Standing with Publix and the Second Amendment tomorrow and in the future
Parkland survivor David Hogg — currently one of the nation’s most outspoken, anti-gun advocates — is making headlines yet again. He’s unsuccessfully called for boycotts of Fox News host Laura Ingram and then BlackRock and Vanguard but why let those failures keep him down if at first and second times you don’t succeed Hogg clearly believe you should try again. This time he’s calling for the boycott and a “die in” of Publix supermarkets tomorrow (Friday, May 25, 2018), because the central-Florida based grocer supported Rep. Adam Putnam, an NRA-endorsed candidate, in the state’s gubernatorial election. His tweet says he’s going to be crashing his local stores but invites others to join at other locations. Meaning even here in Alabama we may see an activists or two (however unlikely) in our stores. .@Publix is a #NRASellOut In Parkland we will have a die in the Friday (the 25th) before memorial day weekend. Starting at 4pm for 12 min inside our 2 Publix stores. Just go an lie down starting at 4. Feel free to die in with us at as many other @Publix as possible. — David Hogg (@davidhogg111) May 23, 2018 While I wholeheartedly disagree with both Hogg’s message and his tactics (hello, encouraging people to go lay down in grocery stores is absurd) I do applaud the fact that he’s engaged. I’ve said it before that my support of constitutional rights, in this case the First Amendment doesn’t just apply to those I agree with. I’m all for protecting the rights of those I disagree with if only the other side felt the same. That said, Hogg’s right to assembly, in this case, is up to Publix what happens once they’re there. I for one and hoping they don’t idly stand by while people make a scene in their stores and disrupt the lives of those simply going about their daily business trying to feed themselves and their families. Even the leftist (or are they progressive?) organization, ACLU will tell you that when protesting on private property the property owners have the right to tell you to leave. I see this as a as call to arms (figuratively speaking of course – Disclaimerfor those who would say I’m encouraging otherwise) to those of us who support Second Amendment rights and Publix’s right to support the candidates of their choice, to show up at our local Publix tomorrow and spend our money in opposition to the sideshow that Hogg is trying to create. What Hogg (or more accurately the gun control lobby and agenda pushers whispering in his ear) is focusing on is Publix’s political donations. What he misses is how much Publix does for the communities around its stores. Not just in Florida where they are based, but in every state, including Alabama where they have locations. I’ve researched Publix and its charitable giving. The company gives a TON of money to the Yellowhammer State and to entities that support our local communities. Here are just a few highlights of their Alabama-based charitable giving in just the last year: $500,000 in Alabama to help alleviate hunger as part of a wider, $5 million donation Four Alabama Habitat for Humanity affiliates supported to build houses and foster hope as part of a $5 million donation $569,100 to the Central United Way of Alabama Join me tomorrow in shopping at one of Publix’s 68 Alabama stores in a public show of support to thank them for all that they do in our neighborhoods. We cannot let our voices be drowned out by the voices who fail to to offer true and real solutions to the tragic shootings happening in our schools, but instead are painting good companies like Publix as bad guys.
New study ranks Tallassee Alabama’s most affordable place to live
Nestled beside the Tallapoosa river, just south of Lake Martin and just over half an hour from Montgomery, Tallassee Ala., has been ranked the most affordable place in the state to own a home, according to a recent analysis from the national financial technology firm, SmartAsset. The city jumped from the number 7 spot in 2016, while Atalla, ranked first that same year, dropped to second place in 2018. But there’s a lot more to home affordability than the listing price. Which is why SmartAsset took a holistic approach: considering closing costs, real estate taxes, homeowners insurance and mortgage rates in their analysis. Specifically, they looked at the total cost over five years of these four expenses — closing costs, taxes, insurance and mortgage payments — for the average home in every county and every city with a population greater than 5,000. They then took that five-year cost as a proportion of median household income in each county and city to determine affordability. The most affordable cities and counties were those in which total housing costs on an average house accounted for the smallest proportion of the median income. Here’s SmartAsset’s list of the top 10 most affordable places to live in Alabama:
Endorsements pour in for Kay Ivey from state lawmakers
Moving past last week’s craziness, it’s safe to say Gov. Kay Ivey is having a good week this week. Forty-five lawmakers from across the state endorsed the sitting governor on Thursday, citing her leadership in creating jobs, putting more money back in Alabamians pockets and prioritizing conservative values. “From my experience as Lieutenant Governor, I understood and prioritized open communications between the Executive and Legislative Branch to make sure we were effectively working together for the people of Alabama,” said Ivey. “I’m proud of the relationship we’ve built and the progress we’ve made. In only one year, I signed hundreds of bills and resolutions that create more jobs, higher paychecks and improve life for the next generation of Alabamians. I am honored by these endorsements, and with the support of the people, I look forward to continuing working together with these leaders to keep Alabama working.” Anniston-Republican and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh was among Ivey’s endorses. “When tragedy hit our hometown, Governor Ivey prioritized the people of Jacksonville,” said Marsh. “During a particularly busy season, she made the time to tour the damaged areas and worked together with the federal government to make sure we had the resources needed to rebuild. Governor Ivey exemplifies servant leadership and she knows how to get results.” Full list of endorsements: Alabama State Senate Atmore-Republican Sen. Greg Albritton Prattville-Republican state Sen. Clyde Chambliss Elba-Republican Sen. Jimmy Holley Anniston-Republican Sen. Del Marsh Springville-Republican Sen. Jim McClendon Florence-Republican Sen. Tim Melson Decatur-Republican Sen. Arthur Orr Jasper-Republican Sen. Greg Reed Madison County-Republican Sen. Paul Sanford Blount County-Republican Sen. Clay Scofield — “Governor Ivey is a committed advocate for rural Alabamians and farmers. As a resident and senator of a rural area, I especially appreciate Governor Ivey’s efforts to grow the economy, expand health care, and improve education in every corner of the state.” Vestavia-Republican Sen. Jabo Waggoner Alabaster-Republican Sen. Cam Ward Rainbow City-Republican Sen. Phil Williams Alabama House of Representatives Brewton-Republican Rep. Alan Baker Phenix City-Republican Rep. Chris Blackshear Troy-Republican, Rep. Alan Boothe Jacksonville-Republican Rep. K.L. Brown, Geneva-Republican Rep. Donnie Chesteen, Ozark- Republican Rep. Steve Clouse Decatur-Republican Rep. Terri Collins: “As a fellow member of the National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, I am grateful Alabama is being led by a woman who believes that every life is precious and champions efforts to protect the unborn on both the state and national level.” Athens-Republican Rep. Danny Crawford Columbiana-Republican Rep. Corley Ellis Mountain Brook-Republican Rep. David Faulkner Baldwin County-Republican Rep. Joe Faust Woodland-Republican Rep. Bob Fincher Trussville-Republican Rep. Danny Garrett Rogersville-Republican Rep. Lynn Greer Northport-Republican Rep. Alan Harper Munford-Republican Rep. Steve Hurst Elmore County-Republican Rep. Reed Ingram: “Governor Ivey and I share a mutual goal of helping Alabamians keep more of their hard-earned money. In less than a year in office, Governor Ivey made this a reality by signing the largest middle class tax cut in a decade. I am especially grateful for her support and leadership on this important issue.” Moulton-Republican Rep. Ken Johnson Rainsville-Republican Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter Houston County-Republican Rep. Paul Lee Lee County-Republican Rep. Joe Lovvorn Foley-Republican Rep. Steve McMillan Gadsden-Republican Rep. Becky Nordgren Killen-Republican Rep. Phillip Pettus Tuscaloosa-Republican Rep. Bill Poole Mobile-Republican Rep. Chris Pringle Albertville-Republican Rep. Kerry Rich Greenville-Republican Rep. Chris Sells Cullman-Republican Rep. Randall Shedd Hayden-Republican Rep. David Standridge Morris-Republican Rep. Allen Treadaway Anniston-Republican Rep. Randy Wood
Finally, the NFL takes a stand against the knee
The NFL announced new guidelines for players, in terms of how the respond to the National Anthem on Wednesday, and my reaction is (along with the rest of patriotic America): FINALLY. For the love of all that’s holy, the NFL is a business. Now granted the players are athletes (in some cases also entertainers), they still work for a larger organization. And that organization has a message and goals of its own: NFL AND THE COMMUNITY Football and community are the twin pillars of the NFL. Whether nationally at the league level, locally at the team level, or individually through the volunteerism and philanthropy of owners, players, coaches and club personnel, there exists a powerful NFL-wide commitment to giving back. This commitment is year-round-there is no offseason to the NFL’s multi-tiered, ongoing work to strengthen America’s communities. Through the active involvement of the 32 NFL teams, and long-standing partners, the league is able to make a positive difference in America’s communities and connect with millions of fans each year. That message has been hijacked by those few who wish to have their political agendas drive the message of an entire organization made up of 32 teams and nearly 1,700 players. Saturday, Aug. 26, 2016 was the first day 49ers player Colin Kaepernick chose not to rise to his feet for the playing of the national anthem. The outcry against Kaepernick, and other players following suit, came to a head during the 2017 NFL season, when even President Donald Trump got involved and weighed-in. It seems unheard of that it would take the organization this long to stand up to those defiant, unpatriotic players and say ‘it’s time to stop politicizing sports. You can’t make the game into something that it was never intended to be.’ A political spectacle. In the past year and a half, I’ve seen a lot of people defend the players’ actions as protected by the freedom of speech. Everybody has First Amendment rights, even these players — it’s a wonderful thing. As someone who is involved in both politics and the news business, I certainly appreciate all the aspects of the First Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. At the same time, players need to understand you can’t just walk into your workplace and have your personal and political beliefs override the mission statement of said company and what they’re trying to accomplish. You have to separate the two. Starting football games with controversial political messages has led the NFL to lose viewers and supporters. That’s a loss of profits for the NFL and the teams. That’s unacceptable. I know that I personally have been disheartened and frustrated by the vocal minority of players who have chosen to take a knee during the National Anthem and the a sideshow that has become. Kudos to the NFL for taking back control of organization. Inevitably there will be players who make a mockery of this decision and try and cash-in another 15 minutes of political fame. I hope that their teams, coaches and teammates come down on them hard and say it’s time to get back to point of the NFL: football. Use your free time to exercise your first amendment rights.
Huntsville on track to become Alabama’s largest city
According to new population estimates released by the U.S. Census on Thursday, Huntsville, Ala. saw a surge in population growth from 2016 to 2017, adding the most people of any major Alabama city and putting the city on track to become the states largest metropolitan area, within the next six years. Census data shows that the Huntsville population has grown 8.04 percent since the last census was taken in 2010, and with companies like Toyota and Mazda joining the area, the city should experience even more growth in the coming years. But Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said he isn’t as concerned with the quantity of people moving into the city; but the quality of life the city has to offer its inhabitants. “We’re proud of Huntsville’s success, but for us it’s more about quality than quantity,” Battle told AL.com. “Yes, we’ve generated more than 62 percent of the jobs in the state in the past decade, and yes, that brings in more people, but more importantly for us the jobs we’ve brought in are the ones that attract the best and the brightest. That’s what matters – making your citizens quality of life better – not bigger. We’re a smart city, we’re a Google city, we’re an aerospace city. I would rather talk about that than size.” Last week, Wallethub proclaimed the city one of the top 100 places to start a career, and according to MoneyWatch, Huntsville’s has the third most technical workforce in the country with nearly 17 percent of the workforce working in a STEM field. “People are learning about Huntsville’s secret, and that’s a big reason for our continued growth,” Marketing and communications director for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Claire Aiello told AL.com. “Our city is a smart place to live, work and play. We offer a great quality of life, a highly educated workforce and good paying jobs to match.
Will Ainsworth: Conservatives must not leave the culture war battle to “summertime soldiers and sunshine patriots”
There are certain fundamental truths in life that neither the liberal elite nor the left-wing media nor the activists federal courts can change no matter how hard they try. For example, I know that marriage ordained by God can only occur between a man and a woman. I know that individuals should use the rest room correlating to the gender they were born with and not the one they pretend to be. And I know that tearing down all of the historic statues, memorials, and markers in the world will not erase our history – it simply prevents future generations from learning the lessons it offers. The fact of the matter is that our nation is engaged in a prolonged culture war in which the liberals extremists on the east and west coasts of the United States want to dictate the morals, values, and bedrock beliefs of everyone who lives in-between. We must not let them win. The Declaration of Independence says that our rights are endowed by our Creator and that the freedom for independence is entitled by the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God.” I believe the Creator referenced in this revered document is the God to whom we, as Christians, devote our lives and spirits and the same God the founders worshipped when they held regular prayer and church services in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber, a practice that continued until after the Civil War. If you agree, as the founders did, that God is the basis of our nation, we need only to look at Genesis to see His original plan for marriage – one man represented by Adam, and one woman represented by Eve. Marriage is an institution created and ordained by God. It was not created by man, government, or an activist federal judge. Every society that has allowed the marriage covenant to be destroyed eventually withered away and vanished. Our society is slipping away, and it is time to take a stand. We must also hold the line against those who are working to mainstream crossdressers and transvestites by making accommodations that include allowing them to use the public restrooms of their choice. Even worse, some school systems across the nation are allowing minors who claim to be “transgender” to shower in facilities reserved for the opposite sex. Gender is not a choice. It is a fact that is determined by biology and by God, not by how masculine or feminine you feel when you wake up in the morning. Dressing like a pirate doesn’t make you a pirate, dressing like an astronaut doesn’t make you an astronaut, and dressing like the opposite sex doesn’t make you a man or a woman. For that same reason, I fully support President Donald Trump’s ban on allowing “transgender” soldiers to serve in the U.S. armed forces. The purpose of the military is to protect our national interests, repel attacks on our country, and preserve peace through strength. Accomplishing these missions becomes infinitely more difficult when military leaders must worry about G.I. Joe demanding to be treated like G.I. Jane. The culture war has prompted liberals to reach into our nation’s history and demand the removal of any statue, marker, or relic that offends their delicate sensibilities. Colleges have painted over murals of our founding fathers and other groups are vandalizing statues relating to Christopher Columbus, Robert E. Lee, and the Buffalo Soldiers, an African-American military regiment that fought against Native Americans who resisted the settlement of the Great Plains. Demanding that men and women born more than two centuries ago must strictly conform to the accepted traditions and social structures of today is patently unfair and intellectually dishonest. Because radical liberal elements are working to tear down monuments to our past and erase entire sections of our shared American history, I was proud to join my fellow lawmakers in passing the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, which prevents the removal of any memorial that is at least 40-years-old,. If conservatives are going to win the culture war, we must elect public officials who are willing to speak the truth, abandon political correctness, and stand toe-to-toe against the liberals who attack us. I think this column proves I am willing to do all of those things. The consequences of losing the culture war are too dire to leave the battle to what Thomas Paine called “summertime soldiers and sunshine patriots.” If elected your lieutenant governor, I will shoulder the conservative fight and preserve the Alabama values that make our state such a great place to live, work, and raise our children. ••• Guntersville-Republican, State Rep. Will Ainsworth is a candidate for lieutenant governor. Elected to the Legislature in 2014, Ainsworth currently represents Alabama’s House District 27, which includes portions of Marshall, DeKalb, and Blount counties.
Exclusive: Jim Bonner, candidate for PSC, reacts to polling and trolling
Few things can cause a stir as much as a political upset and Alabama has seen several of those in recent years. From Gary Palmer unexpectedly winning his congressional seat, to Doug Jones and Randall Woodfin — the surprises keep coming. Which is why following the release of polling data that shows yet another upset on the horizon, politicos and reporters across Alabama are buzzing this week about the Public Service Commission: Place 1 race. There, Jim Bonner, a controversial Republican candidate for the position, is unexpectedly polling ahead of his opponent, six-year incumber Jeremy Oden. Many believe Bonner is making good on a case of mistaken identity and riding the coattails of former Alabama Congressman Jo Bonner of Mobile. News outlets across the state have begun to point out just that: Alabama Political Report The Alabama Public Service Commission race, where little-known James “Jim” Bonner is challenging incumbent Jeremy Oden. Bonner is actually leading Oden in recent polls because voters in the Mobile area are confusing him with former U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, who served the area in Congress for more than a decade. He is also seeing wide support in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa areas because of former University of Alabama Chancellor Judy Bonner. Yellowhammer News Jim Bonner, a controversial candidate for Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1, is showing promise as he leads his 6-year incumbent competitor among some Alabama voters, particularly those who used to be represented in Congress by Jo Bonner of Mobile. Even politicos are getting in on the debate. Cygnal, a Montgomery-based polling firm, Founder and President Brent Buchanan had to say this: What makes this particular race so interesting is that Jim Bonner is benefiting greatly from having the same last name as the former Congressman Jo Bonner and his well-known sister former Judy Bonner. This is borne out by the fact that in the Mobile media market Jim Bonner leads Jeremy Oden by 28% to 6%, a 4-to-1 ratio. …It appears from the data that this PSC race is within the margin of error strictly because of name confusion. Jim Bonner is competitive across the state despite the fact that he has spent no money on advertising or building his name ID. Given what is expected to be a low turnout election, Jim Bonner would be favored to win this race if it were held today. Facebook posts Beyond the name confusion, many of the same critics are hitting Bonner for a series of “questionable” posts on social media calling him anti-Semitic and racist. “In post after post, Bonner seems to revel in racist, sexist and anti-semite comments, but this has dampened his support among those who think he is someone he’s not,” wrote APR. But Bonner doesn’t think he’s racist or anti-Semitic at all. Just this morning, he responded to a post on his Facebook wall about political correctness and those attacking him. “The base republicans ( the swamp) are shoveling money into liberal attach dogs to go through my facebook line by line and find something they can use to let the public know that Jim Bonner is unfit to be a member of the party that produced Guy Hunt, Mike Hubbard, Roy Moore, and Bentler the luv guv,” he wrote. What the polling says According to a poll released by Cygnal, the Republican primary electorate was 77% conservative, 16% moderate, and 4% liberal with the rest somehow undecided on their ideology. Of those with the highest propensity to show up and vote on June 5th, this PSC example has Oden ahead by one point. “Primary election voters are some of the most hardcore, yet they still don’t know who many of the candidates on the ballot are. Voters either skip the race all together or pick a somewhat familiar name, even when it’s not who they think it is,” Buchanan concluded. The Cygnal survey was conducted between May 14 – 16, 2018, with 623 voters who have a history of Republican primary participation and say they are likely on June 5th. The survey included 200 cell phone interviews and has a 4.4% margin of error. It was paid for by multiple private participants and included mostly private questions for those subscribers, which will not released. Bonner weighs in With all of the accusations and speculations, Alabama Today reached out to Bonner to get his side of the story. Here are his responses in full: Why are you running for office? The Public Service Commission was created to ensure that the ratepayers are protected and that all recipients receive services equally. As a Republican, I believe this begins with ensuring our Alabama Corporations earn enough money to provide adequate services to their consumers and pay reasonable wages to their employees. As PSC, I would work to equitably balance the needs of the ratepayers while supporting the profits of our Alabama Corporations. What do you offer the PSC that your primary opponent Jeremy Oden does not? My campaign has been primarily self-funded plus a few small contributions from members of the community; I have not received contributions from major corporations. As such, I remain unbiased and uninfluenced by special interest groups. As an added bonus, I’m the only candidate with a background in electrical engineering, I have unescorted nuclear plant clearance, and I know how to use a voltmeter. Should people take your Facebook posts seriously? From defending the N-word to calling yourself a Bentley-Republican, to anti-Semitic posts? Do you stand by those posts? What do you want voters to take away from them? The post that have been brought to light the past few days have been intentionally cut, cropped, and picked apart to paint me as one of the “bad republicans.” For example, my “defense of the N-word” was taken from a thoughtful blog post from 2014 advocating preservation of literature, specifically Mark Twain’s works. The image of the pregnant girl in uniform was linked to a pro-life discussion following the controversy of allowing girls to join the boy scouts. The
STAIR steps up to help Birmingham City Schools
School may be out for the day, but one classroom at Oliver Elementary is still packed. Fourteen second-grade students sit in two rows of chairs. Along the back walls sit parents, grandparents, siblings and another support group: reading mentors for each student. When the site director for the after-school program calls students up to the front of the class, their personal reading mentors stand next to them. As the regular school year ends, this class of students is also graduating from a year-long reading program. Oliver Elementary is one of 13 sites where the Start The Adventure In Reading (STAIR) program operated during the 2017-2018 school year. STAIR partnered with 13 Birmingham City Schools and served 200 students across the Birmingham community. An after-school reading program, STAIR works with second-grade students who are reading below their grade level, offering one-on-one tutoring to help them develop their literacy skills. As STAIR’s executive director, Liz Edwards knows the importance of their work. “For students to be able to graduate on time, one of the key predictors is reading on grade level by end of third grade,” Edwards said. “Up until the third grade, students are learning to read, but from third grade on they’re expected to be able to read to learn. For students who aren’t reading at grade level, they just fall further and further behind.” If students don’t successfully navigate this critical transition point, they are four times less likely to graduate from high school. If they also happen to come from an underserved neighborhood, they are about 12 times less likely to graduate, she says. “It’s really important that we catch these students while they still have the opportunity to catch up,” Edwards said. Each student enrolled in the STAIR program meets with a tutor twice a week for an hour-and-a-half per day to work on their literacy skills. A reading mentor volunteering his or her time is behind every student success. “Our program wouldn’t be possible without our tutors,” said Edwards. Most students have two tutors for the school year, one for each of the two days per week that STAIR operates. This means that the time commitment to volunteer is low but the impact on participating students is great. STAIR works with elementary school principals and second-grade teachers to identify students who may be reading below grade level and might benefit form STAIR’s programming. “Most of these students just need a little extra attention,” said Edwards. “Our tutors are able to give their undivided attention to one student, two afternoons a week, which has such great value.” Because STAIR is a one-on-one program, students can work at their own pace and focus on the things they struggle with individually, an opportunity that can be hard to come by in a full classroom. Graduation day is an opportunity for a student’s entire support system — family, teachers, STAIR tutors and school administrators — to gather to celebrate the student’s successes. As each name is called, the soon-to-be third-graders come to the front of the classroom accompanied by their tutors. Each tutor speaks for a few minutes about the student’s progress throughout the year. Many tutors also mention the effect their students have had on the tutors’ own lives. “This is an opportunity to celebrate a student’s hard work, and a chance to hear the hopes and dreams that their tutors have for them after they’ve worked for them over the course of the year and really formed a really close relationship,” Edwards said. “It’s fun for parents to hear and meet the folks that they’ve heard their kids talking about all year, and tutors get to meet siblings or grandparents that they’ve heard about. It’s just a way to close the whole circle.” As STAIR begins to plan for the 2018-19 school year, it is looking for tutors. For more information about joining the STAIR team as a volunteer tutor, please visit the website. Republished with the permission of the Alabama Newscenter.
Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson creates another point of contention
Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson has yet again created conflict within her city’s leadership. In late April, she sent an email to Fairhope’s Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) chairman Chuck Zunk saying the city budget was ultimately her responsibility, and that she would let the committee know if she needed there input. Now, the FAC is at a standstill, waiting for Wilson to “need” them. “As far as I can tell, the mayor has changed her position on the budget preparation, and my impression of the contents of her email is that she wants us to butt out and not be involved at all,” Zunk told the Courier. “When they finish it, she’ll distribute it to us and with six days of review, she expects us to be able to discuss it at the July meeting.” Zunk and other committee members felt the mayor was attempting to not have the FAC be involved in the process at all, and that the reasons she gave for not including them were “trivial” and “foolish.” During the May 15 city council meeting, Zunk was given an opportunity to voice his concerns. “Our interpretation of the email was that: No. 1 – it changed the relationship between the committee and city staff from collaborative and cooperative, which it had been up until that point, to adversarial; and No. 2 – it restricted our access to acquiring facts from city staff, so much as to be essentially cut off,” Zunk said. “Under those circumstances, we are unable to function as you had requested and so we suspended consideration of all of our active projects, pending discussion with city council.” “She made a comment to me … that now that she’s been through the preparation of two budgets, she’s an expert, that she doesn’t need anybody’s opinion,” Zunk told the Courier. “Well, I guess the 120-some years of experience that the four of us have doesn’t mean jack to the two years of experience that she has. That’s her attitude. It seems to me that if that’s her attitude, we’re kind of swimming upstream.” And his assumptions might be correct. During a phone conversation with Courier reporter, Cliff McCollum; wilson said she thought the council was confusing their role in the administration. “I don’t need advice there,” Wilson told him. “What I need is help communicating with the council. I’ve always made myself available and want to find ways to make this a better process.” This is not the first time Wilson has been under fire from city leadership. In March, Wilson received an email from Fairhope Police Chief Joseph Petties, after a controversial hiring decision she made in February. Wilson announced the hiring of Tony Goubil, the city’s new police sergeant and public safety director, at a council meeting on February 26, without informing the council or Petties, both of whom were shocked to receive the news, especially since, according to The Courier, the Alabama Ethics Commission sent Goubil to investigate a complaint filed against Wilson. Although the complaint was dismissed, “those who filed the claims questioned how Goubil’s investigations into those claims could be trusted in the light of his hiring by Wilson.” Wilson later retracted the hire at the March 20 City Council meeting, saying that although she believed the city did need a public safety director, and Goubil was a great choice for the position, that she understood other people wanted input in the decision.
State Dept. of Education seeks testing waivers to aid students with cognitive disabilities
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) will be seeking waivers from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education to allow students with cognitive disabilities to take the Alabama Alternate Assessment (AAA). The test — a performance task assessment administered as an alternate to the general education state assessment. It is administered to students with significant cognitive disabilities working on the Alabama Extended Standards, and is a paper-based multiple choice assessment administered in the areas of reading and mathematics in Grades 3-8 and 10 and science in Grades 5,7, and 10 — is part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law in 2015 by then President Barack Obama. The program was intended to replace the No Child Left Behind Act; and ensures that students in the U.S. with a significant cognitive disability, are not excluded from learning beside their peers. Former-Gov. Robert Bentley then created an implementation task force in 2016 to assure the law’s success. The ESSA, “shifts the power of education from the federal government and returns power and control to the states.” Under ESSA, states are able to decide for themselves what is best for their students in regard to the “implementation of academic standards, testing, accountability, school improvement and teacher quality,” but also requires states to ensure that the number of students assessed using an alternate assessment does not exceed one percent of the students in the state who are assessed using Alabama statewide assessments. State is seeking a waiver as the ESSA places a 1 percent cap on the participation rate for each subject on the AAA. If a state anticipates it will exceed the 1 percent cap, it must seek a waiver. During the 2016-2017 school year, Alabama’s participation rate on the AAA was: 1.21 percent for reading, 1.21 percent for math, and 1.23 percent for science. Since Alabama exceeded the 1 percent cap for the 2016-2017 school year, it is anticipating exceeding the 1 percent cap for 2017-2018 school year. Thus, the ALSDE will be requesting a waiver for reading, math, and science from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The ALSDE is seeking public comment as part of this process. According to the ALDSE: You may send written comments on the request for a waiver to: Student Assessment, Alabama State Department of Education, P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36130-2101. Mrs. Nannette Pence or Mrs. Maggie Hicks may be reached by phone at 334-242-8038, by fax at 334-242-7341, or through email at studentassessment@alsde.edu. Written comments will be accepted until June 15, 2018.
Alabama delegation votes to pass major VA overhaul; Trump expected to sign into law
With the support of the entire Alabama delegation, S. 2372: the VA MISSION Act of 2018 has passed both chambers and is now heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. The legislation – which puts the needs of veterans first by giving them the option of seeking care when and where it makes the most sense for their needs – combines provisions from fifteen different Senate-introduced bills, building upon the success of the Veterans Choice Act. The bill combines the VA’s multiple community care programs into one streamlined program, improves incentives to recruit, hire, and retain qualified medical professionals, and expands the VA’s Post-9/11 Caregiver Program to all eras. Dozens of veterans and military service organizations across the country endorsed the bill. Here’s what the Alabama delegation had to say about their votes and the legislation: Sen. Richard Shelby I am honored to support this milestone legislation that prioritizes brave veterans in Alabama and across the nation. This bicameral, bipartisan bill provides veterans with necessary access to efficient, timely, and quality health care services. As Members of Congress, it is our job to ensure the proper care of those who have risked their lives to protect our freedoms. 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne: Another major piece of legislation is headed to President Trump’s desk for his signature. The VA MISSION Act consolidates the VA’s Community Care Program, opens the VA Caregivers Program to serve all veterans, and provides $5.2 billion to fund the VA Choice Program. Simply put, this bill increases access to care at the VA, including walk-in clinics that may be more convenient and immediate in addressing the needs of our veterans. 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby: By passing the VA MISSION Act, the House has taken another important step toward improving access to care for our nation’s veterans. This legislation addresses a number of important pieces of the large VA puzzle, including extending funding for the Choice Program that countless veterans depend on to receive care. I believe this bill will reduce the bureaucracy associated with veterans seeking private sector health care and improve the lives of those who have served our great country. I’ve heard from countless veterans in Alabama’s Second District about the continued need for VA changes to ensure they get the best care available. I hope we will soon see this legislation signed into law.
Donald Trump calls off historic summit with North Korea
President Donald Trump is canceling the planned June 12 summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, citing the “tremendous anger and open hostility” in a recent statement from North Korea. Trump says in a letter to Kim released Thursday by the White House that based on the statement, he felt it was “inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.” READ President Trump’s letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un canceling their summit. pic.twitter.com/3xXYHwQwTC — The Associated Press (@AP) May 24, 2018 The president says the North Koreans talk about their nuclear capabilities, “but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.” Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
