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Alabama Reflector
Former special counsel in Biden classified documents probe attacked by both sides in hearing
Former U.S. Justice Department special counsel Robert Hur on Tuesday defended from both Republican and Democratic critics on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee his conclusion that President Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents likely broke federal law but was not worthy of prosecution. Few new facts emerged from the acrimonious five-hour hearing. But Hur’s conclusions […] The post Former special counsel in Biden classified documents probe attacked by both sides in hearing appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Deep red Utah wants to keep voting by mail
When it comes to voting by mail, Utah is not your typical deep red state. In 2020, when many states scrambled to implement mail-in voting so voters had a safe way to cast a ballot during the pandemic, Utah already had a system. Republican conspiracy theories questioning the integrity of voting by mail in the tumultuous aftermath of the […] The post Deep red Utah wants to keep voting by mail appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama senator plans to file to consolidate occupational boards
An Alabama senator is planning to file a bill that would change the oversight structure of occupational boards in the state. The draft legislation, to be filed by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would create an Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Department of Labor. The executive director of the office would oversee some […] The post Alabama senator plans to file to consolidate occupational boards appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
‘Parental rights’ amendment gets out of Alabama House committee
A Republican House member who passed a “parental rights” law last year wants to put that law in the Alabama Constitution. The Alabama House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee Wednesday approved HB 98, sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Paschal, R-Pelham, a constitutional amendment that would state that parents have “a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, […] The post ‘Parental rights’ amendment gets out of Alabama House committee appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. Veterans Affairs Department expands IVF access to unmarried and same-sex veterans
WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs expanded access to in vitro fertilization on Monday, saying that eligible unmarried veterans and veterans in same-sex marriages can now access IVF at VA health care facilities. The announcement notes that federal law requires the VA only provide IVF treatments to veterans whose issues having children are due […] The post U.S. Veterans Affairs Department expands IVF access to unmarried and same-sex veterans appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to resign at the end of March
WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge announced Monday she is stepping down from the agency. In an exclusive interview with USA Today, Fudge said she would leave March 22 to retire after nearly 50 years of public service. Fudge, 71, was the second Black woman to run the agency. […] The post HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge to resign at the end of March appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Five major takeaways from the Biden budget request
President Joe Biden’s budget request for fiscal 2025 would continue several administration goals to lower costs for most families while raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, spend on climate initiatives and provide aid to U.S. partners abroad. The $7.266 trillion budget request that calls for expanding the child tax credit, funding overseas partners and […] The post Five major takeaways from the Biden budget request appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Rep. John Rogers agrees to plea deal, will resign from Alabama House
Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham has reached a plea deal over allegations that he diverted public money for a youth baseball league to an associate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the Northern District of Alabama said on Monday. The office said Rogers, 83, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and […] The post Rep. John Rogers agrees to plea deal, will resign from Alabama House appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals
Worried about hospitals closing and higher costs for patients, state lawmakers are increasingly tangling with hospitals over potential health care mergers, in some cases derailing deals they think don’t serve the public interest. Financially strapped hospitals often look to merge with or be acquired by other systems. After a pandemic-era slowdown, health care mergers and […] The post Facing public backlash, some health care companies are abandoning hospital deals appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama passed a new IVF law. But questions remain.
The Alabama Legislature passed a bill last week to restart in vitro fertilization (IVF) services in the state. But the clinic at the center of the Alabama Supreme Court case that put IVF in jeopardy said it’s not clear that the law is enough. “At this time, we believe the law falls short of addressing […] The post Alabama passed a new IVF law. But questions remain. appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Katie Britt and the unreality of Alabama immigration rhetoric
Imagine if Alabama politicians started treating geothermal energy as a crisis. And not just criticizing particular practices or businesses. We’re talking about a heat pump apocalypse. Introducing legislation to criminalize steam. Storming library board meetings and demanding the removal of any book with the phrase “hot springs.” Using Hot Springs, Arkansas as a snickering shorthand […] The post Katie Britt and the unreality of Alabama immigration rhetoric appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Both of these women needed to end their pregnancies. Only one got to do it on her terms.
Editor’s note: This is another installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. Jennifer Vollstedt and Ariel Cavanaugh-Okhah have never met, but they are connected by fatal chromosomal abnormalities that affected their wanted pregnancies, […] The post Both of these women needed to end their pregnancies. Only one got to do it on her terms. appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Looking toward November, Biden targets ‘shrinkflation’ in State of the Union speech
The White House retweeted Cookie Monster about it. The president made his own Super Bowl video about it. And then President Joe Biden made it a point in his State of the Union speech: “Shrinkflation” must be stopped. Biden said Thursday during his annual address that he is taking on corporations that are making more […] The post Looking toward November, Biden targets ‘shrinkflation’ in State of the Union speech appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. Senate sends Biden giant spending package hours before midnight deadline
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators on Friday cleared a bipartisan spending package for President Joe Biden’s signature, completing work on half of the annual bills that were supposed to become law by Oct. 1. The $468 billion spending legislation rolls together the Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD spending bills into a so-called “minibus.” […] The post U.S. Senate sends Biden giant spending package hours before midnight deadline appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Involuntary manslaughter trial begins for father of Michigan High School shooter
This story originally appeared on Michigan Advance. James Crumbley bought a gun for his 15-year-old son in 2021 that his son used days later to open fire at Oxford High School, killing four students and injuring others at the school. Now, Crumbley is sitting in trial this week as the prosecution argues that he bears […] The post Involuntary manslaughter trial begins for father of Michigan High School shooter appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: March 5-7, 2024
Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House HB 170, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, alters the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Jackson’s Gap in Tallapoosa County. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 231, sponsored by Rep. Ivan Smith, R- […] The post What passed in the Alabama Legislature: March 5-7, 2024 appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate passes stripped-down gambling legislation
The Alabama Senate Thursday approved gambling legislation from the House of Representatives, but only after making substantial changes to it. HB 151 and HB 152, both sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, originally created a lottery and a state gambling commission and allowed casino gaming and sports wagering at seven different locations in the […] The post Alabama Senate passes stripped-down gambling legislation appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House approves bill criminalizing some absentee ballot assistance
The Alabama House Tuesday passed a bill that would criminalize some forms of absentee voting assistance. SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, would make it illegal for someone to “knowingly” provide an absentee ballot application with pre-filled information, with exceptions for emergency medical care. It would also make it a Class B felony, […] The post Alabama House approves bill criminalizing some absentee ballot assistance appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama’s Britt blasts Biden on economy, immigration in GOP State of the Union reply
First-term U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night, and laid blame on Biden for a host of national and international crises — what she said is chaos at the border, in cities, in the economy and among U.S. allies. Britt stuck […] The post Alabama’s Britt blasts Biden on economy, immigration in GOP State of the Union reply 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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