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Sam Mattison

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$6.6 billion Education budget passes out of committee, heads to House floor next week

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter The 2019 Education Trust Fund — the first under Gov. Kay Ivey’s new education initiative — passed unanimously out of its committee on Wednesday. The bill passed with no discussions from committee members as a public hearing hammered out the details on Tuesday. In addition to the budget, the … Continued

Sam Mattison

February 8, 2018

Doug Jones supports long-term funding of federal government

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, announced his support of a long-term funding plan on Wednesday after some in his party announced their opposition to the plan proposed by Senate leadership. Jones, in a statement from his press office, said his decision comes after considering the health care aspects of the … Continued

Sam Mattison

February 8, 2018

Ivey announces new education policies, asks for new categories in state report card

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter Following a report card that left Alabama with a C in education, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a slew of new policies as a part of her “Strong Start, Strong Finish” education initiative. Ivey announced the policies on Friday during a speech at a Public Affairs Research Council meeting … Continued

Sam Mattison

February 5, 2018

Alabama Education gets C in first report card

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter Schools around the state received an overall score of C in their first ever report card on the state of public schools around Alabama. The report, released by the Alabama State Department of Education, measured everything from individual schools to states. Measurements for schools depended upon if they had … Continued

Sam Mattison

February 2, 2018

Committee doesn’t decide on Ray Hinton compensation for wrongful incarceration

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter A Senate committee did not decide on a bill that would give Ray Hinton, a now ex-death row inmate, $1.5 million from the general budget despite the persistence of the bill’s sponsor Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman. The senator has brought similar bills since Hinton’s release from death row in … Continued

Sam Mattison

February 1, 2018

Committee takes no action on bill that would eliminate state Board of Education

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter A Senate committee did not consider a bill that would abolish the elected state Board of Education, citing that they would need time to consider the bill’s effects on education. The Committee on Education and Youth Affairs met on Wednesday morning to consider a bill by Sen. Greg Albritton, … Continued

Sam Mattison

February 1, 2018

Roy Moore collects funds for legal defense

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter Former GOP U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore established a fund to pay for legal battles he will soon face in court regarding a recent defamation suit by Leigh Corfman, who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 14 years old. The Washington Post reported that Moore pursued … Continued

Sam Mattison

January 26, 2018

State BOE searches for new superintendent while Legislature attempts reforms

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter The search for a new state superintendent of education was met with concerns that the final candidate would step into a highly political environment with the Alabama State Department of Education and the Legislature clashing over ideals of education reform. The State Board of Education met on Wednesday to … Continued

Sam Mattison

January 25, 2018

Council releases report detailing plan to combat opioid addiction

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter A new plan from the state government to combat opioid abuse hinges upon a four-step approach: prevention, intervention, treatment and community response. Gov. Kay Ivey’s Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council released its official 74-page report Wednesday after gathering information for months prior. The results of the inquiry paint a … Continued

Sam Mattison

January 25, 2018

Day care bill gains support from municipalities

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter As the Legislative Session moves forward, a piece of legislation requiring all day cares be licensed in Alabama is gaining momentum in support. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, would revoke a licensing exemption status that nonprofit and religious day cares, and bring them under regulation … Continued

Sam Mattison

January 24, 2018