Pell City honors law enforcement
On Wednesday, the city of Pell City held its annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Luncheon at the Pell City Municipal Complex. Presumptive State Sen. Lance Bell welcomed members of the Pell City Police Department and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department to the event and thanked Metro Bank and its owner Annette Cox for sponsoring the event. St. Clair County Sheriff Billy Murray addressed the law enforcement officers present, ”Annette, our friend at Metro Bank, thank you for what you do for law enforcement.” “During this concealed carry permit business Randy Wood stood up for law enforcement at great personal sacrifice. He has our back, and Lance will as well when he is in Montgomery.” The Alabama State Legislature voted in the 2022 Alabama regular legislative session to end the requirement that Alabama citizens purchase a concealed carry permit in order to carry their handguns with them concealed. This change was opposed by many in the law enforcement community, including the Alabama Sheriffs Association. Alabama was already an open-carry state. Metro Bank and Mrs. Cox sponsor the annual steak luncheon for local law enforcement officers. “Your work is everything that makes this works,” said Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris. “We have some new guys that don’t understand this, but our old officers know that this is how they are treated here. Some of our officers who have transferred here from Birmingham, and other places know that it is not this way in other places. Truly Pell City and St. Clair County treats our law enforcement the way that they deserve to be treated.” Numerous dignitaries from across St. Clair County were in attendance, including St. Clair County Chairman Paul Manning, presumptive state school board member Marie Manning, St. Clair County Probate Judge Andrew Weathington, Judge Robert Minor, Judge Phil Seay, and Judge Bill Weathington. Bell, Woods, Bill Weathington, and Marie Manning are all four on the November 8 general election ballot; however, as St. Clair County is a Republican stronghold, they face no general election opposition. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Five days left to apply for absentee ballot by mail for general election
On Tuesday, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill released a statement to remind Alabama voters that there are only days left in the absentee voting period for the November 8th General Election. Ahead of the November 8th General Election, Secretary Merrill reminded Alabama voters that there are just 5 days left for the Absentee Election Managers to receive an application for an absentee ballot by mail. Voters will have an additional two days to apply for an absentee ballot by hand. Absentee ballot applications can be downloaded online or requested by visiting or calling the local Absentee Election Manager’s office. Voters may also contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at (334) 242-7210 to request an absentee ballot application. Important absentee voting deadlines include: November 1, 2022: The last day that absentee ballot applications returned by mail can be received by the Absentee Election Manager. November 3, 2022: The last day that absentee ballot applications returned by hand can be received by the Absentee Election Manager. November 7, 2022: The last day an absentee ballot returned by hand can be received by the Absentee Election Manager. November 8, 2022: Absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by the Absentee Election Manager no later than noon that day. Voters who are eligible to vote pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) will have until November 8, 2022, to postmark an absentee ballot. The absentee voting period began on September 14, 2022. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 334-242-7210. The November 8 general election will decide important races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Lieutenant Governor, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Public Service Commission, State Treasurer, state legislature, the state board of education, as well as numerous county officers. There are also a number of proposed constitutional amendments that are on the ballot for voters to either ratify or reject. If you are unable to vote absentee, then the polls will open on November 8 at 7:00 a.m. at your local assigned polling place and close at 7:00 p.m. Remember that in order to participate in any Alabama election, you must have a valid photo ID. If you do not have a photo ID, you may obtain a free voter ID from your local Board of Registrars or by contacting the Alabama Secretary of State’s Election division. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Richard Shelby highlights importance of the Port of Mobile
A new study has emphasized the economic importance of the Port of Mobile. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby highlighted this new report in comments that Alabama’s senior Senator made on Twitter on Monday. “A new study reveals the Port of Mobile’s critical impact on the entire state of Alabama – including 300,000+ jobs and $85 billion in economic value,” Shelby stated on Twitter. According to the report, the port has seen incredible growth and is responsible for an estimated 300,000 Alabama jobs and an economic impact of $85 billion. The Port of Mobile is operated by the Alabama Port Authority. “I have long known that Alabama’s largest port could have a pivotal impact on the growth of our state,” Shelby continued. “Throughout my career, I’ve focused on projects that aim to position Alabama for long-term success, and the Port has been one of those priorities.” While he was the Chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Shelby obtained federal dollars to widen and deepen the shipping channel for the Port through Mobile Bay. The State of Alabama drew down those federal dollars by providing matching funds that were part of Governor Kay Ivey’s controversial fuel tax increase that passed the Alabama Legislature in a 2019 special session. The improvements to the shipping channel allowed for the port to accept the new larger Panama Canal container ships that hold more cargo than the previous generation of ships. The port’s overall economic impact has grown 217% since 2019. The port has also produced a 94% increase in jobs and a 225% increase in tax revenues to the State and local governments. “These results are cause for celebration throughout Alabama,” Shelby stated. “The impact that the Port of Mobile has already had on Alabama’s economy is remarkable. I am proud to witness this great news and believe these numbers will continue to improve. I have long known that Alabama’s largest port could have a pivotal impact on the growth of our state. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on projects that aim to position Alabama for long-term success, and the port has been one of those priorities.” “These numbers make it clear that the Port of Mobile is a tremendous asset to the State of Alabama. Economic activity at the port radiates across the entire state – whether it’s auto manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, space and defense, forest products, energy, or any of the myriad of other industries that make Alabama great, every corner of the state sees some benefit from the port’s work,” said John Driscoll, Director and CEO of the Alabama Port Authority. “We believe that the Port of Mobile is the most dynamic, compelling port in America, and as we look ahead to an expanded container terminal, a deeper and wider ship channel, intermodal rail, and inland ports, these numbers will only grow. While these results are a sign of the progress made to date, we know there is more room for growth in our future and look forward to continuing to deliver for our customers and the entire State of Alabama.” “The Port’s rise is attributable to everyone who has been involved in promoting its growth and the many ways it benefits Alabama,” Shelby said. “This is just the beginning.” To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey joins 18 Republican governors opposing proposed Project Labor Agreement rule
Nineteen Republican governors wrote a letter to President Joe Biden on October 17, 2022, opposing a proposed federal rule to mandate the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for federal construction projects. The letter was signed by governors from Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. The proposed rule follows an executive order that was signed by Biden in February 2022 that aimed to require PLAs for large-scale construction projects. A group of Republican governors wrote a letter in April 2022 opposing the executive order, arguing that it granted a monopoly to unions and discouraged competition. The proposed rule would amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the executive order and mandate the use of PLAs for federal construction contracts exceeding $35 million. Gov. Asa Hutchinson stated in a press release, “Labor unions have played an important role in our nation’s history, but the government’s role in business is to provide an avenue for success and not a roadblock.” Hutchinson continued, “I’m honored to have the support of 18 fellow governors from all corners of our nation as we seek to oppose this rule and support fairness for our states.” The proposed rule states, “The E.O. explains that the lack of coordination among various employers, or uncertainty about the employment terms and conditions of various groups of workers, can create friction and disputes in the absence of an agreed-upon resolution mechanism. PLAs may provide structure and stability needed to reduce uncertainties for all parties connected to a large-scale construction project.” The period for public comments on the proposed rule closed on October 18, 2022. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Kay Ivey gets a ‘D’ in report card stacking up U.S. governors’ fiscal policies
Gov. Kay Ivey’s years-long support of an increased gas tax in Alabama landed her in the bottom tier of a new report grading states’ top-level leaders on their fiscal policies. The Cato Institute, a public policy organization focused on limited government, recently released its 2022 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Co-authors Chris Edwards and Ilana Blumsack gave Ivey, who is seeking a second full term in office this fall, a score of “D.” In their analysis of Ivey’s fiscal performance throughout her first full term in office, Edwards and Blumsack elaborated on why they gave the governor a low score. “Running for a full term in office in 2018, Ivey said she opposed tax increases,” Edwards and Blumsack wrote. “Nonetheless, she has raised some taxes, including the gas tax by 10 cents per gallon in 2019 and an assessment on nursing home facilities in 2020.” In their report, the authors did note some of Ivey’s more recent tax-cutting overtures in her run-up to reelection and against the backdrop of inflation. “Ivey switched direction recently and approved modest tax cuts, including raising the standard deduction, exempting $6,000 of retirement income from taxes, increasing an adoption credit, and exempting small businesses from the business privilege tax,” Edwards and Blumsack wrote. Early this year, during the most recent legislative session, Ivey also touted her support of House Bill 231, which she signed into law in February. “I am proud to sign this needed tax relief into law so that money will return directly into the hands of hardworking Alabamians,” Ivey said in the news release. Ivey’s support of a gas tax, and her denial of cutting it back this spring, has been a source of criticism since she first signed the legislation into law in 2019. Proceeds from portions of the increased gas tax have been poured into Ivey’s 2019 Rebuild Alabama Act, which required the state’s Department of Transportation to annually allocate $10 million from excised gas taxes. “Since becoming governor, with the support of Rebuild Alabama, we have embarked on more than 1,500 new road and bridge projects worth more than $5 billion,” Ivey said in March. “We certainly have more work in front of us, and I am proud to continue those efforts today.” While the Cato Institute’s newest report did not have a clear-cut partisan divide in the granular state-by-state rankings, there was a prevailing theme. The top-performing governors in this year’s report were Republican, while the lowest-scoring leaders were Democrats. “The results are data-driven. They account for tax and spending actions that affect short-term budgets in the states,” Edwards and Blumsack said of their methodology. “But they do not account for longer-term or structural changes that governors may make, such as reforms to state pension plans.” Five governors, all Republican, received an “A” in this year’s Cato Institute report: Doug Ducey of Arizona; Brad Little of Idaho; Kim Reynolds of Iowa; Pete Ricketts of Nebraska; and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire. On the bottom end, eight Democrat governors received an “F” in the Cato Institute’s analysis of their fiscal policies: Kate Brown of Oregon; Jay Inslee of Washington; Phil Murphy of New Jersey; Gavin Newsom of California; J.B. Pritzker of Illinois; Tim Walz of Minnesota; Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; and Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Herschel Walker faces abortion allegation from 2nd accuser
A woman came forward Wednesday to accuse Herschel Walker, the anti-abortion Republican running for U.S. Senate in Georgia, of encouraging and paying for her 1993 abortion — an accusation that came just weeks after a former girlfriend said he did the same for her in 2009. Walker dismissed the newest allegation as “foolishness” and “a lie,” similar to his vehement denials earlier this month of the abortion alleged to have happened 13 years ago. “I’m done with all this foolishness. This is all a lie, and I will not entertain any of it. I also did not kill JFK,” Walker said in a statement later Wednesday. The second accuser, identified only as “Jane Doe,” spoke to reporters via an audio Zoom call arranged by her lawyer, Gloria Allred. The woman alleged that Walker, a former college and professional football star making his first bid for public office, pressured her into an abortion and paid for one after she became pregnant during their six-year relationship while he was married to his first wife. “The reason I am here today is because he has publicly taken the position that he is ‘about life’ and against abortion under any circumstances when, in fact, he pressured me to have an abortion and personally ensured that it occurred by driving me to the clinic and paying for it,” the woman said. She said she was not revealing her identity because she fears “reprisals against myself, my family and my livelihood.” “I do not believe that Herschel is morally fit to be a U.S. senator, and that is the reason why I am speaking up and providing proof,” she said. She said partisan allegiances were not a factor in her decision to come forward. She called herself a registered independent and said she voted twice for Donald Trump, the former Republican president who has endorsed Walker. The second round of abortion allegations against Walker returned the issue to the forefront of the campaign in the final two weeks before the November 8 elections. Walker is competing against Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in a tight race that could help determine party control of the Senate. Walker, campaigning Wednesday in north Georgia, seemed to blame Democrats for the latest accusation, much as he did the first, saying in a written statement that they “will say and do anything to hang on to power.” “Well, I’m Herschel Walker, and they picked the wrong Georgian to mess with,” Walker wrote. Allred, speaking to reporters in her Los Angeles office, detailed, among other items, cards that she said Walker gave her client and a hotel receipt from Minnesota. Allred played audio of what she described as a telephone message that Walker allegedly left her client in 1992 after he had arrived in Europe as part of the U.S. Olympic bobsled team. A notable women’s rights lawyer, Allred has represented several clients who have accused powerful men, including Trump and Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, of sexual assault and harassment. When The Daily Beast broke the story this month of the first abortion allegation, Walker insisted he had no idea who could make such a claim, but that was undermined by a follow-up report in which the woman identified herself as the mother of one of his children. The child was born two years after the 2009 abortion. Her evidence included a $575 receipt for an abortion, along with a get-well card signed by Walker and a personal check for $700 from the multimillionaire celebrity athlete. The check is dated five days after her abortion receipt. On Wednesday, Jane Doe said Walker gave her cash to have an abortion after she told him she was pregnant. She alleged that she first went to a clinic alone but was unable to go through with an abortion. She said Walker was “upset” when she told him, and he insisted they return the following day. She said he drove her to the clinic that day, waited in the car while the procedure occurred, and then took her to fill prescriptions. Allred declined to discuss the cost or any records of the alleged abortion, “at least at this time.” Walker’s responses to The Daily Beast’s stories evolved from absolute denials to suggesting the signature on a get-well card wasn’t his to suggesting he did send the woman money but that he didn’t know it was to cover an abortion. Doe said she heard Walker’s denial that he ever signed anything with a lone initial “H,” as the get-well card was signed. She said she knew that wasn’t true because he had signed cards to her that way. The first woman has not been identified publicly, asking that her name not be used out of concern for her privacy. She said she is a registered Democrat who is speaking out because of what she called Walker’s hypocrisy over abortion rights. She has spoken to multiple media outlets, revealing herself to be the same woman who filed a paternity suit for child support in New York family court. She has also alleged that Walker encouraged her to end their second pregnancy, though she refused, and that Walker has seen their son only a handful of times. Walker’s campaign has since shared with NBC News texts between his current wife and the woman acknowledging his relationship to the child. Walker promised to sue The Daily Beast after its initial story on the abortion claim was published on October 3. As of Wednesday afternoon, Walker had not confirmed that he has taken any legal action against the outlet. The reporting has put Walker on the defensive both about his claims of being a family man and his previous support for a national abortion ban, without any exceptions. That’s a notable position because the Supreme Court in June ended a constitutional right to an abortion, and Congress has been discussing federal legislation to set a national regulation. During the primary campaign, Walker was consistent about his absolute opposition to abortion. He repeated that approach after winning the nomination but has
