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Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements
This story originally appeared on Stateline. Two decades ago, Jeff Beisecker and his family returned to Great Falls, Montana, from a religious mission to the Philippines. Beisecker had no health insurance and no steady source of income, and neither did his wife. Fearful of being without coverage, Beisecker enrolled himself, his wife and their four […] The post Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
What Mercedes workers are looking for as a union vote approaches
VANCE — Brett Garrard wishes that he had more work-life balance. His wife has Stage 4 cancer and undergoes chemotherapy every three weeks. He wants to go to his step-kids’ sports games. But his work schedule keeps changing. He can’t get a solid sleep schedule. “When we had a three shift model I worked what […] The post What Mercedes workers are looking for as a union vote approaches appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Key no vote on Alabama gambling bill suggests looking to next year
A stalled gambling package in the Senate could be dead unless a member flips their vote or there’s “some real fancy jumping through hoops,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said Monday. Albritton, who handled the package in the Senate but ultimately ended up voting against it, said that unless the Senate can get unanimous consent to […] The post Key no vote on Alabama gambling bill suggests looking to next year appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Senators criticize Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission; one calls it a ‘money pit’
The head of the Senate’s General Fund budget committee last week vented frustration at the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission’s legal woes. Speaking at Thursday’s Contract Review Committee meeting, Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, the chair of the Senate’s Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, said the ongoing litigation over the commission’s licensing process had turned it […] The post Senators criticize Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission; one calls it a ‘money pit’ appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Pulitzer Board recognizes Alabama Reflector editor in commentary category
Brian Lyman, in his welcome column, launched States Newsroom’s Alabama outlet with these words: “The pain and promise of Alabama collide on Dexter Avenue, the heart of Montgomery.” The Alabama Reflector’s founding editor, he’d spent a lot of his 24-year journalism career as a reporter covering the state’s politics. And, he joked, he hadn’t penned […] The post Pulitzer Board recognizes Alabama Reflector editor in commentary category appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene huddles with U.S. House speaker she’s trying to oust
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene plan to meet privately Tuesday amid her calls for him to resign or face a floor vote that could, but likely won’t, remove the Louisiana Republican from leadership. Greene announced the meeting Monday evening after she and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie met […] The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene huddles with U.S. House speaker she’s trying to oust appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Though noncitizens can vote in few local elections, GOP goes big to make it illegal
This story originally appeared on Stateline. Preventing people who are not United States citizens from casting a ballot has reemerged as a focal point in the ongoing Republican drive to safeguard “election integrity,” even though noncitizens are rarely involved in voter fraud. Ahead of November’s presidential election, congressional and state Republican lawmakers are aiming to […] The post Though noncitizens can vote in few local elections, GOP goes big to make it illegal appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House approves mandatory response times for public records requests
The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday approved a bill that would require state agencies to respond to open records requests within a set period of time. SB 270, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, passed the chamber 101-0. The bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence with House changes or a conference committee. Alabama […] The post Alabama House approves mandatory response times for public records requests appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Doesn’t Shelby County have actual problems to address?
If someone handed you sheets of Census data on Shelby County, it wouldn’t take long to see how fast it’s growing. The population jumped 14% between 2010 and 2020. That’s a number most governments would throw an Animal House-type celebration over. But in Shelby, it represented a fall from the 36% growth of the decade […] The post Doesn’t Shelby County have actual problems to address? appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
From crowded to quiet: Inside a clinic as Florida bans abortions after six weeks
This story was originally published by The 19th. JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Anna’s period was only three days late when she took a pregnancy test just over a week ago. When she saw the positive result, she knew she wanted an abortion. A hospitality worker in north Florida, Anna earns barely $2,000 a month. She had only […] The post From crowded to quiet: Inside a clinic as Florida bans abortions after six weeks appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Plummeting balance in federal crime victims fund sparks alarm among states, advocates
WASHINGTON — States and local organizations that aid victims of sexual assault and other crimes are raising the alarm about a multi-year plunge in funds, a major problem they say Congress must fix soon or programs will be forced to set up wait lists or turn victims away altogether. Affected are rape crisis centers, domestic […] The post Plummeting balance in federal crime victims fund sparks alarm among states, advocates appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 30-May 2, 2024
Here is a list of the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House HB 474, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, authorizes any local governing body to enforce the prohibition against exhibition driving through the use of automated photographic or video traffic enforcement systems. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. […] The post What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 30-May 2, 2024 appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Doctors plead with Congress to help improve U.S. maternal mortality rates
WASHINGTON — Doctors on Thursday urged Congress to pass legislation addressing the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality throughout the country and to lower barriers that have hindered people of color from becoming medical professionals. During a hearing in the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, a panel of five medical professionals detailed […] The post Doctors plead with Congress to help improve U.S. maternal mortality rates appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Gambling bills stalled in Senate as Alabama Legislature nears adjournment
Two days after a gambling package stalled in the Alabama Senate amid unexpected opposition and unusual procedural outcomes the legislation appeared to be back in parliamentary limbo. Senators said Thursday that the front lines had not budged on the measure, despite what many said were heavy lobbying efforts from supporters and opponents. “50% of them say thank you, 50% […] The post Gambling bills stalled in Senate as Alabama Legislature nears adjournment appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House approves $3.3 billion General Fund budget
The Alabama House of Representatives Thursday approved a $3.3 billion General Fund budget for 2025 with a 2% raise for state employees and a $253 million supplemental funding bill for the current fiscal year. Representatives approved a substitute developed by the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. “Your substitute mainly focused on going back […] The post Alabama House approves $3.3 billion General Fund budget appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate approves $9.3 billion education budget with employee pay raises
The Alabama Senate Thursday approved a $9.3 billion education budget for 2025 that includes pay raises for school employees and increases funding for most education programs. The budget is $549.9 million (6.8%) higher than the 2024 Education Trust Fund. The Senate also approved a supplemental bill allocating $651 million to education programs and schools in […] The post Alabama Senate approves $9.3 billion education budget with employee pay raises appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate passes — then kills — parental leave bill for school employees
The Alabama Senate Thursday voted for a bill that would extend eight weeks of parental leave to education employees. Then the chamber’s leader killed it. SB 305, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, would require local boards of education to provide paid parental leave for birth, adoption, miscarriage or stillbirth. “Right now, the women working for […] The post Alabama Senate passes — then kills — parental leave bill for school employees appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill to keep Joe Biden on November ballot
The Alabama House of Representatives Wednesday approved legislation to ensure that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will appear on the November ballot in Alabama. SB 324, sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, reduces the number of days that a political party must certify the names of candidates 74 days prior to […] The post Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill to keep Joe Biden on November ballot appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
House Judiciary Committee passes bill for Alabama parole applicants to attend hearings
The Alabama House Judiciary Committee Thursday approved a bill allowing parole applicants to participate in their parole hearings after a legislator delayed a vote on Wednesday. SB 312, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, requires the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to allow applicants to participate in parole board hearings virtually through video […] The post House Judiciary Committee passes bill for Alabama parole applicants to attend hearings appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden responded Thursday to weeks of protest on college campuses calling for a ceasefire in Gaza with a brief statement that the right to protest should be protected, but “not the right to cause chaos.” “We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent,” Biden said from […] The post Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza 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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