7. Income is rising in the majority of Alabama

• The U.S. Census Bureau has conducted its American Community Survey, and it shows that household income in Alabama has been increasing for a majority of the state over the last five years. There are still some areas not seeing as much growth.
• In Alabama, the average cost increase was 19% with Wilcox County seeing the most growth in income with 35%, Conecuh County had 30%, and Butler County saw a 27% increase. However, Hale County saw a 14% decrease, Perry County was at 11% decrease, and Washington County had a 9% decline.

6. Orr standing by the Numeracy Act

• State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) has defended the Numeracy Act, his bill, that was recently criticized by gubernatorial candidate Tim James, who claimed, “[T]his legislation does not remove Common Core math from our schools. It actually allows the state to spend $92 million to hire math coaches who will train kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers on how to teach Common Core.”
• Orr called this critique a “red herring” and explained that lawmakers are doing what they can to make sure teachers and students understand everything they need for standardized tests, which do use some Common Core curriculum. Orr added, “[W]hen we’re talking about math and how people figure out mathematical problems then, I don’t know, I can’t get too worked up about it.”

5. Russia using hypersonic weapons

• It’s been reported that Russia has started using hypersonic missiles against Ukraine. Experts have said that this change in strategy could be related to the unexpected and prolonged resistance from Ukraine.
• The Institute for the Study of War recently said that it’s likely the current fight is going to escalate, and “will likely be very violent and bloody.” U.K.’s Chief of Defense Intelligence Lt. Gen. Jim Hockenhull said that “Russian operations have changed” and added they’re now using “a strategy of attrition.” Hockenhull went on to say this will be “the reckless and indiscriminate use of firepower.”

4. The United States is investigating possible cyberattacks from Russia

• President Joe Biden recently detailed how the United States is looking into the “evolving intelligence” that has been showing potential cyberattacks from the Russian government. Biden has also encouraged private sector businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity. The president tells businesses that it is on them, advising, “We are prepared to help private sector companies with tools and expertise, but it is your decision as to the steps you’ll take and your responsibility to take them.”
• Biden said, “My administration is reiterating those warnings based on evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks…Congress has partnered with us on these efforts – we appreciate that Members of Congress worked across the aisle to require companies to report cyber incidents to the United States Government.”

3. Wine shop suing Kay Ivey

• A new lawsuit has been started against Governor Kay Ivey, claiming it was because of her coronavirus pandemic restrictions that destroyed a wine shop business. The Huntsville wine shop, Uncorked Wine Shop & Tasting Room, owned by Saranne Riccio, was only open for two years before the pandemic.
• State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris is also named in the lawsuit, which says that the business had to close after losing about $55,000 during the pandemic shutdown. As most of the store’s profit came from wine tastings, these were stopped when Ivey shut the state down. The lawsuit takes issue with the orders that shut down restaurants and nonessential businesses.

2. Brooks on the attack in the U.S. Senate race

• U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said that he’s ready to get rid of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and he’s challenging other members of the party to pick a side in the fight with McConnell. Brooks said that he will vote “no” if the vote comes to make McConnell majority leader, and alleged, “Mitch McConnell likes fighting Trump more than he likes fighting Democrats. The entire time President Trump was in office, McConnell repeatedly undermined President Trump, refused to build the Wall, refused to investigate 2020 voter fraud and election theft, and refused to stand up to the Russia Hoax.”
• It’s recently been erroneously speculated that U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) is not as focused on voter integrity as he previously stated, but now he’s compared himself to his fellow U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt and Mike Durant by stating that they didn’t help fight voter fraud in 2020 like he did. Brooks said, “Detail us what you did November 3, Election Day, and January 6 to help us win. Did you contribute to any of the audits going around the United States of America, those efforts, help pay any of the litigation costs that were occurred in court? Did you take a public position, at least say something in our support?” Brooks made similar challenges to Britt and Durant’s support of former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

1. Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation is uneventful on day 1

• While the American media has declared that looking at Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s record would be unnecessary, racist or an attempt to get her killed, day one of her confirmation hearing was rather sleepy. Republicans mostly pointed out that they weren’t going to behave like the media and their Democrats did with now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
• The issues raised were solely about her record, mostly about her rate of being overturned by appeals courts and stances involving sex crimes involving children, but the media is on defense for the administration. There were no angry mobs outside or cornering U.S. Senators in elevators and no screaming reporters wondering how they could vote to confirm Jackson with the issues at hand hanging over her.