Eric Mackey Archives

Alabama education officials have suspended the Bessemer City Schools Board of Education from regular meetings, a rare move that underscores the state’s expanded authority over local school systems and the ongoing intervention in the district.

The Alabama State Department of Education has suspended the elected Bessemer City Schools Board of Education from regular meetings indefinitely, citing the district’s ongoing state intervention and statutory authority granted under Alabama law.

Bessemer City Schools have been under state intervention since fall 2024, when the Alabama Board of Education assumed oversight of the district under the Educational Accountability and Intervention Act. As part of that intervention, the state appointed a Chief Administrative Officer with authority to act on behalf of the local board and superintendent in all matters.

Under state law, local board members serve in an advisory capacity during an intervention and may meet only when approved by the state superintendent or Chief Administrative Officer. State officials determined that the advisory meetings were not providing meaningful input and suspended participation in regular meetings until further notice.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey confirmed the board remains in office but no longer holds regular meetings, telling WBRC, “Meetings are suspended until further notice. They are still technically office holders subject to the law.”

Mackey has previously expressed concerns about governance in the district during the intervention. Speaking to reporters after an Alabama Board of Education meeting, he said there was still limited confidence in the local board’s leadership, adding, “We still don’t have a lot of confidence in the local board.”

Bessemer City Schools serves over 3000 students across its schools.

State officials have not indicated when, or if, the local board will regain authority to conduct regular meetings. The intervention remains in place as the state continues oversight of the district.

Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey joined members of the Alabama State Board of Education on Friday for a tour of Baldwin Preparatory Academy, a cutting-edge campus designed to blend traditional academics with full-time career and technical training.

The visit offered state education leaders a firsthand look at how Baldwin County is rethinking high school instruction to better align with workforce and economic development needs across Alabama.

According to reporting by Alabama Daily News, Baldwin Prep, the approximately $100 million facility, opened in 2024 as a standalone high school serving students from across Baldwin County, replacing two aging career technical centers and consolidating programs into a single, purpose-built facility.

During the tour, board members engaged with students and instructors across multiple career pathways. Culinary students prepared breakfast for visitors, while automotive students demonstrated hands-on work in the school’s service bays.

Education officials also discussed how the model allows students to explore potential career fields earlier, helping them make more informed decisions about post-graduation plans.

Unlike traditional career tech models that require students to travel between campuses, Baldwin Prep delivers core academic subjects — including English, math, science, and social studies — on the same campus where students receive technical instruction.

School leaders say that integrated approach keeps students focused on learning while strengthening the connection between classroom concepts and real-world applications.

The campus itself reflects that philosophy. Many academic classes are taught in flexible, open learning spaces designed to encourage collaboration, while technical programs operate in lab environments built to mirror professional settings.

Industry partners were involved in shaping both the facility and program offerings to ensure students graduate with skills aligned to current workforce demands.

Baldwin Preparatory Academy currently offers a dozen career pathways, including health sciences, welding, construction, HVAC, aviation, mechatronics, cybersecurity, culinary arts, automotive technology, graphic design, cosmetology and a teacher cadet program. School administrators say those offerings will continue to evolve as industry needs change.

Interest in the school has remained strong, with applications exceeding available seats. Just under 500 ninth graders applied to attend the academy for the 2026-2027 school year, but only 250 seats are available.

Admission is determined by lottery, and students must meet academic, attendance and discipline requirements. While Baldwin Prep does not have athletic teams, students may continue participating in sports at their zoned high schools.

State leaders have increasingly pointed to career and technical education as a cornerstone of Alabama’s long-term workforce strategy, and the Baldwin Prep campus provided board members a working example of how that approach can be implemented at the high school level.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

The Alabama State Department of Education launched its 6th annual “Thank Alabama Teachers Month” with an energetic celebration at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park, honoring teachers statewide while highlighting an urgent need to recruit more educators across the state. The faculty and staff at the elementary school extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey led the event, joined by Vestavia Hills Superintendent Dr. Todd Freeman and other education leaders. Governor Kay Ivey appeared through a video message, offering words of encouragement and officially proclaiming November as Thank Alabama Teachers Month. The kickoff also featured the unveiling of the department’s new “Alabama Achieves” logo — symbolizing the upward momentum of Alabama’s students and educators.

According to the Alabama Daily News, Mackey praised teachers for helping drive what he called Alabama’s “dramatic improvements” in student learning, noting that the state now leads the nation in math recovery, ranks third in reading recovery, and has achieved a record 92% graduation rate, six points above the national average.

But even with those gains, Mackey said the state faces a serious teacher shortage, particularly in elementary, special education, and early-childhood classrooms. At the start of the school year, more than 750 elementary, 350 early-childhood, and 270 special education positions went unfilled by certified teachers. To keep classrooms staffed, more than 3,000 teachers — nearly six percent of the state’s workforce — worked under emergency certificates during the 2023–24 school year, a number six times higher than before the pandemic.

“These shortages are especially severe in high-poverty and rural areas, where recruiting and retaining certified teachers is most difficult,” Mackey said. “If you want to invest in the lives of young people, if you want to do something where you feel every day at the end of the day, ‘I may be tired, but I know I did something that made a difference in people’s lives,’ then be a teacher.”

WIAT reported that Mackey said the department’s new recruitment campaign aims not only to honor those already in the classroom, but also to encourage more Alabamians to join them, describing the profession as one of the most meaningful ways to serve communities and shape the future.

Governor Kay Ivey, in her proclamation and recorded remarks, praised the work of educators across the state. “Our teachers inspire, challenge and believe in our students every single day,” Ivey said. “As a former teacher myself, I know there’s no greater reward than seeing your students succeed — and no greater gift than a simple, heartfelt ‘thank you.’”

The Alabama Department of Education encouraged residents to share messages of gratitude throughout November using the hashtag #ThankALTeachers, celebrating the men and women who serve as counselors, coaches, mentors, and role models for Alabama’s students.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

For years, the media and their Democrats have sought to cancel conservatives and anyone who dares to fall outside of their ever-shifting social rules.

But after Charlie Kirk was killed, these same people demanded that teachers, doctors, and social media users who gloated over his death were to be left alone.

No, that is not how this is going to work.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN

A report from the Alabama Policy Institute released Monday showed that more than 200 employees at the Alabama Department of Education have an annual salary exceeding $100,000. The high level of pay stands in stark contrast to the average Alabamian, who typically makes less than half that sum yearly.

In the analysis, the Institute’s President and CEO, Stephanie Smith, drew attention to the possibility of a large raise for State Superintendent Erick Mackey and also called for an in-depth look into the department’s merits.

Smith’s organization is currently conducting investigations into several parts of Alabama’s government to identify wasteful spending, similar to that of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

“The average Alabama taxpayer makes $49,274 annually. Meanwhile, there are 219 State Department of Education employees who bring in more than double that salary- before perks and benefits,” said Smith.

“The current State Superintendent, who makes $308,866.77 plus a housing allowance with a state car and platinum healthcare and retirement benefits, is now asking for a 55% raise. It is past time to do a full analysis of the value of the Alabama Department of Education.”

The three other agency employees with the highest annual salaries after Mackey include:

Angela Martin, Deputy State Superintendent- $233,765.40
Brandon T. Payne, VP Operations- $231,145.80
Victoria L. Hogan, unknown title- $217,992.80

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences‘ (ASHS) Board of Trustees held its inaugural meeting last week and elected longtime state healthcare leader Mike Warren as its first president.

Warren is one of eight appointees made by Gov. Kay Ivey to the 20-member board, and represents U.S. Congressional District 7, which includes the Demopolis site for the developing school.

After a distinguished career as an attorney at Bradley Arant, CEO of Alabama Gas Corporation and later Director of Energen Corporation, he served from 2008-2021 as President and CEO of Children’s of Alabama, the state’s only freestanding pediatric hospital. He is a member of the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, as well as the elite Alabama Academy of Honor.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the Board of Trustees as we create the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis,” Warren said. “The people Gov. Ivey has placed on this Board are of the highest quality and expertise. We understand how important this school will be to the rural healthcare workforce needs of Alabama, and we take seriously our responsibility for creating a first-of-its kind residential high school that will become a model for our peers across the nation.”

Rob Pearson, chair of the ASHS Foundation, also serves on the Board of Trustees, which will meet again on Oct. 31 in Montgomery.

“The commitment of Mike and of the entire board is evident,” Pearson said. “The depth and scope of this board’s experience in healthcare, education, and its workforce knowledge will help us attract top professionals and students to ASHS’s program and ultimately change the course of Alabama’s healthcare future.”

The school is scheduled to start classes in the 2026-27 school year and will be the fourth in a network of Alabama free, residential specialty public high schools (including campuses for math and science, cyber technology and engineering, and fine arts).

Leadership is divided into two distinct and independent areas, working closely together: The Board of Trustees provides governance and operational oversight, while the ASHS Foundation provides financial and educational support.

According to the Foundation, among the many priorities of the newly-formed Board of Trustees will be to select a president of the school. Until that person is chosen, Dr. Eric Mackey, State Superintendent of the Alabama State Department of Education, is serving in that position on an interim basis.

“This is an exciting and monumental moment for education in Alabama. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences represents a transformative opportunity to build a brighter future for our state’s healthcare workforce, especially in rural areas. I commend the Board’s selection of Mike Warren as the inaugural board president. I am confident his extensive leadership experience will guide ASHS in delivering a world-class, STEMM-focused education that prepares our students to meet the critical healthcare needs of Alabama,” Mackey said.

“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional educational pathways that support Alabama’s future.”

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) announced it responded swiftly to a recent cyberattack, restoring services and implementing enhanced cybersecurity measures while an investigation continues over potential data breaches.

“On June 17, our Information Services team interrupted an attempted hack on the department. They did interrupt and stopped the hack, and the hackers were not able to fully access our system, or to lock us out of our system. However, before our information services professionals were able to interrupt and stop the hack, some data were breached,” Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

Following the breach, ALSDE reports they immediately began working with state and federal law enforcement, including the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Office of Information Technology.

“This is an ongoing criminal investigation. And therefore there’s limited things that we can say, and limited information that we can give out at this time. We’ll be able to say though our services, all services have been restored. Additional cybersecurity protocols have been deployed.”

Mackey confirmed that ALSDE has not negotiated with the hackers.

Superintendent Mackey acknowledged that the hackers might have accessed both student and employee data, including personally identifiable information. ALSDE is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other experts to monitor the situation. A dedicated landing page has been set up to provide updates as the investigation progresses.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

7. In a news story that will surely be coming to a town near you, Mobile is cracking down on public marijuana smoking after complaints it is becoming an omnipresent issue. As attitudes evolve and laws change, more cannabis consumption will take place and it will become part of everyday life with municipalities being forced to deal with it.

6. The two-year legal battle over the House of Mouse’s special legal status is over with a total victory for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and bent knee for Disney as they drop their lawsuit against the governor. You may remember DeSantis detractors on the left and right suggested his war with Mickey and friends was a sure-loss legally and political killer, but that seems like hopeful wishcasting instead of analysis now.

5. Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey is responding to criticism of a new transparency law that some have complained gives parents too much power but is designed to provide parents with more access to information about their children’s education. Mackey accurately notes, “We really need parents to be engaged in the learning process. And I think that was really the impetus behind this is how do we help parents engage in what’s going on in the child’s classroom.”

4. Another day, another horrible story of an illegal immigrant who should not be in the country murdering or raping someone. This time an illegal immigrant, Pablo Mendoza, was arrested for the rape of a mentally incapacitated 14-year-old girl in Enterprise. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) responded to the all-too-frequent news by tweeting, “@JoeBiden is aiding and abetting these monsters.”

3. A day after the release of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) investigative video into the death of Steve Perkins, who was shot after pointing a gun at law enforcement, the family of Steve Perkins who called for the release of the video denounced the move and protests are back. The video clearly shows Perkins exiting his home with a gun with a light on it in his hand, he raises the gun and illuminates the police officer before he was shot and killed.

2. Democrats have a new star and an old favorite issue in Alabama State Rep.-elect Marilyn Lands (D-Madison) and abortion “rights” with over 50% of Americans saying abortion should be legal. But the reality of American life in 2024 is not the same as the message they are delivering with the economy and immigration the most important issues facing all Americans (Ds/Is/Rs) and over 50% saying they are worse off than four years ago.

1. The Republican Party needs a wake-up call according to Alabama GOP Chairman John Wahl after a blowout election loss to abortion-obsessed Alabama State Rep.-elect Marilyn Lands (D-Madison). Wahl laid out what the GOP should be standing for, “The Republican Party needs to be standing for things like in my opinion, parental rights, protecting children from bad policies, getting involved in a culture war.”

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

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7. Lying about book bans will get you a lot of attention and that comes in handy for Lavar Burton, who is famous for reading books for 3-year-olds on public television. Burton was booked on Jimmy Kimmel’s Late Night Show to present “Why Did They Ban This Book?” about a book mistakenly placed and then removed from that list because a computer program flagged the author’s last name of “Gay” in an Alabama library, but the book was never banned or removed.

6. American journalists against journalism (except when they try to do it) will be delighted that anti-free speech advocates in Europe want to sanction Tucker Carlson for interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin and place a travel ban on the former Fox News host. Politicians, including failed politicians like Hillary Clinton, joined the media in screeching about how Republicans love Russia again, ignoring how wrong they were the last time they went down this path.

5. The coming enforcement of the Alabama Literacy Act is worrying the leadership of Alabama schools, so Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey is seeking more assistance with helping third-graders read. Struggling third-graders may get some help in the next budget but the full impact of the law will be felt much sooner than the next budget goes into effect.

4. State Treasurer Young Boozer says Birmingham-Southern is to blame for their financial woes, but too many lawmakers want to blame him for not approving a $30 million loan from the state. Now, legislators seek to remove him from the process and put an unelected education bureaucrat in charge of that decision.

3. The long-awaited proposed gambling legislation that is now officially out proposes as many as 10 casinos (24% tax rate), lottery, sports betting (17% tax rate), enforcement measures, statewide gambling regulatory commission, and a healthy dose of protectionism. The revenue from the lottery would go to the Education Trust Fund and the other gambling revenue would go to the General Fund. The total expected revenue could be over a billion dollars a year.

2. Kellyanne Conway will be in Alabama on Friday to be the keynote at the ALGOP’s winter meeting and her company has polled Alabama voters on gambling and 74% of those polled said they support gaming in the state, this included, “having a statewide lottery, casinos, and sports betting.” And 52% of those polled strongly supported gaming and the support goes up as a reference to the $2.5 billion the state could gain in revenue from the lottery over the next 10 years.

1. To the surprise of no one, the border bill failed 49-50 with the usual suspects in the GOP voting for it. The media and their Democrats are still having an aneurism over the failure claiming the border is open now because of Republicans after claiming the border hasn’t been open for 3 years. Now Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is attempting to pass a foreign aid-only bill, that has no chance of passing without actual border enforcement measures. And the Biden administration is now threatening to release more illegals into the country unless Republicans cave.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 p.m.

State Rep. Christopher England (D-Tuscaloosa) has pre-filed legislation for the 2024 state legislative session to raise Alabama’s online sales taxes to generate additional funding for public education in the state.

HB17 proposes to raise the tax rate Alabamians pay on online purchases from 8%to 9.25%.

The online sales tax, known as the simplified sellers-use tax (SSUT), is currently put mostly toward Alabama’s general fund budget. England’s bill would allocate the increase to the education trust fund (ETF).

If passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Ivey, according to England’s bill, the balance of the amounts collected would be distributed as follows:

“Fifty percent to the State Treasury and allocated 75 percent to the State General Fund and 25 percent to the Education Trust Fund.
Twenty-five percent to each county in the state on a prorated basis according to population as determined in the most recent federal census prior to the distribution.
Twenty-five percent of funds to be distributed to each municipality in the state on a prorated basis according to population as determined in the most recent federal census prior to the distribution.”

At one time, no sales tax was collected on online sales. Eventually, individual states passed online sales taxes to recoup revenues being lost to Amazon and other online retailers.

Every municipality is collecting more revenue from online sales than they were prior to passage of the SSUT. But for destination shopping locations like Hoover, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Huntsville, Gadsden, and Mobile, the SSUT has not made up the losses of sales taxes revenues to purchases made online.

Another issue that cities and counties have with the SSUT is that, at 8%, it’s cheaper to buy some goods online than to make the purchase locally, where the combined state, county, and municipal sales taxes can reach 9.5%, 10%, or more.

England’s proposal to raise the SSUT taxes would somewhat level the playing field between the internet retailers and the old legacy retail store fronts.

The Alabama Reflector reported that State School Superintendent Eric Mackey said the SSUT would “probably be a hot discussion in this legislative session,” during Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting.

The State of Alabama spent $8,798,594.04 on education in the FY2024 budget with 68.07% of those funds going to K-12 education. This is up substantially from the $6.63 billion the state spent on education just five years ago in the FY2019 ETF budget.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com

QuantHub, a Birmingham-based startup, is joining forces with Innovate Alabama to launch an internship program that will prepare students for careers in data science and artificial intelligence (AI).

The duo will collaborate with the Alabama State Department of Education to introduce approximately 38,000 students to QuantHub’s advanced training software within the next year.

Joshua Jones, CEO of QuantHub, called the new program “vital.”

“QuantHub is dedicated to fostering a workforce proficient in data skills which are increasingly essential across all job sectors. The Alabama Future of AI Internship Program is a cornerstone in this endeavor, providing a vital link between academic learning and industry demands.”

The 2024 Alabama Future of AI internship program will offer paid 8-week internships to high school juniors and seniors, hosted by Alabama-based employers, designed to provide real-world exposure to a broad range of sectors and the technologies they utilize.

The growing demand for data skills in the workplace will multiply each year, while an advanced comprehension of future-forward technologies — which the program seeks to build for students — will become a lifetime competitive edge.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey said the program also offers a competitive edge for Alabama itself.

“By integrating QuantHub’s advanced training software into our educational framework, we are not only preparing our students for the future of work but also ensuring that Alabama remains competitive in the rapidly evolving digital economy,” Mackey said. “This initiative is not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about leveling the playing field for our students.”

Innovate Alabama, the pioneering public-private partnership boosting entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation across the state, played an instrumental role in bringing the program from concept to reality.

“Through our partnership with QuantHub, we are excited to offer Alabama’s youth hands-on experience with AI and data science, fields that are critical for the future of our state’s industries,” said CEO of Innovate Alabama, Cynthia Crutchfield.

“We’re not only investing in the next generation of Alabamians but also sowing the seeds for a more innovative state economy.”

Eligible applicants must be US citizens enrolled in an Alabama high school who will be at least 16 years of age by May 1, 2024. No prior experience is necessary to apply for an internship.

Applications will open December 1, 2023. Prospective interns are encouraged to apply early.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

In an effort to draw in and produce more special education teachers within the state, the Alabama State Department of Education has announced that a $1,000 to $5,000 annual pay increase for those in the field may be coming. However, the state Legislature must approve an enlarged educational budget.

This new effort comes in response to a massive special education teacher shortage throughout Alabama.

In an email, department spokesman Michael Sibley said the stipend amount requested is $5,000 and 20% ($1,000) benefits for each teacher.

Eric Mackey, Alabama State Schools Superintendent, said 2023’s special ed stipend differs from the newly requested one.

“This year, the Legislature provided a $1,000 stipend, but it only went to special ed teachers who were paid for out of the state budget, foundation program budget,” he said.

Mackey said the new stipend could possibly convince teachers who are thinking about leaving the field to stay.

“Because of special ed is obviously an area that’s intense focus, there is a lot of additional paperwork because the significance of some federal rules around that, so we often hear teachers say, ‘You know what, I’m going to leave teaching special ed, and just teach fourth grade, because it’s the same pay,’” he said.

Mackey said his department is seeking a flat stipend, but that could expand to other areas with shortages.

“That’s something certainly could be discussed,” Mackey said. “Like, you know, the Legislature comes back and wants to talk about, ‘Well, what if we do a different amount for a child, for a teacher who has students with learning disabilities versus one with students who have medical disabilities?’”

Special education is a term that covers a range of specialties, and special education teachers work with students with a range of needs.

Last year, the department requested $68 million but received $4.6 million for special education stipends.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

Addressing the critical teacher shortage in Alabama took a step forward Monday with a new legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey.

It will allow those with college degrees in fields other than education to repurpose their education toward obtaining teacher certification. It also reduces the State Board of Education’s requirements for aspiring educators while keeping standards high.

“As Alabama continues to face teacher shortages, particularly in math and science, efforts are being undertaken to fill vacancies in those positions with qualified persons with academic experience outside the teaching profession,” Ivey said.

The legislation came in response to the declining number of teachers produced by colleges in Alabama. According to a 2019 report, 30% of all classrooms are being taught by instructors teaching out of field, having neither a major nor a minor in their subject.

Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), the bill’s sponsor, highlighted the opportunity as the idea moved through the Legislature.

“Our colleges are producing 20% fewer teachers in the last five years,” she said. “Because we are trying to increase our standards in the state of Alabama, for example, we need 700 experienced math teachers.”

Ivey agreed, saying the action “expands access to high-quality alternative certification pathways for new teachers that comply with rigorous standards, while also maintaining the professionalism and quality of the teaching profession.”

State Superintendent Eric Mackey has said the state has faced teacher shortages for a more extended period than the pandemic. However, thanks to measures such as extending emergency certification and incentive enhancements to the teacher salary matrix, Mackey has indicated a positive trend in most areas of the state.

It also helps that Ivey has delivered a 15% increase in pay to teachers during her tenure as governor.

The Education Department will maintain a database of alternative teacher education preparation organizations. These organizations will be responsible for screening, recruiting, and recommending qualified individuals for certification to teach in public K-12 schools.

To qualify for these alternative programs, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, pass a criminal background check, and complete an alternative teacher preparation program. These programs, available online and in-person, will be rapidly expanded under this law.

For organizations to be recognized by the State Board of Education, they must operate in at least five states without probation, have certified at least 10,000 teachers, and have 10 years of operation. Additionally, candidates must pass an exam aligned with Alabama standards of pedagogy and/or subject area.

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

7. Fox News had to pay up to settle a defamation lawsuit over claims in the 2020 election surrounding Dominion’s voting system. Fake Russian collusion narratives are still award-winning and fi-i-i-i-ine.

6. A bill to stop newspapers from raping the state and local governments over fees for public notices passed out of an Alabama House committee it originated in and, of course, local newspapers oppose it. The opposition is one of greed, if it was to provide transparency, a public service, or if the public demanded it at all they would just do it for free to attract readers. Florida already did this.

5. A Madison City Schools JROTC instructor has referred to a student organization, Turning Point USA, as being affiliated with the KKK, according to schoolboardwatchlist.org. When confronted with this, the teacher then sent an e-mail to the parents of the leader of this group denying she did any of this. She lied about what she did, then she doubled down.

4. Cities across Alabama are whining that it will be harder for them to keep taxes on groceries in place if the state removes its tax on those items. This is some pathetic leadership on display, especially considering one city has already cut its tax on food.

3. Transgender athletes will be banned from participating in sports outside of their assigned gender or, more accurately, men can not play women’s sports for colleges in the state of Alabama if this bill passes. The House has passed this bill by a 93-5 margin with 14 legislators abstaining.

2. The Alabama State House may actually do it, they may finally eliminate failing schools in Alabama! How? By declaring that failing schools should not be called failing schools, just like the State Superintendent Eric Mackey wanted. Hopefully, the Alabama State Senate throws this in the garbage where it belongs.

1. Alabama’s Republican-led House of Representatives held a moment of silence for those killed and injured in the Sweet 16 shooting in Dadeville. State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) said “Gun fire erupted in violence, killing four young people, and injuring 32 others, some of those critical. It’s a sad day in the state when something so senseless happens. Our hearts go out to families and friends who lost loved ones in this attack.” Democrats then called for gun control.

LISTEN HERE:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

7. Over the weekend, Huntsville Police Officer Albert Morin was released from the hospital after being seriously wounded in an attack on law enforcement that killed fellow Officer Garret Crumby last month.

6. The media and their Democrats continue trying to pressure the Biden administration to ignore multiple government studies that selected Alabama for the HQ of Space Command and keep it in Colorado. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) continues to fight against this tweeting, “Using misleading Democrat talking points, today the @dcexaminer wrote the latest attack on @US_SpaceCom’s move to Huntsville.”

5. There are still two Americas. In one America, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is still fighting to stop children from irreparably changing their gender. While in Washington state, the Legislature is allowing children to change their gender without their parents’ knowledge.

4. The Alabama School Board Association is making it clear that they are not on board either and are now fighting for the status quo in their latest newsletter. The dishonesty is stunning, “Under this Act, parents would receive funds from the state to cover expenses such as elite summer camps, specialized foreign language schools, or extravagant field trips, due to the broad interpretation of educational expenses.”

3. Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey is embarrassing himself by whining that calling a failing school a “failing school” is meant to “humiliate” high-poverty schools and push private school scholarships.

2. School choice looking less likely with Alabama Republicans such as State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) claiming he supports the idea while tossing up barriers on Alabama Public Television about myths on draining budgets and concerns about people not being able to go to schools in the next county.

1. A “mass shooting” took place in Dadeville at a “Sweet 16” party that left 28 people injured and 4 dead. The lack of information available from law enforcement is astonishing with no information about the number of shooters, names/status of shooter or shooters, if they are still active in the community, have been arrested or the type of gun/guns used.

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Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Law enforcement, elected officials and residents gathered at a Cullman elementary school to talk about an uncomfortable issue facing parents – school shootings. They also got to see a demonstration of new technology that offers a possible solution.

State Sen. Garland Gudger went to kindergarten at West Elementary School and opened by saying today’s threats were never something he had to worry about.

“As a father dropping my two boys off at school, you expect them to be safe,” he said. “I can’t imagine what’s happened at some of these other schools across the nation that weren’t able to pick their children up.”

The device is a deployable, ballistic wall unit in classrooms that can also be used as a multipurpose space. Alabama company KT Solutions said the units can be deployed in less than 10 seconds and offers a level of protection that stops up to a .308- caliber round.

A teacher who showcased the system in her classroom over the past month demonstrated the rapid deployment.

The room can also be used as shelter during severe weather events and other emergencies.

Kevin Thomas, CEO of KT Solutions, said his company was creating ballistic equipment for the military last year when he felt called to work on this invention in the days that followed the massacre in Uvalde, Texas.

“We took something that takes most folks two or three years to do, and we did it in eight months,” Thomas said. “What we do have control over is the ability to make things that are innovative in the meantime while we fix the bigger issues.”

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt commended Thomas on his initiative and said he’d like to see how the system can be implemented in classrooms across the United States.

“It’s great to live in a country where there’s so much ingenuity,” said Aderholt (R-Haleyville).

State Superintendent Eric Mackey said school safety is the issue that keeps principals up at night.

“From the time they get on the bus until they get home in the afternoon, they are your responsibility,” he said.

Mackey said the device demonstrated is “the one investment in government I can think of that I hope we never use.”

7. Dirty nuke talk in Ukraine

Will Russia use nukes in Ukraine and say Ukrainians did it? Will Ukraine use nukes and say Russia did it? Will no one use nukes? Russia claims the Ukrainians are planning to use a “dirty nuke” and blame Russia but NATO has denounced that claim, so that should put an end to all of this.
According to U.S. experts, Russia has not made a decision to use nukes. But those same experts said he would not invade with big bad President Joe Biden standing guard.

6. Democrats’ chance at holding on to power fading… fadin… fadi…

Party leadership in the Democratic party seems to be all about denying the reality of the coming red wave that seems inevitable with Speaker Nancy Pelosi mixing it up with friendly journalists who suggest her focus, chances of victory and career is in disarray. Pelosi snapped at CBS “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan for daring to ask about her future after Democrats lose Nov. 8.
Pollster Stan Greenberg says that Democrats worst performing argument is about their accomplishments because the results are lacking. Further showing how bad the numbers look, the head of the DCCC’s campaign arm, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), has had his race moved to a “toss-up” and is taking $600k in campaign cash to save himself in a what was expected to be an easy race where he moved districts to run.

5. The media and their Democrats declare focus on crime is a race issue

As Democrat talk of “democracy” and abortion has failed to save them from the voters in the 2022 midterms, they and their media allies are now working on taking crime and turning it into a race issue. GOP candidate for governor in Arizona Kari Lake straight-up destroyed a reporter for implying that “people of color” are worried about the GOP’s focus on stopping crime is racist, it is not.
Additionally, a George Soros-backed district attorney from Philadelphia warned that this focus on his failure is racism, even though he is whiter than Joe Biden’s friends’ Klan garb. DA, a real DA, Larry Krasner said this is very disappointing, “it’s about blaming the biggest city in Pennsylvania with the most diverse population for having the same national struggle that we have with gun violence everywhere and even having increases that are less in the committee’s counties.”

4. Democrat AG candidate says Marshall need to enforce gambling laws

In a flip of the script for Democrats in the state of Alabama, Democratic nominee for attorney general Wendell Major attacked the current AG, Steve Marshall, for not enforcing gambling laws forcefully enough.
Major said, “He’s been the attorney general for approximately six years and we’ve had this problem going on I know over 10, so we do not have an aggressive enforcement of the law, if the law in Alabama is, in fact, you can’t play bingo electronically.” This position is well outside of the Democrat mainstream and Marshall has made it clear that he was awaiting a final ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, which appears to have been finally handed down recently.

3. Tuberville says GOP will take House and could take Senate

Steve Flowers need be worried. It looks like Alabama may have a new “premier political journalist and commentator” as U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberbville (R-Auburn) comes in with a scorching hot take that the House will fall to Republicans and the Senate is still a “toss-up” in two weeks’ time.
Tuberville’s statement to APTV’s “Capitol Journal” echoes conventional wisdom. “You would hope we would win all of the elections out there that we’re supposed to win,” said Tuberville. “And if we do, then we’ve got an opportunity to have a majority in the Senate. We need to do that.”

2. HS coach suspended for shoving another coach, Saban takes heat for playing player who punched fan

Dothan football coach Jed Kennedy has been suspended for pushing a volunteer assistant to the ground for receiving a penalty on an apparent game-winning touchdown. The suspension will be one week with Superintendent Dennis Coe saying “We support [Coach Kennedy’s] efforts thus far to bring unity, pride and success back to Dothan football. We recognize that there are also areas where we need to improve, and we want to take this opportunity to help coach Kennedy grow both as an individual and as a coach”
On a much larger stage, many have been sniping at Alabama head football coach and living legend Nick Saban for allowing Jermaine Burton to play. Burton struck a female Tennessee fan as fans rushed the field after Alabama’s 52-49 loss. Saban explained his decision: “I don’t know how many of you have ever been in a situation like that, but I talked to him. He was scared. I was scared. Some of our other players were scared.” Saban said Burton, who played in last Saturday’s win over Mississippi State, is now in a counseling program

1. Alabama leaders tout new school scores, the praise deserved is faint

Alabama’s leaders are very quick to talk up the fact that our state school rankings have crept up, but this is not because of some new-fangled system or strategy: it is because many other states kept their schools closed much longer. Make no mistake, Alabama did the right thing very early, but our success in these rankings is more about them than us. Gov. Kay Ivey credited in-person learning for Alabama’s gains.
Eighth-grade scores were flat in regard to reading but went down in math. For fourth-graders, the average math score only went up less than a point and the state jumped from 52nd to 40th and their reading score went up almost 2 points and rose from 49th to 39th. State Superintendent Eric Mackey said this makes us look good to business and potential teachers, which is great.

7. The queen has died

Queen Elizabeth II has passed away, and after her seventy years of service, many are reacting to the news, including U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa), who said, “I think she was a woman of goodwill and class. The U.K. will miss her, we’ll all miss her.”
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) stated, “Yesterday’s meeting with the new prime minister was her 15^th prime minister, and there have also been 14 presidents of the United States since she was queen. Her time as the queen of England spans a third of our presidential history. It’s an amazing life.” Queen Elizabeth II’s time on the throne spanned from Feb. 6, 1952, until Sept. 8, 2022.

6. Student scores have increased since the pandemic

Overall, test scores are still down from before the pandemic, but in Alabama scores have been improving steadily. Spring 2022 test results were released this week, which shows that 47% of students are proficient in English, 37% are proficient in science, and only 27% are proficient in math. This is not good, but it is better.
Compared to 2021, there has been a 2% increase in both English and science, and a 5% increase in math. Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey said, “The main takeaways are that you’re going to see improvement across the state in science and math and English language arts. Our students improved significantly from 2021 to 2022.”

4. Not surprising, everyone will be paying a chunk of the student loan forgiveness

The National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) has released research that shows President Joe Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness in amounts up to $20,000 will actually cost on average $2,503.11 per person annually, with 17% getting forgiveness and the remaining 83% will foot the bill.
The cost per person will range based on income. The NTUF said, “Some may dispute that taxpayers bear the cost of canceling student debt. But the $329 billion cost of student debt cancellation would be $329 billion previously borrowed from the federal government and not returning to the Treasury. Policymakers will need to make up for that gap in the future with government spending cuts, tax increases, more borrowing, or some combination thereof.”

4. Democrats are more fascist than Republicans

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has discussed President Joe Biden’s comments about “MAGA Republicans,” who he called a “threat to Democracy.” He labeled their political beliefs as “semi-fascism.”
Brooks said that based on definition, fascism is “more government dictatorial control. That’s Democrats’ policies and positions hand in glove. It’s Democrats who are the ones to tend to be more fascist because fascism is the opposite of liberty and freedom, and the Democrats don’t trust us to make our own decisions. They believe the government should be doing it.”

3. Alabama family asked to take down American flag by HOA

In Huntsville, Dr. Jill Hudnell has been asked by her homeowners association (HOA) to remove the American flag displayed on her property. The association has detailed that the issue is with the flagpole being in the yard, writing, “No flagpoles other than those mounted on the home or no longer than four feet are permitted. Immediately upon receipt of this notice, please remove the flagpole.”
Hudnell, during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends,” said that she won’t be removing the flag or flagpole. Hudnell stated that her family is military, and said, “Not only do we have Old Glory hanging from the flagpole, but we also have the Army flag, because that is a representation of my husband. Those two flags will stay up there. Old Glory is still waving this morning.”

2. The process of terminating teachers who discuss inappropriate topics has been updated

A new process for terminating teachers has been established by the Alabama Board of Education. The new policy changes the process to be more in line with banning inappropriate sexual orientation and identity discussions.
The policy requires teachers report to the state superintendent of education if they violate the law, and that the Alabama Educator Code of Ethics and Alabama Core Teaching Standards should be used as factors to determine if the teacher acted inappropriately.

1. Teen’s fentanyl leads to a drug focus by local law enforcement

Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran says his agency is prioritizing drug investigations, specifically fentanyl. This comes on the heels of a 15 year old dying after snorting the drug with her boyfriend, a 17 year old that has since been arrested. They believed they were just using regular opioids, but an investigation found that they were “laced with fentanyl.”
The CDC has reported that 107,622 people died of drug overdoses in 2021 in the United States, and 66.2% (71,238) of those deaths were tied to fentanyl and synthetic opioids. Tretin D. Ferguson and Michael E. Carson were arrested in Mobile County on various drug charges and procession of a firearm by a felon, obliterating the idea that drug dealing in a non-violent crime.

7. Can’t fire bad cops? Disband the whole department

A scandal in a small Alabama town has led to the disbanding of the entire police department because the officers they wanted to fire could not be fired for a single offense. The offense was egregious, a racist joke involving a pregnant woman and slavery. That was enough to blow up the whole department even though the offending officer has not been identified.
The Vincent City Council has decided to “temporarily abolish” the department and contract with the Shelby County Sherriff’s Office for the next year to provide law enforcement services to the city.

6. New high school graduation requirement could be coming to Alabama

The Alabama Board of Education could start adding a new requirement for high school graduation. The new requirement would help ensure that students are prepared for life after graduation, whether that be college or a career.
Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey said, “We have a lot of students that check multiple boxes. The problem is we have students who don’t check any of the nine boxes. We think our graduates ought to at least check one of these nine boxes.” Some of the requirements for readiness include ACT scores, career tech credentials, or a youth apprenticeship.

5. Mike Pence wants Republicans to stop going after the FBI’s funding

Republicans have been criticizing the FBI since the raid at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, and now former Vice President Mike Pence has advised that Republicans rethink their calls for investigating or defunding the FBI.
Pence said, “I also want to remind my fellow Republicans we can hold the attorney general accountable for the decision that he made without attacking the rank-and-file law enforcement personnel at the FBI. … Calls to defund the FBI are just as wrong as calls to defund the police. And the truth of the matter is, we need to get to the bottom of what happened. We need the facts to play out.”

4. Lawrence County GOP chair won’t resign

After the accidental posting of a Ku Klux Klan image, Lawrence County Republican Party chair Shanon Terry has said that he will not be resigning from the Lawrence County School Board. Terry previously apologized for the mistake.
Terry released a statement saying, “I will not be resigning. … The voters of District Four elected me to represent them and I am proud of the accomplishments of this administration over the past six years. … I regret the mistake that was made, and it was just that — an unintended mistake.”

3. Inflation Reduction Act won’t act to reduce inflation, but Biden refuses to believe it

The Inflation Reduction Act will not be reducing inflation, according to experts and even some supporters of the legislation. But President Joe Biden continues to tout the legislation as the solution to rising inflation.
Biden said, “The Inflation Reduction Act will cut the deficit and fight inflation. And we’ll do it without raising taxes a single penny on families earning less than $400,000 a year.” According to the Congressional Budget Office, at its best, the legislation will reduce inflation by 0.1% and will cost American families money and jobs.

2. Alabama Jobs Act has been effective in bringing more economic growth

It’s been determined by the Study Commission on Renewing Incentives that the Alabama Jobs Act has been effective, with an expected 173% return on investment within 20 years of existence. The program was started in 2015.
Alabama Department of Commerce secretary Greg Canfield said, “The Alabama Jobs Act was designated to enhance accountability and ensure that the state is receiving a financial benefit from projects receiving incentives. Between July 2015, when it went into effect, and the end of 2021, projects supported by the Jobs Act have generated commitment for over $17 billion in new capital investment and 34,000-plus jobs.”

1. Mar-a-Lago affidavit will be unsealed

It’s been announced that a portion of the affidavit justifying the raid at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home will be released, following an order from U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart. The affidavit lays out that the investigation looking into the 45th president is focusing on “willful retention of national defense information,” “concealment or removal of government records” and “obstruction of federal investigation.”
Reinhart ordered that portions of the affidavit are necessary to be redacted so that it can safely be released to the public. It was also ordered that the motion to seal the affidavit and application for the search warrant be released.

It seems obvious that many in the education profession are just playing dumb when it comes to understanding new legislation that tells them to stop talking about sexual-related topics with children in school between kindergarten and 5th grade.

Astonishingly, State Superintendent Eric Mackey expressed his confusion publicly while both suggesting the situation never occurs and admitted the law creates tricky situations.

Well, which is it?

Watch:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.

7. Blanchard: Ivey isn’t doing the right conservative things

Gubernatorial candidate Lindy Blanchard released a new video from her campaign where she makes claims against Governor Kay Ivey being a “Fauci loving, never Trump liberal.” Ivey has maintained being the frontrunner in the race, while Blanchard is at a distant third.
Blanchard says in the spot that Ivey “shut down this state and shut down businesses, she left open the abortion clinics.” Blanchard has also claimed that Ivey copied her stance on believing the 2020 election was stolen. The former U.S. ambassador to Slovenia went on to discuss fellow candidate Tim James and said, “You profit when your daddy was governor, so I think he’s a conservative, but I do think he’s connected in other areas where he’ll have to pay back.”

6. New anti-Durant ad released

A new television ad going after U.S. Senate candidate Mike Durant has been released, and the ad calls out liberal links to Durant’s campaign as well as ties to a “never Trumper.” This is not the first time accusations have been made about liberal ties in Durant’s campaign.
The ad, which was released by the Alabama RINO PAC, says, “Political candidate Mike Durant – have you checked to see who’s behind Mike Durant? This guy, who worked for Hillary. He’s a top never-Trumper, calling the shots for the Durant political committee. And wealthy donors from California, they’re paying for Durant ads. They’re pushing secretly liberal candidates all over America to keep the Senate liberal. Once you know who’s behind Mike Durant, you can’t support Mike Durant.”

5. Candidates are now directly attacking each other by name in U.S. Senate race

Until now, most of the most pointed attacks in the Alabama U.S. Senate race were coming from SuperPACs and not the candidates themselves. That strategy allowed the candidate to appear to remain positive while their allies did the negative campaigning.
That has now changed with Katie Britt’s campaign purchasing attack ads about Mike Durant’s comments on the Second Amendment and U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) hitting Britt with a Pinocchio-like image and referencing her support for tax increases.

4. Masking should be a personal decision, according to Fauci

As the threat of serious infection of the coronavirus has dwindled, Dr. Anthony Fauci has changed his recommendation for what people should do in terms of masking and taking precautions.
Fauci said, “What’s going to happen is that we’re going to see that each individual is going to have to make their calculation of the amount of risk that they want to take in going to indoor dinner is going to functions even within the realm of a green zone. It’s going to be a person’s decision about the individual risk they’re going to take.” However, he also said, “We may need to revert to being more careful and having more utilizations of masks indoors”

3. Brooks: Confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson was a bad decision

U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) shared his thoughts on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson being confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court last week. Brooks described Brown as “a radical Left-wing judicial activist.” Potential Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is making it pretty clear he won’t be rushing to confirm any Biden nominees if the GOP were to take the U.S. Senate back.
Brooks also noted that Brown has a “record of usurping the separation of powers defined in the Constitution.” He called the confirmation a “bad decision for our country,” adding,
“We’ve got a radical Supreme Court justice now who, quite frankly in my judgment, does not believe in the United States Constitution as it is written and is more than happy to supplant her view of what the law should be rather than what it actually is.”

2. Ivey signed transgender bills; Literacy Act delay not signed yet

The pieces of legislation that regulate bathrooms at public schools, prevent LGBTQ sexual education for grades K-5, and ban prescribing puberty blockers or performing gender reassignment surgeries for transgender youth have been signed by Governor Kay Ivey. The White House is not happy about this.
Ivey said of the legislation, “We should especially protect our children from these radical, life-altering drugs and surgeries when they are at such a vulnerable stage in life. Instead, let us all focus on helping them to properly develop into the adults God intended them to be.”

1. Parents don’t want teachers doing this at all — that is the point

State Superintendent Eric Mackey commented on the Alabama Legislature passing a law prohibiting the teaching of LGBTQ sexual education in grades K-5, saying that previously this wasn’t being taught but now there could be a need for guidelines in case the topic comes up.
Mackey said, “We don’t have any standards that discuss gender identity or sexuality in K-5, and so we don’t think [the law] has any impact on what we’re doing.” He later said, “I think it could create some tricky situations because let’s say, for whatever reason, it comes up in a classroom.” He also posed a scenario of a child with gay parents, saying, “If a teacher enters a discussion, whether their personal belief might be pro- or anti-, that it doesn’t matter what your personal belief is. The law says they can’t introduce discussion on it.”

7. Tuberville joins push for permanent daylight savings time

Every year, a group of lawmakers advocates to make daylight savings time permanent instead of having the time change in the fall. This year, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has joined the effort for more daylight hours.
Tuberville said of the Sunshine Protection Act, “It’s time to give folks an hour of sunshine back in the winter months and permanently adopt daylight saving time. Centuries ago, a time change might have made sense, but it doesn’t today. I hope the Senate will pass the Sunshine Protection Act to modernize this outdated practice.”

6. Biden destroyed the energy supply in one year

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has called out President Joe Biden’s handling of the energy supply in his one year in office. Tuberville’s criticism of Biden also comes after there was a cancelation of an 80-acre lease for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tuberville said that it’s “just absolutely amazing how” Biden “can come in and, in one year, pretty much single-handedly on just the decisions has made destroyed our energy supply.” He added, “It can’t continue. If it does, it is going to put us not just in trouble in terms of economics…it is going to hurt us with national security.”

5. Biden vs. the U.S. Constitution continues

President Joe Biden has recently made comments about how the values and rights within the U.S. Constitution change with time, which comes as he’s set to select a U.S. Supreme Court nominee. Now, he’s commented on rights within the Constitution again, showing how little he values the rights given.
Biden spoke about background checks being required to purchase a firearm, and said, “There’s no violation of the Second Amendment right…There’s no amendment that’s absolute. When the amendment was passed it didn’t say anybody can own a gun, any kind of gun, and any kind of weapon. You couldn’t buy a cannon when this amendment was passed so there’s no reason why you should be able to buy certain assault weapons.” The claim that you couldn’t buy a cannon at the time of the Second Amendment being passed is false and has been debunked.

4. Bill to keep income tax from rising advances

The bill by State Senator Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) that would prevent an $87.7 million increase in income tax for Alabama has been passed by the State Senate. The increase in income tax would be due to funds given to individuals through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The bill to block the increase was passed 31-0 in the Senate. In the Alabama House of Representatives, State Representative Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills) will sponsor the bill.

3. Collins: Keep delaying the Alabama Literacy Act

State Representative Terri Collins (R-Decatur) is now advocating for the Alabama Literacy Act to be delayed for another year. The Literacy Act requires that third-graders read at grade level before advancing to the fourth grade.
Collins’ bill would delay the Literacy Act until the 2022-2023 school year. The delay has been deemed necessary due to the number of students that would have to be held back. State Superintendent Eric Mackey said that about half of the current third graders would be unable to advance to the fourth grade.

2. It may be time to cancel the Olympics

As the Beijing Olympics are set to kick off, a new poll shows seven-in-10 Americans are not very happy about this year’s host country, citing China’s human rights record, COVID-19, the Chinese efforts to boost their standing in the world and suspected surveillance of foreign athletes at the games. In a shocking speech, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned American athletes against speaking out against China’s human rights abuses for fear of repercussions and suggested that China might retaliate if they did speak out.
Pelosi said that she has no idea how China will react if American athletes speak out. She advised, “I know there is a temptation on the part of some to speak out … I respect that, but I also worry about what the Chinese government might do.”

1. Claims that history can’t be taught if Critical Race Theory is banned is baseless

Black History Month has kicked off, and now Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey has made it known that some people don’t know the difference between Black History Month and Critical Race Theory (CRT). More importantly, CRT does not preclude the teaching about black history in any way, shape or form.
Mackey told members of the House Education Policy Committee, “There are people out there who don’t understand what CRT is. And so, in their misunderstanding of it, they make a report but it’s not actually CRT.” Mackey went on to add, “I have had two calls in the last week that they’re having a Black History Month program and they consider having a black history program CRT. Having a black history program is not CRT.”

Too many kids in Alabama are out of the classroom and learning remotely, and it doesn’t appear that the school systems have any desire to stop using this tool on a regular basis.

Why haven’t we seen a real plan to keep these schools open?

Watch:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9AM weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10AM to noon.