Josh Moon

News

State takeover of Montgomery schools approved

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The State intervention into Montgomery’s public school system is a go. State School Board members approved a plan from State Superintendent Michael Sentance on Thursday to take over the troubled system. That plan, for now, will essentially split the system into two districts, giving the Alabama State Department of … Continued

Josh Moon

February 9, 2017

Opinion

The terrible optics of appointing Strange to the US Senate

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Gov. Robert Bentley announced Thursday morning that any attorney general’s office investigation into his possible misdeeds is now over. The Governor didn’t use those exact words. Instead, he said he was appointing AG Luther Strange to take over the US Senate seat vacated by new US Attorney General Jeff … Continued

Josh Moon

February 9, 2017

Opinion

The phoniness of the State House

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter It’s the phoniness of politics that bothers people the most, I think. The corruption is bad. The pettiness is sometimes just silly. But the phoniness surrounding politics is never-ending, all-consuming and unavoidable. And it’s almost unbearable to endure silently at times. Take Wednesday afternoon at Alabama’s State House, for … Continued

Josh Moon

February 9, 2017

Opinion

State of the State: Prisons, Pre-K and random Olympic tales

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Did you know that in the 1960 Summer Olympics, an underdog Ethiopian runner named Abebe Bikila overcame the ridicule of his peers for running marathons barefoot to win the 1960 marathon and set a new world record? Why am I telling you this? No idea. But using Olympic stories … Continued

Josh Moon

February 8, 2017

Opinion

A letter to GOP voters: You’re being conned

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Dear Republican voter, You’re a fool. I say that in the nicest possible way. I say that with a tone of pity, instead of a tone of condescension. I say that because I want to help you, and in turn help all the rest of us. But mostly I … Continued

Josh Moon

February 7, 2017

Alabama’s gambling fight, Part III: Confusion in the courts

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Standing just outside of his lobbying office in Birmingham, former Gov. Bob Riley is shaking his head at my question, and smiling as if to indicate what I’m asking is possibly the craziest thing in the world. Except, what I’m asking isn’t the craziest thing in the world. What … Continued

Josh Moon

February 3, 2017

Opinion

Robert Bentley: The Magician

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Robert Bentley has a career waiting on him when this governor deal wraps up. Magician. Because the guy is making more stuff disappear than David Blaine lately. $300,000 in campaign cash? Abracadabra, poof, gone! The committee to impeach him? Vanished! Luther Strange’s integrity? Zipped! A 50-year marriage? Gone! The … Continued

Josh Moon

February 2, 2017

ALEA secretary wants to more than double agency’s budget

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Stan Stabler left lawmakers at a joint budget committee hearing on Tuesday flabbergasted, when he requested to more than double the agency’s budget in 2017. It took Stabler until nearly the end of his lengthy presentation before he revealed to legislators that ALEA needs … Continued

Josh Moon

February 1, 2017

Medicaid Chief paints dire picture

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Medicaid needs more money. No, this isn’t a reprint of a news story from last fall. It’s the reality once again for the State’s beleaguered Medicaid office. A few months after requiring a special session to dig up $105 million in BP oil spill money to keep Medicaid afloat, … Continued

Josh Moon

January 31, 2017

Opinion

The coward’s way

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter Know a sentence you never hear anyone say? “Boy, that discrimination really worked out for us.” Think about it. Thousands of years of discrimination based on race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation and heritage, but no one ever looks back on any of it and thinks about how great … Continued

Josh Moon

January 30, 2017