The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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February 6, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald J. Trump (R) signed an executive order: keeping men out of women's and girls' sports. Trump was joined at the ceremony by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) and U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama). "Since returning to the White House, President Trump has wasted no time tackling the issues that matter most to the American people. With a single stroke of his pen, he has reversed years of radical a...
The portion of Americans contributing more than a third of their income to rent has been rising for the past two decades, and today, it sits at around half of all renters, according to recently released Census data collected in 2023. Since 2021, the cost of housing has been one of the most persistent and potent forces driving a rising cost of living around the nation. Even as the rate of price increases has neared previous norms, the remaining upward pressure on inflation is almost entirely...
The national adoption of remote work spurred by the pandemic has been touted for opening accessibility opportunities to the larger labor force. And yet, workers with disabilities still have varied access to remote work throughout the country. Nationally, 13.1% of workers with disabilities were remote, compared to 13.9% of American workers overall. While these figures may seem on par, there is great variation when comparing geographic locations. In several states, workers with disabilities outpac...
Technology is helping some states and cities crack down on dangerous driving. In particular, traffic cameras have spread throughout the nation. These are intended to ensure that drivers fully stop at red lights and maintain posted speed limits, which help motorists avoid major safety threats. About 340 communities throughout the United States have red light cameras, and 278 have speed cameras, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Automated camera enforcement programs are not...
February 6, 2025 - George Washington's birthday is celebrated every year on the third Monday in February as part of the federal holiday known as "President's Day". While in Alabama, "President's Day" is celebrated by the state offices as "George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday". And this year, President's Day falls on Monday, February 17th, 2025. As such, George Washington's home of Mount Vernon has issued the "2025 Cherry Challenge" which is currently underway in Alexandria, Virginia. In t...
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) and State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) have filed legislation to establish the Alabama Veterans Resources Center (AVRC). The Alabama Veterans Resource Center will serve as a sustainable, one-stop resource center that prioritizes holistic support for veterans, military personnel, and their families. It will focus on mental and physical health, employment, social connections, and overall well-being. Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadevil...
I got a little good-natured blowback recently when I introduced the death angel to our congregation. I took as my text Paul's final visit with the Ephesian elders in Act 20. I extemporized about the uncertainty of life. The apostle said, "I will see your face no more." He had a premonition that chains and imprisonment awaited him in Jerusalem. Paul was, indeed, arrested in the city and Rome sent him as a prisoner to the capital. It was in Rome, we believe, he was killed at Nero's order. I...
February 3, 2025–Yes, that's right, my friends! Fish farms will save us from the onrushing doom of anthropogenic climate change! At least that's what one group of researchers would like us to believe. Meanwhile, back in Realityville, we all know they won't. Even if human-caused climate change did exist, no amount of fish farming can possibly affect the global CO2 balance, no matter how much the climate scammers insist it's going to melt the polar caps any day now. That the fish and the ponds w...
Public servants and their sycophants in various forms of modern media often mourn passings of fellow kleptocrats, frequently spamming us with whitewashed "Pravda on the Plains" histories, apropos for this "Lee County Beat" article to address. Well paid political prostitute columnists, Matrix spin machine, Birmingham "Downtowner" cronies and politburo members will overwhelmingly shape the narrative most digested in Lee County. Many were saddened by recent news of former Auburn University Provost...
Amid growing political polarization and ongoing national crises, politics has become a significant source of stress for many Americans. In fact, a national survey on stressors conducted by the American Psychological Association, or APA, in 2024 found that the future of the nation was the leading cause of significant stress among adults, with nearly eight in 10 (77%) reporting it as a major source of anxiety. The same study found that the increasingly strained political climate in the United...
January 31, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday announced that on February 1, 2025, the Alabama Department of Labor will officially become the Department of Workforce. After effectively serving during the initial transition period, Secretary of Labor Marty Redden will retire, leading the way for Greg Reed to become the state's first Secretary of Workforce. "Increasing Alabama's labor force participation rate is the current focus of our workforce development efforts. We are a...
February 4, 2025 - Lieutenant Governor Ainsworth, President Pro Tem Gudger, Speaker Ledbetter, Speaker Pro Tem Pringle, members of the Alabama Legislature, Chief Justice Stewart, justices of the Alabama Supreme Court, distinguished guests – and my fellow Alabamians! It is an honor to join you all this evening as we begin another productive legislative session. From Rainsville to Cullman...Huntsville to Birmingham...Tuscaloosa to the Loveliest Village on the Plains...from the Black Belt to the W...
Heart disease has long been America's number one killer, but it's not just a concern for older adults anymore. Alarming trends show it's becoming a problem for young people, too. "Younger people aren't invincible when it comes to heart health," says preventive cardiologist and MyFitnessPal scientific advisory member Danielle Belardo, MD. "The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular conditions in younger people has many factors. Key contributors include obesity, sedentary behavior, and diets...
January 29, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Results just released from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as America's Report Card, show Alabama students are leading the charge in post-covid academic recovery. In 4th grade math, Alabama climbed to 32nd in 2024, from a low point of 52nd in 2019, the last NAEP administered pre-covid. Alabama's 6-point scale score increase was the largest increase in the nation when it comes to 4th grade math. Notably, Alabama's gains i...
February 6, 2025 - When studying The Bible and the life of Jesus Christ, one of the powerfully stirring aspects about Jesus and His ministry is how He healed the blind, the paralytic, the lepers, women's health issues, and even restored life into people who were deceased. With The Bible being so replete with miracles, Christians and even nonChristians who long for a reprieve from conditions that seemingly have no cure in the present era, find themselves longing for such sacred restorative...
Washington D.C. - U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) joined more than 150 House Democrats in sending a letter to the Trump Administration after President Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office that could pause all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding immediately. Neither the vaguely worded executive order nor a follow-up memorandum from Trump's Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Matthew Vaeth and National Economic...
The Alabama Legislature are returning to the Statehouse this week for the 2025 regular session with a full agenda. This past month all of the headlines were from Washington DC, but there is plenty of hometown business to attend to right here in Alabama. Alabama lawmakers have rightly said they plan on making public safety one of their top priorities. Deservingly so considering how much violent crime rocked the state in 2024. Governor Kay Ivey herself has said this is her most important focus...
January 29, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald J. Trump (R) signed into law: S. 5, the "Laken Riley Act," which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, shoplifting, and for other serious crimes. Sponsored by U.S. Senator Katie Britt's (R-Alabama) the Laken Riley Act became President Donald J. Trump's first bill signed into law as the 47th President of the United States. This bipartisan legislation is t...
In recent years, more and more Americans are noting groceries as a source of financial stress. According to one report, 70% of shoppers say they struggle to pay for their groceries and 62% say they avoid buying snacks in order to save money. Americans took those concerns to the ballot box in November 2024, with 96% of voters reporting high grocery and gas prices as a factor in their decision for the presidential election. Hers set out to find how much the prices of healthy groceries have gone...
February 4, 2025–Governor Kay Ivey-Alabama's MeeMaw-took the stage, recognized a few people and groups, touted her accomplishments, laid out her priorities for the upcoming legislative session, then left thirty minutes after she started. And another State of the State Address went into the history books Tuesday night. Politicians and pastors take note-you could learn a lot about how to give a good speech or sermon from Kay. Let some kids and a couple of worthy adults stand and be recognized, s...
Selecting the perfect engagement ring is a milestone in many couples' journeys. It symbolizes love, commitment, and a future together. However, the quest for the ideal ring often comes with questions about budgeting. VRAI, a fine jewelry brand featuring lab-grown diamonds, explores engagement ring options for every budget, ensuring that your declaration of love doesn't break the bank. Are There Engagement Rings For Every Budget? There is a wide range of engagement rings to suit every budget,...
The United States is in the midst of a teacher shortage that has impacted school districts across the nation. In fact, 86% of U.S. K-12 public schools reported challenges hiring teachers and staff for the 2023-24 school year, with shortages especially affecting subjects like Special Education, Mathematics, and English/Language Arts. While staffing and retention challenges are widespread, they are often particularly associated with rural districts. This can cast a negative connotation on rural...
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Press release January 30, 2025 Contact: Keith Henderson, (334) 242-3471 Newly Renovated J.E. Turner Mount Vernon Public Boat Ramp Provides Improved Access to Outdoor Recreation in South Alabama On Thursday, January 30, 2025, representatives from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Alabama Legislature, Town of Mount Vernon and Mobile County took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening...
Paul Pitts, who has sung coveted operatic tenor lead roles such as Don Jose in Bizet's "Carmen, Rodolfo in Puccini's "La Boheme", and Cavaradossi in Puccini's "Tosca" in New York, will be presenting his one-man play, "The Scribe", on Sunday, February 16th, 2025 at The Spencer Church of The Nazarene in Brent, Alabama. "The Scribe" is an on-going, award-winning stage play that has been performed by Paul Pitts in over 100 countries on 7 continents around the world. And on Sunday in Brent, the play...
February 10, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced appointments to fill vacancies in three district judgeship positions and one sheriff position across the state. Lauderdale County District Judgeship Governor Ivey has appointed William D. Motlow, III, as District Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Motlow, a graduate of the University of North Alabama and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, will replace District Judge C...
