At its meeting this week, the Alabama Ethics Commission gave the board members of one nonprofit a reprieve from having to file quarterly reports – at least until June. The commission granted the board members of the Birmingham Airport Authority an extension from having to file quarterly reports required of those designated as principals under […]

On Thursday, reports surfaced that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was contemplating a run for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in 2020. The post is currently held by Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) and is viewed by many political watchers as a potential pick-up for Republicans in the 2020 election cycle. Although the election […]

A detained Spanish-language reporter facing deportation after he was arrested while covering an immigration rally in Tennessee is seeking release from custody. Lawyers for Manuel Duran said Thursday that they have filed a petition seeking his release from the Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama.

Melanie Bridgeforth has dedicated her career to fighting for equitable systems that impact vulnerable populations. She is drawn to organizations who are disrupters for change including The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham and VOICES for Alabama’s Children. “Both [organizations] I’ve had the privilege to lead after admiring from afar. Women and children are the most […]

The Alabama legislature failed to move forward on either of the pieces of lottery legislation before them today. Instead, there appears to be so many players in this battle that it seems unlikely we will see any actual legislation at all. Existing gambling interests want to have their clearly illegal casinos legalized so they don’t […]

According to a report, Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) is considering moving into the Yellowhammer State to mount a 2020 U.S. Senate run. Gaetz, who represents a portion of the Florida panhandle, is seriously discussing that flirtation with colleagues in the House, The Hill reported. While the Florida congressman is viewed as an ally of […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As most of you across East Alabama saw in the news recently, special counsel Robert Mueller ended his investigation. The Mueller report was finally given to the Attorney General and its findings came as no surprise at all. As I believed all along, the investigation found no collusion between the Trump campaign […]

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-4) on Thursday introduced a bill, the “Stopping Consumption of Tobacco by Teens” (SCOTT) Act, to raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21 and to also require more age verification for the online sale of vaping products. “In 1984, Congress raised the national minimum drinking age to 21 after […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday unanimously passed SJR 29, a resolution authored by State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) and cosponsored by every member of the chamber honoring the historic accomplishments of Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), especially relating to his impact on higher education and research in the Yellowhammer State. Hailing Shelby as “Alabama’s […]

Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-5) has accused the Alabama Holocaust Commission of “refus[ing] to learn from history” after the commission released a letter condemning his comparison of the propaganda currently being spread by Democrats and members of the mainstream media with that of Adolf Hitler’s “Big Lie Propaganda Tactic” as described in Mein Kampf. The commission’s […]

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice issued a scathing critique of the prison situation in Alabama, saying the state had violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In compliance with the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, the Justice Department added in its announcement that it had […]

It’s a good time to be living in Alabama. Our economy is booming. Our unemployment rate is reaching record lows. People are getting jobs and the training they need. Companies, like ours, are expanding. Our state, and our people, are prospering.

Even though the bill allows an exception when the life of the mother is in jeopardy, Planned Parenthood issued a statement claiming that State Rep. Terri Collin’s (R-Decatur) legislation that would ban abortion in Alabama “would be a death sentence for women across this state.” HB 314 and SB 211, the Senate companion bill being […]

7. Schools in Alabama may have to start actually teaching sex education — State Senator Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) has introduced a bill that would change the way sex education is taught in K-12 schools. The bill would make it so that the curriculum is more medically based while removing discriminating and stigmatizing language about homosexuality. […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama legislature will wrap up what has already been a busy week on Thursday, with the day’s schedule to begin with two different lottery proposals getting a hearing before the Senate Tourism Committee at 8:30 a.m. Public hearings are set for Sen. Jim McClendon’s (R-Springville) SB 116 and SB 130 and Sen. […]

Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that she has appointed former Justice Jean Brown to serve as the new commissioner of the Alabama Department of Senior Services. “Jean’s experience in state government and the legal field will be a tremendous asset to the Department of Senior Services,” Ivey said in a release. “I look forward to working […]

Southern Research announced Wednesday that April M. Brys, Ph.D. had been named vice president of the non-profit organization’s Drug Development division. Brys, an experienced life sciences executive, has a strong and steady track record in research and leadership positions. Southern Research President and CEO Art Tipton said Brys’ successful background will make her an asset […]

Dawn Bulgarella recognizes the value of continued learning and willingness to adapt to changes in her industry as key factors in effective leadership. Bulgarella serves as the CFO of the UAB Health System and senior associate dean of administration and finance at the School of Medicine. Bulgarella has over 25 years of experience in operations […]

State Representative Terri Collins (R-Decatur) has proposed a very strict abortion bill in the Alabama legislature. Her bill is designed to create a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court that could end with Roe. v. Wade being overturned. This is not an attempt to get around Roe v. Wade. For Collins, in her own words, […]

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says the state is working on solutions after the Department of Justice issued scathing findings about Alabama prisons. Ivey said Wednesday morning that federal investigators “identified many of the same areas of concern that we have discussed publicly for some time.”

Think back for a moment to what our country was like in 1973. The average American income was $12,900 a year. A gallon of gas cost 40 cents. The top grossing movie of the year was “The Exorcist,” and “All In The Family” commanded the highest television ratings. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” by Tony Orlando […]

In what government and industry leaders are praising as a major economic development milestone for the Birmingham metro area, mayors from 20 cities across Jefferson County came together for a press conference on Wednesday and signed an agreement aimed at ending the poaching of businesses on an intra-county basis. According to The Birmingham Business Journal, […]

The Southern Poverty Law Center has named an interim president after its founder was fired and its president resigned. The Alabama-based civil rights group announced Tuesday that Karen Baynes-Dunning is interim president.

A study published recently shows the Hangout Music Fest on Alabama’s Gulf Coast has a massive impact on the region’s economy every year. The study by Auburn economics professor Dr. Keivan Deravi outlines how the three-day, premier entertainment event generates a $45 million annual economic impact on the area.