7 Things: Stale ideas for Omicron variant, Democrats can’t win in Alabama, ballot measure would keep criminal in jail and more …

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November 29, 2021

7. Prison paroles are slow as visitations restart

In Alabama, prison paroles are far slower than many have hoped, but that’s not the only complaint facing the Alabama prison system as a whole. Visitation at prisons stopped when the coronavirus pandemic started, but visitors will be allowed at prisons again starting on December 4, the first visits allowed in 20 months. There will still be some restrictions in place.
Visitors and inmates will maintain a six-foot distance, there will only be two visitors allowed at a time, there will be a plexiglass partition, no touching or hugging, no eating or drinking, and visits can only be one hour. Despite the state of Alabama reopening its economy months ago, they are one of the last states to resume visitations in prisons.

6. Too much power against officials

State Representative Mike Ball (R-Madison) commented on the issue with former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard attempting to get out of prison, as well as the attorney general’s office responding to these attempts. Ball claimed that there’s too much ability to go after public officials.
Ball said, “There’s power, unchecked power that prosecutors have to go after public officials. That’s not to say some don’t abuse the powers of their office.” He added, “[T]he fact is it is never going to be able to be properly addressed as long as information is suppressed and people don’t understand the whole story, and people don’t understand governance and how it works.” Ball clarified, “I never condoned what Mike Hubbard did or tried to get leniency for him or anything else…it is a way, if an unscrupulous prosecutor wants to put a bullseye on somebody and go after them, they can do it. They can ruin people.”

5. Abortion case from Mississippi going before SCOTUS

The Supreme Court of the United States will consider a case from Mississippi on Wednesday. The case is challenging an attempt to ban abortions after 15 weeks. It’s being viewed as an indication of how Roe v. Wade could be overturned.
While this is a highly controversial issue, many have already voiced their concerns with the court being split 6-3 with more conservative judges. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has said, “The Supreme Court can return decision-making about abortion policy to the elected leaders and allow the people to empower women and promote life.”

4. There could be a solution soon on the Mobile Bay Bridge

U.S. Representative Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) has discussed the possibility that the I-10 Mobile Bay Bridge issue will be resolved soon. He advised that it’s likely federal funding will be a factor in making the improvements.
Carl stated, “Let’s figure out a way everybody can pay for it, and federal funding makes the most sense to me.” He added that he “can’t understand why we can’t get more help.” Carl went on to say, “I think we’re very close to having something put together that we’ll start seeing some movement on that bridge pretty soon.”

3. Aniah’s Law could prevent a Waukesha, Wisconsin situation in Alabama

Aniah’s Law will be on the ballot in Alabama in November 2022, as it was already passed by the legislature. The law would give more ability to judges to deny bail for some accused of violent crimes. State Representative Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island) has pointed out how this law would prevent a tragedy like the Christmas parade attack in Wisconsin. American media is having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that this was a racially-motivated attack.
Darrell Brooks, Jr. is the man suspected of driving a car into a crowd at a Christmas parade, which killed six people and injured more than 40. Brooks has been accused of doing this intentionally, and he has been charged multiple times for violent crimes previously. Brown spoke in favor of the law and said, “It would keep violent criminals off the street, and, of course, it was named after Aniah Blanchard, who the individual who was charged with that crime was out for an attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery of a 77-year-old man but yet he was allowed to get out on bond.”

2. The Britt campaign probably doesn’t want this help

Former U.S. Representative Parker Griffith has come out in support of U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt. The Democrat explained his support for Britt despite her being a Republican, saying Democrats can’t win in Alabama.
Griffith said, “[T]he Democrats cannot win in Alabama. We need good government. We’re going to have to vote for good people and start being Americans instead of Republican or Democrat, particularly in Alabama…You just can’t sell the national Democratic Party in Alabama. And if we want good government, I think we’re going to have to vote for good people.”

1. New variant is out, Fauci is already talking shutdowns

Another variant of the coronavirus has been found in South Africa and will be called the Omicron variant. There is talk of more shutdowns as it appears this could be a “variant of concern,” according to the World Health Organization. The Biden administration, filled with people who believed President Donald Trump’s travel bans were racist, has already banned travel from eight African countries.
While South African doctors are urging calm and saying the variant is less dangerous, the media is doing the exact opposite. Dr. Anthony Fauci has added that while it’s “too early to say” if shutdowns will be necessary, the United States should be ready to do “anything and everything” to stop the variant. The most concerning factor of the variant so far is its apparent ability to be antibody resistant. Travel has already been restricted by President Joe Biden for Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique.