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Does Volkert chairman have millions of reasons to support Canary at BCA?

Perry Hand, the chairman of Mobile-based Volkert Inc., is standing behind the Business Council of Alabama’s besieged CEO Billy Canary, while his company has seen a dramatic rise in state business that roughly coincides with his tenure on the association’s board. Could it be that Hand’s dogged support of Canary is tied to the engineering … Continued
April 23, 2018

Bogus endorsement causes controversy in Dem governor’s race

Doug Jones is not making an endorsement in the Democratic Primary race for Alabama governor. After an odd mixup on Wednesday night in Auburn at a Sue Bell Cobb event, Jones’ office issued a release on Thursday making it clear that Alabama’s newest U.S. senator had no favorite between Cobb and Walt Maddox. “The Senator … Continued
April 20, 2018

The black hand behind Perry Hand

Shortly after the Alabama Political Reporter made it known that the Business Council of Alabama’s Executive Board had voted on April 10 to terminate Billy Canary from his position as CEO, nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers were burning-up their mobile phones, trying to find out who Perry Hand is and who could convince him to … Continued
April 19, 2018

In interview Gov. Ivey says, “I’m wonderfully well”

Earlier this week in an interview with the Alabama Political Reporter, Gov. Kay Ivey spoke on a range of topics including her first year in office, why she stands by controversial economic development bill HB317, and why calls for debates leading into the Republican primary is a stunt to draw attention away from the critical … Continued
April 12, 2018

Bentley investigation not the first time Ellen Brooks cited gaps in law to let perps walk free

If the findings of a special grand jury empaneled to hear allegations of wrongdoings against former Gov. Robert Bentley and his cronies sound familiar, it should. In 2012, after an eight-month investigation, a Montgomery grand jury found that the state’s ethics and campaign finance laws were not specific enough to indict former Gov. Bob Riley … Continued
April 9, 2018

Sources: Marshall appointed AG after agreeing to investigate “rogue” prosecutors

Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Steve Marshall to be Alabama attorney general after Marshall agreed to launch an investigation into Special Prosecution Division Chief Matt Hart and Acting Attorney General Van Davis, who successfully prosecuted former Speaker Mike Hubbard. According to well-placed sources, Marshall was the only district attorney that Bentley approached who promised he would … Continued
April 6, 2018

Feds may be least of “Bad Jack’s” worries

There are two members of the Alabama House of Representatives who go by the name Jack; one is Vestavia Hills Republican Jack “J.D.” Williams, AKA “Bad Jack” among his colleagues, and then there is Wilmer Republican lawmaker Jack W. Williams called “Good Jack.” Earlier this week, Bad Jack Williams was indicted on federal conspiracy charges. … Continued
April 5, 2018

Attorney General “commutes” death sentence without authority to do so

According to lawyers for convicted murderer and death row inmate Doyle Lee Hamm, he and the state of Alabama entered into a “confidential settlement agreement…preventing any further execution attempts” by the state on March 26. The offices of Attorney General Steve Marshall handled the arrangements for Hamm’s settlement. However, there is no provision in state … Continued
April 2, 2018

Board of Registrar member accused of taping voter information to aid candidates, harm others

An ethics complaint was filed against a county board of registrar member in February after it was allegedly discovered that he was using his personal computer to tap into voting records. According to the ethics filing obtained by APR, Autauga County Board of Registrars’ Keith Kuzma, on several occasions, was witnessed linking his laptop directly to … Continued
April 2, 2018

Is leadership in the Alabama Legislature planning a bait-and-switch on HB317?

The wall is crumbling. Last week, a small group of senators held firm against an ethics bill, HB317, that would, among other things, exclude full-time and part-time “economic developers” from laws requiring them to register as lobbyists. Heading into what should be the final week of the 2018 session, sources say that small group has … Continued
March 27, 2018