The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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April 8, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed House Bill 381, known as the Sarah Marsh Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act, establishing new statewide safety standards for Alabama's summer camps and honoring the memory of 8‑year‑old Sarah Marsh, who died during catastrophic flooding at a Texas camp last year. Sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, the legislation creates Alabama's first comprehensive emergency‑preparedness framework for youth camps. The law requires camps to devel...
April 8, 2026 – Residents of Stockton in Baldwin County met in Bay Minette to hear a presentation from corporate officers at Silicon Ranch about a 4,500 acre solar farm that has already been approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC). For most of the residents impacted by this massive project the first they had heard of any of this was just weeks ago, but according to candidate for PSC Jim Zeigler (R) state and local government officials have known about this projects for months a...
April 9, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 57, legislation that would require the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) to seek federal approval to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SB57 was Sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and a coalition of Republican senators. The bill directs DHR to formally request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food a...
12 million times a year, drivers illegally pass a stopped school bus. America just got its first plan to stop them. Every school day, a yellow bus pulls to the curb, red lights flash, the stop arm swings out, and somewhere in America, a driver blows right past it anyway. Not occasionally. Not rarely. Approximately 39 million times a year. That's the national estimate for illegal school bus stop-arm violations. Put another way, every school bus in the country gets illegally passed roughly once...
Why $4 gasoline is the tipping point for EVs Even as the U.S. and Israel reached a fragile two-week ceasefire with Iran, gasoline prices show no signs of a quick retreat. As of April 8, the national average stands at $4.16 per gallon, more than a dollar higher than at the start of the conflict. That's beyond a tipping point that experts say could push consumers toward electric vehicles, Grist reports. When gas prices top $4 per gallon, BloombergNEF estimates that the total cost of ownership for...
April 9, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Senate will meet for the last time this year – barring the unlikely possibility of a special session. On this last day of the 2026 session the Senate is expected to take up a high‑profile proposal to close the state's primary election. That bill, House Bill 541 (HB541) is sponsored by Representative Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity). The Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee has prioritized this legislation. "The position of the party and t...
April 9, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – It took all thirty days of the legislative session, but the Legislature has finally performed it's constitutional duty and passed both state budgets: the state general fund (SGF) and the education trust fund budgets (ETF). On Thursday Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed both budgets into law. "Throughout my tenure as governor and even before, we have worked hard to be fiscally conservative in our budgeting, making meaningful investments to benefit the people of Ala...
Tax season comes with a deadline. For people with disabilities, it also comes with a wall. Every year, millions of Americans sit down to file their taxes online. It's become the default, with roughly 94% of returns now filed electronically according to a federal review of the 2025 filing season, which means for most people, tax season looks something like this: pull up a website, enter some information, hit submit. It's not anyone's favorite task, but it gets done. For the roughly 70 million...
April 8, 2026 – Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed legislation that will allow public school students to leave during the school day to receive instruction in their religion. The program is completely voluntary and is not being subsidized by taxpayers. Senate Bill 248 is sponsored by Senator Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) and carried in the House of Representatives by state Representative Susan Dubose (R-Greystone). "Two years of work and we finally got it over the finish line," said Rep. Dubose. "...
April 9, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Legislature has approved HB220, a significant restructuring of how appointed members of state boards, authorities, and commissions may be removed and replaced. The measure was jointly sponsored by Representative Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville). HB220 cleared both chambers and is now waiting for the Governor's signature. HB220 would take effect on October 1, 2026. HB220 establishes broad new...
April 9, 2026 – State Representative Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs) denied that he was attempting to record the discussions of a closed-door Republican Caucus meeting last week. Mooney released a statement to the Alabama Daily news, "Let me be absolutely clear: I did not, nor have I ever, recorded or attempted to record a Republican caucus meeting. That claim is simply false. I believe in respecting the integrity of the legislative process and the trust placed in those who serve, and I have a...
Your complete guide to buying an electric vehicle in 2026: What US consumers need to know Electric vehicles (EVs) are here to stay, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting years for the EV market yet. With expanding model choices, evolving incentives for drivers, and changing federal policy, choosing the right EV isn’t just about selecting a car. It’s about understanding the costs, charging options, and long-term value ina shifting landscape. The General has pulled together a c...
April 9, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) has signed Rep. Barbara Drummond's (D-Mobile) two bills, HB496 and HB529. Both bill are aimed at preventing urban blight. "In urban areas where property becomes abandoned or neglected, it often leads to a host of problems including higher crime rates and risks to public safety," said Rep. Drummond. "Not only that, they become an eyesore and detract from the beauty of our neighborhoods. I'm grateful to all who supported this i...
Student loan debt by state Over $32.4 billion dollars in student loan debt remained unpaid across U.S. states in 2025. Student loan debt can have a lasting impact on a household’s finances, just like the benefits of the right education and application can have a lasting impact on career and income. It’s important to weigh the costs and potential benefits, as the wrong educational investment can leave people carrying student debt for decades. Nationwide, an average of 12.55% of adults carry stude...
April 8, 2026 - U.S. corn farmers are facing growing uncertainty around fertilizer affordability and access, with concern mounting well beyond the current planting season, according to new survey results released today by the National Corn Growers Association. Findings from two nationwide surveys conducted in late March reveal that while many growers secured fertilizer supplies for the 2026 crop before recent global disruptions intensified, anxiety about fertilizer pricing and availability is...
April 8, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that Alabama's education savings account program - the CHOOSE Act - had a record number of applicants in its second year. The application officially closed at midnight on March 31 with almost 49,000 students applying. Throughout her tenure, Governor Ivey has and will continue to prioritize Alabama students and champion their future success. The 2026-27 CHOOSE Act application deadline closed with 29,341 applications r...
April 8, 2026 - (MONTGOMERY, Ala) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the dismissal of Roderick Byrd's challenge to his capital murder conviction and death sentence. Byrd was convicted in the Jefferson County Circuit Court of capital murder and sentenced to death on August 17, 2007. The evidence showed that on Thanksgiving Day in 2005, Byrd and his friend Brandon Mitchell robbed the Airport Inn in Birmingham. Byrd and Mitchell e...
April 8, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A Virginia‑based political action committee with ties to national gambling interests has emerged as a significant - and controversial - player in Alabama's 2026 election cycle. The American Conservative Fund (ACF), an independent‑expenditure super PAC, has been saturating parts of the state with campaign mailers and television ads while raising questions about transparency and compliance with Alabama's campaign‑finance laws. A PAC With Out‑of‑State Money and Al...
Zoey is a female maybe Lab/Pit mix, seven-months old, about 40 lbs. Zoe is super loving, playful, wants to cuddle and get attention. She is great with other dogs, loves everyone, but we have discovered she is not a big fan of car rides so far. Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs & $50 for cats under one-year-old; cats over one-year-old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations,...
April 8, 2026 - MOLINE, Ill. - Deere & Company has reached a settlement agreement to resolve the high‑profile multidistrict antitrust litigation over repair services, bringing an end to a case that has been closely watched across the agriculture and equipment industries since 2022. The settlement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, concludes the dispute without any finding of wrongdoing by the manufacturer. The litigation centered on "right to repair" c...
April 8, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R‑Ala.) has joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers backing new legislation to combat a growing form of fraud targeting families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill, known as the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act, aims to modernize the technology behind SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and protect recipients from "skimming" attacks. Skimming occurs when criminals use hidden d...
April 8, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A proposal to temporarily halt new large‑scale solar farms in Alabama collapsed in the final stretch of the 2026 legislative session, ending weeks of debate over the future of renewable energy development in the state. Senate Bill 354, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, sought to impose a one‑year moratorium on permitting for major solar facilities. The legislation emerged amid intense controversy surrounding a proposed 4,500‑acre solar project in Baldwin Count...
April 9, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - With President Donald Trump set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on April 8, the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees issued a joint statement underscoring the stakes of the discussion and the evolving security demands facing the alliance. Sen. Roger Wicker (R‑MS), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike Rogers (R‑AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, framed the meeting as a pivotal mom...
April 8,2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday, joined by the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams and Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) Commissioner Nancy Buckner, signed a proclamation formalizing a renewed partnership between the state of Alabama and ACF within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reinforcing a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and families across the state. "As a proudly p...
‘I’ll never have enough’: Why Americans feel broke despite making smart financial decisions A new Intuit Credit Karma/Harris Poll study finds 78% of Americans don't feel financially secure — and doing everything right is not enough. Most Americans believe they’ve made smart financial decisions, but doing the “right thing” doesn’t always feel like enough. Many believe that even if financial success exists on paper, it doesn’t guarantee that it will translate to comfort in real life. According t...
