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News / Courts / State

Federal ruling allows Alabama Census lawsuit to proceed

A lawsuit filed by the state of Alabama against several federal departments has been allowed to proceed after a federal district court denied a federal government motion to drop the case. Attorney General Marshall and U.S. Rep. Brook filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Bureau in May 2018, arguing … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

June 7, 2019

Opinion

An act of Congress

A good many people wonder why simple, straightforward, no-nonsense, good-government legislation fails to pass even though it appears to have universal and overwhelming support and appeal for many voters and legislators. You will recall old sayings that you heard from your elders when you were young. Old bits of wisdom spouted from the lips of … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 29, 2019

Opinion

Growing votes or harvesting votes

A vote is and should be treated as a sacred right of every eligible American. The 26th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Section One states: “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by … Continued

John W. Giles

May 8, 2019

Opinion

Alabama should wait and watch before considering Medicaid expansion

If only Alabama’s leaders had a magical Medicaid “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, so they could flip ahead and see the different outcomes we could expect by expanding the government insurance program that was originally designed for the poor and disabled. Would it end in a stronger economy, more jobs and a vibrant system of … Continued

J. Pepper Bryars

April 30, 2019

Opinion

Promises give way to buzzards’ feast

Just east of I-65 on the way into Montgomery this week, buzzards circled overhead as Buffalo Springfield’s ’60s protest song, “For What It’s Worth,” played on satellite radio. Perhaps a fitting omen for a legislative session that has so far seen little in the way of actual proposals that benefit the people of Alabama. What … Continued

Bill Britt

April 18, 2019

Opinion

One voice can create a ripple

Think about being 18 and having to fight in a war you had no say in because you were too young to vote. Think about not being able to have a say in government because of your skin color or sex. Voting is a fundamental right, but it has not always been that way. People … Continued

League of Women Voters Birmingham

March 28, 2019

Alabama Media Professionals support legislation making it a federal crime to attack a journalist

Thursday, the Alabama Media Professionals (AMP) passed a resolution supporting federal legislation that would make is a federal crime to assault or murder a member of the press. The AMP was holding their regular monthly meeting at the Homewood Public Library. The National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) has already passed a resolution supporting the … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 15, 2019

Opinion

A straight lottery is great for the Poarch Creeks, not so great for the rest of Alabama

In Michigan in 2017, the state’s 19 tribal casinos contributed roughly $97 million worth of their profits to state and local government entities — their end of tribal-state gaming compacts. Also in 2017, just three commercial casinos in Detroit sent nearly $300 million to state and local coffers — their end of standard taxes applied … Continued

Josh Moon

February 26, 2019

Opinion

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

Steve Flowers

January 30, 2019

Opinion

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

Steve Flowers

January 9, 2019