Alabama Coca-Cola United strike suspended, negotiations continue
Workers from Alabama’s Coca-Cola United — the largest privately-held Coca-Cola bottler in North America — returned to work at 5 a.m. Monday after 11 days of striking over wage benefits. “We wanted to send a wake-up call that we will not stand for Coca-Cola treating workers this way,” said Antoine Lott, an equipment services technician at Coca-Cola United. “We work hard to provide for our families, and everyone at this company should be able to earn family-supporting wages.” In negotiations, Coca-Cola United is demanding to pay new hires $6 to $8 less per hour than what it is currently paying. “When Coca-Cola United insisted on cutting wages and wouldn’t listen to us at the bargaining table, we felt we had no choice but to go on strike as a wake-up call,” added Bobby Kovacevich, a delivery driver at Coca-Cola United. “We have good relationships with our customers and don’t want to hurt them, which is why we went back to work. We care about the community, but Coca-Cola United doesn’t seem to. We are asking the company to change its behavior so that we can negotiate a fair contract and avoid any more disruptions to our customers.” Workers in Mobile, Robertsdale, Leroy, Alabama, as well as workers in Ocean Springs, Miss. first walked off the job Thursday, August 9. According to AL.com: The union’s concerns revolved around what they said was “unfair labor practices” by the company that stemmed from low pay offered to new employees, along with higher costs for insurance. According to union representatives, incoming worker salaries being offered by the company were $6 an hour to $8 an hour less than the previous contract. For now, the strike has been suspended. “We were informed late Sunday evening by the Teamsters that our union associates would be returning to work on Monday (August 20), without a contract,” Coca-Cola United said in a statement. “Our Coca-Cola UNITED team worked into the night and early morning hours to reactivate these associates.” According to the company, negotiations through the mediator will continue “We will continue to provide our customers and communities with the highest levels of product delivery and service,” Coca-Cola United concluded.
NYT op-ed takes on Birmingham minimum wage hike
The New York Times posted an Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) by Lucas Guttentag on Monday, in which he takes on what he views as racial discrimination in the state to block Birmingham’s minimum wage hike. In 2016, the state legislature voted in favor of HB174 — also known as the Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right to Work Act — a bill that would block cities from setting individual minimum wage rules. Then Governor Robert Bentley signed the bill less than an hour after the vote, effectively blocking the Magic City’s efforts. Fast food workers and civil rights groups acted quickly, filing a lawsuit, and arguing that the law was “tainted with racial animus’ since it was pushed by white suburban Republican legislators in the majority-white Alabama Legislature and disproportionately affected black workers in the majority black city,” the Associated Press reported. In July, a federal appeals court reversed a judge’s earlier ruling to dismiss the lawsuit, saying that “Alabama’s white-majority legislature had discriminated against the black-majority city in barring it from setting its own minimum wage,” according to CBS News. “As the case moves forward, it could provide similar cities with a legal road map for challenging this modern-day tool of racial subjugation,” Guttentag wrote in his Op-Ed. “These are the majority-black and -brown localities deprived by majority white state legislatures of the authority to enact local ordinances raising the wages of its residents.” “The court’s ruling is a victory for the more than 40,000 low-wage Birmingham residents who were robbed of a much-needed pay raise and who will now get their day in court,” Guttentag continued. “But more profoundly, this case — originating in a town where America’s history of racial violence faced some of its most pivotal confrontations — could now open the door for communities of color across the country to challenge racially discriminatory laws that deny localities the power to improve the lives of people of color.”
Trump administration ready to ease rules on coal-fired power plants
The Trump administration is set to roll back the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s efforts to slow global warming. It’s expected to propose regulations that give states broad authority to determine how to restrict greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. The plan would let states relax pollution rules for power plants that need upgrades. That would reverse an Obama-era push to shift away from coal and toward less-polluting energy sources. The plan is to be announced in coming days. Combined with a planned rollback of car-mileage standards, the plan represents a significant retreat from Obama-era efforts to fight climate change. President Donald Trump has already vowed to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement as he pushes to revive the coal industry. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Checking in: What has Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange been up to?
Ever wonder what your mayor been up to each month? Sure you may have helped elect them, but what happens after that? Alabama Today has you covered. Each month we’ll highlight what the Yellowhammer State’s Big 5 mayors have been doing in an effort to hold them accountable and keep things more transparent. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange has been busy this month, keeping up with his constituents and attending events across the city. July 13 Strange attended the Montgomery Education Foundation‘s Brain Forest 2018, “This program benefits both our students and our teachers as a learning laboratory where both walk away with new ideas, better methods and a sense of achievement during the summer months,” Strange posted on his Facebook page. “Thanks to the City and County host Parks & Recreation programs to complement the learning environment, during which children can go horseback riding, learn archery and kayaking or even just run around and be a kid! Not to mention, this partnership has served more than 650,000 meals, engaged nearly 45,000 students and cultivated relationships with more than 50 youth-oriented agencies in the River Region since 2014.” July 17 Strange has his own way of communicating with his constituents: hosting a YouTube series called “Tuesdays with Todd.” Every week on the City of Montgomery Alabama YouTube channel Strange talks about different events, and happenings within the city. This week, Strange welcomes the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All Star week to Montgomery, an event which he says will add an $8 to $10 million economic boost to the city. July 24 This week on Tuesday’s with Todd; Strange is in the newly renovated Morgan Library, to talk about the MCCPL Book Sale, and updates to the library. August 7 On this episode of his show, Strange meets with the Chef of Central, a restaurant in Montgomery, to talk about Eat MGM, Montgomery’s restaurant week. August 14 Last week, on Strange’s YouTube show he meets with Montgomery Finance Director Barry Crabb to discuss the 2019 budget, and budget increases within the city in an effort to provide transparency to the city’s governance.
Politicos, Alabamians wish Robert Bentley would just ‘go away’
In April 2017, former Gov. Robert Bentley resigned amid a growing scandal — allegations he used state resources to cover up an affair he was having with one of his former aides. Now, over a year later the “Luv Gov” has resurfaced on social media leaving many politicos speculating whether or not he’s prepping to for another run at public office. Despite being one of the most red states in the nation, Alabamians alike — from politicians to residents — seem to all share one thought: they wish Bentley would just go away. “I hope that if Dr. Bentley truly cares for Alabama, as he says he does, he would consider letting us go,” said Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan told Yellowhammer News last week. when asked what she thought about a possible Bentley U.S. Senate run in 2020. She’s not the only politician hoping Bentley would go away. Outgoing Montgomery State Sen. Dick Brewbaker also tweeted his disapproval. “Oh for heavens sake, I’ll go away if you will,” Brewbaker tweeted in response to Bentley earlier this month. Oh for heavens sake, I’ll go away if you will. — Dick Brewbaker (@dick_brewbaker) August 5, 2018 In fact, Brewbaker grew so tired of Bentley, he dediced to block him altogether. “I usually only block people who feel the need to use gratuitous profanity. I confess that I blocked @GovRBentley today. While not profane the account began to strike me as somehow obscene,” he tweeted Sunday. I usually only block people who feel the need to use gratuitous profanity. I confess that I blocked @GovRBentley today. While not profane the account began to strike me as somehow obscene. — Dick Brewbaker (@dick_brewbaker) August 19, 2018 But politicians aren’t the only ones weighing in. Bentley’s Twitter feed is filled with comments on tweets from Alabamians from across the state expressing their disapproval. Michelle Garver from Alabama: You’re a disgrace. Please go away. You’re a disgrace. Please go away. — Michelle Garver ❄️™ (@mgarver10) August 20, 2018 Eric Hulsey from Hazel Green, Ala.: You inspired me! After your resignation from office I realized that the head of all three branches of state government had been removed from office. Therefore I started a modest political movement, Make Alabama not Suck Anymore. You staying out of all politics would help. #MAnSA You inspired me! After your resignation from office I realized that the head of all three branches of state government had been removed from office. Therefore I started a modest political movement, Make Alabama not Suck Anymore. You staying out of all politics would help. #MAnSA — Eric Hulsey (@hulsey_eric) August 19, 2018 Unnamed twitter user Alt Trite from Birmingham, Ala.: On a Sunday. Lord have mercy. Go away. Repent. On a Sunday. Lord have mercy. Go away. Repent. — Alt Trite (@alt_trite) August 19, 2018 Katherine from Mobile, Ala.: Let me join the chorus of “GO AWAY”. You’ve embarrassed us ENOUGH! Go get @RoyMooreSenator & ride off into the sunset together. Good riddance. Let me join the chorus of “GO AWAY”. You’ve embarrassed us ENOUGH! Go get @RoyMooreSenator & ride off into the sunset together. Good riddance. — Katherine (@beckiluk) August 19, 2018
Parker Snider: Charter schools are keeping promises
On the campaign trail in 2012, Mitt Romney remarked that “charter schools are so successful that almost every politician can find something good to say about them.” Romney was right. President Bush told crowds he was a “big believer” in charter schools, President Obama proclaimed National Charter Schools Week year after year, and 2016 presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Hillary Clinton are all on record praising public charter schools. From 2016 to 2017, however, support for charter schools dropped a startling 12 percent, from above 50% to below 40%, according to a 2017 EdNext poll. Interestingly enough, the decrease was equal for both Democrats and Republicans. One reason for falling support is likely an increased public awareness of the failures of some charter schools and charter school executives. In 2016, documented cases of charter school executives turned criminals hit the airwaves in multiple states. Additionally, reports of charter schools suddenly closing, leaving students to fend for themselves in the middle of the school year, have made headlines and been the subject of many op-eds in national newspapers. It’s easy to see why these public failures might quell support for charter schools. Truthfully, however, across the nation and in Alabama, many charter schools are fulfilling their promises. For example, KIPP, the nation’s largest non-profit public charter school network with over two hundred schools, sees a majority of its students outpacing national growth averages. Additionally, most KIPP schools are outperforming the traditional public schools in their districts. Although there are no KIPP schools in Alabama, Sumter County’s new University Charter School opened its doors last Monday. As described in Trisha Powell Crain‘s AL.com article, the mission of UCS is to integrate the community while providing a high-quality education. UCS is on its way towards achieving that mission. Contrary to county tradition, UCS boasts a student population that is about half black and half white. Before UCS, the schools in Alabama’s poorest county were still segregated, decades after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that separating white and black children in different schools was unconstitutional. Although charter schools are few and far between in Alabama (only five have been approved since charter school legislation made them possible in 2015), the strides that University Charter School has made for its community should encourage more districts to pursue innovative ideas for their school systems. Innovative ideas include charter schools, of course, but NBA superstar LeBron James‘ I Promise School in Akron, Ohio – a public non-charter school that is a partnership between the I Promise Network, the LeBron James Family Foundation, and Akron Public Schools – proves that solutions to education woes can come in many forms. Regardless of the specifics, Alabamians should be thankful for the good that charter schools and other innovative education options have created for students across the country. We must not, however, neglect to learn from the failures of schools in other areas. Alabamians should work, therefore, to replicate those innovate solutions that are successful, as University Charter School is doing, here in our state. ••• Parker Snider is Manager of Policy Relations for the Alabama Policy Institute, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to strengthening free enterprise, defending limited government, and championing strong families.
Women of Influence: Dr. Cynthia McCarty, Alabama Board of Education Vice-President
Vice-President of the Alabama Board of Education, Alabama Educator Hall of Famer, and a career spanning over two decades; Dr. Cynthia McCarty has a love for her calling that few can match. Born in Auburn, Ala. McCarty attended city schools until her graduation from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade. From there, she moved to Birmingham, Ala. pursuing an MBA at Samford University then moving to North Carolina to earn a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Moving back to the Yellowhammer State, McCarty began her career in education at Jacksonville State University (JSU) in 1990, where she still works as a Professor of Economics in the College of Commerce and Business Administration. For the past 20 years McCarty has also served as the Director of JSU’s Center for Business and Free Enterprise Education and Entrepreneurship, providing professional development for K-12 teachers and education students, in the areas of economics, social studies, and personal finance. Throughout her already impressive career, McCarty has been involved with several organizations outside of her “job.” McCarty currently serves as president of 3E, an organization that strives to enhance the connections between the business community and area schools; is a member of the Alabama Council for Social Studies and previously served as a Board member of the Alabama Council on Economic Education. She is also a member of the National Business Educators Association and the American Economics Association, according to her website. She’s a graduate of Leadership Calhoun County, and has taught several sessions of Youth Leadership Calhoun County. In 2013, McCarty was inducted into the Alabama Educator’s Hall of Fame for her contributions to the field of economics. According to her website, she has authored or co-authored “14 published academic articles and has presented numerous times on the state of Alabama’s economy and economic education in K-12 schools.” In 2014, McCarty ran unopposed in the November general election as the representative for district six on the Alabama State Board of Education. She held her position until last month when the board elected her as Vice-President. McCarty runs again this year for her seat; unopposed. McCarty is a woman of true dedication and service to the State of Alabama, and was kind enough to answer some of Alabama Today’s questions about her life, work, and influences. How have other women influenced your success? My mother, who has consistently supported and encouraged me to strive for excellence, certainly motivated me to always do my best. Although there are too many to name individually, I would say that colleagues at JSU, educators in District VI, and fellow board members have all taught me a tremendous amount about service and leadership. I continue striving to improve by observing their accomplished leadership skills. What shaped your desire to work in education? My desire to work in education comes from a belief that relevant, accessible, and quality education will allow our children to reach their potential and prosper. If I can help improve the quality, relevance, and accessibility of education in Alabama, then I certainly want to do this. What has been your favorite area of service, and what is your favorite thing about that position? My favorite work in education is visiting classrooms and observing innovative, effective teachers introduce a new concept to students in such a way that they all “get it.” That moment is both miraculous and inspirational. Thus, my favorite area of service occurs when I can improve policies that allow teachers to provide more quality instruction in the classroom. Have you read any books that have shaped your perspective on life? Oh, the list of books I read! Well, I try to read a Biblical passage each morning. I’m also reading a book (for the second time, so that maybe it will stick better) on Christian Leadership, given to me by my predecessor, Dr. Charles Elliott. And I read many books on education, such as Ron Clark’s “Move Your Bus” and Robert Putnam’s “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis.” In addition, I have a love of biographies and am currently reading the biographies of the US presidents (I just finished Rutherford B. Hayes) and novels such as “The Guernsey and Potato Peel Pie Society,” which I read when I needed a break from Rutherford. Books inspire and relax me. What advice would you give to young women who want to work in education? I would say that educators are the key to the success of our future. Nothing is so important as a caring, effective teacher. That said, education is the most important profession. If we don’t have quality, caring educators, where will our engineers, writers, doctors, inventors, electricians, machinists be in 20 years? How will they learn to read, write, compute, problem-solve? We must nurture and encourage intelligent, caring adults to continue to pursue education as a vital career path. Yes, teaching can be difficult. However, although teaching is sometimes challenging, the opportunities to improve the lives of students are enormous and will benefit generations to come. How do you spend your (rare) free time? I spend any free time I can grab by reading books, watching Auburn football and the NCAA basketball tournament, and visiting family and friends. For her dedication to the education of students within the Yellowhammer Sate and her desire to lead publicly on the State Board of Education, Dr. Cynthia McCarty is undeniably an Alabama woman of Influence
Alabama has a lot at stake in the 2020 Census, here’s how it’s preparing
Alabama has a lot at stake in the 2020 U.S. Census — from a seat in the U.S. House of Representative to a vote in the Electoral College, as well as federal funds — depending on participation levels and what the results indicate. Which is why, Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday signed an executive order establishing a state-level committee designed to prepare Alabama for maximum participation in the 2020 U.S. Census. The Alabama Counts! 2020 Census Committee Ivey established the Alabama Counts! 2020 Census Committee that will serve as an advisory group made up of public and private statewide organizations to recommend and implement strategies for raising awareness of the 2020 census. As mandated by the Constitution, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a count of the United States population every 10 years. Starting April 1, 2020, each Alabama household should receive a postcard from the Census Bureau encouraging them to complete their census form online or by phone or to call a number to request a paper form. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs serves as the state’s liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau. Governor Ivey named ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell as chair of the Alabama Counts! 2020 Census Committee. The committee will be divided into subcommittees designed to reach all areas of Alabama. Those subcommittees are: Government, Education, Faith-based Groups, Community-based Groups, Economic Development/Industry, Health Care, Rural and Outreach. Executive Order 715 tasks the committee with developing a Census Action Plan by Aug. 1, 2019 and taking steps to implement the plan leading up to April 2020. “Governor Ivey and I understand how critical it is that we do everything in our power to ensure Alabamians are ready to be counted in the 2020 Census,” Director Boswell said. “This committee and its subcommittees will bring some of the best and brightest from all sectors of Alabama together to help the state over the next year and a half.” The subcommittee chairs will serve as the group’s executive committee and will work with ADECA and the Governor’s Office over the next several weeks to form membership of their subcommittees. The executive committee and its subcommittees will meet regularly in the coming months to develop and implement outreach and education plans targeted to all aspects of Alabama. The committee and ADECA also will work closely with Alabama’s two partnership specialists from the Census Bureau. The following people will serve as subcommittee chairs: GovernmentU.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt/Paul Housel, District Director for Rep. Aderholt Education: Eric Mackey, Superintendent of Alabama Department of Education and Jimmy Baker, Chancellor of Alabama Community College System Faith-based Groups: Bishop Kyle Searcy, Lead Pastor of Fresh Anointing House of Worship in Montgomery and Rev. Jay Wolf, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Montgomery Community-based Groups: Ron Gilbert, Executive Director of Community Action Association of Alabama Economic Development/Industry: Steve Spencer, President of Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Health Care: Dr. Scott Harris, State Health Officer at Alabama Department of Public Health Rural: Paul Pinyan, Executive Director of Alabama Farmers Federation Outreach: Kenneth Boswell, ADECA Director and Chair of the Alabama Counts 2020 Census Committee Federal funds A recent study by George Washington University indicates the U.S. government returned more than $1,567 to the state in 2015 for every Alabamian counted in the census. More than 100 federal programs use data collected during census counts as part of their formulas to distribute billions of dollars in federal funding to the states. Those programs include Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Highway Planning and Construction, and Title 1 Grants to Local Education Agencies. Census-derived data also is used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and in legislative redistricting. “The stakes are high for Alabama in the 2020 U.S. Census, and our success depends greatly on our ability to help Alabamians understand the importance of completing and submitting their census forms,” Ivey said. “For that reason, I am forming this committee a full 20 months before the April 1, 2020 census count to bring leaders of many statewide public and private groups together to ensure every Alabamian knows the importance of doing their part and participating in the census. When we all do our duty, we ensure that the state gets our fair share of funding for dozens of critical programs and ensure we maintain fair representation in Congress.” Preparing for the 2020 Census ADECA has worked for the past year to help Alabama’s counties and municipalities update the address lists that will be used by the Census Bureau in 2020 to account for new development and other changes. Participation in the process for 2020, known as the Local Update of Census Addresses, more than doubled from 2010. In total, 280 Alabama municipalities and 58 counties are registered to participate in the update process. That represents a 104 percent increase in municipalities and a 128 percent increase in counties over 2010 in which 137 municipalities and 25 counties registered to participate. ADECA has established a page on its website with information about the upcoming census that will be updated as the Alabama Counts 2020 Census Committee gets up and running. The page is available at www.adeca.alabama.gov/census.
Bradley Byrne: Recognizing our Congressional interns
A Congressional internship is an incredibly rewarding experience that helps young people gain skills and knowledge that will serve them well in whatever career path they choose. I’m pleased my office offers internships to college students and recent graduates from Alabama throughout the year. This year, it was an honor to host eleven interns in my D.C. office and two interns in my Mobile office over the course of the summer. These were all high-quality individuals who helped our office function and served as great ambassadors for Southwest Alabama. During their internships, they assisted with legislative and administrative tasks including answering the phones, researching legislation, attending events throughout Southwest Alabama, observing Congressional hearings, and assisting constituents with various government agencies. This year’s summer interns were: Harrison Adams, a native of Selma, is a junior at the University of Alabama, where he is majoring in Economics and Finance with a minor in Social Innovation and Leadership. Anna Casteix, a Mobile native, is a junior at the University of Alabama, where she is majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. William Chandler, a native of Montgomery, is a junior at Sewanee, where he is double-majoring in Politics and English with a minor in Rhetoric. Emma Goodloe, a native of Mobile, is a senior at the University of Georgia, where she is majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Public Affairs Communication. Win Gustin, a Mobile native and Murphy High School graduate, is a rising junior and History major at Washington and Lee University. Summer Hinton, a native of Mobile, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama, where she is double majoring in Public Relations and Political Science. William Kelly, a native of Mobile, is a senior at Auburn University, where he is majoring in Finance. He is planning to graduate next May. John Loris, a Mobile native, is a junior at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. He is majoring in Sports Medicine and Exercise Science with a Sports Administration minor. Trinidad Miller, a native of Brewton, is a senior at the University of Alabama, where he is majoring in Marketing with a double specialization in Sales and Services Marketing. Casey Nelson, a native of Tuscaloosa, is a senior at the University of Alabama, where she is pursuing dual bachelor’s degrees in Public Relations and Political Science. William Newman, a native of Montgomery, is a senior at the University of Alabama, where he is majoring in Finance with a specialization in Investment Management. Aaron Seeley, a native of Fairhope, is a sophomore at Auburn University, where he is majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Economics and English. Jackson Tunks, a native of Fairhope, is a junior at Queens University of Charlotte, where he is majoring in History with minors in Business Leadership and Political Science. I sincerely appreciate all their help over this past summer, and I wish them each all the best as they conclude their studies and prepare for the next chapter of their lives. I have no doubt they have bright futures ahead. My office accepts interns all through the year, so I would encourage any interested students to contact my office and apply. If you want to learn more about internships in my Mobile and D.C. offices, simply visit Byrne.House.Gov/Services/Internships. We should all take great pride in helping develop the next generation of leaders for our communities, state, and nation. Congressional internships are just one way we can equip our nation’s young people with important life skills, and I am glad my office is able to offer such a productive internship program. • • • Bradley Byrne is a member of U.S. Congress representing Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
Steve Bannon wants GOP to rally behind Donald Trump
Steve Bannon has a dire warning for Republicans — rally around President Donald Trump. During a Sunday interview with The Associated Press, the former chief strategist to Trump said he believes the GOP would lose 35 to 40 seats in the House if the election were held today, thereby ceding their majority to Democrats he’s convinced will pursue impeachment. He argued there’s still time to turn that around and is launching a group, Citizens of the American Republic, to pitch the election as a vote to protect Trump from that outcome. “You can’t look at this as a midterm and you can’t run it out of the traditional Republican playbook. If you do that, you’re going to get smoked,” said Bannon, arguing that Republicans must redouble efforts against motivated Democrats. The effort is a test of Bannon’s sway in the GOP a year after he was fired from his White House post. His relationship with Trump soured after a tell-all book published in January included searing quotes of Bannon portraying Trump as undisciplined and criticizing son Donald Trump Jr. His stock fell further after he stuck by Alabama Republican Roy Moore’s Senate campaign even after decades-old sexual misconduct allegations emerged. A reliably Republican Senate seat turned Democratic. As he attempts a comeback, Bannon acknowledged the challenges he faces, including an invigorated Democratic base. Less than three months from Election Day, Democrats need a net gain of 24 seats to retake the House, and the party is increasingly bullish about its chances after strong turnout in a series of special elections. Bannon said Republicans can gain ground if they focus on turning out Trump supporters. “This is not about persuasion. It’s too late to persuade anybody. We’re 90 days away from this election. This is all about turnout and what I call base-plus,” he said. While Bannon makes his move, many Republicans view holding the House as an uphill battle. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bannon said his new venture will focus on rapid response and polling with the goal of framing the election as an “up or down vote” on Trump and impeachment. He is also releasing a movie about the president, “Trump@War,” geared at Trump supporters. Bannon said he was being backed by private donors, but he did not detail who was funding the effort or how much he had raised. He said his efforts were independent of the Republican National Committee, the White House or a Trump-supporting super PAC. In keeping with his midterm mission, Bannon defended the president on both policy and style, arguing that the president had an economic record to run on and has been making the right pitch on the campaign trail. On trade, Bannon backed the president’s aggressive tariffs, which have drawn criticism in agricultural states crucial to Trump’s victory. He argued they were a key part of Trump’s nationalistic economic strategy. “People in Iowa, once it’s explained to them, will fully support the president in this,” he said. “We don’t have a choice. We either win the economic war with China or we’re going to be a secondary, a tertiary power.” He said Trump’s culture wars, which have included public attacks on women and minorities, don’t present a problem, calling it his “house style” and saying people should “separate out the signal from the noise.” He argued that Trump would benefit from shutting down the government over funding for his border wall, saying it would “galvanize the populist right,” though he acknowledged it was a minority view. Bannon also pushed back against the idea that a loss of the House could be a positive development for Trump as it would give him a new foil heading into the 2020 presidential election. He called such notions “dangerously naive.” Looking ahead to 2020, Bannon said attorney Michael Avenatti, who is weighing a bid as a Democratic candidate, could be a contender. The combative attorney has been taking on Trump on behalf of a porn actress who claims a sexual encounter with the president, which Trump denies. “He’s a fighter and people are looking for fighters,” Bannon said of Avenatti, though he believes Trump would defeat any opponent. “He’s going to be a force in the primary for the simple reason that he comes across as what many of the Democrats don’t, which is a fighter.” Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Microsoft uncovers more Russian attacks ahead of midterms
Microsoft has uncovered new hacking attempts by Russia targeting U.S. political groups ahead of the midterm elections. The company said Tuesday that a group tied to the Russian government created fake websites that appeared to spoof two American conservative organizations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute. Three other fake sites were designed to look as if they belonged to the U.S. Senate. Microsoft didn’t offer any further description of the fake sites, and the Russian officials dismissed its claims as unfounded. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cited the lack of detail on the hack, and said it wasn’t clear “who the hackers in question are” and how they could distort the U.S. electoral system. The revelation if new hacks arrives just weeks after a similar Microsoft discovery led Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who is running for re-election, to reveal that Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network. The hacking attempts mirror similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 election, which U.S. intelligence officials have said were focused on helping to elect Republican Donald Trump to the presidency by hurting his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. This time, more than helping one political party over another, “this activity is most fundamentally focused on disrupting democracy,” Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer, said in an interview this week. Smith said there is no sign the hackers were successful in persuading anyone to click on the fake websites, which could have exposed a target victim to computer infiltration, hidden surveillance and data theft. Both conservative think tanks said they have tried to be vigilant about “spear-phishing” email attacks because their global pro-democracy work has frequently drawn the ire of authoritarian governments. “We’re glad that our work is attracting the attention of bad actors,” said Hudson Institute spokesman David Tell. “It means we’re having an effect, presumably.” The International Republican Institute is led by a board that includes six Republican senators, and one prominent Russia critic and Senate hopeful, Mitt Romney, who is running for a Utah seat this fall. Microsoft calls the hacking group Strontium; others call it Fancy Bear or APT28. An indictment from U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller has tied it to Russian’s main intelligence agency, known as the GRU, and to the 2016 email hacking of both the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign. “We have no doubt in our minds” who is responsible, Smith said. Microsoft has waged a legal battle with Strontium since suing it in a Virginia federal court in summer 2016. The company obtained court approval last year allowing it to seize certain fake domains created by the group. It has so far used the courts to shut down 84 fake websites created by the group, including the most recent six announced Tuesday. Microsoft has argued in court that by setting up fake but realistic-looking domains, the hackers were misusing Microsoft trademarks and services to hack into targeted computer networks, install malware and steal sensitive emails and other data. Smith also announced Tuesday that the company is offering free cybersecurity protection to all U.S. political candidates, campaigns and other political organizations, at least so long as they’re already using Microsoft’s Office 365 productivity software. Facebook and Google have also promoted similar tools to combat campaign interference. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Briggs & Stratton to add distribution center in Auburn, create 20 jobs
The Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corporation announced Friday its decision to consolidate a number of its smaller existing warehouses throughout the U.S. into two large warehouses in Germantown, Wis. and Auburn, Ala.. Both facilities are expected to be operational in spring 2019. The Auburn facility will be a 400,000 square foot distribution center, also for engines and products. This facility positions Briggs & Stratton’s inventory in the optimal location to best supply its customers with shorter delivery times in this region of the U.S. The City of Auburn, the Industrial Development Board of the City of Auburn (IDB) and the State of Alabama plan to support the project with available incentives. This will create approximately 20 new jobs in the City of Auburn. “By consolidating our current footprint into two large distribution centers, we’re increasing efficiencies to more effectively serve our customers,” states Bill Harlow, director of global distribution and warehousing at Briggs & Stratton. “The locations in Germantown and Auburn will provide a North American enterprise distribution footprint that supports our strategy and customers with optimal inventory and order delivery while managing space and capital investment.” “This decision aligns with our commitment to invest in being a partner of choice and easy to do business with,” added Dave Rodgers, senior vice president and president – engines and power at Briggs & Stratton. “We’re already enhancing two of our existing plants in Auburn, Alabama and Statesboro, Georgia to bring production of our commercial Vanguard® V-Twin engines back to the U.S., and we’re continuously investing in our research and development efforts to create products that help make work easier and lives better – it’s an exciting time to be at Briggs & Stratton.”
