Alabama ethics laws cripple researchers, universities
Our state needs to simplify our ethics rules to create more clarity to empower researchers, not restrict them.
ethics laws
Hanceville mayor indicted for misusing office
The longtime mayor of Hanceville, a former police officer, was indicted on 15 counts of using his office for personal gain.
Appeals Court upholds Limestone sheriff’s conviction
The former sheriff had asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to declare a mistrial after the AG's office hid an investigation of a witness.
Opinion
Opinion
Follow this topic to stay updated on recent posts.
See recent postsMike Hubbard has taught us nothing
Mike Hubbard is going to prison. There is no glee in those words. There’s nothing happy or satisfying about them. A man did wrong and now a family will be without a father and a wife without a husband, and we’ll have one more body wedged into an Alabama prison for a few years. Because … Continued
Opinion
Opinion
Follow this topic to stay updated on recent posts.
See recent postsEthics are dying and you don’t care
Alabamians don’t care about ethics. Just admit it. Or, actually, don’t even bother admitting it, because the evidence is quite clear. You don’t really care that much. Oh, sure, you say you do. Each election, when the pollsters start making calls asking you to rank what’s most important to you, you list ethics right up … Continued
Opinion
Opinion
Follow this topic to stay updated on recent posts.
See recent postsAlabama Supreme Court’s failure to act on Hubbard is jeopardizing other cases
The attorneys working for indicted Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely didn’t mince words Tuesday afternoon, following Blakely’s arraignment: They’re hoping the Alabama Supreme Court saves their client. Blakely loudly pleaded not guilty to the 12 felony ethics charges he faces, and his legal team undoubtedly will mount a defense to those specific charges. But before … Continued
Opinion
Opinion
Follow this topic to stay updated on recent posts.
See recent postsPoliticians didn’t corrupt Alabama’s government. You did.
Would it have been so bad to elect a few Democrats in Alabama last year? Before you answer — before your tribalism shines through and you pull on the Republican jersey and start chanting for your favorite team — let’s run through a few things. As things currently stand with our Alabama Legislature, you have … Continued
On two fronts: Ethics laws face challenges before Supreme Court and in Statehouse
Alabama’s ethics laws are under attack on two fronts. A bill moving through the Legislature would significantly loosen the state’s “toughest-in-the-nation” ethics rules, which govern the behavior of state officials, lawmakers, lobbyists and those who hire them. In the courts, though, another challenge is brewing. Former Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard — convicted on 12 … Continued
Opinion
Opinion
Follow this topic to stay updated on recent posts.
See recent postsNew bill would gut ethics laws — just like voters wanted
Congratulations, Alabama voters, you are about to free state lawmakers from the inconvenient restraints of ethics laws. A bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton and co-sponsored by Senate President Del Marsh would wipe out most of the current laws, freeing up lawmakers to again profit immensely from their public service jobs. Just like you voters … Continued
Opinion
Opinion
Follow this topic to stay updated on recent posts.
See recent postsEconomic developers seek expanded immunity from ethics law
Leaders of the state’s economic development community want a blanket exception to the state’s ethics laws that allow them to give and receive things of value to and from corporations — solicited tax dollars from state and local government all under a cloak of secrecy. Not only do they want this indiscriminate sanction for site … Continued