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Alabama

News / Economy / State

Promises give way to buzzards’ feast

Just east of I-65 on the way into Montgomery this week, buzzards circled overhead as Buffalo Springfield’s ’60s protest song, “For What It’s Worth,” played on satellite radio. Perhaps a fitting omen for a legislative session that has so far seen little in the way of actual proposals that benefit the people of Alabama. What … Continued
April 18, 2019

Pistol, pistol, who has the pistol?

As a state, Alabama isn’t much of a problem solver. That’s why we rank near the bottom in practically every quality of life survey of the nation. It’s why we’re lousy at fixing education and prisons and mental health and child welfare. Somebody (usually the feds) has to tell us how to fix those problems. … Continued
April 18, 2019

Report: Medicaid expansion would benefit Alabama’s rural communities

A new report from Protect Our Care, an organization dedicated to achieving health care rights for all Americans, found that Medicaid is important to helping those in Alabama’s rural communities. The report, released in honor of April being Medicaid Awareness Month, stated that 314,000 Alabamians could gain coverage if the state were to expand Medicaid. … Continued
April 18, 2019

Alabama lottery: What’s at stake

Over the past few weeks, I have written a number of stories and columns detailing the specifics of potential lottery bills and what their effect on this state and its tax revenues might be. I’m sorry. Not for writing those pieces, because they contained important and accurate information, but because I didn’t first adequately explain … Continued
April 17, 2019

Study shows slight decrease in statewide ACT scores

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama recently published a study showing that Alabama public high school students’ ACT scores went down slightly in 2018, with a 19.1 average score on a 36-point scale. This decrease is minimal. In 2017, Alabama students average a 19.2 score on a 36-point scale. According to the study, Alabama … Continued
April 17, 2019

Bill lets small local farm wineries compete for business

A Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, would allow small farmer-owned wineries the ability to sell and distribute their products more competitively. In a time when more consumers are clamoring for locally sourced produce, it might seem odd that Alabama’s homegrown wine industry is grossly prohibited from selling its products to Alabamians. For … Continued
April 16, 2019

From the puppy mill to the bill mill

As a state, Alabama traditionally ranks from pretty terrible to just plain awful in child welfare. If Alabama were a parent, it would be reported to DHR for child neglect. If we’re that bad in child welfare, you only get one guess where Alabama stands in animal welfare. Right. Below awful. That doesn’t mean we … Continued
April 11, 2019