7. Record number of people expected to bet on the Super Bowl — Alabamians can’t

• The Super Bowl is set to happen on Sunday, and it’s expected that there will be a record number of people placing bets on the game as more sports gambling has been legalized in some states.
• It’s been reported by the American Gaming Association that there should be about 35% more people gambling on the game, but money involved in the bets is expected to increase by 78%. President and CEO of the AGA Bill Miller said, “The growth of legal options across the country not only protects fans and the integrity of games and bets, but also puts illegal operators on notice that their time is limited.”

6. Drive-through beer and wine could become a reality in Alabama

• The Alabama House of Representatives have approved a piece of legislation that would legalize beer and wine sales through a drive-through in a 65-18 vote. The bill was brought up by State Representative Gil Isbell (R-Gadsden).
• If the bill becomes law, the changes that allow authorized sellers to sell alcohol at walk-up stations or drive-through windows would be adopted by the Alcoholic Beverage and Control Board by January 1, 2023.

5. Rep. Moore wants to use U.N. funds for the border wall

• U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is co-sponsoring legislation that would use funds that usually go to the United Nations (U.N.) and use them to finish the border wall that was started during former President Donald Trump’s term.
• According to reports, the U.N. has been helping some migrants qualify for asylum in the United States. Moore said that since President Joe Biden has taken office, “our border has been overrun by illegal immigrants and the drug cartels, leaving our border patrol agents overwhelmed and understaffed.” He added, “It is time to close the border and protect our communities.”

4. Mountain Brook Schools now looking to retrain teachers because of a “fake news” story

• After a complaint of anti-Semitism from a student made fabricated, misleading headlines at some Alabama media outlets, Mountain Brook Schools have said that they will be training teachers more on how to be sensitive to anti-Semitism, hate symbols and the Holocaust. This ignores that there was nothing anti-Semitic, hateful nor involving the Holocaust in the incident.
• There was a lesson taught about the Bellamy Salute, which closely resembles the Nazi salute, and two students reported that their U.S. history teacher told students to do the salute during class. Mountain Brook Schools released a statement that said, “One thing has become clear, the instructional strategy for this lesson lacked sensitivity, and however unintentional, cause hurt and distress within the community.”

3. New poll shows majority support for expanding Medicaid

• Non-profit organization Alabama Arise has conducted a poll through Cygnal showing that most Alabamians support expanding Medicaid in the state. According to the study, it would be generally beneficial through savings and job creation.
• From the poll, 66.7% of voters support expansion. Campaign director of Cover Alabama, Jane Adams, said this shows how “Voters support Medicaid expansion because it is a tremendous opportunity to create jobs, protect rural hospitals and provide life-saving care.” Only 21.1% of respondents don’t want expansion, 9.1% were indifferent and 3.2% were unsure.

2. Marsh is very honest about school choice legislation

• State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) has introduced “The Parents’ Choice Act” that gives parents more ability to send their child to a private school or homeschool them by providing vouchers to cover a portion of the cost, but the lawmaker has gotten specific about where the obstacles for the bill are likely to be.
• Marsh said, “[T]he public education community is never going to support anything dealing with parents’ choice or school choice because they have a monopoly.” He added that he believes more school choice “will bring accountability to the public system and improve it over time.”

1. Something must be done about inflation

• New polling shows that 60% of Americans are unhappy with the job President Joe Biden is doing, with the economy being one of the issues hurting his numbers. The media thinks this is about messaging. With inflation reaching highs not seen since 1982, and January seeing a 7.5% increase, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) is now demanding that the issue be addressed and dealt with. Manchin is one of the first Democrats to join Republicans in this push.
• Manchin raised the issue and said inflation is “harming people.” He continued, “It’s 7.5%. That’s a tax, and it continues to increase. It’s not decreasing. So, the feds have to step up to the plate and do something. The administration has to. We all have to work together right now to get our financial house in order. If not, it’s going to be absolutely horrible what it’s going to do to the American economy.”