Author

Gabby Dance

News / Legislature / State

Two anti-bullying resolutions pass after death of Huntsville teenager

Two resolutions condemning all forms of bullying, including that based on sexual orientation or gender identity, passed the House on Thursday. The bills were introduced by Alabama House Democratic Caucus members Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, in response to the death by suicide of Nigel Shelby, a Huntsville teenager who was … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 24, 2019

Jones co-sponsors bill addressing racial bias in maternal health care

One Wednesday, Sen. Doug Jones cosponsored the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies Act, which aims to address racial biases in healthcare that contribute to the ongoing black maternal mortality crisis and improve health services for all pregnant people. “The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world – and … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 23, 2019

Bill criminalizing female genital mutilation moves toward House floor

A bill that would criminalize female genital mutilation is likely to soon reach the floor of Alabama House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rod Scott, D-Fairfield, defines FGM as practices that “remove, cut, circumcise, excise, mutilate, infibulate or reinfibulate” any part of the genitals for non-medical purposes on females under the age of … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 22, 2019

Pro-abortion rights organizations to protest Alabama Senate vote on abortion ban

Several reproductive rights organizations will join forces to protest the Alabama Senate’s Tuesday floor discussion on House Bill 314, which aims to completely criminalize abortion without exception for victims of rape and incest. The only exemption is for the health of the mother. Doctors could face up to 99 years in prison for performing an … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 14, 2019

Bernie Sanders to host campaign rally in Birmingham

Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, will hold a rally at Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham on Sunday, May 19, at 4 p.m. Sanders plans to highlight how his policies, specifically restoring voting rights, reforming the K-12 education system, addressing environmental racism and eradicating poverty, will help Alabamians. The event is free and … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 13, 2019

Jones introduces bipartisan bill providing tax relief to military families

Sen. Doug Jones introduced legislation alongside other senators on Wednesday that would provide tax relief for survivor benefits received by children of military members who lost their lives during service. The bill, called the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, would reverse a 2017 provision to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that raised taxes … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 9, 2019

Alabama conservation project to receive grant through National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program

The D’Olive Bay Coastal Wetlands Acquisition will receive a $498,000 grant through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt awarded more than $20 million to 22 projects in 11 coastal states for coastal wetland conservation projects on Wednesday. The Alabama program, led by … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 9, 2019

Jones bill aiming to end “widow’s tax” reaches majority support

Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, announced on Tuesday that his Military Widow’s Tax Elimination Act gained its 61st cosponsor, passing the threshold of 60 cosponsors needed to ensure a vote on the Senate floor. The bill aims to allow military widows and widowers to collect money from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the … Continued

Gabby Dance

May 1, 2019

Reps. Merika Coleman, Terri Collins introduce legislation aimed at fighting human trafficking

Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, introduced four bills aimed at fighting human trafficking on Wednesday in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Three of the bills passed unanimously through the committee. One, HB260, will receive a public hearing and will be voted on next week. “Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal … Continued

Gabby Dance

April 26, 2019

Project aims to spark conversation between Alabamians with differing political views

Birmingham’s NPR station, WBHM, is one of six stations in the nation that was chosen to participate in One Small Step, a project that pairs people of differing political beliefs to discuss their backgrounds in hopes of finding common ground. The station, which is a member-supported service of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is … Continued

Gabby Dance

April 24, 2019