The elections of November 6 are over, and now, in Washington and in Montgomery legislators again take up the task of governing. As the leader of Alabama’s 27 Republican state senators, my focus is on working with other lawmakers and Governor Kay Ivey to make state government more efficient and to keep job growth strong. Reforming the state’s […]

MONTGOMERY — Speaking at the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s 146th annual meeting on Tuesday, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivered his first public remarks since leaving President Donald Trump’s administration. Despite his forced resignation and having been on the raw end of several Trump tweets and public comments this year, Sessions graciously made clear […]

The gas tax may be a foregone conclusion if you listen to the leadership of the Alabama legislature. Infrastructure needs are undoubtedly a priority heading into the next legislative session; how they get addressed is the battle we will see fought out. A gas tax of up to 12 cents a gallon has been discussed, but according […]

Alabamians use municipal infrastructure throughout the state to access jobs, schools, grocery stores, hospitals, parks, entertainment venues and church services – making infrastructure a significant and urgent quality of life issue. The state’s infrastructure needs are at a critical point, especially relative to their impact on our cities.

Ben Shapiro, a prominent national conservative commentator and writer, will speak at the University of Alabama during the 2019 spring semester. In an announcement Tuesday, Young America’s Foundation (YAF) said Shapiro will speak on campus in Tuscaloosa as part of the organization’s Fred Allen Lecture Series. UA will be one of six campuses to host […]

Most people know Alexander Shunnarah for his infamous “Call me Alabama” slogan and the massive trail of billboards commonly spotted by travelers along I-65. However, what many aren’t aware of is Shunnarrah’s heart for giving back to the city he calls home. To show his love and appreciation for Birmingham, the Alabama lawyer just launched […]

A mother in west Alabama is grieving after her nine-year-old daughter, McKenzie Adams, died by suicide. CBS 42 reported Monday that Jasmine Adams’ daughter was a fourth grader at U.S. Jones elementary school in Demopolis, which is close to the family’s home in Linden. Following her tragic death on December 3, Adams reportedly advised CBS 42 that McKenzie told […]

7. More Americans get news from social media than from newspapers — Somehow, more Americans get their news from social media (20 percent) than print newspapers (16 percent). This is because of a steady decline in newspapers, but both get crushed by the Internet and television. — American television consumption of news is still the […]

Student minister Tremon Muhammad, who leads the Nation of Islam’s Birmingham mosque, took to Facebook Monday evening to defend Louis Farrakhan and attack the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and “all of those that are aligned with them.” Muhammad, who posted his thoughts in an approximately 45-minute Facebook Live video, was reacting to […]

Our nation came together last week as we mourned the loss of a truly great American. No matter our race, religion, creed or political party, we were drawn toward the light that was President George H.W. Bush. His life spanned nearly 100 years of American history and was dedicated to serving the United States. History […]

While reaffirming the right to peacefully assemble, Hoover officials are making clear through a series of arrests that “violent or otherwise dangerous actions that have the potential to threaten or injure” residents and visitors “will not be allowed.” In the wake of Emantic “E.J.” Bradford, Jr. being shot and killed by a Hoover Police officer […]

Christmas is the season of giving, helping others and finding magic moments among seemingly ordinary (and occasionally dreary) days. What better way to welcome this season than to share what Alabamians are doing to help others? Yellowhammer News and Serquest are partnering to bring you, “A Story Worth Sharing,” a monthly award given to an […]

A new report by WalletHub has named Birmingham as one of the nation’s best overall and most affordable cities to celebrate New Year’s Eve. In order to compile the rankings, “WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across three key dimensions: 1) Entertainment & Food, 2) Costs and 3) Safety & Accessibility.” Those three […]

Even though no one discussed raising the gas tax in the 2018 election, it already seems like a done deal that there will be some kind of gas tax in the 2019 legislative session. This makes sense for few reasons. First, there has been no public debate about this matter in an election year, so […]

Huntsville’s Irons One Distillery was recognized with a double gold medal by “The Fifty Best” for its bourbon whiskey Char #4, making it just one of six bourbons in the nation to receive the highest recognition possible. The website, which produces rankings including liquors, wine, food, restaurants, travel destinations and entertainment, explained that it “held […]

The Birmingham chapter of the Nation of Islam – which is deemed an “extremist,” “deeply racist, antisemitic” “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and led nationally by the infamous Louis Farrakhan – is heading up the boycott effort in Hoover in the aftermath of Emantic “E.J.” Bradford, Jr.’s death in an officer-involved shooting […]

Birmingham’s traffic could get a lot worse beginning next month. The Alabama Department of Transportation says it will shut down Interstate 20/59 through the state’s largest city beginning in mid- to late January 2019.

7. While riots go on in Paris over climate taxes, America is still the leader in driving down its CO2 output — More than 1,700 people were arrested and 71 were injured this weekend as protests in Paris go on for the fourth consecutive weekend over green-friendly gas taxes and fuel prices. — Meanwhile, as […]

There’s no question that the last two weeks have been trying for Hoover retailers in the wake of the tragic shooting at the Riverchase Galleria on Thanksgiving night. With protests flaring up over dissatisfaction with law enforcement’s handling of the incident’s investigation, the circumstances have been trying for local retailers that were already dealing with […]

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Dr. Waymon Burke take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including: — Michael Flynn pleads and could get no jail time. Is this where they get Trump? — Could 40 Democrats actually run for president? — Who is the frontrunner out of the gate for the GOP […]

Birmingham has already figured out a key element in developing a Smart City and it could become an example for others when it comes to inclusive economic growth, a panel of experts said Thursday. Digi.City Connects Birmingham Roundtable was held at Innovation Depot to allow those who are leading the Smart Cities initiative in Birmingham […]

Researchers at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville have linked a gene to a set of developmental disabilities that include speech problems and muscular difficulties, clearing the way for better support services and possible treatments for the people affected. The work, which involved contributions from researchers around the world, shows the promise of such […]

The #metoo movement has brought renewed focus on gender equity questions. Economics examines the pay gap between men and women, and a recent analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis links this gap to marriage, creating a puzzle for economics. The gender pay gap is large: among workers with at least a high […]

Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School has received a grant of $999,966 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish the Enhancing the Mission: Beeson Divinity School and Thriving Pastors program. It is part of Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen […]