those […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A unanimous vote from the State Board of Education has officially ended Alabama’s administration of the ACT Aspire test to third through eighth-grade students. The board decided not to renew the state’s contract with the company after several years of disappointing results. According to a report from the Alabama News Network, Superintendent […]

According to U.S. Attorney’s press release, an FBI investigating a has led to bribery and fraud charges against former Alabama House Member. 57-year-old Oliver Robinson, a Democrat from Birmingham, entered a plea agreement which includes his admission of guilt to the charges and his promise to “never again to seek elected office and pledges to […]

According to a report by Gulf Coast News Today, officials from Spanish Fort High School have pulled a summer reading list assigned to students in AP Government & Economics taught because of complaints that it was too conservative. The list was sent to students by their teacher, Gene Ponder, and included authors like Ann Coulter, […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Late last week, Federal appeals judges ruled that a lawsuit over the use of red light cameras in Alabama can move ahead in state court. The city of Montgomery and American Traffic Solutions, Inc. were first named in a class action suit back in 2015 that claims the use of red light […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The city of Birmingham will be joining newly created National Public Safety Partnership, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. A part of President Donald Trump’s plan to lower crime rates, the NPSP was created as a result of a February Executive Order that tasked DOJ with reducing violent crime. The […]

Much has been reported in the wake of last week’s shooting at the Republican Congressmen’s baseball practice in Alexandria, VA involving Alabama Congressmen Gary Palmer and Mo Brooks. Also present at the game (on the pitcher’s mound) was one of Senator Luther Strange’s staff members. The tragedy prompted Strange to send a letter to National […]

Guest Opinion by Quin Hillyer Attorney General Jeff Sessions acquitted himself quite well in testimony Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The focus on Sessions, in relation to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, always has been absurd. He has told no lies; he has done nothing wrong; he has no involvement […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Confirmed former Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long as the new Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator on Tuesday, making him the latest of many people with Alabama connections to serve in the Trump Administration. FEMA is tasked with coordinating responses to disasters that occur within the United States […]

The United States Supreme Court ruled today that Alabama death row inmate James Edmond McWilliams, Jr. did not receive a proper mental health evaluation at his 1985 murder trial. McWilliams was convicted of raping and killing a convenience store clerk in Tuscaloosa and was sentenced to death for the murder. McWilliams was indigent, and 31 […]

After intensive appeals from the state of Alabama over its hyper-brief red snapper season, the U.S. Department of Commerce relented last week, announcing an extension to the season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced earlier that Alabama would only have a three-day red snapper season this year, understandably frustrating those who look forward to […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following an attack on Congressional Republicans last week that left several injured, Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL5) wants to ensure that members of Congress can carry their own firearms. He made the announcement on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Features” while reflecting on his first-hand experience of the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia. RELATED: YHRadio: […]