Author

Josh Moon

Josh Moon is an investigative reporter and columnist. You can reach him at [email protected].

News / State

The state of this state is, as usual, weird

It feels wrong to call it a “special” session. Maybe “other” session. Or “equally idiotic” session. But whatever you call it, there will be a special session inside a regular session in Alabama this year to hash out the dire situation with Alabama’s … um, roads. Yes, you read that correctly. The roads and bridges … Continued

Josh Moon

March 6, 2019

Opinion

Don’t blame the kids for the racism they’re taught

What could have possessed those Hoover school kids to talk in such an awful way? I couldn’t possibly guess, but there they were on the video uploaded to social media over the weekend. A bunch of white high school kids from Hoover’s Spain Park High, sitting around drinking and discussing — in something less than … Continued

Josh Moon

March 5, 2019

A gas tax special session looms

It appears likely now that a special session is coming for Alabama lawmakers to hash out the gas tax. Legislators from both sides of the aisle told APR on Monday that they expect Gov. Kay Ivey to call the special session — a rare special that would be conducted simultaneously with the just-started regular session … Continued

Josh Moon

March 4, 2019

Opinion

Alabama’s working class shouldn’t be hit with a gas tax

Why is it always the responsibility of the working class in Alabama? Everything falls to them. Not enough money for social programs? Cut government workers. Not enough money for health care? Cut teachers’ benefits. Need new prisons? Take from veterans. And now, need new roads and bridges? Take it from the folks going to work … Continued

Josh Moon

March 4, 2019

Opinion

Alabama lawmakers back Trump, prove they’ve learned nothing from recent scandals

Why do our people never learn? You would think that in a state where at least eight lawmakers and multiple politicos have been indicted or convicted in recent years of public corruption that we would take from that a few lessons on how to behave. You’d think our lawmakers would, at the very least, learn … Continued

Josh Moon

February 28, 2019

Opinion

Alabama hasn’t taught black history well. It’s hurt us all.

Majority-white public schools received about $23 billion more in funding than majority-nonwhite schools in 2016, according to a report from the nonprofit group EdBuild. That seemed to surprise a lot of people when the study’s findings were reported in the Washington Post last week. I’m not sure why. The majority of school funding models are … Continued

Josh Moon

February 27, 2019

Opinion

A straight lottery is great for the Poarch Creeks, not so great for the rest of Alabama

In Michigan in 2017, the state’s 19 tribal casinos contributed roughly $97 million worth of their profits to state and local government entities — their end of tribal-state gaming compacts. Also in 2017, just three commercial casinos in Detroit sent nearly $300 million to state and local coffers — their end of standard taxes applied … Continued

Josh Moon

February 26, 2019

Opinion

Hoover ISIS bride should face the U.S. justice system

Hoda Muthana should face the U.S. justice system. Let’s get that out of the way right up front. The young woman from Hoover who left the country a few years ago to join the Islamic State, or ISIS, should not be granted free entry into the country again simply because she’s now realized that she … Continued

Josh Moon

February 22, 2019

Opinion

Despite Supreme Court ruling, Alabama’s civil forfeiture laws will remain awful

The U.S Supreme Court on Wednesday mandated an overhaul of how America’s police departments and courts handle the seizure of assets from people convicted of a crime — stating plainly that 8th amendment protections against excessive fines also apply to states. But don’t worry. Cops in Alabama are still free to take your stuff, crime … Continued

Josh Moon

February 21, 2019

Opinion

The Montgomery School Board rejected a charter application. It was the right move.

It will be deemed the fault of the Montgomery County School Board that a plan for four conversion charter schools did not pass on Tuesday. Do not listen to that nonsense. The MPS board did what was right. It did what any group of people charged with oversight of a public school district should have … Continued

Josh Moon

February 20, 2019