cruel

Over the last several months, Alabama has received an abundance of national attention; unfortunately, it has made the state look backwards, punitive and even cruel. Republican state lawmakers don’t seem to mind being the butt of the joke, but business leaders do care and are frustrated with the state always being a national punchline. Almost … Continued

The perception, if not the reality, is that there is nobody to take the late Sen. John McCain’s place in the U.S. Senate as a “maverick,” or whatever one wishes to call McCain. There is no doubt that McCain leaves a void. He had a reputation for “independence,” if nothing else, even if that’s an … Continued

Only once in the last two decades has an Alabama candidate for governor refused to debate their opponent, and he had something to hide. Gov. Ivey plans to be the second Republican gubernatorial candidate in a generation to dodge debating her Democrat opponent. Why? Every four years, since at least 1998, a Republican and a … Continued

For over half a century, abolitionists have wielded the United Kingdom’s conscientious, consistent, civilized opposition to capital punishment – in all cases and all circumstances – as a powerful argument to end the ignominious practice in their own countries and states, too. This may be about to end. In a fiery column for The Independent with a blistering chyron-style … Continued

By House Minority Leader Craig Ford Prisons could be the issue that defines the Alabama Legislature in 2017. Gov. Bentley has said he may call a special session to address the issue, and has indicated that he will revive the prison construction bill he first proposed in his 2016 State of the State address. In … Continued

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter The 2016 Regular Session has been adjourned sine die, Latin for, “without day” meaning, “without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing.” This may also signal the last day Michael G. Hubbard sits as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives. The brief reign of Speaker Hubbard … Continued