Alabama

The answer to Alabama’s 200-year problem: Vote for yourself

Alabama celebrated its 200th birthday on Saturday. In a few weeks, researchers from UAB will begin testing children for a disease — hookworms — that was last widespread around that same time. Three steps forward, two steps back should be our state motto. Since this state’s birth, its people have struggled with issues of class … Continued

Josh Moon

December 16, 2019

Opinion

Partisanship that ruined Alabama’s state government has infected Congress

Oliver Robinson deserved to go to jail and I wouldn’t vote for him to be team captain in a pick-up basketball game. Good riddance to John Edwards. Bye bye to Anthony Weiner. So long to Jesse Jackson Jr. Don’t let the door hit ya, Rod Blagojevich. Crooks and scoundrels, all of them. And I wouldn’t … Continued

Josh Moon

December 12, 2019

Secretary Merrill works with Facebook and Twitter to stop the spread of misinformation

Earlier today, Secretary of State John H. Merrill met with representatives from Facebook and Twitter to ensure Alabama is prepared for the 2020 election cycle in the fight to stop the spread of misinformation. In 2017, the State of Alabama witnessed several attempts to mislead voters through the spread of misinformation on various social media … Continued

December 11, 2019

Newly published studies shine light on child poverty and social injustice

Two recently released studies show Alabama is sixth highest in child poverty and ranks forty-ninth in social justice. Nearly 13 million children in the United States live in families with incomes below the federal poverty line. The Census Bureau poverty threshold in 2018, for a family of three with one child under 18 years old, … Continued

Bill Britt

December 10, 2019

Opinion

Building new prisons is not the answer

Alabama should be building better schools, not better prisons. It’s as simple as that. And the truth is if we had done that from the beginning we probably wouldn’t have the overcrowded prisons we have today. It’s a statistical fact that if a child can’t read at a third-grade level by the time they graduate … Continued

Craig Ford

December 6, 2019

Shelby, Jones applaud Huffaker’s confirmation as U.S. district judge in Alabama

U.S. Senators Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Doug Jones, R-Ala., supported and today announced that Austin Huffaker of Montgomery, Alabama, has been confirmed by a Senate vote of 89-4 to be a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama. Huffaker was nominated for the federal judgeship by President Trump in July 2019. Following his … Continued

Charlie Walker, Staff

December 5, 2019

Hightower names Jon Harris campaign manager

Bill Hightower, candidate for Congress in Alabama’s open First Congressional District, announced today that Jon Harris will serve as his campaign manager. Bill Hightower said: “Jon has been a critical part of our campaign from day-one and he has proven that he has the skills, experience, and commitment to lead our campaign as we enter … Continued

November 21, 2019

Analysis | Historical election results point to Troy King’s advantage in AL-2 race

Seven candidates are in a hunt to capture the Republican nomination for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House, a seat currently held by Congresswoman Martha Roby, who announced on July 26, 2019, that she would not seek re-election in 2020. In August, before King’s official announcement, APR looked at his vote totals in the … Continued

Bill Britt

November 19, 2019

Public-private partnership brings Alabama STEM and computer science career awareness system

Uniquely through a public-private partnership, Alabama students now have access to the validated STEM career awareness system – Learning Blade. The funding is a joint venture of the Alabama Department of Commerce, the Governor’s Office and The Boeing Company. As part of its 2019 global engagement grants, Boeing awarded $525,000 to Alabama communities in support … Continued

November 19, 2019

Opinion

Self-interested lawmakers are why Alabama gambling laws are so messed up

There are many, many reasons for the mess that is Alabama’s current predicament with gambling — bad laws, lazy and indifferent lawmakers, under-the-table money, constitutional amendments and outside influences all playing roles. But one of the biggest is dishonest politicians with personal gain at stake. People like state Sen. Greg Albritton. If you’re unfamiliar with … Continued

Josh Moon

November 15, 2019