Columbus
Alabama Reflector
More students enroll in community colleges throughout the state compared to last year
An official with the Alabama Community College System said Wednesday that summer enrollment is up in comparison to this time last year. Neil Scott, vice chancellor of student success, said that, as of Tuesday, 48,571 students registered for summer classes. He said that is 4.64% ahead of last summer. “We still have some time to […] The post More students enroll in community colleges throughout the state compared to last year appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects attempt to limit access to abortion pill
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a much-anticipated decision Thursday that mifepristone, one of two pharmaceuticals used in medication abortion, can remain available under current prescribing guidelines. The high court unanimously rejected attempts by anti-abortion groups to roll back access to what was in place more than eight years ago, writing that they […] The post U.S. Supreme Court rejects attempt to limit access to abortion pill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Southern Poverty Law Center lays off employees
The Southern Poverty Law Center will be laying off employees in what the civil rights nonprofit called an attempt to streamline operations. SPLC said in a statement Wednesday that they are taking actions to “streamline our activities and operations to strengthen our ability to advance a multiracial, inclusive democracy and ground our work in the […] The post Southern Poverty Law Center lays off employees appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Advocates urge Alabama to resolve medical cannabis licensing legal dispute
Medical cannabis supporters advocated for making medical cannabis, which is stalled due to litigation, available in Alabama. The Patients’ Coalition for Medical Cannabis, a new organization advocating for possible patients, hosted speakers Wednesday in Montgomery to discuss potential benefits for patients, setbacks in Alabama and other states that have active medical cannabis programs. “Let me […] The post Advocates urge Alabama to resolve medical cannabis licensing legal dispute appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Birmingham charter school receives approval for amended enrollment plan
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission Wednesday approved an amendment to the initial plan for a school campus to open in Birmingham. The Freedom Preparatory Academy Birmingham campus was supposed to open in the fall to serve kindergarten and first grade students. After a delay with the facility, the school requested the Commission approve changes […] The post Birmingham charter school receives approval for amended enrollment plan appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Some pols blame fentanyl on the undocumented
This story originally appeared on Ohio Capital Journal. Following the lead of former President Donald Trump, some Ohio Republicans are saying that undocumented migrants are bringing the deadly scourge of fentanyl with them. Several experts say such statements are highly misleading. And anti-hate groups say such statements paint yet another target on the backs of […] The post Some pols blame fentanyl on the undocumented appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats echoed Senate colleagues Tuesday in calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to recuse themselves from Jan. 6 cases, and for congressional Republicans to support passing an enforceable ethics code for the entire bench. Reps. Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight […] The post Pair of U.S. House Dems add to chorus calling for Alito, Thomas recusals appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Child care concerns were brought up at a state commission meeting Tuesday
Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, spoke at the Alabama Women’s Commission Tuesday about the need to address child care in the state. In a discussion about what the commission could do and amid conversations around regional events, Drummond said that child care was an issue for one of her constituents during the summer. “This issue was […] The post Child care concerns were brought up at a state commission meeting Tuesday appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Auburn Board of Trustees approve a proposed closure for an accelerated pathway degree
The Auburn Board of Trustees approved a proposed closure to the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design Studies at the Friday board meeting because few students have opted to enroll in the program. “The Bachelor of Science, the program that is in front of you for your consideration is a post-baccalaureate degree for students who […] The post Auburn Board of Trustees approve a proposed closure for an accelerated pathway degree appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama retirement CEO faces opposition in push for gaming special session
Retirement Systems of Alabama CEO David Bronner wants a special session on gaming to increase education retirees’ benefits, but state leaders seem determined not to. Bronner said after the State Employee Retirement System board meeting Tuesday that “to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for education retirees, the state must fund such liability,” and suggested that Gov. […] The post Alabama retirement CEO faces opposition in push for gaming special session appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Department of Justice files statement of interest in absentee ballot application case
The United States submitted a statement of interest to the case over the state’s absentee voting law expressing doubt of the legitimacy of the state’s arguments regarding absentee ballots. In the 12-page filing, attorneys for the Department of Justice wrote that the case presented “important” questions over Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act and […] The post Department of Justice files statement of interest in absentee ballot application case appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work “side by side” with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the “greatest atrocity facing” the United States and should be “eradicated entirely.” During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institute’s inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in […] The post Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’ appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Georgia’s battleground state status spurs partisan elections board skirmishes
This story originally appeared on Georgia Recorder. The Fulton County and Cherokee County election boards are the latest venues for Republican grievances challenging the legitimacy of vote tabulations and the partisan makeup of local boards. The latest election board drama is part of the lingering fallout from the controversial 2020 presidential election in which Joe […] The post Georgia’s battleground state status spurs partisan elections board skirmishes appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama approves two legal contracts to represent DOC in deaths in prison
Legislators pleaded with staff from the Alabama Department of Corrections to address the ongoing safety concerns within its prisons, while approving payments to attorneys to represent employees accused of fostering a dangerous culture and environment. “I know I have said this before, but you know, I have gotten another call from another constituent where the […] The post Alabama approves two legal contracts to represent DOC in deaths in prison appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama rises in child well-being rankings, but challenges remain
Alabama has improved its overall child well-being ranking, climbing to 39th from 45th last year, according to the 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book. Apreill Hartsfield, a policy and data analyst for VOICES for Alabama’s Children, said that while it appears Alabama is doing better than previously, child well-being hasn’t improved as much as the data […] The post Alabama rises in child well-being rankings, but challenges remain appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
AG asks court to allow absentee voting law to remain in place while lawsuit is considered
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office filed a request Friday asking the court to reject a request for a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit over the state’s absentee voting law. Filed in the United States District Court of Alabama, the Attorney General argued in a 25-page filing that the plaintiffs have not shown they would likely […] The post AG asks court to allow absentee voting law to remain in place while lawsuit is considered appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Plaintiffs in case over absentee voting law respond to state’s motion to dismiss
The plaintiffs in a case against Alabama’s absentee ballot application law filed a response Monday to the defendants’ motion to have the case dismissed. In the 52-page filing in the Northern District of Alabama, the plaintiffs responded to claims by the Alabama Attorney General’s office’s motion to dismiss that alleged the law was not a […] The post Plaintiffs in case over absentee voting law respond to state’s motion to dismiss appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
High death rates, unchanging poverty level puts Arkansas among worst states for child well-being
Via Mary Hennigan and Arkansas Advocate: The experience of growing up in Arkansas has worsened in most areas of child well-being according to the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation report. The group’s latest KIDS COUNT Data Book, released Monday, shows 2022 was the deadliest year on record for child deaths in Arkansas. Child poverty and […] The post High death rates, unchanging poverty level puts Arkansas among worst states for child well-being appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum
EL PASO, Texas — Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her three-month-old daughter as they waited in a migrant shelter before a Friday night bus ride to Chicago. “I want my daughter to have everything that I didn’t have,” Parababire, who traveled up the extremely dangerous route of the Darien Gap while pregnant, said in Spanish. The […] The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Easing federal marijuana rules: There’s still a long way to go
Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drug’s status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient […] The post Easing federal marijuana rules: There’s still a long way to go appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Reflector
2K+
Posts
19M+
Views
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.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.