Alabama

News / Legislature / State

Sen. Cam Ward will again chair the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee

The senator largely responsible for rewriting many of Alabama’s antiquated sentencing laws and who has led an effort to reform Alabama’s prisons will again chair the Alabama Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, was selected to chair the powerful committee responsible for oversight of Alabama’s criminal justice system. Ward, who has served in the … Continued

January 17, 2019

Why do Alabama governors insist on taking the unpopular path?

We’re doing it again. The same thing. We’re doing the same thing again, and hoping for a different outcome. Which I believe is the definition of insanity. And that might as well be our state motto at this point. Alabama: The Insane State. The state where the people continue to elect people who promise to … Continued

January 15, 2019

Ainsworth pushes better education, more ethical government in inaugural speech

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth focused on education, job creation and ethics in government in his inaugural speech after being sworn in Monday in Montgomery. Ainsworth took the oath of office Monday during the inaugural festivities. Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall and other statewide elected officials also took their oaths Monday. On the steps … Continued

January 15, 2019

Ivey uses inaugural address to call for infrastructure, corrections funding

During her inaugural address Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey, who is beginning her first full term as Alabama’s 54th governor, called on the Legislature to improve the state’s infrastructure and replace aging prisons. The governor was sworn into office Monday morning on the steps of the State Capitol. Ivey used the legacy of Gov. Lurleen Wallace, … Continued

January 14, 2019

Alabama is O-KAY

At high noon today, Monday, January 14, 2019, Alabama will swear in the Honorable Kay Ellen Ivey as our 54th Governor. Governor Ivey has selflessly dedicated her entire life to public service. In this guest editorial, we will travel down memory lane of her resume; however it is my goal to talk about the Kay … Continued

January 14, 2019

A look at Alabama’s 1940’s Congressional Delegation

Recently I came across a copy of an old congressional directory from 1942. It is always fun for me to read about this era in American political history. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had been first elected in 1932 in the depths of the Great Depression. He would go on to be reelected in 1936, 1940 and … Continued

January 9, 2019

ALGOP House rule changes eliminate democracy

Elections have consequences. In Alabama, the consequence is the death of democracy. Or, at least, it will be if the Republicans who increased their supermajority stronghold in the state Legislature in November have their way. On Monday, APR received a copy of Republicans’ proposed rules changes for the upcoming 2019 legislative session. The changes are … Continued

January 8, 2019

More than 5,000 federal employees in Alabama affected as government shutdown drags on

As the partial federal government shutdown drags on into its 14th day Friday, more than 5,000 federal employees in Alabama remain furloughed or are working without pay as negotiations in Washington resumed this week but appear to still be at an impasse. At two weeks, the partial shutdown ranks as the second-longest shutdown in more … Continued

January 4, 2019

Stupid is as stupid does

I hate new years. Not because it’s another year. That’s going to happen, regardless of what we might want. The calendar days end, and the new calendar days begin. We can’t stop it. I hate new years because of the silly expectations. We expect the new year to encourage us to exercise more, or to … Continued

January 3, 2019

Cybersecurity attack leads to warning

A cybersecurity attack threatened the State of Alabama’s computing network in December, prompting the Office of Information Technology to issue a warning for state workers to change passwords and to monitor workflow more carefully because fraudulent invoices and purchase orders were being sent to the Department of Finance and internal agencies’ accounts payable. According to … Continued

January 2, 2019