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Alabama Reflector
Why are our leaders arguing for measles outbreaks?
Measles can do a lot more than give a child a rash. It can start a 104 degree fever and cause eye-swelling. About 10% of kids who get measles get ear infections. About 20% of people who contract measles go to the hospital. Five percent develop pneumonia. (If a child dies from measles, it’s often […] The post Why are our leaders arguing for measles outbreaks? appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula
As the summer travel season approaches, new parents may be navigating airports with their babies — and the complexities of keeping them fed. Despite federal guidelines for airport agents laying out how to treat nursing moms, stories about problem encounters with security sometimes go viral. In 2023, actress and singer Keke Palmer said she was […] The post A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients
WASHINGTON — When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldn’t transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasn’t expecting congressional action to solve the problem. He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States […] The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Death of Juneteenth bill in Alabama Legislature sparks accusations
A bill that would have made Juneteenth a state holiday died in the Alabama Legislature, leading to accusations from the sponsor about the reasons why. HB 4, sponsored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, would have made Juneteenth, commemorating the end of American slavery, a state holiday. The legislation would not have created a mandatory day […] The post Death of Juneteenth bill in Alabama Legislature sparks accusations appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law
WASHINGTON — Doctors from throughout the country posted a public letter this week, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure health care professionals can perform abortions in every state when that procedure is essential “stabilizing treatment” under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Thousands of doctors, organized by the advocacy group The Committee […] The post Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
UAW files objections to Mercedes-Benz union vote
The National Labor Relations Board said Friday afternoon it had received a complaint from the United Auto Workers about last week’s union election at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance. Mercedes-Benz employees rejected the union on a 56% to 44% vote after a months-long campaign that sparked a strong push back from state officials. The NLRB […] The post UAW files objections to Mercedes-Benz union vote appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Farm bill advances from U.S. House panel but faces a tough road to hoe
WASHINGTON — Republicans moved their long-awaited new farm bill through the U.S. House Agriculture Committee this week, despite opposition from most Democrats that could stall further advancement of the bill. The massive $1.5 trillion legislation would set policy and funding levels for key food, agriculture and conservation programs for the next five years. After a […] The post Farm bill advances from U.S. House panel but faces a tough road to hoe appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
EPA formally denies Alabama’s plan for coal ash waste
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter here. MOBILE — The Environmental Protection Agency has formally denied Alabama’s plan to allow Alabama Power and other utilities to continue storing toxic coal ash in unlined […] The post EPA formally denies Alabama’s plan for coal ash waste appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Federal judge mulls delay of trial on Alabama’s transgender medical care ban
A federal judge Thursday weighed arguments on whether to move to a trial over Alabama’s ban on gender-affirming medical care for individuals under the age of 19. During a roughly three-and-half-hour hearing Thursday, attorneys for the state and for transgender children and their families suing over the law considered the merits of moving forward while […] The post Federal judge mulls delay of trial on Alabama’s transgender medical care ban appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission says backlog has been reduced
The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission (ACVCC)will receive $1.5 million from the General Fund budget next year as it continues to reduce a backlog of claims. The amount represents level funding for the agency, which first received General Fund money last year as its traditional revenue sources – fines and fees – declined and its […] The post Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission says backlog has been reduced appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Congress, campaigns engage in tug-of-war over gas prices as summer travel begins
WASHINGTON — As Democrats continue to ramp up their push against the oil industry, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others on Thursday called out Big Oil companies and their executives for high gas prices heading into the heavily traveled Memorial Day weekend. Republicans in turn have blamed President Joe Biden’s energy policies for high […] The post Congress, campaigns engage in tug-of-war over gas prices as summer travel begins appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to November’s elections. The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package […] The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor. The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals […] The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help.
Groups that assist crime victims across the United States are bracing for significant financial pain after the amount available from a major federal victim services fund plunged $700 million this year. Congress recently lowered spending to $1.2 billion from the fund, which provides grants to nonprofit and local programs across the country. This latest round […] The post Crime victims may get fewer services as federal aid drops. States weigh how to help. appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
As judicial fights get tougher, Southern Poverty Law Center looks to advocacy training
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Alabama office is developing a program to train people in the state to advocate for issues within their communities. Up to 15 participants will be selected for an Advocacy Institute that will offer lessons for those supporting change at the local level, community organizing and connecting people with tools, resources, […] The post As judicial fights get tougher, Southern Poverty Law Center looks to advocacy training appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
A eulogy for Birmingham-Southern College
What happens to a college when it dies? What happens to its alumni? What happens to the memories the sacred site stores? What happens to its soul? Is it tainted somehow, corrupted by its demise, cheapened? Or do the bittersweet memories become even more important — augmented through the agony — something we will never […] The post A eulogy for Birmingham-Southern College appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year
WASHINGTON — Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law. The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldn’t […] The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
USDA chief voices ‘deep concerns’ over U.S. House GOP farm bill’s nutrition cuts
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and “raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.” The massive five-year […] The post USDA chief voices ‘deep concerns’ over U.S. House GOP farm bill’s nutrition cuts appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators will go on record next month with whether they support legislation from Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception — a right currently upheld by two Supreme Court cases, but one that has been singled out by a conservative justice. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced Wednesday […] The post Members of the U.S. Senate face a vote on whether they support contraception access appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions
Natasha Jackson was four months pregnant when she told her supervisor she was expecting. It was 2008, and Jackson was an account executive at a rental furniture store in Charleston, South Carolina — the only female employee there. “I actually hid my pregnancy as long as I could because I was scared about what could […] The post New rules protect pregnant workers, but red states sue over abortion provisions 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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