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Story Type: Analysis

News / Elections / National / State

Alabama U.S. Senate candidates look to Trump, what can be learned from recent Deep South elections?

Moderate Democrat gubernatorial candidates in Kentucky and Louisiana beat back firebrand Republicans who nationalized their state’s elections by tying their political fortunes to President Donald Trump. Here in Alabama, most of the Republicans running for the U.S. Senate are following a similar playbook linking their campaigns to the popular president, but is it enough? In … Continued
November 18, 2019

Poarch Creeks’ initial gaming offer isn’t terrible, but lawmakers would be crazy to accept it

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians dropped their new gaming proposal on Monday — a plan that would allegedly bring in more than a billion dollars for the state in the first year — and it’s not a terrible plan.  But Alabama lawmakers would be fools to go for it.  First and foremost, PCI should … Continued
November 12, 2019

New lawsuit exposes troubling issues, possible criminal acts at LEAD Academy

The administration at LEAD Academy tried to prevent students with learning disabilities from enrolling. LEAD board president Charlotte Meadows and another board member controlled a private bank account. Meadows used the school to run her campaign for the Alabama House and directed school funds to her campaign manager and her niece. Teachers and other employees … Continued
November 1, 2019

First legal challenge in ongoing ADP fight is a weird one

The first legal filing in the ongoing fight among Alabama Democrats is officially on the books.  Alabama Democratic Party chairwoman Nancy Worley and vice chairman Randy Kelly filed a complaint on Wednesday with the Montgomery County Circuit Court asking for a temporary restraining order to block a scheduled meeting this Saturday, and also asking for … Continued
October 31, 2019

The new pari-mutuel machines at Birmingham Race Course are legal, and there’s really no question about it

Because Bill Pryor said so.  Since news broke on Tuesday that the Birmingham Race Course had installed 300-plus pari-mutuel gaming machines, there have been a lot of questions from people all around the state. Primarily, the question raised, with genuine curiosity, is this: Why are those games legal? The answer: Because Bill Pryor and two … Continued
October 10, 2019

The Alabama Democratic Party’s troubles are a long way from over

The Alabama Democratic Party is still a mess.  Last Thursday, following a vote by the Democratic National Committee’s credentials committee that stripped ADP chairwoman Nancy Worley and vice-chairman Randy Kelly of their credentials, there was widespread joy among Alabama Democrats. A feeling that finally something was being done about the leadership — or lack thereof … Continued
August 27, 2019

Charter Commission appointments could restore some faith

The Alabama Charter School Commission is changing.  On Thursday, the Alabama State School Board voted to appoint five new members to the board. Those appointments came from nominees provided by Gov. Kay Ivey, Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon and Senate President Del Marsh.  Only one incumbent survived on a board that has drawn considerable … Continued
August 9, 2019

Alabama’s charter school law has a number of problems

The Alabama charter school law is an absolute mess, filled with loopholes and nonexistent instructions that make it possible, if not likely, that the state will endure countless bad charter schools that rob taxpayers and leave Alabama school children worse off.  Those were not the words of Alabama superintendent Eric Mackey.  But you could draw … Continued
July 30, 2019

Ivey to build prisons come hell or legislative high water

Gov. Kay Ivey is going to build three new high-level security prisons to house the state’s most violent offenders and those inmates who are plagued by infirmities and mental illness. Ivey will build these three new correctional facilities come hell or legislative high water because it is right, not because it’s popular. It’s about time … Continued
February 13, 2019