MONTROSE, Ala. — With Alabama’s protocol for executing death row inmates mired in controversy and legal challenges, one state senator is proposing bringing back the firing squad and adding the ability for condemned criminals to choose to be gassed to death with nitrogen. Firing squads have not been used as a method of execution in Alabama since at least the 1920s.

State Senator Trip Pittman (R-Montrose) has introduced Senate Bill 12, which “would allow a capital defendant to elect to be executed by firing squad.” He says he plans to add the gassing option to the bill as well before it comes before the legislature early next year.

For three-quarters of a century (1927-2002), executions in Alabama were carried out using an electric chair dubbed “Yellow Mama,” a nickname it was given after being covered in the same paint used to stripe Alabama’s highways. “Mama” has been in storage since 2002 when legislation was passed giving prisoners the ability to opt for lethal injection. Some lawmakers have pushed to take Yellow Mama out of storage, particularly after various legal challenges to the state’s lethal injection protocol caused a backlog of death row inmates, costing the state additional housing expenses.

Thomas Arthur, a 74-year-old death row inmate who was convicted for a murder-for-hire in the 1980s, recently received a stay of execution after he spoke out against the lethal injection process, arguing that the three-drug cocktail does not sufficiently dull the pain prior to death. Mr. Arthur has argued that death by firing squad would be more humane.

“I knew we needed to provide some other options, and since he suggested the firing squad, that was on my mind,” Sen. Pittman recently told the Anniston Star. “The main thing is that we come up with some alternatives to get out of the bind we’re in.”

The legislature will reconvene for the 2017 Regular Legislative Session in February.

Robert Bentley may be the state’s top elected official, but that doesn’t mean he gets a free pass when he makes an occasional grammatical slip-up. At least that’s according to one report from AL.com, in which the governor received a tough lesson from one teacher who took exception with his criticism of Alabama’s education system.

“Our education system in this state sucks,” Bentley said at an event in early November. “When we are 51st on our NAEP scores in 4th grade math in this state…51st? And we ain’t got but 50 states? That’s pretty sad.”

In response, English teacher DayLee Downs told Bentley that his remarks disrespected the people of his state.

“The word suck is a transitive verb, which means that it requires a direct object. Let me give you an example. Like suck, played is a transitive verb,” Downs wrote in an email to the governor. “When I use the sentence ‘Mary played,’ I might leave you wondering what did Mary play? Mary might have played the piano, or she might have played cards… So, back to your statement: ‘our education system in this state sucks.’ Where is your direct object, Mr. Governor? Like I said before, what exactly do we suck? Do you know what you are implying through your use of this word? I find your statement downright immature, but as an English teacher, I find it dreadfully ignorant.”

She went on to suggest that the governor didn’t appreciate the sacrifices made by Alabama teachers.

” We suck time away from our families grading papers…we suck sleep away from our nights calling parents or attending ballgames to support the students we love…my job sometimes sucks the energy out of my day, and by the time I get home to my own family, I’m often too tired to cook dinner or play soccer in the backyard with my five year-old (but I do it any way),” Downs added.

Pollsters make a living being public opinion experts. But 2016 has been a tough year for the polling industry after the overwhelming majority of the “experts” were flat out wrong on two of the world’s most significant events — Brexit in the U.K. and the presidential election in the U.S. However, a polling firm with close ties to Alabama correctly called President-elect Donald J. Trump’s improbable victory, and their insight helped propel him to the White House.

McLaughlin & Associates is a public opinion research firm based in New Jersey, but the brothers who lead the company — John and Jim McLaughlin — have been the most influential Republican pollsters in Alabama for years.

“Back in the last century, I worked for Gov. Fob James when we had a 20-point come-from-behind win for governor in 1994,” John told Yellowhammer. “Then I worked for Jeff Sessions in his first race for senate and subsequently Senator Shelby. Since then Jim has carried on the work for Senator Shelby with a big win in the primary this year. He also works for Congressmen (Mike) Rogers and (Robert) Aderholt, among others.”

A closer look at the firm’s client list reveals a who’s who of Alabama politics:

Governor Bob Riley, Attorney General Bill Pryor (who is now on Trump’s short list for the Supreme Court,), Senate President Pro Ten Del Marsh, Attorney General Luther Strange, Lt. Governor Steve Windom, the Business Council of Alabama, and dozens of state house and senate members. Perhaps most notably, Jim McLaughlin was the pollster behind Republicans’ successful effort to take control of the Alabama legislature for the first time since Reconstruction.

During this election cycle, both McLaughlin brothers were involved in different aspects of the Trump effort.

John was the internal pollster for the campaign and Jim worked for a pro-Trump Super PAC. This gave their firm the opportunity to play an outsized role in the ultimate victory, but also presented some challenges. Because FEC rules ban coordination between campaigns and outside groups, the brothers were strictly prohibited from talking to each other about strategy.

“We took the firewall very seriously. But I’m sure it drove our family crazy sometimes. When you’re involved in politics but can’t talk about the biggest election of the year, that can get awkward,” Jim laughed.

John’s work for the campaign extended back to the primary, when most pundits assumed Trump did not have a real chance of winning.

“Basically in my work for the Trump campaign, I helped him recover from losing Wisconsin, to win New York and the Northeast handily,” John explained. “Then we made sure we beat Ted Cruz in Indiana to seal he nomination.”

Even after winning the nomination, Trump was considered a long-shot candidate against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and the entire Washington, D.C., establishment. But John saw something in his polling that suggested Trump had a better chance than most people thought.

“Going all the way back to last September, we’ve known Americans wanted to change directions and move away from the policies of President Obama, 56% to 34%,” said John. “I urged Mr. Trump to press his message of change as his most important theme.”

Jim saw the same thing in his polling as well, and noticed that working class voters — many of whom either voted Democrat or didn’t vote at all in recent past election — were attracted to Trump’s message on trade and immigration. As a result, the vast majority of the super PAC’s closing budget was spent in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, two states that Republicans had not won since 1988.

As Mr. Trump would say, it worked BIG LEAGUE.

By the last week of the campaign, Trump had won over roughly 90% of the voters who were looking for change, and winning traditionally blue states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin helped propel him to a runaway Electoral College win.

“That was our pathway to victory,” said John. “It also allowed us to win in the Sunbelt states and expand into a majority of the Rust Belt states. Mr. Trump was able to energize working middle class men and women in the heartland to vote for him to send a message to the DC political establishment.”

It’s safe to say the establishment got the message loud and clear.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Imagine a local version of Extreme Makeover: Home edition for the bedrooms of sick kids and in a nutshell, you have the Flower Child Project. Founded by Michelle Chandler, the Flower Child Project seeks to help ailing children in need find a happy place and have a chance to feel like any other kid.

Chandler is originally from California, where she got a degree in interior design. In design firms in Orange County, she worked on restaurants, industrial locations, and luxury residential projects. But when she was about to start a family, she and her husband moved to Birmingham, where he took a job with Iron Tribe Fitness.

After arrival in the Yellowhammer State, the Chandlers welcomed their first daughter. But when she was young, Michelle’s daughter got sick and had to go to Children’s Hospital for breathing treatments. Understandably, this caused Michelle to develop a soft spot for sick children.

Combining her sympathy for the kids and her passion for design, the Flower Child Project was born. “This is something that really has my heart and that can be really big,” she said.

Chandler emphasized that this is more than just putting some paint on the walls. “It’s about having a safe space that is theirs, that represents them and their personality. It’s about being able to just be a kid,” she said.

When planning the Flower Child Project, Chandler said she wanted to make sure the time was right. And right now, it certainly is. She said that in Birmingham, the design industry is booming. She also believes that there is a desire among local businesses to come together for a worthy cause such as this.

“I really want to impact our local community,” she said. “And the families that I’m looking for are families that are local.”

The Flower Child Project is currently searching for families that could use their help. For Chandler, there did not seem to be many qualifications. “We’re looking for Someone who is in need and someone who really believes this will help their child,” she said.

If Flower Child Project blows up, she hopes that it can become more than just room designs. One day, Chandler hopes that Flower Child can branch out and create designer lines of bedding and other accessories.

What she really hopes for more than anything is that this idea can become a movement that will impact sick children across the country. But to get it started, she needs people to reach out and let her get to work.

Chandler encourages people to reach out to her on social media (Facebook: Michelle Chander), and interested families can check out The Flower Child Project’s Instagram (@FlowerChildProject). Some sample photos of what she will be modeling her work after can be viewed below.

While conservatives across the nation are anticipating a very-likely cabinet position for Senator Jeff Sessions under President-Elect Donald Trump, at least one Alabama Congressman is balking at the news.

During an interview with Huntsville’s WAAY on Thursday, Rep. Mo Brooks said that he thinks Sessions would be too difficult to replace, though he agreed that the popular GOP Senator deserves a prominent spot in Trump’s leadership team.

“I have communicated to Senator Sessions that I hope he stays in the United States Senate,” Rep. Brooks said.

Over the weekend, Donald Trump began unrolling names of key advisors that will join him in the White House. Though Sessions has not yet been tapped, many are anticipating that he could be in line for Secretary of State, Attorney General, or Defense Secretary.

The almost-inevitable appointment would mean that Governor Bentley would have the opportunity to appoint a new Senator to serve out the rest of Sessions’ term. To that end, Rep. Brooks said that he hopes Bentley would make his appointment a speedy one.

“I hope that if Jeff Sessions does go to the Trump administration, that he’ll resign a day or two or three early, and that the governor in turn would appoint early so that our senator, whoever it may be, would have seniority over all of the other senators who were elected for the first time in the election we had this past Tuesday,” Brooks said.

Governor Bentley would have the option to call a special election to fill Sessions’ spot, though it’s unlikely. According to reports, a state election to fill Sen. Sessions’ place would cost around $5 to $7 million.

James Spann: Another mostly rainless week for Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

HISTORIC DRY SPELL ROLLS ALONG:

The last measurable rain in Birmingham was on Sept. 18 with 0.32 inches. The last time we had more than 1 inch in a 24-hour period came on July 30, when the total was 1.33 inches. No rain has been measured so far in November.

We have gone, counting today, 57 consecutive days without measurable rain. We blew past the record of 52 dry days in a row (set in 1924) last week.

A drought emergency remains in effect for all 67 Alabama counties; no outdoor burning is allowed, and water conservation is crucial.

COLD MORNING, PLEASANT AFTERNOON:

A weak short wave aloft will pass over the state today, but with no moisture, there is no chance of rain. Some Northeast Alabama communities were below freezing this morning (29 at Black Creek, 32 at Fort Payne), but we will see a high near 70 this afternoon with a partly sunny sky.

MID-WEEK:

Still dry. Mostly sunny days, fair nights tomorrow through Thursday. Expect low 70s tomorrow and Wednesday, followed by upper 70s Thursday. In fact, some spots could touch 80 degrees Thursday afternoon as the lack of soil moisture contributes to warmer afternoons.

HOPE FOR RAIN:

A major storm system will move through the Northern Plains Friday, with blizzard conditions developing over the Dakotas. A trailing cold front will approach Northwest Alabama Friday night, and a band of showers will enter the state. Unfortunately, moisture will be limited, and the primary dynamic support well to the north, so this won’t be any kind of “drought buster” or big rain event, but the chance of rain looks good for the northwest counties of the state, with amounts of one-quarter to one-half inch for cities like Florence and Hamilton.

Showers will thin out as the front works south and east. Amounts for places like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Anniston and Gadsden will be under one-quarter inch, which won’t come close to making a dent in the drought. And those south of I-20 won’t see enough rain to measure, if they get any at all.

The main window for showers with the front will come from 10 p.m. Friday through 10 a.m. Saturday.

REST OF THE WEEKEND:

The sky becomes partly sunny Saturday afternoon with a high in the 60s, but Sunday will be windy and sharply colder behind the front; some places up in far North Alabama won’t get out of the 40s; other North Alabama communities will see a high in the low to mid 50s despite sunshine in full force. A north wind of 10-20 mph will make it feel colder. It will be the coldest air we have experienced so far this season.

A freeze is likely for most of North/Central Alabama by Monday morning.

FOOTBALL WEATHER:

For the high school football playoff games Friday night, rain is possible over the northwest corner of the state. Otherwise, clouds will increase with temperatures in the 60s.

Alabama will host Chattanooga Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium (6 p.m. kickoff). The sky will be mostly fair, with temperatures falling from 62 at kickoff through the 50s during the second half.

Auburn hosts Alabama A&M Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium (6:30 p.m. kickoff). Mostly fair, with temperatures falling into the 50s during the game.

THANKSGIVING WEEK:

No sign of badly needed rain next week; the week looks cool and dry for now for Alabama.

LONG RANGE:

Still encouraged to see the European ensemble showing a relatively wet December, with potential for more than 5 inches of rain.

SUPERMOON:

The moon this morning is the closest full moon to Earth since 1948. We won’t see another supermoon like this until 2034. The moon’s orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical, so sometimes it is closer and sometimes it’s farther away. When the moon is full as it makes its closest pass to Earth, it is known as a supermoon. At perigee — the point at which the moon is closest to Earth — the moon can be as much as 14 percent closer to Earth than at apogee, when the moon is farthest from our planet. The full moon appears that much larger in diameter, and because it is larger shines 30 percent more moonlight onto the Earth.

So, be looking again tonight. Moonrise for Birmingham today is 5:19 p.m. The image below was taken this morning from Arizona by Scott McCown.

AT THE BEACH:

Sunny days, fair nights on the coast through the weekend from Gulf Shores to Panama City Beach, with highs generally in the 70s. See a detailed Gulf Coast forecast here.

TROPICS:

A disturbance in the western Caribbean has some chance of getting organized this week, but it will move northeast and won’t be an issue for the U.S.

WEATHER BRAINS:

You can listen to our weekly 90-minute netcast anytime on the web, or on iTunes. This is the show all about weather featuring many familiar voices, including meteorologists at ABC 33/40. We will produce this week’s show tonight at 8:30. You can watch it live here.

CONNECT:

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For more weather news and information, visit AlabamaWX.

Since Donald Trump was elected to the office of the presidency, many prominent figures on the left have vowed to oppose the new Commander-in-Chief. Particularly in the NBA, figures like Pistons Coach Stan Van Gundy and Warriors coach Steve Kerr are doubling down on accusations against the 45th president. Amid the dramatics, Alabama native Charles Barkley is telling fellow Hillary supporters that it’s time for them to change their tune.

During a Thursday night interview on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” Barkley appeared to (still) be in a state of disbelief over the election results.

“It’s been kind of shell shock to be honest with you, over the past 48 hours with Mr. Trump becoming the President. I was in shock, I’m not gonna lie,” Barkley said. “I was totally surprised at the election results. That being said, we’ve got to move on.”

“I was disappointed that my candidate didn’t win, number one. But like I said, it’s over now, he’s gonna be the President of the United States,” he added. “We have to respect the office, and we have to give him a chance. That’s the bottom line.”

Barkley had been outspoken about his reluctance to support Clinton’s candidacy, at one time acknowledging that the “negatives” surrounding the Democrat nominee made him uncomfortable. Now, he believes that Democrats must rally behind the President Elect, trying their best to give Trump a clean slate.

“You know, somebody always loses an election,” Barkley said. “We’ve been fortunate we won the past couple with President Obama. We didn’t win this one, but like I said, I respect the office of President of the United States, and we have to give him a chance. Everything he’s said in the past, that’s water under the bridge. And we have to give him a chance, and we have to support him because he’s the President of the United States of America.”

Donald Trump’s election to the presidency is opening doors for key Alabamians who could shape the nation’s future. We’ve reported on the likelihood that Senator Jeff Sessions will secure an appointment to the upcoming Administration, and it is also possible that a conservative Alabama native could be called on to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Most Alabamians know William “Bill” Pryor from his service as the state’s Attorney General, having served from 1997-2004.

Patently regarded as a pro-life constitutional conservative, he was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was initially installed through a recess appointment, because at the time, Democrats filibustered a Senate confirmation process over Pryor’s belief that Roe v. Wade was the ”worst abomination in the history of constitutional law.” He was eventually confirmed by a vote of 53-45.

As a federal judge, Pryor has upheld voter ID laws (Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups) and argued against ObamaCare’s contraceptive mandate.

It’s Pryor’s proven conservative stances that led President-Elect Donald Trump included the judge among of 21 vetted candidates for the High Court.

“The freedoms we cherish and the constitutional values and principles our country was founded on are in jeopardy,” Trump said upon releasing his list in February. “The responsibility is greater than ever to protect and uphold these freedoms and I will appoint justices, who like Justice Scalia, will protect our liberty with the highest regard for the Constitution.”

Some speculate that Trump could install as many as four Supreme Court justices throughout his time in the White House, presenting the Republican president with the opportunity to sway the court with a conservative majority.

BIRMIGHAM, Ala. — It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Super Trump. Well, at least that is how local Alabama designer Patrick Giles drew it up.

After Trump’s victory, Alan Brumbeloe hired Giles to work on a design that would depict the president-elect’s victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, the Republican establishment, and the media. Brumbeloe said that it is a direct parody of the film Superman II wherein the title hero battles against a trio of super-powered alien villains.

“You’ll see Paul Ryan as the left-most super villain. He has the ‘R’ on his shirt, which stands for the Republican establishment. Of course you see Hillary, and then you see the media with an Anderson Cooper-looking guy with the microphone. And the caption “Can’t Trump This” is an obvious take-off on ‘Can’t Touch This,'” Alan Brumbeloe said.

According to Brumbeloe, Giles has been doing animation for quite sometime. In the 80s, he was an official artist for Garbage Pail Kids, a series of trading cards produced by the Topps Company meant to parody the popular Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. He has also worked with Conan O’Brien on various projects in recent years as well.

Giles’ full original design can be seen below.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Donald J. Trump has prepared a list for his position team to consider potential members of his administration. According to a report from The Hill, the list includes many of Trump’s top surrogates including Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.

The Hill reported that Sessions is allegedly being considered for two positions: U.S. Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. However, the source also claims that the list is not final and is subject to change.

Sessions has been an instrumental part of Trump’s campaign for months. After endorsing him, Sessions has served as one of his top surrogates and was the candidate’s top national security advisor.

Here are the other notable names on Trump’s list, according to the initial report.

Attorney General
• Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)
• Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)
• Fmr. Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY)

Secretary of State
• Sen. Bob Corker (R-Ten.)
• Fmr. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.)
• Fmr. U.N. Ambassador Jon Bolton (R-MD)

White House Chief of Staff
• RNC Chairman Reince Preibus (R-Wis.)

Secretary of Commerce
• Christie
• Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.)

Secretary of Education
• Dr. Ben Carson (R-Fla.)

(Audio above: Yellowhammer Radio’s Scott Beason and Andrea Tice interview Trump advisor Cliff Sims, who is on leave of absence as Yellowhammer’s CEO.)

Americans across the country tuned into to their television sets Tuesday night and witnessed Donald Trump’s incredible upset victory. Dedicated viewers even had the chance to see Trump come out and deliver his final campaign speech in the early hours of Wednesday morning. But while many were watching their new President-elect from behind the barrier of a tv screen, few had as good a seat to witness history as Yellowhammer founder and CEO Cliff Sims.

Sims, who transformed Yellowhammer from his personal political blog into one of the most influential publications in Alabama, has been on a leave of absence from the company since September working as a top communications advisor for Trump. During his time with the campaign, Sims even hosted video news sessions on Trump’s Facebook page, which were seen by millions of users.

After the euphoria of victory, Sims called into Yellowhammer Radio this week to discuss his experiences with hosts Scott Beason and Andrea Tice. A lightly edited transcript of their conversation can be found below, and the full audio of the interview can be heard in the video above.

Scott:

So I guess you probably stayed up all night on Election Night. My wife swears she saw you on TV standing beside Senator Sessions.

Cliff:

I was by Senator Sessions a good bit last night. The coolest thing though was standing right next to Mr. Trump and watching the returns come in and hearing all the phone conversations with people calling him. He’s kind of superstitious, though. People were calling him and saying “congratulations,” but he would cut them off and say, “Oh, we’re not there yet.” He kept saying, “We’re two strokes up with one hole to go,” even when it was clear he was about to win. It was fascinating — a really cool experience. And I think it was a vindication of everything that Mr. Trump and Senator Sessions and others have been saying for months and years now — that there are a lot of people all over the country who are so frustrated with political process that they had kind of checked out and weren’t participating. And finally they felt they had a candidate on the ticket that was worth getting out and voting for. That’s why we just saw records in voter registration, records in voter turnout in a lot of places. I don’t know what these pollsters are going to do, but they probably need to find a new line of work.

Scott:

I like that Mr. Trump said that this was not all about him — that it was about a movement. I think the reason people were drawn to him was because he was saying the very things that regular Americans have been saying. I sent you a text before the election talking about the good job y’all have done up there. Trump stayed stayed very, very focused on talking about the issues and people finally said, “You know what? We’re going to give this a chance.” I can’t say enough about what he did and the job that y’all have done.

Cliff:

All the credit goes to him on that. It’s been ridiculous reading some of the news reports with people claiming, “Oh, the staff has taken away his Twitter account.” They were just completely making stuff up. But to your point about him making this not about himself but about this movement, I think it can really be summed up in the fact that Hillary Clinton’s slogan was “I’m with Her” and Donald Trump was all about “I’m with You, I’m with the voters and this is about us.” I thought that the tone that he struck in his victory speech was exactly what the country needed. He came out and said, “I’m ready to be the President of all Americans and let’s come together and get this country back on track.” Seventy percent of the voters in the exit poll said they thought the country was on the wrong track and they were ready for change. That’s really the storyline. People voted for a man, yes. They voted for a movement, yes. But really what they really voted for was change.

That’s what we’re seeing here in Trump Tower today — the transition team preparing to put people in place who are going to implement this change that we’ve all been so hungry for for so long.

(More after the image)

Andrea:

You know Cliff, I just want to come in here and say I really appreciated Trump’s acceptance speech. I thought it was really well done, I thought it was graceful. It was humble and he acknowledged it was not all about him, it was about the people and he did a great job.

Cliff:

A lot of these folks hire a ton of speechwriters and they just kind of read whatever is on the screen, but he has known this whole time what he has wanted to say… I think he’s already proven a lot of people wrong when they were constantly criticizing him for his temperament, saying, “Who knows what he’s going to do? He’s going to be the most divisive President in history.” It’s been pretty funny watching the media freak. But Andrea, I’m glad it came through that way because that’s really what he wanted in his heart, for people to really feel the way you did when you heard him speak.

Scott:

He came across as very genuine. My question to you is, do you believe that Donald Trump plans to do what he said he was going to do?

Cliff:

Yeah, I mean he’s been really explicit about “Here’s what I’m going to do in the first 100 days in office, here’s what I’m going to do on the first day in office.” One of the things that’s not getting talked about a lot right now is the importance of Republicans maintaining control of the Senate. It’s a slim majority, but it’s a majority none the less, and there’s a strong majority in the House. So voters were pretty clear last night about what they want and now they have a President who is a strong leader who will work closely with Congress to pass his policy priorities.

Scott:

Donald Trump has kind of broken the mold by winning states that Republicans weren’t ever supposed to ever win in again… I think there’s an opportunity here to break the stranglehold that the Democrats have had on minority populations.

Cliff:

How many Republicans would have gone to Detroit and delivered a speech about urban renewal mere weeks before election day and highlight things like school choice and making our communities safer? No matter what color you are, we all want a few core things. We need a job, we need to be able to put food on the table and provide for our families; we want the opportunity to give our children a better life and leave them a better country than we inherited; and we want safety and security. Mr. Trump went into these communities that both Republicans and Democrats have ignored and delivered a message that really resonated with them, and they voted for him on Election Day.

I’m about to have to run here at the Tower and jump into a meeting but I wanted to be sure to give you guys a call. I miss the whole Yellowhammer family and obviously appreciate Alabama’s support for the campaign. Senator Sessions was here a few minutes ago and said to make sure to tell everybody down there how much he appreciates Alabama’s support and we couldn’t be prouder to be representing Alabama up here.

Scott:

Hey Cliff, I’m not asking you but a caller just called in and asked what position you were taking with the Trump administration?

Cliff:

I look forward to being back in Alabama.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — There are some people that donate large sums of money because it will bring them positive publicity and notoriety, and then there are those who do it because they care about making an impact. Many Alabamians might not have heard of Joann Bashinsky, but her decades-long record of serving others both personally and financially means more to her than any recognition.

Mrs. Bashinsky currently resides in Birmingham, Ala. and spends most of her days figuring how she can give back to her community. Over the years, she has donated to more causes and institutions than one could count. With her Torch-Bearer’s Sunday School Class at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, she has served as a medical apartment volunteer at UAB, provided Christmas presents to underprivileged families, and provided school supplies to needy children. Separately, she has donated large sums of money to some of the state’s most prominent academic institutions.

At the University of Alabama, she donated the funds to create and maintain the Bashinsky Computer lab. “The generosity of Mrs. Bashinsky has significantly impacted the College and our students,” Culverhouse College of Commerce Dean Kay M. Palan wrote.” Her vision and commitment to supporting the college’s learning technologies is unmatched and demonstrates forward-thinking about the role technology plays in higher education.”

Similarly, her gifts to Samford University have received widespread acclaim and helped faculty and students alike. Over the years, she and her late husband Sloan Bashinsky have donated over $16.5 million to the school. Through the Samford Legacy League, she has contributed to scholarship funds of students of high financial need who would not otherwise be able to attend.

“Those of us at Samford recognize and appreciate the tremendous ongoing support we receive from Mrs. Joann Bashinsky,” wrote Samford VP of University Advancement W. Randall Pittman. “This generous support has enable many young people to grow in their intellect, creativity, and faith as they passed through here on their way to a life time of service.”

But while Mrs. Bashinsky take great pride in helping all of those groups accomplish their goals, her true passion is in helping children any way she can – especially making sure that any child that wants to go to college has that opportunity.

“I’m proud that I send a lot of children to college. Any child here that wants to go to college, I’ll help them,” Mrs. Bashinsky said.

But those strong words are definitely backed up by her actions. Her late husband started scholarships for Golden Flake employees’ children through the Bashinsky Foundation. Mrs. Bashinsky described her late husband as a very generous man. When he passed, she said it was her turn to “pick up the ball and run with it.” To this day, she has continued to see his work through, and has personally donated more than $1 million dollars in scholarship money.

“When I was growing up, my parents weren’t able to send me to college. But ever since I’ve had a dollar, I’d send a child to school to better their education,” she said. Right now, she is personally helping put three separate individuals through Samford.

Perhaps more impressive than all of the financial contributions is Mrs. Bashinsky’s work with children at Big Oak Ranch.

Big Oak Ranch is an Alabama-based “christian home for children needing a chance,” founded forty-three years ago by John Croyle. Over 2,000 children have called Big Oak home, and the organization takes no and no federal money. Therefore, it relies solely upon the generosity of individuals like Mrs. Bashinsky.

“Children are dropped off at the Ranch by parents who either can’t afford them or don’t want them. These children just need a second chance, so I help them,” she said.

When John Croyle first approached Mrs. Bashinsky at the Golden Flake office with his plans for Big Oak, she was immediately impressed, and told him she planned to double the initial donation plan. She founded the Women’s Auxiliary with Phyllis Hoffman to provide items for the children in order for them to live a normal life.

In 2006, she began personally planning a designing a boutique for the girls, so that they could shop for clothing, make-up and accessories just like any other young child. In a short matter of time, the old Big Oak warehouse was revamped and converted into a marvelous shop.

“There’s not a place in Birmingham that you can find anything like it. It has everything: clothes, makeup, shoes, records, you name it,” she said. The store even includes a section for even younger girls, known as “Boutique Too.”

But there is a catch; the girls do not just get to go into the store just because they are a Big Oak resident. Mrs. Bashinsky instituted a points system, wherein the children had to acquire points from good grades, good deeds and memorizing Bible verses to make their purchases with.

After the opening of the boutique, the boys immediately wanted one for themselves, and Mrs. Bashinsky got right back to work. The boys got their own shop, called “Outfitters” designed in the style of a Bass Pro Shop. There, the kids can use their points to buy toys, games, and even outdoor items like Kayak boats.

Over the years, Mrs. Bashinsky has enlisted the help of celebrities to aid with her Big Oak projects. People like singer Taylor Hicks, former Alabama and NFL Quarterback Joe Namath, and celebrity chef Paula Dean have come to help with their time and their money.

For Mrs. Bashinsky, it does not end with the money. During her time helping with Big Oak, she has made a personal investment in each child and knows them all by name.

Former Alabama/NFL Quarterback Brodie Croyle, who is the son of Big Oak’s founder, could not think more highly of Mrs. Bashinsky’s contributions.

“There’s a whole lot of people that get involved with Big Oak Ranch, but Mrs. B is truly committed. She is passed involved; she is truly committed to our children,” Brodie Croyle said. “A lot of people just write a check and move on, but she is 100 percent involved. She knows them by name, she knows when their birthdays are. That’s why they call her Mama B.”

With her love for all of the children, “Mama B” has made a constant effort to make sure that she treats them all the same. “I didn’t do for one that I didn’t do for another,” she said.

Croyle agreed, and said that she’s shared with so many kids that it is hard to keep track of them all. ““When she says she can’t pick a moment, it’s because every time she’s with them there is a moment,” he said. ““Our kids know when somebody cares, and our kids know when someone is actually listening. Kids gravitate towards that. They couldn’t care less how much money you donated – they want to know that you care.”

At the core of Mama B’s generosity and love for kids is her deep Christian faith. “I’ve been a christian all my life. My mother always said that anytime the doors of the church are open, I was to be in it,” she said.

Croyle noted that Mama B knows that it has nothing to do with her, or anyone else; it has to do with God. ““God has given us a great opportunity, and God has given us great people like Mrs. B that allow us to sow those seeds. But we all know that the only true change is through God Almighty,” he said.

Her faith is so strong, that it has even had an impact on her caretaker, Mrs. Pauline. ““We’ve talked about so many things that I don’t think an employee would talk about with another employer,” she said. “She has always been there for me. By the love in her heart, she’s always come to my rescue.”

Mrs. Pauline has worked for the Bashinsky family for over thirty years. “We’ve had out ups and downs,” she said. “But by the grace of God, we’ve worked it out,” she said. To this day, the two go to church together every Sunday: service and Sunday School.

Despite getting older, Mrs. Pauline thinks that Mama B has only gotten more generous with age. Croyle agreed. “You’re not gonna be able to slow Mrs. B. down,” he said.

With all the love and generosity, Mama B has gained a reputation for being a straight shooter. “You never question where you stand with Mrs. B.,” Croyle said. Pauline also added that Mama B is not afraid to tell you when she is none too pleased. ““When it is not done right, you will hear from her, you can count on that,” she said.

But in the end, her mind is always on what is best for “her kids,” and she always needs more help with her Big Oak ventures. “We need more members,” she said. “More members will really help us support these children.”

Tuesday night’s election results marked a historic windfall for conservatives across the nation. Backlash against liberal mandates of the past eight years- Obamacare, sweeping amnesty attempts, transgender bathroom directives, and the like- not only secured victory for Donald Trump, but Alabama Republicans as well.

In the Yellowhammer State, Senator Richard Shelby and Representative Gary Palmer mounted aggressive campaigns that bucked against those exact issues, resulting in wins that echoed state voters’ stances against an overreaching big government.

Now that their re-election is secure, both have said that they are ready to roll up their sleeves, aware that their new terms issue them an opportunity to turn the tide. It matters that a Republican president is now at the helm.

“The American people delivered a clear message last night,” Congressman Gary Palmer said. “They not only entrusted us with the White House, they entrusted us by maintaining the Republican majorities in the House and Senate. It is now up to us to honor that trust and deliver on our promises.”

Like Trump, Congressman Palmer was first elected as a political outsider, having no previous political experience aside from his role in the State Policy Network. He won re-election to a second term on Tuesday night in a sweep against his Democrat challenger, 75% to 25%.

“Historic moments present us with historic opportunities,” he added. “America is a great nation and deserves great service from those in Washington. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues and President-Elect Trump to take on the great challenges ahead to get a nation back on the right track and to make America great again.”

Senator Richard Shelby also handily won over his liberal opponent. In a statement, he agreed that he and his GOP colleagues in Washington have an historic opportunity ahead of them.

“Last night the American people roundly rejected the failed Obama-Clinton policies that aren’t working for our country,” Shelby said. “We now have the opportunity to come together to champion conservative causes and reverse the damage that has been done from big government policies like Obamacare and Dodd-Frank. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump and my conservative colleagues in Congress on common sense solutions that will ensure a brighter future for all Americans.”

For nearly 70 years, Birmingham has honored veterans with its National Veterans Day Parade, the nation’s first and longest-running Veterans Day parade. This year’s parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Friday in downtown Birmingham. The following article, by Mike Oakley, longtime Master of Ceremonies for the parade and an Alabama Power employee, tells how Veterans Day and Birmingham’s prestigious event honoring veterans got their start

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and Washington, D.C., became a focal point of reverence for America’s veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where unknown soldiers were buried in those nations’ highest places of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). All three internments took place on Nov. 11.

World War I had officially ended in 1919 with the Treaty of Versailles, but fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). In November 1919 President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day – set aside to honor veterans of World War I.

A quarter century later, in 1945, the nation celebrated the end of a second world war – the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in U.S. history. A World War II veteran from Birmingham, Raymond Weeks, had an idea: to expand Armistice Day to honor all veterans.

In 1947 Weeks organized “National Veterans Day,” in his hometown, which included a parade and other festivities. Shortly afterwards he led a local delegation to Washington, urging then-Army Chief of Staff General Dwight Eisenhower to support a national holiday to honor all veterans.

U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas, inspired by the idea, introduced legislation to change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954, Congress passed the bill and President Eisenhower signed it, establishing November 11 as Veterans Day.

In 1982 President Reagan honored Weeks with the Presidential Citizenship Medal for being the driving force for the national holiday. Weeks, who led the first National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, continued the annual tradition until his passing in 1985.

After Weeks’ death, Bill Voigt became the executive director of the event, which continued to grow. In 2013, local businessman Mark Ryan succeeded Voight as director.

Ryan said the annual event wouldn’t be successful without the ongoing support of numerous volunteers, supporters and sponsors. The Alabama Power Foundation is among the event’s supporting organizations.

For more information about the National Veterans Day parade and related events, visit http://nationalveteransday.org/.

The 2016 version of the Birmingham Veterans Day Parade will have a special addition among its 4,000 participants.

The Budweiser Clydesdales prance into Birmingham today for a six-day stay in stables set up at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

The National Veterans Day Foundation arranged for the horses to come to the Magic City to march in the parade, which begins at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 at 18th Street and Eighth Avenue North.

During their stay, the 10 rare Scottish-bred horses will be housed in stables at the parking lot at 22nd Street North and Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard by Uptown Park. The public can view the Clydesdales for free starting Nov. 10:

Nov. 10, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Nov. 13, 2-5 p.m.

The Clydesdales are also set to make an appearance at the Riverchase Galleria at 10 a.m. on November 13.

“With Legacy Arena, the Concert Hall, vast exhibit space and the Uptown District, the BJCC embraces its role in contributing to the community’s entertainment and cultural experiences in so many different ways,” said BJCC Executive Director Tad Snider. “Now, thanks to the National Veterans Day Foundation, we feel fortunate to play a role in being able to offer Birmingham the opportunity to see the most famous horses in the world – the Budweiser Clydesdales.”

Donald Trump won Alabama by a large margin last night, be he was far from the only candidate or issue on the ballot. Each of Alabama’s seven congressional districts were in play, as was on of its U.S. Senate seats. Statewide, Alabamians considered fourteen different proposed amendments to the constitution, only some of which applied to the people of more than one particular county.

Each of the incumbent members of Alabama’s congressional delegation won reelection and won it soundly. The only election that was even remotely close was Rep. Martha Roby’s (R-AL2) race, which she won by a convincing ten point margin.

Here are the results:

U.S. Senate
Richard Shelby (R) 64%, Ron Crumpton (D) 36%

AL1
Rep. Bradley Byrne (R) was uncontested

AL2
Rep. Martha Roby (R) 55%, Nathan Mathis (D) 45%

AL3
Rep. Mike Rogers (R) 67%, Jesse Smith (D) 33%

AL4
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R) was uncontested

AL5
Rep. Mo Brooks (R) 67%, Will Boyd (D) 33%

AL6
Rep. Gary Palmer (R) 75%, David Putnam (D) 25%

AL7
Rep. Terri Sewell (D) was uncontested

Statewide Amendments
1. Auburn Trustees Term Limits – Passed
2. Ban State Park Fund Reallocation – Passed
3. Adoption of Local Amendments – Passed
4. County Commission Authority – Passed
5. Separation of Powers Wording – Passed
6. Impeachment Vote Changes – Passed
7. Etowah Co. Sheriff Employees – Passed
8. Right to Work – Passed
9. Pickens Co. Probate Judge Age – Passed
10. Calhoun Co. Jurisdictions – Passed
11. Create Manufacturing Zones – Passed
12. Baldwin Co. Toll Roads – Passed
13. Repeal Officeholder Age Cap – Passed
14. Uphold Local Budget Laws – Passed

For more information on what these amendments will do, check out Yellowhammer’s handy guide.

Additionally, uncontested incumbent Twinkle Cavanaugh won reelection as Public Service Commission President, and all the uncontested justices on the State Supreme Court were also kept on the bench.

Before Alabama-made vehicles hit city streets and neighborhood roads, they get a workout on the test tracks at the state’s three auto assembly plants.

Banked curves, bumpy asphalt, smooth straightaways and skid pads are just some of the features that help put the models through paces that are designed to simulate all kinds of driving conditions.

The goal is to deliver top-notch cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans to customers and weed out any road noise, engine rattles, bad alignment or other problems.

For Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, which produces luxury SUVs and sedans in Tuscaloosa County, the test tracks play a key role in the plant’s daily operations, said Michael Faerber and Andreas Ogger, quality managers at the facility.

“Just as we must be 100 percent certain that the color is right and the paint is good, there must also be no rattling noise from a door or wind noise from an outside mirror,” Ogger said. “Everything must be checked, and these test tracks are an important step to ensure the highest level of quality.”

Mercedes’ Alabama plant has one large road track and two small ones, as well as an off-road course used for special events and parts testing.

$2 MILLION UPGRADE

The automaker regularly updates its testing facilties and is currently spending about $2 million to upgrade the road tracks. The project includes improved testing for noise, vibration and harshness, as well as additional safety upgrades, new smooth asphalt and a new banked curve.

One special feature of the large road track is a wade booth, which simulates driving through water to make sure none of it seeps inside.

Every vehicle built at the plant is tested on one of the short road tracks, while a certain percentage are evaluated on the large one. The plant produces the GLE, GLE Coupé and GLS SUV models, along with the C-Class sedan.

Meanwhile, no customer cars are put on the off-road course, which has a 70 percent slope and an obstacle course that carries vehicles over stairs and rocks and through a creek. Instead, there are currently six designated SUVs used to show off the models’ off-road capabilities.

“No customer would appreciate the rough handling of the cars out there,” Faerber said. “We use it for special events, for VIPs, special guests and dealers from across the globe, to show them what these nice SUVs can do.”

The vast majority of the people who buy the plant’s SUVs use them as on-road vehicles. Still, it’s good to see their off-road prowess, and that’s where the dealer demos come in.

“99.9 percent of our normal customers would never do the kinds of things we do on the off-road track, but it’s interesting to know,” Faerber said.

The off-road course is also used to test new parts when vehicles are going through a redesign or getting other updates.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

At Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Talladega County, there are two test tracks, which both offer opportunities for real world testing, said Ted Pratt, head of corporate affairs and communication at the plant.

One is about one-quarter mile long, and the other is about one-eighth mile long, and every vehicle that HMA produces takes a lap on either track.

“The HMA test tracks are critically important to ensuring that each vehicle functions as it was designed and that all components are assembled correctly and operate as they should,” Pratt said.

Honda’s Alabama plant, which recently produced its 4 millionth vehicle, is the sole global source of the Odyssey minivan, Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup, as well as the Acura MDX SUV.

Since there are two assembly lines and two full shifts, there are about 150 to 200 employees who drive vehicles on the tracks each day.

Pratt said every vehicle is performance tested, and that includes checks for wind noise, squeaks, rattles, tire balance, wheel alignment, cruise control operation and other tests.

The surface on one track offers a variety of road conditions, such as smooth asphalt, concrete and cobblestones. There’s also a section of irregular surface that is similar to driving over speed humps, which alternate back and forth from the right-side tires to the left-side tires.

‘VEHICLE VALIDATION’

In Montgomery, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama has a 2.3-mile test track that is set up like a thin elongated oval, said Robert Burns, head of public relations and team relations at the plant.

It includes a hill with a 25-degree incline to test emergency brakes and a sharp turn at one end to confirm handling. The driver also performs aggressive S-turns in this section to see how the steering and suspension respond.

There are also two long straightaways, one for testing cruise control and front end alignment and the other with a wide variety of road surfaces to listen and check the performance of the suspension of the vehicle.

Another feature is a skid pad near the end of the testing process to double check the vehicles’ anti-lock brakes.

All vehicles produced at the plant — including the Sonata sedan, Elantra compact and Santa Fe Sport SUV — go through this testing, and more than 20 inspectors per shift drive cars through the test track, Burns said.

“The test track is very important to our daily operations,” he said. “It serves a critical role during our vehicle validation process.”

Boeing Co.’s impact on the Alabama economy totals $2.3 billion a year, according to a new analysis that highlights how the aerospace giant supports a highly skilled, technical workforce in the state.

The University of Alabama study found that Boeing’s presence in the state sustains nearly 8,400 direct and indirect jobs across Alabama. It also found that annual pay for Boeing’s Alabama employees – numbering 2,750 – is more than twice the Alabama average.

“Boeing is stronger than ever as we launch into our second century,” said Jim Chilton, president, Boeing’s Network & Space Systems. “We continue our commitments to customers, our employees, and the communities where we live and work.

“We are proud to be partners in the state of Alabama,” he added.

The analysis, released this morning, outlined Boeing’s economic impacts in 2015:

• Supported 8,393 direct and industry jobs in the state
• Distributed an annual payroll of $264 million in Alabama
• Spent an additional $749 million in the state, including $532 million to suppliers
• Contributed nearly $1.7 million to non-profit organizations

“Boeing’s presence in Alabama is a significant driver of economic activity in the state, employing a highly-skilled workforce and offering high-paying jobs for critical skills,” said Sam Addy, associate dean of economic development outreach at UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce.

ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY

Boeing’s involvement in Alabama began when it set up operations to advance the initial development of the Saturn V rocket’s Stage 1 booster. The company’s Huntsville workforce, which started with a handful of employees in 1962, has remained active in the space program ever since.

Today, Boeing’s Alabama workforce is taking a lead role in developing NASA’s Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket the space agency has ever developed.

Boeing’s Alabama operations are also heavily involved in U.S. missile defense programs. Its Strategic Missile Defense Systems (SM&DS) is based in Huntsville, as is the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, the nation’s only shield against long-range ballistic missile attacks.

In June 2015, Boeing officially opened a new research and technology center in Huntsville as the company’s hub for collaboration with academic institutions and research partners in analytics and simulation in the Southeast.

“Boeing has been active in Alabama for more than a half a century, with its engineers and researchers in Huntsville playing key roles in the nation’s space program and critical missile defense programs, while also exploring new technologies to advance aerospace,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“As Alabama’s largest aerospace company, Boeing has helped the state build a significant presence in an industry with a solid future,” he added.

Addy and UA’s Center for Business and Economic Research prepared the Boeing economic impact study. A similar analysis in 2005 found that Boeing’s economic impact on Alabama was $1.5 billion that year.

“The study shows that Boeing’s innovative technology solutions are in high-demand and that Alabamians are driving innovation at the forefront of aerospace and defense industries,” U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) said today.

When liberal actress Gina Rodriguez told President Obama in an interview last week that illegal immigrants are fearful of voting, he didn’t correct her statement. Instead, he gave an answer that has been described as ambiguous toward the law, and Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions says that it’s a problem that needs immediate clarification.

“Dreamers, undocumented citizens – and I call them citizens because they contribute to this country – are fearful of voting,” Rodriguez said. She then went on to ask if they could be deported for doing so.

Instead of rebuffing the notion that the law would permit an undocumented immigrant from voting at all, President Obama told Rodriguez that “when you vote, you are a citizen yourself.”

“There is not a situation where the voting rolls somehow are transferred over and people start investigating, etc. The sanctity of the vote is strictly confidential in terms of who you voted for,” he said. “If you have a family member who maybe is undocumented, then you have an even greater reason to vote.”

Senator Sessions, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, said that the President’s lack of clarity sets a dangerous tone ahead of the election.

“I am shocked that the president of the United States, who is the chief law enforcement officer for the nation and to whom all federal law enforcement officers report, failed to strongly and immediately object to a statement by an interviewer that unlawful immigrants can and should vote in U.S. elections,” Sessions said in a statement. “The interviewer proposed a radical and illegal action, which the president had a duty to condemn.”

Sessions called on Obama to issue a statement to make “crystal clear” that only legal U.S. citizens are allowed to cast a ballot on Tuesday.

“The failure to clarify this statement will only add further credibility to the public’s concerns about the integrity of this election,” he added.

But one Trump supporter really won “bigly” last night: Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Sessions has been with Trump almost since the beginning. At a massive rally in Madison leading up to the SEC primary in March, Sessions endorsed Trump, donned a “Make America Great Again” hat, and became the conductor of the Trump Train.

At that rally, Sessions highlighted Trump’s anti-establishment message that he believed would capture the votes of Americans across the country.

This isn’t a campaign, this is a movement. Look at what’s happened. The American people are not happy with their government…Politicians have promised for 30 years to fix illegal immigration… Donald Trump will do it. You have known for years these trade agreements have not been working. We’ll soon have a vote on ‘ObamaTrade’ and it will damage America… It should not pass. Donald Trump, when he gets elected President, will see it does not pass. This movement — he doesn’t take money from political groups and lobbyists. He’s committed to leading this country in an effective way… I think at this time in America’s history, we need to ‘Make America Great Again.’

Boy was he right. That message resonated with more people than any major polling agency anticipated. For months, Sessions took to the airwaves and made the case for Trump and his agenda, often in the face of opposition from his own party. Now, that confidence is likely to land him a big-time job in Trump’s Administration.

Sessions has led Trump’s national security policy team on the campaign, and throughout his time in the Senate he has served on the Armed Services committee. One would think that Secretary of State would be a natural fit, but this early, it is tough to tell.

There is a strong case to be made that Jeff Sessions was Donald Trump before Donald Trump. Sessions’ unique brand of populist conservatism has served as the basis of Trump’s platform. For decades, Sessions has advocated for tougher immigration laws, stricter trade polices, and “draining the swamp.” The only fundamental difference between the two men – bank accounts aside – is Session’s southern accent.

Regardless, come January 20, 2017, Sen. Sessions is likely to be doing more business in the White House than on Capitol Hill.

Trump swept through Alabama in dominating fashion. Winning 66 percent of the vote, he topped Clinton by 27 points and secured one of his top five margins of victory in the nation. Overall, Trump won the votes of 1,181,425 Alabamians.

Three states that President Obama won at least once – Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina – flipped in favor of Trump this cycle. Additionally, the candidate was able to secure three traditionally blue states – Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania – that were not even considered toss-ups.

“I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all of Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country,” Trump said during his victory speech early Wednesday morning. “As I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family.”

While undoubtedly a surprise, Trump’s success in the Rust Belt can be easily attributed to his tough stance on trade and outreach to white-working class, blue collar workers.

Numerous polling agencies such as FiveThiryEight, Real Clear Politics, and Washington Post/ORC projected relatively safe wins for Clinton. Almost no projection, including those from the Trump campaign, were as optimistic as the final result for the now President-elect.

A new study from the website SmartAsset revealed that Alabama leads the nation in veteran-owned business rate and is one of the top ten states for veterans overall.

SmartAsset reported that 11.2 percent of all businesses in the Yellowhammer State are veteran-owned. Alabama’s overall ranking was also helped by resident veterans’ post-housing income – a relatively high $29,025 on average.

Additionally, only 4.49 percent of Alabama veterans are unemployed.

Overall rankings of the states were determined by the combination of seven metrics. SmartAsset considered the percentage of the population who are veterans, the unemployment rate for veterans, veterans’ median income after housing as well as the percentage of veterans whose income would place them under the poverty threshold, the veteran business ownership rate, the number of Veterans Affairs facilities per 10,000 veterans, and the percentage of veterans who are enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration.

The Top ten states are depicted on SmartAsset’s graphic below.

(h/t Birmingham Business Journal)

On the day of the election, Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL2) maintains that she will not vote for Republican Presidential nominee Donald J. Trump and will instead write-in his running mate Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN).

Roby initially un-edorsed Trump on Oct. 8, after a tape was leaked that contained Trump making vulgar comments about women. The congresswoman’s office confirmed her intention to continue her opposition to Trump today.

Donald Trump's behavior makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president, and I won't vote for him.

Full statement: pic.twitter.com/Ge7GU1TSvm

— Rep. Martha Roby (@RepMarthaRoby) October 8, 2016

Roby currently represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. Today, she is running for reelection against Democrat Nathan Mathis. She defeated Becky Gerritson in the GOP primary by a margin of 66 percent to 27 percent.

RELATED: Here are the Alabama Republicans who have withdrawn their support from Trump

A new round of firings within the Alabama Supreme Court have prompted embattled former Chief Justice Roy Moore to again take aim at his successor.

The latest reaction comes after Moore discovered that interim Chief Justice Lyn Stuart fired two more court employees who had worked under the former judge. Reportedly, the Administrative Director of Courts and the Administrative Office of Courts’ legal counsel, who served under Moore’s first term, were “fired without notice” on November 3rd.

Moore’s legal team says that the firings aren’t just a matter of supposed personal vendetta- they are also premature, given the former judge’s pending appeal.

“Justice Lyn Stuart’s actions are disturbing because this case is on appeal but she is acting like the case has been decided. Does she know something we don’t? Considering all the irregularities that have transpired thus far it makes you wonder,” said Mat Staver, Moore’s legal counsel.

Just weeks ago, three other law clerks who were hired by Moore were also handed a pink slip. During that time, Moore was also asked to clean out his office.

“The hostile treatment of Chief Justice Moore, the demand he remove his personal effects and the abrupt termination of five people raises serious concerns. Justice Stuart is telegraphing to the special court how she expects them to rule. This is inappropriate,” Staver added.

Moore was suspended without pay in September for his defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage. The Alabama Court of the Judiciary found that Moore’s order instructing probate judges to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court’s holding violated judicial ethics. He now awaits a hearing from a “Special Supreme Court,” which is made up of seven retired judges.

Alabama’s reputation for a growing business environment has just received another honor, as the state has landed on top ten list for the best states to do business.

Last week, Site Selection Magazine announced that the Yellowhammer State placed 9th overall in their annual business climate report. It reflects a significant jump over the past year- Alabama ranked 11th in 2015.

The report took into consideration a survey of corporate facility investors and site consultants who were asked to indicate which states they believe are the most business-friendly. On that front, Alabama was ranked 8th.

Results include data that reflects on states’ new investments, construction, and job growth. Additional factors like workforce skills, incentives, tax structure, transportation infrastructure, and quality of life were also analyzed.

Senator Pro Tem Del Marsh (R- Anniston) told Yellowhammer News that he would like to see Alabama higher on the list in the future.

“Job creation has been our number one priority, so it comes as no surprise that Alabama is among the top states for business,” Sen. Marsh said. “With that said, there is still work to do to ensure that Alabama not only stays in the top, but improves on that ranking in the future.”

By far, Southern states dominated in 2016. Georgia topped the list, followed by North Carolina (#2), Ohio (#3), Tennessee (#4), Texas (#5), Virginia (#6). Louisiana and South Carolina both placed 7th on the list, while Indiana landed at the #10 spot.

It’s not the first time Alabama has caught the eye of Site Selection. In 2015, two Alabama metro areas, Decatur-Morgan County and Auburn-Opelika, were both featured in top lists for their success in attracting new business.