As a prelude to this year’s Power & Influence Top 50 list, launching April 1 in a special 15th anniversary year for Yellowhammer News, we are proud to continue a tradition that asks an important question in Alabama’s political landscape: Who’s Next?

Year after year, Power & Influence offers the most candid insight into the top 50 influential leaders moving the needle in Montgomery across business, politics and public service — leveraging their influence to the benefit of Alabama.

RELATED: 2025 Power & Influence: Who’s Next? / 2024 Power & Influence: Who’s Next?

Today, we’re directing that insight into the next generation of Alabama leaders. The eleven individuals below are described in a quote from leaders speaking to their impact, effectiveness, and upward trajectory. They are each well on their way to running the state.

Emory Cox

Special Assistant to the President for International Economic Relations

“I’m incredibly proud to see Emory receive this honor, but in no way am I surprised. Emory’s personable nature, vast policy knowledge, and sharp political instincts are far beyond his years.

He proved to be an incredible asset to my office and the State of Alabama during his four years as my Senior Economic Advisor, and is now playing a critical role in helping carry out President Trump’s economic agenda to help all Americans.

From Larry Kudlow to Kevin Hassett, Emory has learned under some of the most brilliant economic leaders in American history, while coming into his own as a leader in this space. One of the things I most admire about Emory is that his success has never caused him to forget where he came from.

He is a proud Pell City native and keeps his Alabama values at the forefront of everything he does.

Emory’s dedication to public service and his love for our great state will continue to bring about meaningful results in both Washington, D.C. and Alabama.”

– U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn)

Maggie Oliver

Chief Development Officer, Alabama Port Authority

“In leadership and in economic development, vision and strategic focus are essential to driving meaningful growth. Maggie Oliver embodies both.

Throughout her time at the Alabama Port Authority, she has articulated a clear and compelling vision for how the Port has and will serve as a catalyst for economic development across our state – strengthening supply chains, attracting new industry, and expanding opportunities for Alabama businesses.

Maggie has a presence that commands a room, but more importantly, she pairs that presence with thoughtful leadership and a deep commitment to Alabama’s future.

I am excited to see her continued leadership at the Port and know she will have a positive impact on our state for many years to come.”

– Zeke Smith, Chairman, Alabama Port Authority Board of Directors

Harrison Adams

Alabama Department of Workforce

“As SGA president at the University of Alabama, Harrison Adams learned much about constituents and politics. He had interest early in his career to positively engage in state government policy growth.

He brought that interest and experience to my Senate President Pro Tem office growing strong relationships, while accomplishing much with our team.

He has spent the last 15 months navigating change that is yielding strong outcomes as a Deputy Secretary at the Alabama Department of Workforce.

His calm and efficient demeanor has elevated the department’s profile and effectiveness with all those he interacts with.

Harrison continues to impress me and many in our state as his impact through dedicated and effective public service continues to grow.”

– Greg Reed, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Workforce

Kristin Hellmich

Director of External Communications, Poarch Creek Indians

“Kristin Hellmich leads with intention, listens carefully, and understands the responsibility that comes with telling the story of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Kristin approaches her work with respect for our history and a clear eye toward the future, ensuring our voice is represented accurately and authentically.

In a fast‑moving and often complicated political environment, her steady approach and sound judgment make a meaningful difference.”

– Stephanie Bryan, Chairwoman and CEO of Poarch Creek Indians

Phillip Johns

Chief Financial Officer, Alabama Farmers Federation

“As chief financial officer, Phillip has transformed the Federation’s accounting, membership and Alfa Health divisions through technology, professional development and expanded services for members and county Federations.

His investment strategies have resulted in record growth for Alabama FarmPAC and the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation, deepening the organization’s impact in both the political arena and philanthropic efforts such as scholarships and Ag in the Classroom. Last year, Phillip and his team led implementation of Alfa Health Plans, delivering an affordable health care option for members just five months after Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation into law.

Phillip is a graduate of the Alfa Leadership Academy, a successful small business owner and newly appointed member of the Dixie Electric Cooperative board of directors.

He is a devoted husband and father and embodies Alfa’s Core 4 Values of Faith, Family, Community and Integrity. Phillip is already building a legacy of leadership within our organization and certainly is deserving of recognition.”

– Paul Pinyan, Executive Director, Alabama Farmers Federation

Lindsey McAdory

CEO and Chief Strategist CBG Strategies, LLC

“Lindsey McAdory has many exceptional attributes. He’s a seasoned political storyteller who can frame the challenges facing our city and develop a plan of action.

He’s a builder — bringing people together, forging strong partnerships, and uniting leaders into coalitions that get things done. And when crisis situations arise, Lindsey excels at mapping out effective solutions.

But what truly sets Lindsey apart is his vision. He sees where Birmingham is headed, and he knows how to carve the path to get there.

He helps us turn potential into promise. Lindsey’s not just thinking about the next step forward; he’s charting the course for what comes next. His eyes are fixated on building a better Birmingham.”

– Randall Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham

Saylor Cuzzort

Communications Director + Alabama Senate Republican Caucus

“It is rare to find a person who possesses true talent, innate instinct and abundant affability in the perfect balance, but one such person is Saylor Cuzzort.

Her love for this state and insatiable work ethic are exceeded only by her ability and her integrity.

Saylor’s impressive intelligence enables her to effectively analyze all facets of a complicated issue, but what most distinguishes her from other capable young people is her ability to act on her knowledge and timely execute the task at hand with grace and poise.

With everything she does, her kindness and humility shine through, and I’m excited to see all the ways in which she impacts our state and our nation for the better — she’s just getting started!”

– Caroleene Dobson, 2026 candidate, Alabama Secretary of State

Annie Dunne Meissner

Director of Finance and Events, Alabama Republican Party

“Annie Meissner has quickly become an invaluable leader on the Alabama Republican Party team.

As Director of Events and Finance, she has been instrumental in strengthening our fundraising efforts while planning and executing events that bring together grassroots supporters, donors, and Republican leaders from across Alabama.

If you’ve attended an ALGOP event recently, you’ve likely seen Annie’s work firsthand. She executed an incredibly successful Trump Victory Dinner featuring Donald Trump Jr., organized a sold-out Candidate Meet & Greet with Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, and leads numerous donor events that keep our supporters engaged.

Annie is absolutely a rising leader in Alabama politics.”

– Shannon Whitt, Chief of Staff, Alabama Republican Party

Anna Grace Gamble

External Affairs Manager, Alabama Rural Electric Association

“Anna Grace has been an exceptional addition to the Electric Cooperative family. She reflects the values and character of our members and has cultivated invaluable relationships with legislators and policymakers that help advance the cooperative mission.

She is thoughtful, professional, and well-regarded by those around her. She brings a steady presence to her work and approaches it with care. Those qualities have helped her make a positive impression early in her career, and will continue to do so.”

– Sean Strickler, Chief Operating Officer, Alabama Rural Electric Association

Scott McClintock

Vice president of Policy and Public Affairs, Business Council of Alabama

“Scott’s recognition on Yellowhammer’s ‘Who’s Next’ list is a well-deserved honor and a testament to the impact he has already made in Alabama’s policy and political landscape.

Scott brings a rare combination of strategic insight, policy expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing pro-growth, pro-business solutions for our state.

His leadership has strengthened BCA’s advocacy efforts and helped ensure the voice of Alabama’s job creators is heard clearly in Montgomery and beyond.

We are proud to see him recognized as one of the rising leaders shaping Alabama’s future.”

– Helena Duncan, President and CEO, Business Council of Alabama

Justice Smyth

Executive Director, Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority

“I couldn’t be more proud to see Justice receive this well-deserved recognition. His strategic thinking, uncompromising integrity, and commitment to results have made a real difference for our community and for economic development across our region.

He approaches every challenge with intelligence and purpose, and he does so with the kind of character that makes everyone around him better.

Justice represents the very best of what a young leader in this field can be, and I am confident his impact on our state will only continue to grow.”

– Tim Parker, III, President & CEO, Parker Towing Company

Yellowhammer News’ 15th Anniversary Power of Service event will be held on April 7, 2026 in Montgomery. The 2026 Power & Influence list will debut its first installment of 10 honorees on April 1, 2026. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact courtney@yellowhammernews.com. 

The United States Coast Guard has purchased the former Birmingham-Southern College campus in west Birmingham, selecting the storied 192-acre property as the site of a new, top-tier Coast Guard training hub that will bring recruits from across the nation to Alabama.

The project was announced today by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and U.S. Rep Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), along with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and USCG Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday.

As chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds Homeland Security, Britt drove the effort.

“This is a huge day for Birmingham, our great state, and the U.S. Coast Guard,” Senator Britt said.

“I have long been dedicated to strengthening Alabama’s military installations and the warfighters they serve. This exciting announcement further positions Alabama as a national leader in supporting our incredible U.S. Armed Forces and law enforcement personnel…Alabama stands as a proud leader in military excellence, and we’re honored to host this new training center that will help mold the next generation of Coast Guard members.”

The project has been in motion for months as the Coast Guard, under its Force Design 2028 blueprint, has pursued a major expansion of training capacity due to record-breaking recruiting numbers.

In late 2025, the Coast Guard publicly issued a nationwide request for information seeking an “additional training center” with infrastructure sized for recruit training throughput — including lodging for 1,200 recruits, extensive classroom and medical capacity, athletic facilities, and 150-250 acres of land.

“This move will save the American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars,” Sen. Tuberville said. “Alabama and the Coast Guard are a natural partnership. Alabama is already home to every branch of the military and we have the infrastructure, resources, and personnel ready to make sure our United States Coast Guard continues to be elite.”

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem billed today’s Birmingham announcement as proof that “this is the most exciting time to join the Coast Guard in 235 years.”

“Thanks to President Trump’s visionary leadership and historic investment in the Coast Guard, the Service is shattering records across the board — including in recruitment. Last year’s recruitment exceeded 110% of active-duty enlisted goals, and the Coast Guard is on track to add 15,000 new members by 2028,” Noem said.

“This next generation of heroes deserves training centers and support facilities worthy of their mission, and that is exactly what they are going to have in Alabama.”

Even after the campus’ record of financial troubles led to its eventual closure, it will remain an integral piece of Alabama’s history — just in a new capacity. BSC alum Rep. Aderholt made it clear he supports the repurposing of the campus.

The program’s fate quickly turned into a dispute over whether the state treasurer should approve the Distressed Institutions loan program. After Treasurer Young Boozer denied BSC’s request, the school sued, and the fight spilled into the courts and back into the Legislature.

In 2024, lawmakers again debated a fix — including proposals to shift approval authority away from the treasurer — but the effort fell short in the Legislature, and BSC’s board voted to close the college, with operations ending May 31, 2024.

After closure, the campus became an asset in motion: Alabama HBCUs explored paths to acquire it, Alabama A&M publicly floated and later submitted an offer, and Miles College ultimately signed a purchase agreement that later expired as BSC sought to meet obligations to creditors.

Now, that same property is being repurposed for a federal mission.

“As a proud alumnus of Birmingham-Southern, it is important to me that this campus continues to serve those seeking to learn and improve their lives,” U.S. Rep. Aderholt said.

“I’m confident the United States Coast Guard will do exactly that. I want to thank Senator Britt for her partnership as we worked together to encourage the Coast Guard and the White House to ensure this campus remains an important footprint in Alabama.”

USCG and DHS selected the BSC campus for the new facility, saying it far exceeded the necessary criteria.

Alabama is not only the home of USCG Sector Mobile and the USCG Aviation Training Center, but the state also hosts several premier military installations that are critical to supporting the U.S. Armed Forces. This includes Redstone Arsenal, a Federal Center of Excellence, in Huntsville, Army Aviation at Fort Rucker in the Alabama Wiregrass, Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, and a major U.S. Army center at Anniston Army Depot.

“We must invest in our most valuable treasure—our people—to meet the increasingly complex maritime security challenges facing the Nation,” Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, said.

“The acquisition of the historic Birmingham-Southern College as our new training center is a critical step in our Force Design 2028 strategy, providing the right facilities necessary to grow our service and ensure the Coast Guard stands always ready.”

Alabama is the proud home to more than 26,000 servicemembers and their families and ranks among the top states in the nation for its number of civilian veterans.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is calling her colleagues on the other side of the aisle to make a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pointing out that the agency is especially needed right now due to military action in Iran.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump ordered military strikes against the Iranian regime. “Operation Epic Fury” has already successfully killed Ayatollah Khamenei and most of the county’s leadership.

During a Monday appearance on WVNN ‘s “The Dale Jackson Show,” Britt said these recent developments are more of a reason to make sure DHS is fully funded.

“So I have actually been on the phone with my Democratic colleagues this weekend and saying, ‘look, look, now is the time guys, the threats to our interior could increase,’ and if we look around and something were to happen internally, and they have chosen to not fund this agency that is supposed to keep Americans safe, the blood is on their hands,” Britt said. “And so we must come together, and we must fund, fully fund DHS. The time is now.”

DHS has warned of an increased potential for terrorist attacks because of the recent developments in the Middle East.

“I am hopeful that some of my colleagues that the cooler heads will prevail,” Britt added, “and they will put American citizens first, instead of politics that they’re hoping to play in November… I have now reengaged as of Friday, and I am determined to figure out a pathway forward.”

Britt also blasted the Democrats for being completely disingenuous throughout the negotiation process to fully fund the government.

“The legacy media is absolutely turning a blind eye to what the Democrats are doing right now with regards to the Department of Homeland Security,” she argued. “I mean, we had worked in good faith for two weeks. You saw that from the top down, the de-escalation coming from the President, the body cameras going out from Secretary Noem. You saw what Tom Homan did, the total withdrawal, even with that, they wouldn’t have let us continue to allow us to fund these agencies.”

“Which means things like CISA, you know that with all of the cyber capabilities, we know that that is a capability that Iran has, that is one way that they could choose to attack,” she continued, “and we are not funding that agency right now. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/2028192600398725496

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) recently attended and delivered remarks at the Investiture Ceremony of Harold D. Mooty III as U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama.

Senator Britt led the presentation and reading of the commission during the ceremony. The Honorable Madeline H. Haikala, Chief Judge United States District Court Northern District of Alabama, presided over the ceremony.

Various local, state, and federal officials were in attendance to celebrate the investiture. The ceremony was made even more special by Judge Mooty’s daughter writing the invocation and his son leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Judge Mooty was nominated to be a district judge for the Northern District of Alabama by President Donald J. Trump in August of 2025. He was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 66-32. Judge Mooty’s confirmation vote received the most bipartisan support of any judicial nominee at this point in the 119th Congress.

“What an honor to take part in such a special moment for Judge Mooty and his friends and family, the Northern District, and the entire state of Alabama,” Senator Britt said. “It was truly a wonderful ceremony, centered around Judge Mooty’s inspiring call to service and life’s purpose. Having known Judge Mooty for 24 years, I have seen firsthand his relentless pursuit of excellence, commitment to the rule of law, deep sense of justice, and dedication to our great state, all of which will serve him exceptionally well in this new role. I look forward to seeing him apply our laws fairly, uphold the Constitution, and serve with distinction as a federal district court judge.”

“Hal Mooty’s elevation to the federal court not only is a reflection of his great intellect, strong work ethic, and dedication to Justice, it also serves to reinforce our confidence in our federal judiciary to have a person of Judge Mooty’s integrity on the bench,” said Montgomery Academy’s James Rye, who also delivered remarks at the event.

Courtesy of 256 Today

Over the weekend, the United States launched “Epic Fury” against Iran, hitting nuclear sites, toppling military bases, and killing its senior-most leadership.

In a national address Sunday evening, President Trump confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei and other top officials. 

“Iran’s formerly supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, is dead,” Trump said. “We have hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems. Just now, it was announced that we knocked out nine ships, plus their naval building. All in a matter of literally minutes.”

Now in day three, Iran’s retaliation has claimed 18 lives, including four brave U.S. troops. 

In a briefing today, U.S. Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth said that U.S. forces are dominating the battlefield. 

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2028484823250043025

Alabama’s Republicans are hailing the decisive action against the world’s top terror sponsor – while Democrats bemoan the lack of congressional involvement. 

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) wrote, “Thanks to President Trump, the America-hating Ayatollah, FORMER leader of the largest state sponsor of terrorism, is DEAD. Strength is back at the White House.”

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/2028182192648814874

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) hailed the “decisive, necessary action.” Britt, a lead negotiator in talks to end the Democrats’ funding freeze,  called for full Department of Homeland Security funding to counter potential retaliation.

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/2028192600398725496

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, commended Trump’s “decisive action” against Iran’s terrorism and nuclear threat in a committee statement.

Rogers added that Khamenei’s elimination offers “hope for a more peaceful” Middle East

https://x.com/hascrepublicans/status/2027761153984663584

https://x.com/hascrepublicans/status/2027897475260981266

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) declared it “a matter of time before Iran would face full retribution” for violence against Americans and allies in, urging Iranian forces to oust their leaders for peace.

https://x.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/2027809682014789930

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, called Khamenei’s death “a measure of justice” for victims — including Americans.

https://x.com/Robert_Aderholt/status/2027852921837093067

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), a veteran himself and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, celebrated Trump’s takedown of the “architect of the world’s leading sponsor of terror” in a post that shared an early report of Khamenei’s death.

https://x.com/RepBarryMoore/status/2027847922696536132

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) celebrated Trump’s intolerance for Iran’s “aggression and nuclear aspirations” and stressed that accountability equals peace.

https://x.com/RepDaleStrong/status/2027782850213285923

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile), Alabama’s two Democrats in Congress, made procedural and clerical gripes, arguing the unilateral strikes are sidestepping Congress.

However, Sewell acknowledged that, “Iran has oppressed their people and supported terrorism in the region for decades,” while Figures was more supportive of Iran.

“The President has America on the brink of war, and is doing so again without Congressional approval. Using our military to seek a regime change is war,” Figures wrote.

https://x.com/RepTerriSewell/status/2027763012342255625

https://x.com/repscfigures/status/2027934424159969308

Members of Alabama’s Republican Congressional delegation are praising the accomplishments of President Donald Trump ahead of his first State of the Union address in his second term.

According to the White House, Trump will tout his administration’s accomplishments while also celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“In one year, President Trump has turned our country around from the brink of disaster, and he will rightly declare the State of Our Union is strong, prosperous and respected,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “The president will proudly tout his administration’s many record-breaking accomplishments, and also layout an ambitious agenda to continue bringing the American Dream back for working people.”

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said Trump has “already delivered huge wins for hardworking American families.”

https://x.com/katiebrittforal/status/2026355262102048838?s=42

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) believes under Trump’s leadership “America is STRONG, and we can’t stop winning.”

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) highlighted how the President helped secure some key victories for the Yellowhammer State.

https://x.com/Robert_Aderholt/status/2026352448240058537

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) touted his guest for the speech, Cynthia Fisher, who is “dedicated to advancing healthcare price transparency and highlighting patient-centered reforms.”

https://x.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/2026395809529377066

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

Tuskegee University is soaring into a new era of aviation excellence thanks to a remarkable $5.29 million federal investment championed by U.S. Senator Katie Britt. This new funding—now signed into law—raises Senator Britt’s total support for Tuskegee’s aviation program to nearly $12 million, marking one of the most significant single investments in the program’s modern history.

This latest allocation directly covers the cost of flight training, removing one of the biggest barriers students face as they pursue aviation careers. It opens the skies—literally—for the next generation of Tuskegee aviators.

Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen legacy at Moton Field

The announcement is especially meaningful because Tuskegee’s flight training continues at historic Moton Field, where the original Tuskegee Airmen trained in the 1940s. Senator Britt’s support ensures that today’s students, standing on the same ground as those legendary pilots, can continue a tradition of service, skill, and excellence that reshaped American history.

“This is a powerful reminder of what the Tuskegee Airmen achieved—and of the leadership of past presidents who fought to make sure our students could fly,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, President and CEO of Tuskegee University. “Senator Britt’s investment helps Tuskegee students once again take their place in the sky.”

A promise made—and kept

Tuskegee University awarded Senator Britt an honorary degree last fall. At that ceremony, she looked out at the aviation students in their signature program polos and made them a promise: she would secure the funding needed to support their dreams. She delivered.

“We are grateful for Senator Britt’s unwavering belief in our mission and in our students,” said Dr. Brown. “Her leadership ensures that Tuskegee University continues to prepare aviators who are ready to fly for the military, commercial airlines, corporate flight departments, or wherever their ambitions take them.”

Senator Britt serves on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, where her advocacy has already provided $6.7 million in earlier funding, bringing Tuskegee’s recent aviation-related federal support to approximately $12 million.

Preparing pilots for a nation—and world—in need

Tuskegee University is uniquely positioned to confront one of today’s most urgent workforce challenges: the global pilot shortage. According to industry estimates, commercial aviation alone will need more than 600,000 new pilots worldwide over the next two decades.

With a bachelor’s degree in aviation science—including a flight option through a formal partnership with Republic Airways/LIFT Academy—Tuskegee students receive elite training and full FAA certification.

“With flight training support and Senator Britt’s commitment,” Dr. Brown noted, “Tuskegee will once again—just as the Tuskegee Airmen did in World War II—help our nation solve its most pressing challenges. At Tuskegee University, we remain true to our mission of solving the world’s most complex problems.”

A hopeful, high-flying future

This investment ensures today’s Tuskegee aviators can move directly into the air—with no financial barrier between their dreams and the cockpit. That means more:

• Military pilots
• Commercial airline pilots
• Corporate and business aviation pilots
• Private aviators and entrepreneurs

Senator Britt’s support empowers Tuskegee students not only to honor a historic legacy, but to lead the future of aviation in Alabama, across the nation, and around the world.

“Tuskegee’s legacy is powerful,” Dr. Brown said. “And with partners like Senator Britt, our future is even brighter.”

Courtesy of Tuskegee University 

The Alabama Wildlife Federation is praising U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) for securing $1 million in federal funding to support oyster reef restoration efforts in Alabama.

The funding was included in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill passed by the U.S. Senate on January 15 and will support Alabama’s Comprehensive Oyster Restoration Strategy through AWF’s Oyster Restoration Initiative.

Working with the Alabama Marine Resources Division, AWF has implemented multiple oyster restoration projects over the past three years in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound.

Those efforts have included oyster cultch plantings using limestone rock at the Bender Austal Reef, Lynn Dent Boykin Reef and Cedar Point Beach north of Dauphin Island, as well as live oyster plantings in Graveline Bay near Dauphin Island.

AWF has also funded SONDE monitoring units to evaluate oyster habitat suitability at the Point Clear Reef, Battles Wharf Reef and the Bon Secour breakwaters. According to the organization, these projects support long-term goals to improve oyster habitat and abundance in Alabama waters.

“Because of the long-term benefits these projects provide, Senator Britt shares the same passion as AWF for productive oyster habitat in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. The Alabama Comprehensive Oyster Restoration Strategy seeks to improve oyster habitat and abundance in Alabama waters. Doing so will foster productive oyster populations that filter waters in the Bay and support sustainable oyster harvests. Senator Britt’s efforts to secure the $1 Million investment in AWF’s Oyster Restoration Initiative will help us achieve those goals,” said Tim L. Gothard, executive director of AWF.

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship said the funding will further strengthen public-private collaboration on conservation efforts.

“We appreciate Senator Britt and her leadership to secure funding that will advance Alabama’s Comprehensive Oyster Restoration Strategy. Our Marine Resources Division has worked closely with AWF on every oyster restoration project AWF has implemented. This collaboration is a testament to public/private partnerships achieving important conservation goals in Alabama. Senator Britt’s efforts will help further expand that collaboration for the benefit of our oyster resources and Mobile Bay,” Blankenship said.

AWF said its oyster restoration projects over the past three years have created more than 70 acres of new and improved oyster habitat in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound.

“Active investment in oyster restoration projects and strategies in Alabama is critical to maintaining oyster populations that benefit the Mobile Bay ecosystem and our oyster fishery. I remain committed to supporting Alabama’s Comprehensive Oyster Restoration Strategy and the AWF Oyster Restoration Initiative projects. The $1 million I secured through the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act is an important step in support of these ongoing efforts. I will continue to champion oyster restoration in Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound. It is important to our state, our people, and the vitality of Mobile Bay,” Britt said.

AWF said it is planning additional relic oyster reef restoration projects in spring 2026 with continued support from the Alabama Marine Resources Division and private-sector partners.

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

U.S. Senator Katie Britt is urging federal health officials to take a closer look at the impact of sports gambling on America’s youth.

Britt (R-Montgomery) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois in leading a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calling for additional research into how minors are engaging with sports gambling platforms and the effects it may have on teens and young adults.

“We write to urge the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study how America’s youth are being impacted by the rapid rise of sports gambling across America,” the senators wrote.

“Since the legalization of sports gambling in the United States, there has been limited research examining the extent to which minors are accessing sports betting platforms – whether through illegal access of legitimate platforms or through illegitimate offshore operations,” the letter states. “However, the few existing studies are deeply troubling.”

Britt and her colleagues said the lack of reliable data leaves parents and policymakers without a clear understanding of the scope of the issue.

“We believe policymakers and American families deserve to know the extent to which our children are engaging in potentially addictive and detrimental behavior,” they wrote.

As part of the request, the senators urged the CDC to expand its Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which tracks health-risk behaviors among students every two years.

They asked the agency to “develop and incorporate questions about gambling by children, and in particular sports gambling, to give policymakers and families a better understanding of how, and to what extent, sports gambling is harming our children.”

Britt has also pressed federal officials to take action against illegal gambling operations that target minors.

She recently led a separate bipartisan letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to take “robust action on illegal offshore gaming operations targeting minors.”

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

On Sunday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt praised President Donald Trump following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife on federal drug charges.

Speaking on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News, Britt (R-Montgomery) called the operation a decisive demonstration of American strength and resolve.

“When this president talks, when he tells people what he’s going to do, he means it,” Britt said. “There is no doubt that Venezuelans have a greater opportunity for prosperity because of President Trump’s actions. There is no doubt that Americans are safer and more secure because of President Trump’s actions.”

Britt’s comments came one day after Trump announced that U.S. forces had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro, during a joint U.S. military and law enforcement operation carried out overnight in Caracas.

Britt said that Democratic leaders had previously acknowledged the illegitimacy of Maduro’s regime but failed to act.

“When you’re thinking about the contrast from the previous administration, it couldn’t be greater,” she said. “Here you have President Biden, who was all talk and yet no action.”

“You actually wanted this to happen back when you were in charge,” Britt chided Democrats. “But you didn’t have the moxie to get it done.”

Trump said the captured Venezuelan leaders will face U.S. criminal proceedings stemming from a 2020 federal indictment alleging narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

“I could not be more grateful for our men and women in uniform, our courageous military and our law enforcement officers who perfectly executed the mission,” Britt said. Calling the arrest a defining moment, Britt described it as “a flawless execution of the most difficult mission.”

For Britt, the operation also carried personal significance tied to the domestic impact of drug trafficking. “I’ve sat in front of too many parents who lost their children either to a fentanyl poisoning or a drug overdose,” she said. “Gone are the days of talk,” Britt added. “And now we’re putting American safety and security first and foremost.”

Addressing concerns about due process, Britt said the arrest does not undermine the rule of law. “Justice will be served. I believe in that,” she said. “And as for him having his day in court, he’s going to have it.”

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

With the holiday break over, and 2026 in full swing, Congress is headed back to Washington to kick off the second session of the 119th Congress.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to convene beginning today, and the House is set to return for recorded votes tomorrow.

January will be busy. Lawmakers are immediately staring down a January 30 government funding deadline under the current stopgap measure, along with a packed agenda.

Yellowhammer News asked Alabama’s federal delegation to share their New Year’s resolutions — and what they want to prioritize for the year ahead:

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn)

“To make every American, starting with all the people in Alabama, more prosperous, give them a better state and a better country.

That’s the job of any civil servant, and I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and Happy New and a prosperous new year, because this coming up will be one of the best years economically for the United States of America, with the tariffs that President Trump put on and with the Big Beautiful Bill kicking into effect, January 1st, you’re going to see the sky is the limit for what we’re getting ready to do in this economy.

So we wish everybody the best in the future, coming of next year.”

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery)

“Every new year, Alabamians share similar resolutions: get our finances in order, live healthier, and spend less time online and more time with loved ones. My goals as your Senator are much the same. 

Congress must return to regular order, get our fiscal house in order, and restore accountability to government spending. 

Congress must also work to fix our country’s health care crisis, created by Democrats, by putting patients first and lowering costs. I’ll continue supporting reforms that make coverage affordable and will benefit those who need it most.

Since Day One, I’ve worked to protect children online, put parents back in the driver’s seat, and hold Big Tech accountable. In 2026, that remains a top priority: Congress must pass legislation that addresses this generational crisis.

Above all, I’ll keep working to make Alabama the best place to live, worship, work, and raise a family. We have a lot to do in 2026, and I’m ready to deliver more results.”

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville)

“As we enter 2026, I pray that my work in Congress reflects the faith that guides my life, working diligently, listening carefully, and always putting Alabama first.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks)

“In 2026 I will be squarely focused on pursuing Alabama’s priorities, including passing the FY2027 NDAA to ensure a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force.”

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover)

“I don’t make resolutions, I set priorities. My priorities will be giving people more choice in their health care plans, lowering the cost of health insurance, bringing price transparency to health care, and eliminating our reliance on China for materials essential to our economic security and national security.”

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise)

“My New Year’s resolution is to spend less time listening to bureaucrats, more time listening to the people of Alabama, and all of my time putting Alabama and America First. Same mission since I first got elected, just a new calendar year.”

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville)

“My resolution for 2026 is simple: to continue turning conservative priorities into real results, champion North Alabama’s capabilities, and support the permanent relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

The past year has certainly been a memorable one—and, more importantly, a rewarding one.

Beginning the year by leading the Laken Riley Act through the Senate and to President Trump’s desk—and seeing it become the first bill he signed into law in his second term—was just the start of what we have accomplished for Alabamians and Americans alike.

President Trump and Republicans campaigned on cracking down on illegal migration, and this legislation sent an immediate and unmistakable message to the nation: we intended to keep that promise.

Since then, in less than a year, border crossings have reached historic lows, and as a result, countless lives have been saved. Whether it’s stopping deadly fentanyl or violent criminals from crossing our border, the success in securing our nation is undeniable.

Another issue Republicans were tasked with cleaning up is an inherited economy plagued by record inflation, soaring grocery prices, and an energy industry in shambles.

Under Republican leadership, significant strides have been made to restore affordability and economic stability, starting with unleashing American energy.

President Biden ended his term with the highest gas prices in our nation’s history. In less than a year, average gas prices dropped to their lowest level in more than four years.

This didn’t happen by chance.

Energy prices are finally lowering thanks to cutting government red tape and overturning Biden-era regulations that were suffocating our energy producers.

This has resulted in lower energy costs, which are a critical first step to bring down prices across the board, namely groceries.

Making America energy dominant again is just one piece of the puzzle, though. Another landmark piece of legislation Republicans delivered was the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

This resulted in the largest tax cut in U.S. history, putting millions of Americans on track to keep more of their hard-earned money. Whether it’s a larger tax refund, no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, or Social Security relief for seniors, the benefits of this legislation will soon be felt by families across Alabama as our economy continues to rebound.

We achieved another historic win by updating child care tax credits. This priority was personal to me—before my children were old enough for school, we struggled to find child care that had two spots open.

After finally securing care, we were shocked when it felt like we were writing checks to college, not child care. Experiencing the issue of both affordability and availability of childcare is what led me to be at the tip of the spear in fighting to modernize three child care tax credits.

We permanently increased the Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) for the first time since 1986, when Ronald Reagan was President. Parents can now set aside up to $7,500, a 50% increase. We also permanently updated the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), a provision that hadn’t been touched in over two decades.

This change will directly cut taxes for nearly 4 million working families. Lastly, we gave the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit (45F) its first major upgrade in nearly 25 years – and made it permanent.

This means more employers can help cover child care – a win for businesses and a lifeline for working parents.

Democrats had been talking about the issue of child care for decades, but it was Republicans who took action. Republicans are the party of families, and it’s paramount we continue to find ways to responsibly support them.

While this was an important step, I will continue to fight for families and to find ways to address the affordability and availability of child care.

The results we have seen in D.C. have been matched by incredible results in Alabama. From the Shoals to the Shores, from the Wiregrass to Jackson County and everywhere in between—we put the needs of hardworking Alabamians front and center. This year, we celebrated the Port of Mobile becoming the deepest container port in the Gulf of America.

We also secured tremendous commitments from businesses looking to expand their footprint across our state. In my first year in office, I secured funding to relaunch Tuskegee University’s aviation science program, and I was proud to join their community this year to celebrate the first students who received their pilot licenses. 

And finally, we permanently relocated U.S. Space Command Headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Thanks to the work of Alabama’s entire congressional delegation and President Trump’s support, Space Command will now proudly call Alabama home. This relocation will bring thousands of jobs to our state and further strengthen Alabama’s vital role in our national defense.

While I am proud of what we’ve accomplished this year, I recognize there is still more work to be done.

Whether it’s fixing Democrats’ health care crisis, taking on Big Tech and protecting our children online through meaningful social media legislation, or ensuring Alabama has the resources and tools it needs to thrive for generations to come, I will keep fighting every day for our state and nation.

Serving you remains one of the greatest blessings of my life, and I will continue to give you everything I have.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt proudly represents the state of Alabama in the United States Senate, where she serves on the Committees on Appropriations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Development; and Rules and Administration.

Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt thinks it should come as no surprise that Birmingham is making headlines this week for its latest big-league corporate get.

It was announced yesterday that Fannie Mae, a federally chartered mortgage-finance giant, is relocating its San Francisco, California workforce to Birmingham, Alabama under the direction of Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Britt (R-Montgomery) celebrated that move, saying it will result in high-quality jobs, including finance, servicing and accounting roles relocating to Alabama next year.

“I’m proud to celebrate this announcement today, which reflects the hard work and talents of Alabama’s skilled workforce and pro-jobs environment,” Senator Britt said.

“This move will not only boost economic growth in our state but will also contribute to meeting the housing needs of families across the country.”

While exact manpower figures have not yet been released, officials say Fannie Mae’s Birmingham operation is expected to open in 2026.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) first announced news of the move yesterday, describing the impact as “hundreds of jobs” coming to the Yellowhammer State.

In her role as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee’s Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee, Britt has been working alongside Director Pulte to address challenges with the American housing finance system, affordability, and homeownership.

RELATED: Katie Britt taking action to revive a hallmark of the American Dream: Homeownership

“As Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee, I have been dedicated to addressing our nation’s affordable housing shortage, including working with the Trump Administration to identify innovative ways to increase our housing stock and strengthen local communities,” Britt said.

“I’m proud to celebrate this announcement today, which reflects the hard work and talents of Alabama’s skilled workforce and pro-jobs environment. This move will not only boost economic growth in our state but will also contribute to meeting the housing needs of families across the country.”

Director Pulte said Britt’s housing work in Washington is already translating into results back home in Alabama and across the nation.

“Senator Britt has been a tireless advocate for Alabama and longstanding supporter of strengthening our housing finance system,” Pulte said.

As Chair of the Banking Subcommittee on Housing, she has been an invaluable partner to the FHFA as we work hard to bolster access to rural housing and grow the availability of manufactured housing. I’m incredibly thankful to both Senators Britt and Tuberville who have both made Alabama a place we’re proud to be.”

Fannie Mae, formally the Federal National Mortgage Association, plays an outsized role in the U.S. housing finance system.

It purchases mortgages from lenders and bundles them into mortgage-backed securities, a process designed to keep money flowing through the mortgage market and ultimately make it possible for more Americans to buy a home.

Next year, a segment of Fannie Mae’s workforce will be advancing that mission from Alabama.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) told Fox News this week that Congress must confront the growing dangers children face online, warning that Big Tech continues to put “profits over protecting our children.”

Her comments came during an appearance on “America’s Newsroom,” where she reacted to Australia’s newly announced social media restrictions for minors. According to a press release from Britt’s office, the Alabama senator said the mounting evidence of harm has become impossible to ignore.

Britt said federal lawmakers have heard far too many heartbreaking accounts from families whose children were harmed as a result of social media platforms prioritizing engagement and profit above safety.

“Look, what we have seen, Bill, is that tech companies care about one thing and that’s their bottom line. Time and time again, we have exposed what they are doing to children, what these algorithms do … How many parents do we have to have come in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee and others telling us the heartbreaking story of losing their children before we act? I think the time for action, Bill, is now, and I commend Australia for actually doing something and protecting their most valuable and precious asset and that’s the next generation.”

When asked whether Congress should pursue similar protective measures, Britt said the evidence is overwhelming that social media is harming teens — and that federal inaction has dragged on for too long.

“It needs to. And I think when you look at what’s happening right now with our kids, ages 13 to 17, they have said they actually feel more negative, feel more depressed—almost 50% of them admit to that after being on social media … [T]he previous Surgeon General said kids shouldn’t be on social media until they’re 16. Now is the time to act. But the truth is, is Big Tech has a grip on Congress, and Congress’ inaction is feckless. I do not have to ask people what it is like to raise kids right now, I am living it. And we know the harms, and it is our job to put up the proper guardrails so that these kids can flourish.”

She continued: “I think the time for action is now, and I think that Australia taking this step, Bill, I hope leads the U.S. to actually do something.”

Her warning grew more urgent as she described the escalating threats children encounter online, noting that today’s parents are navigating a digital environment far more dangerous than the one they grew up in.

“Look, parents are doing the best they can … We did not grow up in a society with front facing cameras. Bill, the game has changed. You think about everything from children buying things on Snapchat that are laced with fentanyl, to bullying that leads to depression and sometimes suicidal thoughts and actually actions. You look at AI chatbots that we have now exposed are having sensual relationships with eight-year-olds, and Meta knows that that is taking place. To now sextortion, so children are obviously sharing a photo of themselves … and these kinds of things have then turned into blackmail and ultimately way too many children taking their lives …”

She added: “[W]e [used to] come home and we’d lock our doors at night, Bill, and we then felt like our children were safe. What has happened now is people who want to do our children harm are literally in the palm of their hand …”

“But at the end of the day, that does not negate the fact that D.C. needs to do something. They need to take a step back from the grip that Big Tech has on them, and think about their children and the next generation, Bill. That’s what’s at stake here.”

RELATED: Katie Britt advocates for ‘Kids Off Social Media Act in Senate floor speech

Britt’s concerns on the program reflect her broader legislative push to curb online harms. She has introduced measures such as the Kids Off Social Media Act and the Stop the Scroll Act.  Britt also recently questioned experts and parents of sextortion victims during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, reiterating her push to hold social media platforms accountable.

RELATED: Katie Britt marking Mental Health Awareness Month with reintroduction of Stop the Scroll Act

Britt’s appearance underscored her escalating drive for accountability across Silicon Valley. She said the evidence of harm is too overwhelming to ignore and warned that continued inaction would leave another generation exposed to avoidable dangers.

With other countries stepping in where the U.S. has not, Britt said Congress must finally confront Big Tech’s influence and prioritize children’s safety.

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

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) — a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee — is pushing for stronger U.S. and international efforts to secure the return of more than 19,000 Ukrainian children abducted by Russia since the start of the war, calling the mass kidnappings a direct assault on families and a challenge to America’s moral leadership.

During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this week, Britt joined Senators Lindsey Graham R-S.C., Richard Blumenthal D-Conn. and Amy Klobuchar D-Minn. — members who have jointly advocated for the children’s return and introduced the Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act.

The proposal aims to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow to account for and return the missing children.

Britt described the issue as one that should resonate with American families. “I hope that this goes to the heart of every parent across our nation, everyone. I mean, think about your child being ripped from your arms. Think about not knowing where your kids are on their birthday or milestones or tragic experiences,” she said.

Calling for decisive American leadership, Britt added, “Look, I think allowing this to occur as a nation, it goes against the very fabric of who we are as a country … I join you in asking our European allies to step up and to do the very same thing that we’re doing today, but we are here today because America must do something. And you cannot be a great nation if you are unwilling to do good. And there is no doubt that these kids need us. They need us to raise our voice.”

She also praised First Lady Melania Trump for her involvement in the effort to reunite the abducted children with their families.

“I want to thank the First Lady for her tireless effort on this. Senator Graham, I want to thank you, Senator Blumenthal (and) Senator Klobuchar. (I) stand with you in bringing every one of these kids home and appreciate this. And I think we have a moral obligation to keep this going until we get every last one of them back into their parents’ arms.”

The bipartisan group plans to continue pressing for accountability and additional global cooperation to ensure each child is safely returned.

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

Eli Lilly and Company announced Tuesday it will invest more than $6 billion to build a major new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Alabama, a blockbuster economic development win that state leaders say will be the largest initial investment in Alabama history.

The project, planned for the Greenbrier South area in Huntsville, will be a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient site focused on domestic production of “small molecule synthetic and peptide medicines,” according to the company.

Lilly says the facility is expected to create about 3,450 total jobs, including 3,000 construction jobs and 450 permanent, high-skilled roles such as engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.

https://x.com/EliLillyandCo/status/1998493637647253568

“Today’s announcement is tremendous news for Huntsville and for our state. Lilly’s $6 billion investment and the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs will strengthen domestic production of lifesaving medicines,” U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said.

“This commitment further cements ‘Made in Alabama’ manufacturing as the gold standard and will help usher in a new golden age of American manufacturing, right here in Sweet Home Alabama. This project also underscores President Trump’s leadership in driving major domestic investments to revitalize and unleash American manufacturing dominance and biomedical innovation. I’m proud to be a federal partner as we continue working to provide life-changing opportunities for Alabamians so our world-class workforce can continue to power America’s future.”

Lilly said the Huntsville plant will be among its sites that manufacture orforglipron, the company’s oral GLP-1 medicine in development.

The company expects to submit orforglipron to global regulators for obesity by the end of this year, and described the Huntsville site as part of its effort to expand U.S.-based capacity for next-generation medicines.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion anticipated in 2032, the company said.

“Huntsville and our entire state have a proven legacy of innovation, and there is no better home for Lilly than right here in Alabama. Our roots in the biosciences industry run deep, and Alabama’s contributions to this burgeoning sector continue,” Governor Kay Ivey said today.

“We are proud to welcome Lilly’s new U.S. manufacturing facility, which we are thrilled is the largest initial investment in our state’s history. No doubt, Alabamians will help Lilly do things that have never been done before, and we will ensure this great company achieves their mission of improving the health and well-being of people all around the country and globe.”

Lilly said it selected the Huntsville location from more than 300 applications, citing workforce strength, infrastructure advantages, and proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a Huntsville-based bioscience campus involved in workforce development and research.

The company also pointed to favorable zoning and incentives, as well as the region’s access to utilities and transportation materials.

State lawmakers have spent recent years renewing the landmark Alabama Jobs Act, and enhancing incentives like those being utilized by Eli Lilly, through legislation such as the SEEDs Act, The Game Plan, Working for Alabama, and Powering Growth.

“Huntsville’s track record of science and innovation, supported by advanced manufacturing expertise and a skilled workforce, makes Alabama an ideal location for Lilly to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for next‑generation medicines,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO.

“Today’s investment continues the onshoring of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, strengthening supply chain resilience and reliable access to medicines for patients in the U.S.”

Nationally, the announcement fits into Lilly’s broader U.S. manufacturing push.

Huntsville site is part of the company’s plan to spend at least $27 billion on four new U.S. manufacturing sites, amid intensifying pressure to produce more medicines domestically rather than relying on overseas supply chains.

And it’s good for the state.

According to leaders, for every dollar Lilly invests there, it estimates up to four dollars in additional local economic activity. Also, for each manufacturing job created, several more will be generated in related sectors like supply chain, logistics and retail.

“Lilly’s decision to invest $6 billion in a next-generation pharmaceutical manufacturing facility here in Huntsville is a tremendous vote of confidence in our people and our future,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said.

“Huntsville has long been a place where innovation thrives and hard, ‘impossible’ things get done. We’re proud to welcome Lilly to our community and excited to help shape the next era of breakthrough medicine.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt is pushing bipartisan legislation aimed at improving maternal health care, saying Alabama and the nation should not accept preventable pregnancy-related deaths as a reality in 2025.

Britt recently reintroduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, which would secure consistent federal funding for research on maternal care and mortality.

The measure would authorize more than $73 million a year for seven years to strengthen scientific research into the root causes of the maternal mortality crisis.

Britt says the federal government must prioritize mothers’ health before, during, and after pregnancy.

“I’m proud to fight for moms and women across Alabama and America. This bipartisan legislation will support targeted funding for critical research to improve health outcomes for women throughout their pregnancy journey,” Senator Britt (R-Montgomery) said.

Alabama remains one of the most dangerous states to give birth, and Britt argues that the risks fall most heavily on women who are already vulnerable.

Maternal mortality affects women in rural regions and women of color, including Black and Native American women, at significantly higher rates.

Britt pressed NIH leadership earlier this year, saying these outcomes cannot be tolerated in a nation with strong medical systems.

“Far too many women in this country are dying from pregnancy-related causes. You look at Alabama, we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. It disproportionately affects black women, Native American women, women in rural areas … It’s 2025. These numbers should be moving in the opposite direction.”

More than one-third of Alabama counties are maternity care deserts, lacking birthing facilities or OB-GYNs.

Recent labor and delivery closures in both Shelby and Monroe counties deepened an already fragile care landscape. With mortality rates reaching 59.7 deaths per 100,000 births, Alabama ranks among the worst states for maternal outcomes.

Britt’s maternal health push is part of a wider effort to expand women’s health services, particularly for women in underserved areas. Alongside the NIH IMPROVE Act, Britt has supported bipartisan legislation to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for breast cancer diagnostic tests through the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act.

She also helped reintroduce the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, which would expand access to urgent maternal care by supporting rural health care facilities and providers.

Her efforts include securing federal appropriations funding to modernize medical equipment and strengthen rural health services in Alabama, while continuing to prioritize health care funding in upcoming budget cycles.

The IMPROVE Act has earned support from leading maternal health organizations, including March of Dimes and the Women’s First Research Coalition.

March of Dimes, which Britt has publicly supported, recently reported that the United States remains one of the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth and gave the country a D+ grade in preterm birth rates for the fourth consecutive year.

Britt says the goal is straightforward: to invest in solutions that save lives and ensure women across Alabama—and nationwide—receive care worthy of the 21st century.

“I’m committed to ensuring the NIH remains the gold-standard of research and provides solutions to improve health outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy.”

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

Alabama has long been home to groundbreaking medical research, and at the forefront of these efforts is the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

From life-saving cancer treatments to advances in cardiovascular care, UAB’s work touches thousands of lives every day.

Yet one area that deserves even more attention is Parkinson’s disease-a neurological condition that affects nearly one million Americans, including more than 16,000 Alabamians.

The Parkinson Association of Alabama has witnessed firsthand how this disease impacts families in every corner of our state.

As the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to serving Alabama’s Parkinson’s community, Parkinson Association of Alabama provides vital education, care navigation, support programs, and advocacy that help individuals live well with Parkinson’s.

But the hope for real breakthroughs depends on continued federal investment in research-particularly through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its support of UAB’s innovative work.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt has been a steadfast champion for responsible NIH funding, advocating for transparency, scientific excellence, and initiatives that translate directly into better health outcomes for Americans.

Her leadership ensures that critical research continues while maintaining public trust in how taxpayer dollars are invested. The Parkinson Association of Alabama deeply appreciates Senator Britt’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening this lifeline for medical progress.

At UAB, under the leadership of Dr. David G. Standaert, Chair of the Department of Neurology, NIH funding supports pioneering Parkinson’s research that is transforming both clinical care and scientific understanding.

Through partnerships between UAB and the Parkinson Association of Alabama, patients are being connected to world-class specialists, cutting-edge therapies, and local support resources that make a tangible difference in their lives.

These collaborative efforts advance deep brain stimulation therapies, explore neuroprotective treatments, and improve quality of life for patients and caregivers across Alabama.

The Parkinson Association of Alabama firmly believes that Senator Britt’s continued advocacy for NIH research funding represents a critical investment in our state’s health, innovation, and future.

By ensuring that diseases like Parkinson’s are not overlooked, she is helping UAB researchers accelerate discoveries that have both local and national impact. Federal funding is far more than numbers on a budget sheet-it represents hope, progress, and the promise of a cure for thousands of Alabama families facing Parkinson’s disease.

As advocates, patients, and families, the Parkinson Association of Alabama urges Congress to maintain and expand NIH funding that supports Parkinson’s disease research at UAB. The work being done here has the potential to improve patient outcomes, foster innovation, and position Alabama as a national leader in neurological research and care.

Leaders like Senator Britt, who prioritize medical research and innovation, make this progress possible-and for that, Alabama’s Parkinson’s community is deeply grateful.

The time to act is now. Supporting Parkinson’s research through sustained NIH investment is not just an investment in science-it is an investment in the health, hope, and future of Alabama’s communities.

Bibby Bailey is the CEO and Executive Director of Parkinson’s Association of Alabama.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) hit the campaign trail on Alabama’s Gulf Coast Friday to boost State Rep. Rhett Marques’ bid for Congress.

In a joint appearance this afternoon, Britt heralded the Wiregrass businessman as the “America First winner” conservatives need to send to Washington.

Britt and Marques appeared together at The Wharf in Orange Beach for a press availability before hosting a roundtable with Baldwin County community leaders on regional priorities, including the economy, infrastructure, and public safety. 

The stop marked Britt’s first in-person campaign event with Marques since she endorsed him and maxed out to his congressional campaign earlier this year. 

“Rhett Marques has my endorsement because he is the America First winner that Alabama’s First Congressional District needs fighting for them,” Britt said. 

“He is a strong supporter of President Trump and will always defend our Christian conservative values, champion our priorities, and elevate our people. I am excited to campaign with Rhett in his native Baldwin County and hear from local leaders about the challenges and opportunities they’re facing. Together, we will ensure families across our great state can achieve their American Dream for generations to come.”

Speaking with reporters on Friday, Britt said her decision to weigh into the 2026 GOP primary in Alabama’s 1st District comes down to building a reliable conservative team around President Donald Trump.

“I have learned firsthand in D.C. that one person can’t do it all, and you’ve got to build out a team that knows what’s at stake, that’s willing to fight for it, and willing to put in the work to make it happen,” she said. “So when I look at what is best for the district and for the state and for the nation moving forward, having someone like Rhett – look at his leadership during COVID, making sure he was pushing back at government overreach.

“Small business owner himself, he understands that the best thing the government can do in most every situation is get out of the way and [he’s] working diligently to put money back in taxpayers’ pockets,” Britt continued. “We need somebody that’s willing to do that for the long haul. Having House colleagues that are willing to be in lockstep with that – fighting for President Trump, fighting in this moment in time to take our country back – I am excited to have Rhett and looking forward to get him to D.C. so we can get to work.”

Britt said days like Friday, campaigning but also listening, are what separates real representation from D.C. careerism.

“Too often we have people that go to D.C. who think that they all of a sudden have all of the answers,” she said. “Making sure that you’re connected to the people at home, that you are listening to the problems in front of them, the challenges and the opportunities, and that you’re being a part of hitting both of those things head on, I think, is critically important for any leader.

“That’s what I know Rhett will continue to do, and to have someone like him working alongside me and the others in the Alabama delegation – the possibilities are endless,” Britt added.

“We’ve got to make sure that we are driving down costs for Americans, making life more affordable for Alabamians, rolling back regulation and actually making things happen. We need someone that is willing to fight and willing to actually get things done, and that’s Rhett. I’m excited to campaign with him today. I’m excited to get him up to D.C., because I know the possibilities are endless for this region, for our state and for the country with the two of us working together.”

For Marques, the event was a homecoming as much as a campaign stop. 

Born in Spanish Fort and a graduate of Fairhope High School, the Enterprise lawmaker grew up in Baldwin County before building a successful tire and automotive business in the Wiregrass. 

“First of all, it’s great to be back in my home county of Baldwin,” Marques said. “I grew up here and love this county and everybody in it, and it’s good to be with the community leaders and the local elected officials to discuss the issues at hand. But I’m running for one thing – America First. I’m going to support President Trump’s agenda, to help Senator Britt and the rest of the Alabama delegation to move Alabama forward and make sure that their priorities, needs and values are taken care of.”

Marques said the endorsement from Britt – including her early maximum contribution from the Alabama First leadership PAC – gave his campaign immediate momentum. 

“When I announced, I was actually here at The Wharf having a kickoff event and a meet and greet,” he recalled.

“Senator Britt called and told me that she was going to endorse us and contribute to our campaign. To say that I was excited is an understatement. I think I said something like, ‘Well, Senator, you put your money where your mouth was.’

“Senator Britt is a rock star in Washington, D.C. We all know that. She is wildly popular here in the state of Alabama, and the reason for that is because she’s a fighter. She fights for America, and she fights for Alabama.”

On policy, Marques says he intends to “scale up” the conservative results he touts from the legislature – especially on tax relief and cutting red tape for small businesses – to the federal level.

“Just like we have done here in Alabama, I want to work to cut taxes on American families,” he said. “We’ve cut taxes here in Alabama over the last seven years by $1.5 billion, and that is important to put the money back into the pockets of those citizens that need it. We protected our families. We protected our children, and Senator Britt has led the way to make sure in Washington that we did that throughout the nation.

“It’s important to us to make sure that we support our military, we support our law enforcement and our veterans, and cut any unnecessary red tape on small businesses,” Marques added. “As a small business owner myself, I know how hard it is to make it and to make ends meet. We need to not overregulate them. We need to let them survive and work hard and do the best for their families.”

In the House, Marques has backed major tax relief measures backed by Alabama Republicans, including the phased reduction of the state grocery tax, elimination of the state sales tax on diapers and baby supplies, and expanded income tax relief for retirees. 

Marques is running in the 2026 Republican primary for Alabama’s First Congressional District, a coastal-to-Wiregrass seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), who is running statewide for the first time in a bid for U.S. Senate. 

Jerry Carl, who represented the 1st District from 2021 to 2025 and lost his seat to Moore following a court-ordered redistricting and a rare incumbent-vs.-incumbent primary, is running for his old seat. 

Marques said his background – born on the coast, raising a family and running a business in the Wiregrass – uniquely prepares him to represent the re-drawn district that now stretches “from the peanut fields to the beaches.”

He described Friday’s event as a chance to show Baldwin County voters he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.

“I am proud to have been born and raised in Baldwin County, and I’m very close to my family who still live there today,” Marques has said of his ties to the district. “I have a love for the First Congressional District that lies in my passion for and understanding of the Wiregrass region where I live today and for the coastal area where I was born and where my roots run deep.”

Britt, for her part, made clear she sees Marques as a key ally in both advancing President Trump’s agenda and fighting the Biden administration’s policies from the House side of Capitol Hill.

“We’ve got a lot ahead of us,” she said.

“We’ve got to make sure that we are driving down cost for Americans, make sure that life is more affordable for Alabamians, we’ve got to make sure that we’re rolling back regulation and that we are actually making things happen. And we need someone that is willing to fight and willing to actually get things done, and that’s Rhett,” Britt said. 

“I know the possibilities are endless for this region, for our state and for the country with the two of us working together.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

On Monday evening, President Donald Trump endorsed the U.S. Senate’s breakthrough to reopen the federal government, calling it a “very good” deal and vowing to “abide by the deal” as the package moves to the House.

The Senate approved the measure 60-40, ending the nation’s longest shutdown after more than 40 days, with eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus crossing over to join a unified GOP conference minus one.

The bill keeps agencies funded into late January and couples the continuing resolution with full-year FY2026 funding for Military Construction-VA, the Legislative Branch, and Agriculture-FDA.

According to news reports and sources close to the negotiations, Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt played an instrumental role in recent weeks.

As the primary Republican negotiator in talks with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), as well as top Democrat negotiators at the rank-and-file level on the Democrat side like U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) – who each broke with their party and joined Republicans – Britt was reportedly in constant communication with the White House.

A report from CNBC amplified Britt’s philosophy for breaking the stalemate: “You can’t break a logjam without having a conversation.”

Punchbowl News reported this morning that Senator Kaine personally thanked Senator Britt on the Senate floor after announcing his support for the shutdown-ending deal and his conditions for backing the package.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) called Britt “a rock star” throughout the process of intense, historic negotiations.

On the U.S. House side, the conservative response has been overwhelmingly positive. A House Freedom Caucus bulletin syndicated once details emerged depicted the deal as, “A total win for HFC, conservative leadership, and messaging.”

Britt said on Monday evening that after more than 40 days, “the undue suffering of the American people will soon come to an end.”

“From the beginning, I have always viewed returning to regular order in our appropriations process as the best pathway forward. Ultimately, this package of appropriations bills, in addition to Republicans’ continuing resolution, will reopen the government, fund critical programs like SNAP and WIC, ensure our nation’s outstanding veterans have access to essential services, and pay our federal workers, Capitol police, and air traffic controllers,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said.

“I’m deeply proud to have voted over 15 times to keep the government open and working for Alabamians and the American people. I’m also grateful for my Senate Republican colleagues, and colleagues across the aisle, who worked diligently to bring this shutdown to an end. I am honored to have played a role in the negotiations that led us to this point, and I look forward to continuing to work to put people over politics and make our government function again.”

The U.S. Senate-passed CR ensures full-year military funding, a massive priority for Alabama, while keeping critical operations at agencies funded and ensuring federal workers receive back pay.

The U.S. House is expected to move next, followed by a signature from President Trump, which will bring an end to the longest government shutdown in United States history.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

On Sunday night, the U.S. Senate advanced a Republican-crafted continuing resolution in a 60-40 vote that saw seven Democrat lawmakers defect with their party to support re-opening the federal government.

Last night’s vote was the largest step toward ending the 40-day government shutdown.

It now heads to the U.S. House, where Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday morning, “It’s a great development. It’s long overdue. It vindicates our position in this all along.”

U.S. Senator Katie Britt was active in the deliberations, voted for the measure on Sunday, saying it offers a win for everyday Americans that Republicans have worked hard to pass.

“Tonight I voted again to reopen the government—this 40 day shutdown is finally nearing an end. [U.S. Senate Republicans] provided a path forward to keep our skies safe, fund WIC and SNAP, take care of our veterans, and more,” Britt (R-Montgomery) wrote.

“We’ll continue to work hard this week to get this over the finish line and ensure that we put the American people over partisan politics.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1987734965962907809

Both of Alabama’s lawmakers in the higher chamber, Britt, and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) both voted ‘Yea’ to reopen the government.

Seven Democratic senators, Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), and Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), joined Republicans, as did independent Angus King (I-Maine).

The only Republican to oppose was U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky). The vote overcame a blockade that had stalled 14 earlier attempts to move the bill.

The plan extends operations into late January while fully funding core priorities, including VA, Agriculture, and the legislative branch for the year. It restores pay for federal workers and rolls back thousands of layoff notices issued during the shutdown.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt sharply criticized Democrats following their sweeping wins in Tuesday’s off-year elections.

“Tonight, Democrats elected a socialist to run the financial capital of the world and an attorney general who is on the record fantasizing about murdering children,” Britt (R-Montgomery) wrote.

“These elections aren’t a referendum on where the country is, they’re a referendum on where the Democratic Party is.”

https://x.com/KatieBrittforAL/status/1985907971839377431

Britt’s comments came after Democrats secured major victories across the country. In Virginia, Jay Jones defeated incumbent Republican Jason Miyares to become the first Black attorney general in state history, according.

Jones’s win followed extreme controversy over his 2022 text messages that contained violent language toward a political opponent.

In New York City, Zohran Mamdani, a progressive Democrat who identifies as a democratic socialist, was elected mayor, becoming the first Muslim and first South Asian to hold the office.

Separately, Britt also responded to an election night quote from Mamdani that exposed just how fundamentally radical his beliefs are.

Mamdani said, “We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve and no concern too small for it to care about.”

https://x.com/KatieBrittforAL/status/1986097207532286196

“When someone tells you who they are, believe them,” Britt wrote. “Democrats across the country are embracing socialism and radical extremism at every level.”

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

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) joined CBS Sunday Morning’s Tracy Smith for a discussion on child care accessibility and affordability — a topic Britt has made central to her bipartisan work in the U.S. Senate.

Appearing alongside U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Britt spoke to the economic toll of high child care costs and the urgent need for federal solutions.

“Our economy loses $122 billion a year because of affordability or accessibility of child care,” Britt said during the interview.

Smith noted, “So this isn’t just a social issue. It’s an economic issue.”

“Absolutely,” Britt replied. “Studies show that 59% of stay-at-home and part-time working parents say that they want to reenter the workforce. But this reliability, affordability, (and) accessibility issue is keeping them out of it.”

The segment highlighted childcare provisions Britt championed in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which modernized and expanded several long-standing tax credits for the first time in nearly 25 years.

Smith noted the updates come as part of President Trump’s recently-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” saying that the legislation “updated child care tax credits for the first time in a quarter century” and “increased tax benefits for business and limits to flexible spending accounts.”

When asked what she would tell families struggling with the rising cost of child care, Britt responded, “We’re fighting for you. And so we’re going to keep working and keep making sure that we deliver solutions.”

Beyond the Working Families Tax Cut Act, Britt has also led on the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act, which has received bipartisan support in the Senate.

The bill includes major updates to programs such as the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), and the Employer-Provided Child Care Tax Credit (45F) — none of which have seen permanent updates since 2001.

Since that time, child care costs have increased by 263%, according to Britt’s office. DCAP, meanwhile, has not been modernized since 1986.

Britt’s legislative portfolio also includes measures supporting mothers and families, such as the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act, the NIH IMPROVE Act, and the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act — all focused on strengthening access to care and opportunity for women and children.

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

7. Democrats are being urged to drop progressive rhetoric favored by white liberal Karen women, with some suggesting a shift to appeal to a broader base ahead of future elections.

6. Read Freely Alabama compared the Alabama Policy Institute, Moms for Liberty, Eagle Forum, and a majority of Alabamians to the KKK, Bull Connor, and Jim Crow, a tried and true tactic that will surely work to win.

5. A chip shortage could be impacting Alabama auto plants, with production cuts beginning this week, which could send people home from work and “temporary reductions or production suspensions.”

4. A fired Alabama professor who thought it would be a good idea to cheer on Charlie Kirk’s assassination sued both Alabama and Auburn universities, claiming the termination violated his free speech rights under the First Amendment.

3. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) called Montgomery a war zone, calling for federal intervention to address escalating crime and public safety concerns, adding, “I’ve talked to FBI Director Kash Patel, and he’s gearing up to send a surge of FBI agents to Montgomery to help law enforcement with crime.”

2. With SNAP benefits for 750,000 Alabamians running out soon, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and the GOP are racing to secure funding, blaming Democrats for indifference, while Gov. Kay Ivey urged Democrats to support the effort and end the government shutdown.

1. The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal workers, is urging Democrats to pass a clean continuing resolution to restore pay and services, as the impasse continues to impact hundreds of thousands of employees, a huge blow to Democrats as they begin to waffle.

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