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Federal court rules Alabama treatment of prisoners in isolation unconstitutional

A federal court ruled Monday that Alabama’s prison system fails to adequately evaluate the mental health of inmates during isolation in segregation cells. The treatment of the inmates is unconstitutional and violates the Eighth Amendment, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson wrote in a ruling that found the Alabama Department of Corrections to be “deliberately indifferent” … Continued
February 12, 2019

Ivey awards nonprofit grant to help immigrant victims of domestic violence

Gov. Kay Ivey approved a $47,792 grant to AshaKiran to help the nonprofit continue to help Alabama residents who escaped domestic violence in other countries. AshaKiran works to help victims of domestic violence in Alabama, specifically those who have immigrated to Alabama to escape those circumstances. The organization was formed in 2006 and offers culturally specific … Continued
February 7, 2019
Facade of US Supreme court in Washington DC on sunny day

21 states back Alabama in asking Supreme Court to review abortion case

More than 20 states are joining Alabama in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case challenging an Alabama law that bans dilation and evacuation abortions. Widely known by the term “dismemberment abortion,” the medical procedure is used commonly in abortions after 15 weeks, though that’s only 7 percent of all Abortions in … Continued
February 5, 2019

Alabama executions: strictly a Christian affair

Over 60 years ago, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote that “[t]he basic concept underlying the Eighth Amendment is nothing less than the dignity of man. While the State has the power to punish, the Amendment stands to assure that this power be exercised within the limits of civilized standards.” Turning this concept – … Continued
February 4, 2019

Godspeed Matt Hart

For over 35 years, Miles Mathew Hart has served his country and state — first in uniform and then with a badge. Now, those days are behind him as he takes the next step in a storied career. But make no mistake, even though Hart now works in a private law firm where he specializes … Continued
February 4, 2019

Give Richard Shelby credit, he’s at least trying to do his job

I appreciate Richard Shelby. No, that is not sarcasm or the setup for a surprise turn to a scathing column. I mean it. I appreciate the way the Alabama senator has represented this state during the ongoing debate over President Donald Trump’s ridiculous big, beautiful wall that Mexico apparently isn’t paying for. Shelby, a Republican, … Continued
February 4, 2019

Alabama receives low rating in Human Rights Campaign’s State Equality Index

Alabama was placed in the lowest-rated category for the fifth year in a row in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Equality Federation Institute’s fifth annual State Equality Index. The SEI is a comprehensive report that details statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families and assesses how well states are protecting … Continued
February 1, 2019

Infrastructure program should be priority one

As the new quadrennium crests in Alabama government, everybody looks toward a new beginning. There is a new fresh four years ahead for the newly elected leaders. They are overwhelmingly Republican. The governor is Republican, and all of the accompanying constitutional officeholders are members of the GOP. More importantly, the State Legislature, both the House … Continued
January 30, 2019

Gas tax is first test of our new Legislature

When I was in the Legislature, I opposed tax increases unless we had tried everything else and the money to be raised from the tax was earmarked for very specific purposes. In my personal opinion, we shouldn’t even be talking about raising the gas tax until we pass a lottery and see what kind of … Continued
January 30, 2019