Alabama First Class Pre-K program to expand to 96 new classrooms this fall
Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education announced that the nationally recognized, high-quality Alabama First Class Pre-K program will add 96 new classrooms in 35 counties this fall. Additionally, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) announced that Alabama First Class Pre-K has been rated as the nation’s highest quality state pre-kindergarten program for the sixteenth consecutive year. The new classrooms will expand access to 26,658 children in the 2022-2023 school year, with more than 1,481 classrooms statewide, with the goal to serve 70 percent of eligible four-year-old children. Also today, the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) announced that Alabama First Class Pre-K has once again been rated as the nation’s highest quality state pre-kindergarten program for the sixteenth consecutive year. “Alabama’s First Class Pre-K has once again been recognized as a national model for delivering high-quality early childhood education that gives our youngest citizens a strong start to their educational journey,” stated Ivey. “I am glad to see that even more students will have access to pre-K next year and look forward to the day that all Alabama families who want pre-K for their children have access.” “We are excited to serve an additional 1,728 students in our First Class Pre-K program in the coming year,” said Dr. Barbara Cooper, secretary of Early Childhood Education. “We are thrilled that Governor Ivey and our state leaders continue to invest in early childhood education supporting Alabama First Class Pre-K in maintaining all 10 NIEER quality benchmarks for 16 years running.” “Leaders across the state recognize the benefits of high-quality pre-K. Thank you to the organizations within the early learning mixed delivery system who have stepped up to partner with us to provide this valuable opportunity in all 67 counties,” Cooper added. The Alabama Legislature approved Ivey’s recommended Fiscal Year 2023 budget increase for the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education. This budget included a $22.5 million increase for the Office of School Readiness that administers First Class Pre-K. In addition to funding new classrooms throughout the state, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education will continue to ensure pay parity for all First Class Pre-K teachers with the same pay raise as K-12 public school teachers in the upcoming school year. Investing in early childhood education has led to substantial positive outcomes for children who participate in the program. Alabama First Class Pre-K students are more likely to be proficient in math and reading, with these long-term results holding true even after controlling for student demographics and other variables such as poverty.
Jim Zeigler: Secretary of State now third most important race on ballot
The May 24 Republican primary is now only four weeks off. The race for the open seat of Secretary of State is now “third most important on the ballot,” according to Secretary of State candidate Jim Zeigler. He says only the governor’s race and the U.S. Senate race are more important. Zeigler pointed out that the races for Lt. Governor, State Treasurer, and Agricultural Commissioner have no opposition and will not even appear on the primary ballot. “We have a hot race for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby. There are a slew of candidates opposing Gov. Kay Ivey. After those two, the big race is one that is normally quiet – Secretary of State,” Zeigler stated. “Over the next eight years, the job of Secretary of State will be vital. The Secretary of State is our top elections administrator. We face national attempts to manipulate honest election procedures. Alabama needs a proven fighter against government overreach to be our fighting Secretary of State,” Zeigler continued. Zeigler argued that with his experience as Alabama State Auditor, he is uniquely qualified for the Secretary of State position. “As your State Auditor, I led the fight against waste, mismanagement, and corruption. As your Secretary of State, I can apply that same approach to fight the manipulation of our elections,” said Zeigler. “As your State Auditor, some people called me ‘the watchman.’ I will continue as your watchman over the election process as Secretary of State.” The three other Republican candidates for Secretary of State are Rep. Wes Allen of Troy, businessman Christian Horn of Huntsville, and retired Secretary of State staffer Ed Packard of Prattville.
Katie Britt releases new ad ‘Secure the Border’
U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt announced today that her campaign has released a new ad in her 2022 bid to serve as Alabama’s next U.S. Senator.The ad, entitled “Secure the Border,” highlights Britt’s stance on sealing and securing the United States’ southern border. In the ad, Britt says, “Illegal border crossings are at record highs. The amount of fentanyl entering our country has increased by 4,000%. And human traffickers are making millions a day selling women into prostitution. I’m Katie Britt, and the fact that Joe Biden still hasn’t been to this border is a disgrace. As Alabama’s senator, I’ll fight to finish President Trump’s wall, ban sanctuary cities, and deport criminal illegal aliens. I approve this message, because we must secure this border, now.” In a statement, Britt criticized President Joe Biden, blaming him for the problems at the border. “Joe Biden’s disastrous decisions and radical open borders agenda has led to both a national security and humanitarian crisis, as illegal crossings continue to set record highs,” commented Britt. “Biden intentionally reversed the successful policies of President Trump, and the devastating consequences are being felt across America – including right here in Alabama. The chaos at the U.S.-Mexico border leads to danger for hardworking families in our state from deadly drugs, violent gangs, and terrorists. It’s far past time for the Biden Administration to wake up and defend our country’s sovereignty. In the Senate, I will fight to put America First.” Britt is a native of Coffee County, and her husband, Wesley, is from Cullman County. They now live in Montgomery with their two children, Bennett and Ridgeway. The primary election is scheduled for May 24, 2022.
Federal judge blocks Biden administration from ending Title 42 immigration enforcement
A federal judge in Louisiana on Monday blocked the Biden administration from ending the enforcement of a COVID-era policy that allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to quickly deport illegal immigrants over health concerns during the pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on April 1 that it was ending Title 42 enforcement on May 23, raising significant concerns among both Republicans and a growing number of Democrats that already inflated numbers of illegal border crossings under the Biden administration would spike even further. Shortly after the CDC announcement, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued. The attorneys general from 18 other states have since joined the lawsuit. A hearing was held Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, and Judge Robert Summerhays said he was issuing a temporary restraining order against the administration. “For the reasons stated on the record, the Court announced its intent to grant the motion,” the judge said. “The parties will confer regarding the specific terms to be contained in the Temporary Restraining Order and attempt to reach agreement.” After the ruling, Louisiana AG Landry called ending Title 42 enforcement an “enormous threat.” “Joe Biden’s reckless decision to rescind Title 42 would have flooded our already stressed southern border with illegal immigrants,” Landry said in a statement. “Fortunately, today a judge has granted our request to halt this enormous threat to our national security. We will continue to ensure that citizenship means something and that those in this country illegally are not conferred greater rights than our citizens.” Before Monday’s ruling, the Department of Homeland Security said it was putting in place measures to prepare for up to 18,000 people a day to illegally cross Mexico’s border with the U.S. once Title 42 was lifted. This estimate is in addition to the roughly 2 million people who were apprehended or encountered by Border Patrol agents in Biden’s first year in office while Title 42 was in place. All encounter numbers exclude “gotaways,” those who evade capture and don’t surrender at ports of entry. Schmitt also hailed the decision. “This is a huge victory for border security, but the fight continues on,” he tweeted. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Paul DeMarco: Alabama jobs numbers a bright spot for the state
Alabama’s unemployment rate just matched the lowest in the history of the state. At 2.9 percent, it tied the all-time record low reached in pre-pandemic 2019. This is an amazing statistic that other states wish they could duplicate and shows the efforts state and business leaders are making to return Alabama back to better economic times before the pandemic. The coronavirus was difficult in a lot of ways for so many Alabama residents. The pandemic was devastating for families who lost loved ones to the virus or were hospitalized. There were also those individuals who were laid off from their jobs or worked for small businesses that were shut down and lost thousands of dollars. Add the crushing inflation with the soaring energy rates, and state citizens have suffered financially tremendously the past two years. Thus, the unemployment rate, along with the fact that Alabama continues to attract new businesses to the state as well, is good news. Thus, if the low unemployment rate is a true indicator, brighter economic days are ahead for Alabama. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Growing number of Democrats call on Joe Biden to reverse plan to end Title 42
A Democratic governor and several Democrats in Congress are calling on President Joe Biden to reverse the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to end Title 42. Title 42, a public health authority that enables federal agents to quickly expel illegal immigrants during a public health emergency, has been in effect since March 2020. On April 1, the CDC announced it was terminating it on May 23. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from the border town of Laredo, Texas, told Fox News Sunday that Biden was listening to immigration activists, not border communities or their representatives such as himself. “But my question is, who’s listening to the men and women in green and in blue?” he asked, referring to Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol agents. “And more importantly, who’s listening to the border communities, the sheriffs, the landowners, the rest of the people that live on the border?” he asked. Cuellar is facing a tough runoff election May 24 and, if he wins, a tough general election in November. “How can we have the federal public emergency extended to July 15 and say there’s a pandemic going on in the United States, but at the border, everything’s fine, and just let people into the United States,” he said, adding, “Those are mixed messages.” He also addressed the administration’s mixed messages when it comes to mandates. “How can you ask for international travelers to make sure … they’re vaccinated or even show their COVID-19 negative tests if they fly in?” Cueller asked, referring to vaccine mandates imposed on legal travelers when no such requirements exist for those who’ve entered the U.S. illegally and are then released into the U.S. by the Biden administration. Cuellar also posted pictures of existing overcrowded holding facilities at the border with Title 42 in place. “Title 42 is critical to ensuring the health and safety of migrants, law enforcement, and border residents,” he said. Democratic Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak wrote Biden late last week expressing concerns about Title 42 ending. He asked him “to reconsider any intentions of undoing Title 42 until there is a comprehensive plan for how the United States can avoid the humanitarian crisis this policy change would spark.” The CDC issued a statement on April 1 announcing it was ending Title 42 due to “an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19 (such as highly effective vaccines and therapeutics)” and said, “suspending the right to introduce migrants into the United States is no longer necessary.” Instead, the Department of Homeland Security was implementing “appropriate COVID-19 mitigation protocols, such as scaling up a program to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to migrants and prepare for resumption of regular migration under Title 8,” the CDC said. But on April 12, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced he was renewing the national public health emergency order “as a result of the continued consequences of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.” He said the public health emergency “exists and has existed since January 27, 2020, nationwide,” and was renewed by the Trump and Biden administrations eight times. Set to expire April 15, it was renewed effective April 16 for an additional 90 days. Arizona Democratic U.S. Sen. Krysten Sinema argues extending the public health emergency “proves the need to delay lifting Title 42 to protect the health and safety of Arizona communities and migrants.” In a statement, she said she would “keep pushing for transparency and accountability from the administration to help secure the border, keep Arizona communities safe, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.” Earlier this month, she joined a bipartisan effort to prevent Title 42’s end until after the national public health emergency order ends. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., the lead Democratic cosponsor, filed the Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022. Joining him as Democratic cosponsors were Sinema and Sens. Joe Manchin from West Virginia, Jon Tester from Montana, and Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire. U.S. Rep. Jared Goldman, D-Maine, was the lead Democratic cosponsor of the companion bill in the House. Joining him were Democratic cosponsors, Reps. Tom O’Halleran and Greg Stanton of Arizona, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Stephanie Murphy of Florida, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, and Tim Ryan of Ohio. The bill isn’t likely to pass the House even if it were to pass the Senate. So far, 22 states have sued to stop the administration from halting Title 42 in two separate lawsuits. Unless the Biden administration is stopped by the courts, DHS announced last month measures it was putting in place to prepare for up to 18,000 people a day expected to enter U.S. custody once Title 42 is lifted. This estimate is in addition to the roughly 2 million people who were apprehended or encountered by Border Patrol agents in Biden’s first year in office while Title 42 was in place. All encounter numbers exclude “gotaways,” those who evade capture and don’t surrender at ports of entry. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Alabama marking Holocaust remembrance with events
Alabama will remember the Holocaust, the systematic slaughter of Jews and other people by Nazis, with events planned for this week in Montgomery and Birmingham. The Alabama Holocaust Commission is sponsoring an annual gathering of remembrance on Tuesday at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in the capital. A child survivor of the Holocaust, Inge Auerbacher, is scheduled to speak, and a state proclamation will be presented. A commemoration will also be held on Thursday at Temple Beth-El in Birmingham. The program will feature George Nathan, the son of Alabama Holocaust survivors Henry and Sophie Nathan. The family lived in both Anniston and Birmingham after arriving in the United States. About 6 million people were killed by the Nazis in the early 1940s during World War II. The state Holocaust commission holds events each year to remember the victims. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Hearing set in effort to block Alabama transgender law
A federal judge will hear arguments next month on whether to block the enforcement of an Alabama law outlawing the use of gender-affirming medications to treat transgender people under age 19. The May 5 hearing is scheduled just days before the law is set to take effect on May 8. U.S. District Judge Liles Burke set the evidentiary hearing, scheduled to last up to two days, on a request for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction to stop Alabama officials from enforcing the law while a court challenge goes forward. The Alabama law will make it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for medical providers to give puberty blockers and hormones to transgender people under age 19 to help affirm their gender identity. Four families with transgender children, two doctors, and a member of the clergy filed a lawsuit challenging the law as an unconstitutional violation of equal protection and free speech rights and an intrusion into parental decisions. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
