people

How Alabama’s civil forfeiture laws left a couple living in a storage shed

Teresa and Greg Almond are living in a storage shed. In their 50s, business owners and upstanding citizens, they live in a storage shed, are warmed by a propane heater and use solar panels to get a smidge of energy to power a small TV at night. They didn’t get there by personal mistakes. It … Continued

Josh Moon

April 4, 2019

Lottery constitutional amendment, enabling legislation filed

A constitutional amendment filed Tuesday morning by State Sen. Jim McClendon, if approved by the Legislature, will allow for the people to vote on a statewide lottery by this time next year. Polling data from multiple reputable sources finds that an overwhelming majority of voters wants an opportunity to vote yes or no on the … Continued

Bill Britt

March 19, 2019

Opinion

Community focused: Supporting state and local government

Last week, I was honored to host some of our local mayors, city councilmembers and city officials from Southwest Alabama in Washington to hear about what they do every day for our communities. I am a firm believer that the best people to run our towns and our communities are not the bureaucrats in Washington … Continued

Bradley Byrne

March 19, 2019

Opinion

Sir, here are your winnings: Let the people vote

When the Legislature returns to Montgomery on Tuesday to resume its regular session, State Sen. Dr. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, is expected to file a constitutional amendment to allow the people to vote on a lottery. Polling shows that a plurality of Alabamians want an opportunity to vote on a lottery. Further polling finds that an … Continued

Bill Britt

March 18, 2019

Lawmakers use exclusive enclave as launching pad for payday lending fight

Recently, two state lawmakers chose Jefferson County’s Mountain Brook neighborhood as a backdrop to introduce a payday lending reform bill. The legislation’s sponsor and co-sponsor are State Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, and State Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, respectively. According to a report of the event by al.com, “the lawmaker [Garrett] said he’d like to … Continued

Bill Britt

February 26, 2019

Opinion

Poarch Creek Indians believe Alabamians are fools and…

PCI Tribal Chief Stepanie Bryan penned an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser over the weekend in which she says the tribe supports a vote on a state-wide lottery. Bryan thinks the people of Alabama are fools and jackasses. After many “ours,” “us” and “we”s to make her argument sound as if she were a kindly … Continued

Bill Britt

February 25, 2019

Opinion

Despite Supreme Court ruling, Alabama’s civil forfeiture laws will remain awful

The U.S Supreme Court on Wednesday mandated an overhaul of how America’s police departments and courts handle the seizure of assets from people convicted of a crime — stating plainly that 8th amendment protections against excessive fines also apply to states. But don’t worry. Cops in Alabama are still free to take your stuff, crime … Continued

Josh Moon

February 21, 2019

Opinion

What we could be versus what we are

At a remarkable press conference today, Gov. Kay Ivey announced a massive spending plan that invests in the people of Alabama and draws on practices from the most successful areas of our state and country. All told, the state will spend nearly a billion dollars on a combination of initiatives, including investments of over $500 … Continued

Josh Moon

February 13, 2019

Opinion

Slain Birmingham officer needed our help

On Sunday, Birmingham Police Sergeant Wytasha Carter was shot and killed by some criminals who were apparently trying to break into cars. Carter died at the scene. His partner was also shot, and remains in critical condition at UAB Hospital. It was senseless. And stupid. And maddening. And not at all unpredictable. In fact, it’s … Continued

Josh Moon

January 14, 2019

Opinion

Want to fight public corruption? Start with the Alabama Ethics Commission

What can I do? That question has come to me more than a few times since I wrote Monday that the last line of defense between the public and political corruption are the people — an informed, active, engaged people. To be fair, it’s awful easy to sit behind a keyboard and say everyone should … Continued

Josh Moon

December 12, 2018