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Alabama law enforcement agencies unveil new victim notification system
Multiple law enforcement agencies Wednesday unveiled a revamped victim notification system allowing people to get notices of parole hearings and pending releases for those convicted of violent crimes. “We want the public to know about this project, and for victims and interested parties to sign up in the victim notification system,” said Darlene Hutchinson Biehl, […] The post Alabama law enforcement agencies unveil new victim notification system appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Nurture curiosity, not censorship
My wedding cake was crafted to resemble a stack of books. As you can imagine, my family is full of book lovers. So it’s hit us particularly hard that Alabama’s libraries have come under serious scrutiny and are receiving undeserved ire. As the mother of a four-year-old, I do not believe proposed changes to the state library code are […] The post Nurture curiosity, not censorship appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Bill to overhaul felony murder charges rejected by Alabama House committee
The House Judiciary Committee Wednesday rejected a bill that would have prevented a person from being charged with murder if the victim was involved in a crime. “We are still going to continue to work,” Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, the sponsor of the bill, said in an interview after the meeting. “I think there is […] The post Bill to overhaul felony murder charges rejected by Alabama House committee appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Fed declines to cut interest rates, saying it’s not clear inflation has slowed enough yet
The Federal Reserve declined Wednesday to cut interest rates, saying it remains uncertain inflation is slowing enough, but some economists warned the financial regulators risk waiting too long to make cuts. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed has a lack of sufficient data that inflation is slowing enough to justify taking the pressure off […] The post Fed declines to cut interest rates, saying it’s not clear inflation has slowed enough yet appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House committee approves bill banning mask mandates
The Alabama House Health Committee Wednesday approved a bill that would prevent the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and certain state government entities from enacting mask mandates. HB 158, sponsored by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville, would bar governmental entities and the state health officer from imposing a “face mask mandate to prevent the spread […] The post Alabama House committee approves bill banning mask mandates appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill to limit public funds for DEI, use of ‘divisive concepts’ in Alabama
Gov. Kay Ivey Wednesday signed a bill limiting the use of public funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and limiting the ability of public employees to discuss so-called “divisive concepts.” In a statement Wednesday, Ivey wrote that she and her administration valued “Alabama’s rich diversity,” but she wanted to prevent people on college […] The post Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill to limit public funds for DEI, use of ‘divisive concepts’ in Alabama appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House committee approves Birmingham-Southern College loan bill
An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill aimed at extending a financial lifeline to Birmingham-Southern College, but not before adopting some significant amendments to the legislation. SB 31, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, makes changes to the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program, a law enacted last year to shore […] The post Alabama House committee approves Birmingham-Southern College loan bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House committee OKs bills creating new fines and fees, increasing existing one
The Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Wednesday passed two bills to increase the fines and fees that Alabama residents could pay. HB 315, sponsored by Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, increases the fine for people who violate the state’s Move Over Law when driving along Alabama’s roads by $100. “A towing company in […] The post Alabama House committee OKs bills creating new fines and fees, increasing existing one appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Congress struggles to finish work on spending bills as another Friday deadline nears
WASHINGTON — Congressional staff were scrambling Wednesday to finalize sweeping legislation that would fund much of the federal government, but time was running short ahead of a Friday midnight deadline. Leaders of the House and Senate and the Biden administration announced Tuesday they’d reached consensus on the final six government funding bills for the fiscal […] The post Congress struggles to finish work on spending bills as another Friday deadline nears appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Texas’ new immigration law is blocked again
This story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. A federal appeals court late Tuesday night stopped a state law allowing Texas police to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border — hours after the U.S. Supreme Court had allowed it to go into effect. Earlier in the day, the high court had allowed […] The post Texas’ new immigration law is blocked again appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Birmingham-Southern College loan bill sparks sharp debate in House committee
The House Ways and Means Education Committee Tuesday heard a sharp debate over a bill intended to throw a financial lifeline to Birmingham-Southern College (BSC). SB 31, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, alters the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program, approved by the Legislature last year by requiring the approval of […] The post Birmingham-Southern College loan bill sparks sharp debate in House committee appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Trump, GOP-led states argue presidential immunity claim to Supreme Court
Former President Donald Trump renewed his call to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to dismiss charges against him, asserting that presidents enjoy near-total immunity from criminal prosecution. In addition, as a deadline loomed for briefs in the case, 18 Republican-led states filed an amicus brief Tuesday urging the Supreme Court to reverse the lower […] The post Trump, GOP-led states argue presidential immunity claim to Supreme Court appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama’s anti-DEI bill would undermine higher education
“Ignorance is more costly to any state than education.” So said Booker T. Washington, founding president of Alabama’s Tuskegee University, one of the most distinguished historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the country. While a private, land-grant institution today, Tuskegee was chartered in 1881 by the Alabama Legislature. As a former president of Tuskegee, […] The post Alabama’s anti-DEI bill would undermine higher education appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate sends anti-DEI, absentee ballot bills to Gov. Kay Ivey
The Alabama Senate sent two controversial bills to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk on Tuesday. The chamber concurred in House changes to SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, that would prohibit any payment for assistance in absentee ballot applications or to “knowingly” provide an absentee ballot with pre-filled information. Gudger said the purpose of […] The post Alabama Senate sends anti-DEI, absentee ballot bills to Gov. Kay Ivey appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House OKs pay increase for attorneys representing indigent clients
The Alabama House Tuesday approved a bill that would provide more money for attorneys representing indigent clients. HB 275, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, would raise the hourly rate for lawyers representing defendants who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers. “For years, since 2011, the hourly rate has been $70 per hour, in […] The post Alabama House OKs pay increase for attorneys representing indigent clients appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House bill would extend paid parental leave to state employees
The Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Tuesday approved a bill to give up to eight weeks of parental leave to state employees. HB 309, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, would provide up to eight weeks for parents for the birth of a child or adoption of a child under the age […] The post Alabama House bill would extend paid parental leave to state employees appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
States rethink ambitious projects as tax revenues shrink and pandemic aid ends
From health care for immigrants in California to universal school vouchers in Tennessee, states are being forced to rethink expensive projects as tax revenues decline and federal pandemic aid ends. State tax revenue fell last year by 4%, according to a Stateline analysis of U.S. Census Bureau estimates released this month. Revenue is still up […] The post States rethink ambitious projects as tax revenues shrink and pandemic aid ends appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
What’s happening with gambling? No one in the Alabama Legislature knows
When it started in the Alabama House of Representatives earlier this year, a package of gambling bills would have created a lottery; allowed casino gambling and sports betting, and directed Gov. Kay Ivey to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, a federally recognized tribe that operates casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and […] The post What’s happening with gambling? No one in the Alabama Legislature knows appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Huntsville-area voters to choose state representative in rare competitive race
Next Tuesday will feature something rare in Alabama: a competitive legislative election. The contest will take place in House District 10, covering south Huntsville, southern Madison County and parts of Madison. Madison City Councilman Teddy Powell, the Republican nominee, will face Democratic nominee Marilyn Lands, who ran in 2022. The seat opened after former Rep. […] The post Huntsville-area voters to choose state representative in rare competitive race appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
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The Alabama Reflector is an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in our state. We look at the problems affecting Alabamians, and search for solutions. We connect readers with the decisions made in the hallways of the State House and try to give a voice to those outside it. We write stories about people in power and men and women on the margins. We hope to reflect what our home is, and what it could be. Alabama Reflector is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Reflector retains full editorial independence.
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