The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 126 - 150 of 1940
January 2, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) is proud to announce that Nandini Patel, a ninth grader at Fort Payne High School, has been named the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Alabama's Fourth Congressional District. Patel's app, Choice Bound, was selected for its innovative design and potential to positively impact users of all ages. Choice Bound is an intuitive app that guides individuals toward their ideal career paths and college choices. W...
January 2, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) released a statement honoring the memory of Drew Dauphin and Kareem Badawi, who were killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack: "As our nation continues to mourn following the terrorist attack in New Orleans, we now know this act of evil stole two of Alabama's own: Drew Dauphin, a native of Montgomery, and Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama. "Drew Dauphin was a beloved son, brother, and friend, a talented...
Just as inflation can drive up costs, macroeconomic shifts, layoffs, or industry downturns can lead to declines in household income, potentially posing challenges to families affording housing, groceries, and other necessities. For some, a dollar doesn't stretch as far when income drops faster than expenses increase. According to the latest Census Bureau data, household income changes can vary widely across cities, and while some cities see incomes outpace inflation, others may experience sharp...
Inflation regularly increases the prices of goods, services, and resources, making the cost of living less affordable with a dollar that does not keep up with that growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics clocked the 12-month inflation rate from the end of 2022 to the end of 2023 at 3.35%. Meanwhile, household income estimates shifted a median of 4.22%, but swung as much as multiples above or below that—depending on the city—offsetting or exacerbating the impacts of price changes. With this in...
January 3, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – a new Congress was sworn in and the first order of business following the swearing in was to elect the Speaker of the House. Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives in the 2024 election; but they did so by the slimmest of margins in the 119th Congress. This tiny majority meant that any splinter faction of disgruntled GOP Representatives can jeopardize the election of the Speaker. Representative Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was elected to...
By now, there has been endless speculation about whether the incoming Trump administration might close the U.S. Department of Education. It remains just that: speculation. Congress would have to be involved, and even a Senate and House controlled by the same party as President-elect Donald Trump would not necessarily go along with this idea. However, in a statement about his nomination of Linda McMahon for education secretary, Trump underscored his campaign pledge to disband the department,...
What do Mary, Olivia, and Jennifer have in common? They've each had a turn as the most popular name for American girls born over the past 100 years. Many of today's most popular girls' names borrow heavily from decades—and centuries—past. To show this, Spokeo used data from the Social Security Administration on popular baby names to track the ups and downs of common girls' names in the United States over the past 120 years. In particular, this analysis focuses on how popular names from 100 yea...
Group exercise is very popular: Nearly 40% of regular exercisers participate in group fitness classes. In advance of the coronavirus pandemic, the American College of Sports Medicine predicted that group fitness would be one of the top three fitness industry trends in 2020—for good reason. Exercise has clear benefits for health and well-being, and the side effects—think lowered blood pressure, improved glycemic control, better sleep—are overwhelmingly positive. And exercising in groups may h...
It's November, and it's unseasonably warm as John John Brown, a Muscogee elder, works to replant peach saplings. "I haven't had much luck growing them from seed," he says. The reason, he thinks, is because peaches need lower temperatures. Around him, tiny peach trees the size of pencils stand above the browning grass underneath their parent tree. Brown harvested around 200 peaches this year from his small orchard—enough for his family and neighbors—but he had competition: A fox has been pok...
January 3, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (AL-03) announced that Haley Wilson has been promoted to chief of staff. Haley is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. She is a University of Alabama Graduate who previously served as a Rogers office intern. She joined Rep. Rogers office staff in 2012. She will be replacing Christopher Brinson, who served in the Rogers office for 22 years and as chief of staff since 2015. "I want to thank Chris for his years of service in my off...
January 6, 2025 – Washington D.C. - both Houses of Congress will meet today to formally consider the electoral college results from all fifty states to pick the next President of the United States. President-elect Donald J. Trump (R) won all seven of the "swing" states to take a commanding 312 to 226 – it only takes 270 to win. Trump is expected to easily win. Four years ago the scene was very different with Trump and millions of his supporters across the country believing that the results sho...
January 5, 2025 - When Miss Alabama Teen, Ali Mims, was named the first-runner up in Miss Teen America 2025 on Saturday, January 04th, 2025 in Orlando, Florida it seemed like a portend of good things to come for the state known as "Alabama, the Beautiful". And, indeed it was, as the 22-year old Abbie Stockard, the reigning Miss Alabama, was crowned Miss America 2025 the very next day at the Walt Disney Theatre in Orlando, Florida. Making Miss Stockard the fourth Miss Alabama to be crowned the co...
Declines in a community's population can result in a decreased demand for businesses, housing, and services. This could potentially lead to higher per capita costs among the remaining tax base for maintaining infrastructure and even the closure of local amenities. Additionally, an aging or shrinking population can affect the local job market and culture, among other things. Keeping this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 610 cities across the U.S. based on the one-year decline in population, drawing on...
Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, Ph.D.'s "What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain, and Health" episode on his podcast Huberman Lab has garnered over 4 million views. For good reason: Everyone is looking for validation that their post-work Friday cocktail (and, let's be honest, nightly glass or two of wine) habit is justified. Or at least not terrible for them. A 2023 study offers one more scientific reason to take the edge off. Researchers found that light to moderate consumption of alcohol (one...
Governor Kay Ivey is joining Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry in their state's period of mourning for the victims of the January 1, 2025 terrorist attack in New Orleans. In Alabama, Governor Ivey is especially remembering Kareem Badawi and Drew Dauphin, both who called Alabama home. Governor Ivey is calling on Alabamians to join the state of Louisiana on Monday, January 6, 2025, in their day of mourning for Kareem Badawai and Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in their day of mourning for Drew Dauphin....
January 6, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C., - the U.S. Congress has certified the electoral college results of the 2024 presidential election. Former President Donald J. Trump (R) is now officially the winner and will be formally inaugurated back into office on January 20. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) released a statement after taking part in Congress' certification of the electoral votes for President Trump. "I was proud to participate in certifying the election of our nation's 47th President,...
If you're looking out your window mid-afternoon to a sunset, you're not alone. As winter settles in and the days grow shorter, most of us are all too familiar with the fatigue that seems to come along with the season. It's easy to point to colder weather, reduced sunlight, and overcast skies as the culprits behind those feelings of sluggishness and low mood. But here's a twist you might not have considered: While we often think of the winter months as a time for more sleep, the shorter days...
January 6, 2025 – IRONDALE, AL - Irondale Police Lieutenant Mark Meadows was killed by a motorist while putting out pylons in front of the Church of the Highlands for their 21 days of prayer event. A number of Alabama's elected leaders released statements mourning the tragic loss of Lt. Meadows. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) said on X, "My heart is heavy as I have learned of the tragic loss of Irondale Police Lieutenant Mark Meadows, a veteran and true public servant. I join all Alabamians in l...
January 7, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday shared the tragic news that a member of her security detail, Justin Williams, passed away at the age of 42 after his courageous battle against cancer. The governor issued the following statement: "Today, we lost a member of our team, Justin Williams. Justin has served on my security detail since 2019 and tomorrow would have marked 19 years of service as a state trooper. Justin was a professional in every sense of the word. He was...
Americans are increasingly breathing toxic air as ozone smog rises and wildfires become more common and intense due to climate change. Poor air quality impacts more than your lungs. Despite decades of progress, a 2024 American Lung Association report found that 11.7 million more people are breathing unhealthy air compared to last year. Northwell Health partnered with Stacker to look at the most polluted cities in the United States using data from the Environmental Protection Agency and the...
It's the break of dawn in early December, eerie quiet, and bare trees stand frozen and tense against the biting wind. The atmosphere feels electric against gray clouds that blanket the sky, layering shades of dark, loom like a wall in the distance. Tiny flurries of leaves swirl sporadically as if they are rushing to flee. You've laced up your boots, stacked the snack pail, and are sipping piping hot Fire Grounds Bubba Brew from a trusty no-spill traveler mug. Outside, your truck idles in the...
January 7, 2025 - HOOVER, AL - The Alabama Republican Party is pleased to announce that State Representative Matt Woods (R-Walker County) will serve as the Party's nominee for the Special Election to fill the vacancy in Alabama Senate District 5. Representative Woods was the only candidate to qualify before qualifying closed today at 5:00 p.m. "We are excited to have Representative Matt Woods as our nominee for Senate District 5," said Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl. "He is a solid...
January 7, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), joined U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), and the entire Senate GOP conference in announcing the introduction of the Laken Riley Act. The Laken Riley Act would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so t...
January 7, 2025 - JASPER, AL - The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Rep. Matt Woods for the Alabama Senate District 5 seat being vacated by former Sen. Greg Reed. Reed is leaving the Senate to take a position in Gov. Kay Ivey's administration. District 5 encompasses Fayette, Lamar and Walker counties along with portions of Jefferson and Tuscaloosa counties. "I'm excited Matt Woods is running as are the farmers of this county," said Dorman Grace, Walker County Farmers Federation...
January 7, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed announced that interim Montgomery Police Department Chief James Graboys has been made the permanent chief of police. Graboys was appointed Interim Police Chief on July 15, 2024. He brings over 20 years of experience with the MPD, as well as leadership roles at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and as Chief of Police at Alabama State University (from 2012 to 2019) to the position. "Chief Graboys has shown outstanding lea...
