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Alabama Reflector
2nd Congressional District: Anthony Daniels focuses on economic development
This is the first in a series of profiles of the candidates in the April 16 2nd Congressional District runoff. Tomorrow: Attorney Shomari Figures. Anthony Daniels said that he can represent the wide array of people in Alabama’s new 2nd Congressional District because he has experience doing so. As the Alabama House Minority Leader, he […] The post 2nd Congressional District: Anthony Daniels focuses on economic development appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama General Fund budget could reach Senate floor this week
The General Fund budget proposal for the 2024-2025 fiscal year could come to a vote in the Alabama Senate on Wednesday, the budget chair said. Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Chair Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said he “got busy” last week after the budget, which provides funding for most non-education services in the state, appeared […] The post Alabama General Fund budget could reach Senate floor this week appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Fatal anomaly exception didn’t spare Alabama mom who needed an abortion
Editor’s note: This is the fourth 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. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, and the third is here. Kelly Shannon was […] The post Fatal anomaly exception didn’t spare Alabama mom who needed an abortion appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
HHS increases loan forgiveness for OBs, midwives who practice in rural areas
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday a $25,000 increase in loan forgiveness available to primary care providers in designated underserved areas. That means qualifying individuals are eligible for up to $75,000 in forgiveness if they commit to two full-time years of service. The amount is available to medical and osteopathic doctors, […] The post HHS increases loan forgiveness for OBs, midwives who practice in rural areas appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Trump says abortion policy should be left to the states, backing away from national ban
WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced a shift in his views on abortion laws Monday, releasing a video advocating for state legislatures to make those decisions, not Congress — and was immediately met with strong criticism from an influential anti-abortion group that said it should remain a national debate. “My view is now […] The post Trump says abortion policy should be left to the states, backing away from national ban appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Can Pete Buttigieg’s visit to Shiloh help the flooded Black community?
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. COFFEE COUNTY, Ala.—By now, Pastor Timothy Williams could lead the tour blindfolded. It begins at his own home, its roof nearly level with the highway a […] The post Can Pete Buttigieg’s visit to Shiloh help the flooded Black community? appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Biden proposes new student debt relief plan for millions of borrowers
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Monday will announce the rollout of a student debt forgiveness proposal that the White House believes is narrowly targeted enough to survive legal challenges. The plan, if finalized, would include a one-time cancellation of all accrued interest for 23 million borrowers. It would also cancel the full amount of […] The post Biden proposes new student debt relief plan for millions of borrowers appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House Republicans kill ‘second chance’ bill
Alabama House Republicans Thursday sank a bill that would have given some people serving life in prison under the state’s Habitual Offender Law a chance to have their convictions reviewed. HB 29, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would allow those who received a final sentence in a trial court before May 26, 2000 to […] The post Alabama House Republicans kill ‘second chance’ bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
They want silence around Rosa Parks
The Rosa Parks statue in Montgomery’s Court Square is not what you expect from a monument. That’s why I love it. There’s no pedestal. No stage. Nothing separating the viewer from Parks. It’s a life-sized and human-scaled depiction of a civil rights hero. This is no divinely ordained messenger walking in the sky above us. […] The post They want silence around Rosa Parks appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
House Judiciary Committee wants changes to medical parole bill
The House Judiciary Committee Wednesday delayed consideration of a bill that would allow the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to take medical conditions into account when making parole decisions. HB 299, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, was referred to a subcommittee for further review after members expressed discomfort with some of the provisions […] The post House Judiciary Committee wants changes to medical parole bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states
With polls showing unauthorized immigration as Republicans’ best issue for the fall, the GOP is looking to raise the alarm about voting by non-citizens and the undocumented. The multi-pronged effort has been advanced in congressional legislation, public statements by top election officials and U.S. senators, plans produced by grassroots activists, and posts on X by […] The post GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Mobile Bridge and Bayway project to be delayed by two months
Work on the Mobile Bridge and Bayway project will be held up for a couple of months as state and local officials review possibilities for reducing the cost of the construction project. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), along with the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization, said in a […] The post Mobile Bridge and Bayway project to be delayed by two months appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Former Prattville library director sues governing board over termination
The former director of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library sued the library’s governing board this week, alleging his termination came after the board violated Alabama’s Open Meetings Act. Andrew Foster’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Autauga County Circuit Court, came just over two weeks after the Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board of Trustees fired him at a March […] The post Former Prattville library director sues governing board over termination appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 2-4, 2024
Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House of Representatives HB 89, sponsored by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Hills, would move appointments of the Shelby County Library Board from a popular vote to appointments by the Shelby County legislative delegation. The bill passed 20-0. It goes to the Senate. […] The post What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 2-4, 2024 appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
To close racial gap in maternal health, some states take aim at ‘implicit bias’
This story originally appeared on Stateline. Countless times, Kenda Sutton-El, a Virginia doula, has witnessed her Black pregnant clients being dismissed or ignored by clinicians. One woman was told by doctors that swelling, pain and warmth in her leg was normal, despite warning the clinicians that she had a history of blood clots. Sutton-El urged […] The post To close racial gap in maternal health, some states take aim at ‘implicit bias’ appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
UAW says it will call for union election at Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance
The United Auto Workers said Friday that a “supermajority” of workers at Mercedes-Benz’s factory in Vance had signed a petition calling for a union election at the plant. In a statement Friday morning, the UAW that it would apply to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote on a union as soon as […] The post UAW says it will call for union election at Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama committee approves $1 million in legal contracts for ADOC
The Contract Review Committee approved five legal contracts for the Alabama Department of Corrections totaling $1 million to defend corrections officers accused of violence or neglect that led to the deaths of incarcerated people. Each two-year contract is worth $200,000 at a rate of $195 per hour. The five contracts went to three attorneys. Clay […] The post Alabama committee approves $1 million in legal contracts for ADOC appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate approves bill establishing student exclusion policies
The Alabama Senate Thursday approved legislation that would create procedures for excluding students from classrooms. SB157, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, passed with unanimous approval from the chamber, though Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greenesboro, said he has “reservations.” “This bill is to try to support educators in the classroom,” said Orr. Under the bill, […] The post Alabama Senate approves bill establishing student exclusion policies appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
An 1873 law banned the mailing of boxing photos. Could it block abortion pills too?
WASHINGTON — An anti-obscenity law enacted in 1873 that hasn’t been enforced in decades shot to the forefront of the nation’s abortion debate in the past week thanks to two U.S. Supreme Court justices, amid expectations a future Republican president would use the law to order a nationwide ban on medication abortion. The Comstock Act, […] The post An 1873 law banned the mailing of boxing photos. Could it block abortion pills too? appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers backs a package deal funding Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers Thursday said supplemental funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan is possible, but border funding does not have the votes this year. Rogers, a Republican from Saks who chairs the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, told the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce that “we don’t really have a choice to walk away” on […] The post U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers backs a package deal funding Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan 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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