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Eddie Burkhalter

Eddie Burkhalter is a reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter. You can email him at [email protected] or reach him via Twitter.

News / National / State

Alabama, Oregon groups move to join legal fight over Equal Rights Amendment

Organizations in Alabama and Oregon have asked a federal judge to let them join in the legal fight over the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Mia Raven, policy director for the grassroots Alabama reproductive rights group the Yellowhammer Fund, and founder of the People Organizing for Women’s Empowerment & Rights (P.O.W.E.R.) House in Montgomery, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 26, 2020

“He was a human being”: Family hopes son’s death at Holman prison not in vain

After a decade behind bars, all that came out of Holman prison was Antonio Bell’s body and a pair of new white Nikes, still wrapped in plastic. Before he died on Jan. 9 of a likely drug overdose, 29-year-old Antonio told his family that it’s the guards who most often smuggle drugs inside. The family … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 25, 2020

Shelby, Rogers say Trump calls off plan to move Coronavirus patients to Anniston

Editor’s note: This story will be updated. Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers both said Sunday afternoon that President Donald Trump told both lawmakers that a plan to relocate people who tested positive for the coronavirus to Anniston was off. “I just got off the phone with the President. He told me … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 23, 2020

Legislation may harm pets locked in hot cars, not help, vets and advocates say

A bill passed by the Alabama Senate last week lawmakers say will help keep pets trapped in hot cars safe, might actually endanger the animals, according to some animal advocates and veterinarians. That bill was written by a dog breeder who some worry purposefully wrote the bill to make it harder to keep animals safe, … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 20, 2020

Legislation would limit death penalty appeals

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth on Tuesday discussed legislation that would reduce the length of some death penalty appeals. “Over the last 13 month, seven Alabama law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty by violent criminals, which is a new record and obviously not one the state of Alabama is proud … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 19, 2020

Star-studded gala in Birmingham Friday to help wounded vets, former players

Darryl Furman nearly died in the summer of 2019, and when he didn’t – doctors repaired the valve in his heart – he got right back to work helping veterans and former football players in need. Furman, 55, played football at the University of Alabama in the 1980s and after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 18, 2020

Ophthalmologists concerned over questionable Senate Health Committee vote

A controversial call in a state Senate Health Committee vote has some who are opposed to a bill that would expand the scope of practice for optometrists seeing red. APR obtained a video of a portion of the Feb. 5 Senate Health Committee meeting, during which state Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, who sponsored Senate Bill … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 17, 2020

Gov. Ivey names members of study group on gaming, lottery

Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday announced the members of a panel she’s ordered to study how much revenue the state could bring in from an expansion of gaming and a state lottery. Ivey said in her State of the State address that before she’ll consider the Poarch Band of Creek Indian’s proposal to expand gaming … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 14, 2020

Inmate at Ventress prison tests positive for Tuberculosis

An inmate at the Ventress Correctional Facility in Clayton has tested positive for Tuberculosis, prompting the Alabama Department of Corrections to stop transfers of inmates into and out of the prison and test the remaining prison population and staff. APR confirmed on Friday that ADOC was responding to the positive test for TB at the … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 14, 2020

Jones joins bipartisan vote to approve Iran war powers resolution

U.S. Senator Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Thursday joined a bipartisan vote to require President Donald Trump to seek Congressional approval before taking further military action against Iran. “Before a President can lead us into war, he or she must first earn the support of the American people and also fulfill their solemn constitutional obligation to … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 14, 2020