Black entrepreneur is one of 90 applicants formally being considered for Alabama’s medical cannabis licenses
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Thursday to formally consider 90 applications submitted – this is down from the more than 600 requests for applications received in October. The properly filed, amended, and corrected applications will proceed to the review, evaluation, and scoring process. “We are excited to be one step closer to program implementation,” explained Commission Director John McMillan. “Now that we have our official slate of applicants, the sixty-day window to review applications has started.” One of those applications was from Native Black Cultivation LLC, a black-owned medical cannabis cultivation company. The company issued a statement expressing pride for receiving this consideration from the Commission. “This is a significant milestone for our company, and we are thrilled about the potential to bring our unique cannabis products to the people of Alabama,” the company said in a statement. “We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential in the cannabis industry, and we are proud to be a black-owned business that is paving the way for others to follow. Our team is committed to using our expertise and experience to provide safe, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the people of Alabama.” The company is asking the public to voice their support for their application. “We would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to participate in the 30-day public comment window,” Native Black Cultivation LLC continued. “Your comments and feedback are crucial in helping the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission make an informed decision regarding our licensing application. At Native Black Cultivation, we are passionate about creating a better future for ourselves and our community. We believe that cannabis can be a powerful tool for promoting health and wellness, and we are dedicated to making it accessible to all. We are proud of our unique approach to cannabis cultivation and look forward to bringing our products to the people of Alabama. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to serving our community with safe and effective medical cannabis.” Native Black Cultivation was founded by Antoine Mordican – an engineer. Mordican presently runs a hemp-growing operation in Bessemer. The application for medical cannabis business licenses closed on December 30, 2022. Timely filed applications were reviewed by AMCC for deficiencies, and applicants were given notice of any deficient items in their applications. Applicants were required to file a proposed corrected application or request more time for filing such an application by March 3, 2023. Additionally, applicants could file a petition to amend items in their application. Applicants who were granted an extension of time to propose deficiency corrections, and those filing a proposed amended application were required to file their corrected and/or amended applications by March 24, 2023. The Commission will consider 12 applications for marijuana cultivator licenses, 11 applications to be processors, 18 applications for marijuana dispensaries, nine for secure transporter licenses, two state testing laboratory applications, and 38 integrated facility applications. Applicants were not allowed to hedge their bets by applying for multiple application types. The Commission may award up to 12 cultivator licenses, 4 processor licenses, 4 dispensary licenses, 5 integrated facility licenses, and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses. Chey Garrigan is the President and Founder of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association. “We are very proud of Antoine and are thankful for his knowledge and leadership,” Garrigan said. “We value his friendship and look forward to working with him and the other applicants as we move forward in this process.” The Commission will accept public comments until May 14, 2023. Alabama could have legal medical marijuana available by late this year. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
State House passes legislation allowing some social workers to diagnose mental illness
On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation allowing certain social workers with master’s degrees to diagnose mental illnesses. House Bill 56 (HB56) is sponsored by State Representative Frances Holk-Jones (R-Foley) The synopsis states, “This bill would provide further for the scope of practice of licensees of the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners.” The legislation expands the scope of practice of a licensed independent clinical social worker, including the authority to diagnose and develop treatment plans. “The scope of practice does not include the diagnosis, treatment, or provision of advice to a client for problems or complaints relating to conditions outside the boundaries of the practice of social work.” The legislation states that no individual may engage in the independent clinical practice of social work unless they satisfy all of the following: (1) Licensed is licensed under this chapter as a licensed independent clinical social worker; and. (2) Has a doctorate or master’s degree from a school of social work approved, accredited, or in candidacy granted by the Council on Social Work Education; and. (3) Has had two years of full-time or three years of part-time postgraduate experience under appropriate supervision in the specified social work method or four years of full-time or five years of part-time postgraduate experience under appropriate supervision in the specialty in which the applicant will practice. (4) Has passed an examination prepared by the board for this purpose; except, that prior to the time that an examination is prepared by the board for this purpose, no person individual who otherwise meets the requirements of this section will be prohibited from engaging in the private independent practice of social work; and. (5) Has been issued by mail a certified letter of certification stating his or her qualification for private independent practice by the board; and. (6) Has paid an initial certification fee set by the board. “The terms diagnose and treatment, whether considered in isolation or in conjunction with the rules of the board, may not be construed to permit the performance of any act which a licensed clinical social worker is not educated or trained to perform including, but not limited to, any of the following: (1) Administering and interpreting psychological tests or intellectual, neuropsychological, personality, or projective instruments. (2) Admitting any individual to a hospital for treatment of any condition that is outside the boundaries of the practice of social work, as provided in subsection (b). (3) Treating any individual in a hospital setting without medical supervision. (4) Prescribing medicinal drugs. (5) Authorizing clinical laboratory procedures or radiological procedures. (6) Using electroconvulsive therapy. Rep. Holk-Jones explained that the licensed clinical social workers would mostly do counseling. “Prescribing would be done by a doctor.” Rep. Thomas Jackson said, “We have outsourced mental health to the Department of Corrections. They don’t know anything about mental health. We need to get some of those people out of the prisons and into treatment.” Rep. Tim Wadsworth said, “This will allow people in our rural areas to get help quicker.” Holk-Jones said, “It will make it quicker and also bring telehealth into it.” State Rep. Mary Moore questioned if the social workers were competent to make psychiatric diagnoses. Holk-Jones said, “They have a master’s degree in social work and 3000 hours of clinical training. This is all part of the social worker training.” Moore said, “We have got people who are deficient doing clinical diagnosing.” Holk-Jones said, “They are trained to do that. If they need a prescription, they go to a doctor.” Moore said, “You can damage a person for life if they don’t have the proper training to diagnose someone. What some of us call a mental condition is not. We could misdiagnose someone with a condition they don’t have. I would like them to train under a psychiatrist before they start diagnosing someone.” State Rep. Barbara Drummond said, “This hits me raw because I lost a great nephew on Easter Sunday to suicide. He was a veteran.” Drummond said, “The more we can do about mental health in the state, the better.” Holk-Jones said, “This will not be the last time we talk about it.” HB56 passed 104 to 1. HB56 now goes to the Senate for their consideration, where it has been referred to the Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Thomas Govan campaigns for Court of Criminal Appeals
Judicial candidate Thomas Govan addressed the Etowah County Republican breakfast Saturday about his campaign to be elected to an open seat on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Govan currently works for the Alabama Attorney General’s office, where he is the Chief of the Attorney General’s Criminal Trial Division. “Chris McCool is running for the Supreme Court, which creates the open seat I am running for,” said Govan. Govan said that in his former role as head of the AG’s capital division, he argued for imposing individual death sentences even before the U.S. Supreme Court. “The cases that take the most time at the appellate level are death penalty cases,” Govan explained. “I handled some of the most heinous murders that happened in our state,” Govan said. “I led those prosecutors, including against a defendant who had murdered a Mobile police officer. The defendant snuck up behind the officer who was sitting in his car and shot him in the head.” “Now I do trial work,” said Govan. “We work hand in hand with law enforcement officers to tell the story of victims.” Govan said that he primarily prosecutes violent crime. One of those cases is in Macon County, where he leads the prosecution of Ibraheem Azeed, who killed Anaiah Blanchard. “It is so important that we stand up for victims of crime,” Govan said. “We need strong leaders at all levels of government who will fight for our values,” Govan said. “Judges are there to interpret the law as it is written,” Govan explained. “A judge is kind of like an umpire in baseball. He is there to just call balls and strikes as he sees them.” Govan said that judges should also “uphold the Constitution” and “interpret the Constitution as it is written.” Govan attended the University of Alabama and also serves in the U.S. Air Force, where he is a JAG officer. “We all have callings,” said Govan. “We do it for the glory of God.” Govan said he has practiced before the Court of Criminal Appeals for over a decade. “The Court of Criminal Appeals has a big caseload – all the judges in Alabama carry a big caseload,” Govan said. “I have practical experience trying cases all over Alabama working with law enforcement. That kind of experience is very important and unique.” “Most of us grew up in communities where the law is respected,” Govan said. “It is my hope and prayer that we will continue to live in a state where the rule of law is respected.” “My wife and I have four children,” Govan said. “She is a teacher at our kid’s school.” Govan was asked about a bill passed by both Houses of the Legislature that limits good time incentives for prisoners. “That is a really important bill,” Govan answered. “My office supported that bill.” “My entire career as a prosecutor, I have been tough on crime,” Govan said. Govan said that he is not the only announced candidate. “There are two other folks who have announced, and there could be more jumping in,” Govan said. Alabama Today asked Govan if the state needs more judges. “I think across the board, we need more law enforcement, DA support, and judges across the state,” Govan said. “I will let smarter folks in the legislature handle that.” During the breakfast, conservative talk radio host Jay Holland announced, “Phil Hodges passed away just Tuesday.” “He was a good Republican,” Holland said. “As some of you might know, Phil beat me by one vote in the Republican Primary in 1994 (State Representative) in House District 30. We went through an election challenge, but Phil came out on top. We came out of that great friends. His funeral is Tuesday.” State Rep. Mack Butler said, “Phil was a former FBI agent a long, long time ago.” The Etowah County Republican breakfast is held monthly at the Western Sizzler in Rainbow City. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
New push on U.S.-run free electronic tax-filing system for all
It’s that time of year when throngs of taxpayers are buckling down to file their income tax returns before Tuesday’s filing deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&R Block. Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes. There could be a new, free option in future years. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies. The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work. The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next ten years under the Democrats’ flagship climate and health care measure, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, that President Joe Biden signed last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report in on how it might implement such a program and how much it would cost. Next month, the IRS will release the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done. The possibility of an electronic free-file system operated by Washington is being celebrated by some taxpayer advocates who, for years, have said that would reflect good governance and well-serve taxpayers. Critics voice skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government. Robert Marvin, an IRS spokesperson, said in an email that a key goal of the study is to “look for ways to make filing taxes as easy as possible.” “It’s important that Americans have choices that work best for them when preparing their taxes, whether it’s by using a tax professional, tax software, or free options,” he said. But big tax preparation companies have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&R Block. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent trying to influence policymakers on the issue, and lobbying data shows that the big tax companies, in particular, have spent heavily. An analysis shows that Intuit, H&R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file. Intuit has spent $25.6 million since 2006 on lobbying, H&R Block about $9.6 million, and the conservative Americans for Tax Reform roughly $3 million. Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Intuit, said taxpayers can already file their taxes for free, and there are online free-file programs available to some people. Individuals of all income levels can submit their returns for free via the mail. A “direct-to-IRS e-file system is a solution in search of a problem, and that solution will unnecessarily cost taxpayers billions of dollars,” he said. “We will continue unapologetically advocating for American taxpayers and against a direct-to-IRS e-file system because it’s a bad idea.” Starting in 2006, an agreement between the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies, known as the Free File Alliance, prevented the IRS from creating its own free tax return filing system. In exchange, tax preparation companies agreed to provide free services to taxpayers making $73,000 or less. The provision that barred the IRS from exploring a free-file system expired in 2019, but the Free File Alliance agreement to provide free services for low-income taxpayers remains in effect. Ariel Jurow-Kleiman, a tax law professor at Loyola Law School, and the New America think tank have been selected by the IRS to conduct the congressionally mandated study for the agency. Jurow-Kleiman said their mandate is “evaluating the feasibility, approach, schedule, cost, organizational design, and IRS capacity to deliver a possible direct e-file system.” But she has faced pushback from Republicans who say she does not fit the law’s requirement that an independent third party assess what it would take to deliver a direct file program. Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the IRS in March questioning Jurow-Kleiman’s ability to be an independent reviewer, saying her work indicates “a clear preference for an expansive government-run system.” Smith, R-Mo., said the selection of Jurow-Kleiman and New America shows that “the Administration has already predetermined that a government-directed e-file system should exist regardless of what might be found in a truly nonpartisan, independent, third-party review.” Jurow-Kleiman said the GOP pushback to her selection was based on an unpublished draft of an article about tax compliance costs and that none of her writings have “addressed the questions that we are assessing in the feasibility study.” Molly Martin, director of strategy at New America, referred requests for comment to the IRS, saying the organization “is still working on its report.” David Williams, at the right-leaning, nonprofit Taxpayers Protection Alliance, says the “government preparing taxes is problematic.” “The taxpayer is looking for the biggest refund possible, but for the IRS, that’s not their job to look for the biggest refund for filers,” he said. “We’re concerned about that conflict of interest, but also really the ability of the IRS to do this.” To Gabriel Zucker, who helped create the tool to help families access the Advance Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, successfully setting up a free-file program is possible. “It is a really great way for government to better serve people,″ said Zucker, associate policy director for tax benefits at Code for America. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Susan Dubose briefs Birmingham Young Republicans on Legislative session
The Greater Birmingham Young Republicans (GBYR) met on Thursday in Vestavia Hills to hear State Representative Susan Dubose discuss legislation being considered by the Alabama Legislature during the ongoing 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. GBYR President Stephanie Petelos said that Dubose is a first-term member of the Alabama House and is the former head of the North Shelby County Republican Women, which meets monthly to full meetings at a country club. It was announced at the meeting that a Shelby County Young Republicans chapter is being organized. “I am excited about the Shelby County chapter,” Dubose said. “I represent District 45, which includes parts of Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair Counties.’ Dubose said the legislation to ban holding a cell phone while driving, essentially requiring hands-free devices, is likely dead for the session. “That was tabled,” Dubose said. “There were problems with that bill. It got too much overreach for me. I don’t think it is coming back.” “I passed my first bill out of committee,” Dubose said. “It is a women’s sports protection bill. It is to protect women college athletes.” “It passed unanimously,” Dubose said. “It (House Bill 261) will be on the House floor on Tuesday.” “April Weaver is running it through the Senate so it could become law,” Dubose said. “The attorney general really wants this passed.” “I am working on an age of majority law,” Dubose said. “14-year-olds are allowed to make medical decisions,” Dubose explained, saying that the age limit should be raised and that parents should be able to have the final say on their children’s medical decisions. “I would like to eliminate the grocery tax,” Dubose said. “Anthony Daniels is for it.” Dubose said, “It is not an exact loss.” Dubose explained that when you give that four percent back to the people, they are going to spend it on other things we collect sales taxes on. “I am a big believer in supply-side economics that Reagan did.” “One of the votes that we had, Vestavia Hills came to our county delegation,” Dubose said. “They wanted to raise their ad valorem taxes by 9.8 mills. They are very proud of their school system there. Many people move to Vestavia for the schools. Our entire Jefferson County Delegation voted yes unanimously.” Dubose told Alabama Today, “Regarding Vestavia Hills, the Vestavia Hills city council unanimously supports letting their residents vote on the 9.8% increase in ad valorem tax. Our Jefferson County House of Representatives delegation voted unanimously by voice vote to move the bill to the floor of the House, where it passed. I believe the people of Vestavia Hills should have a right to vote and make decisions for their own community. Vestavia Hills has a reputation for excellent schools. As a legislative body, we have given the residents the opportunity for a yes or no vote on the property tax increase.” “Another vote where I got real criticism for was the adoption bill,” Dubose said. Dubose said the criticism was for voting down an amendment to the bill that would have blocked any vaccine requirements for adoptive or foster parents. “That should be a personal choice, but that amendment came up at the last minute,” Dubose said. The Senate did add a vaccination amendment when that legislation passed on Thursday. The House will consider Senate changes to the bill as soon as Tuesday. “I do not believe in COVID vaccine mandates at all. That should be a personal choice,” Dubose told Alabama Today. “I voted to table the amendment on the floor because we didn’t have time to research the amendment and vet any unintended consequences. I am happy to hear that the Senate did pass the adoption bill with a slightly different amendment so that an option with exemptions from vaccines will be available for potential parents. I will happily support the adoption bill when it comes back to the House with the vaccine exemption amendment.” “That particular bill was not taking amendments on it at all,’ Dubose explained. “I knew it was going to fail. I try to vote with the Speaker when I can. “ Dubose said the House passed legislation limiting good time incentives for Alabama prisoners. “Bibb County deputy Brad Johnson was shot and killed by a felon who had been out of prison only three days after serving only a third of his sentence,” Dubose said. “Russell Bedsole carried that in the House, and then April Weaver carried that in the Senate.” “Dubose said that the Legislature also voted to outlaw exhibition driving. “This is something that the Mayor of Birmingham and the Mayor of Hoover asked us to support,” Dubose said. “We have had 16 persons and a baby killed by a Dodge Charger that was doing donuts with a crowd watching.” Dubose said the state’s economic incentives were renewed and passed out of the House on Thursday. “Surrounding states are spending a lot of money on incentives,” Dubose explained. “I support the economic incentive package “The Game Plan” proposed by our governor,” Dubose said. “This passed out of the House on Thursday.” “Where are our workers going to come from,” Dubose said of the state’s labor force participation rate. “Only 56.7% of people are in the labor force. We need them to come back to work.” “I do still worry about our workforce participation rate in Alabama, which keeps going down,” Dubose said. Dubose said the Legislature also passed DRAM shop reform legislation so that bars and restaurants that serve alcohol can get liability insurance for when a person leaves their premises and is intoxicated and is involved in a wreck. Dubose said that the Legislature also passed legislation to guarantee that patients of hospitals and nursing homes would be able to receive visitors in the future. “During COVID, so many people died alone,” said Dubose. “The bill sponsor, Debbie Wood – We sit next to each other, and she explains everything to me. Her mother actually starved to death in a nursing home.” Dubose said patients “can appoint a designated person who can visit two hours a day even if there is a crisis situation.” Dubose
Former State Representative Will Dismukes convicted on theft charges
On Friday, a Montgomery County jury found former Alabama state Representative Will Dismukes guilty of first-degree theft of property charges. The jury found former Rep. Dismukes guilty of stealing from his former employer, Weiss Commercial Flooring. Dismukes was also found guilty of two aggravating factors, which could lead the first-time offender to spend time in prison when sentenced. “I am very pleased with the jury’s conviction in this case,” Montgomery DA Daryl Bailey told reporters. Dismukes thievery cost a local business thousands of dollars in stolen revenue. This is the first time in history that a Montgomery jury has found an aggravator in a theft case. Because of this, my office will be seeking significant prison time for Mr. Dismukes,” Bailey said. Dismukes, a Republican, represented Elmore and Autauga Counties in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022. Dismukes lost his bid for re-election in the 2022 Republican primary to Jerry Starnes. Dismukes broke away from Wiess Commercial Flooring and started his own flooring business. The accusations against Dismukes were leveled by his former employers. Dismukes was indicted by a Montgomery grand jury in June 2021. Dismukes was a pastor of a Prattville Church but resigned after he was criticized for attending a birthday celebration in Selma for Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forest while former Congressman John Lewis’s (D-Selma) body was lying-in-state in his native Selma. Forest, who became wealthy as a slave trader, headed the Ku Klux Klan following the Civil War. Dismukes was the Chaplain for his local Sons of Confederate Veterans chapter. Dismukes, although one of the youngest members of the Legislature at the time, once collapsed on the floor of the House during his tenure in the body. Dismukes was a 2020 Republican candidate for Congress in Alabama’s Second Congressional District but dropped out of the race and endorsed Jessica Taylor. He also endorsed John Merrill for U.S. Senate. Merrill dropped out of the Senate race when Jeff Sessions entered the 2020 GOP primary field, while Taylor finished third in the GOP primary for Congress. Prosecutors claimed that Dismukes stole thousands of dollars in building materials and tools from Weiss and cashed checks that should have gone to his then-employer. Dismukes testified in his own defense in his trial saying that he did not steal but rather said that he “double-dipped.” Montgomery Judge Brooke Reid will hold a sentencing hearing for Dismukes on May 4th, 2023. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Ben Sperry: Congress should focus on protecting teens from real harms, not targeted ads
The topic of social media’s impact on childhood mental health has rapidly emerged as a hot-button political debate, becoming the subject of a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee and earning a mention in President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. And indeed, there is a growing body of research that shows children are increasingly struggling with mental health issues. That is a real problem, but it’s one that shouldn’t be unfairly conflated with the practice of data collection for targeted advertising. There is much that should be done to protect teens, both online and offline. This includes some of what Biden proposed, like more access to mental health care in schools. But the evidence that social-media usage causes more mental health issues for teens is mixed, at best. While further research is certainly welcome, it is highly unlikely that all the blame for bullying, depression, anxiety, and other forms of trauma can be laid at the feet of Big Tech. The biggest problem with the recent push against Big Tech is that it seeks to link the problem of children’s online safety (and child sexual exploitation material, or “CSAM”) with data collection for targeted advertising. The argument is that the reason Big Tech platforms allow so much harmful content and conduct is because it keeps users engaged and thus gets them more eyeballs for targeted advertising. But there are several problems with this logic. First, it ignores that Big Tech social-media companies are what economists call multi-sided platforms. On one side are users, including teens and adults, who use the platforms to connect with others and share content. On the other side are advertisers, who fund users’ free use of the platform by looking to sell their products and services to them, sometimes based on their stated preferences and browsing histories. In the middle are the platforms themselves, which must balance the interests of users and advertisers in a way that maximizes the platform’s value. To the extent that harassment and bullying makes users less likely to stay online, then the platforms have a strong reason to moderate such abuses in order to keep engagement high and create more value for the advertisers who fund the platform. Moreover, since most advertisers don’t want to be associated with a platform that hosts CSAM, bullying, harassment, or fat-shaming, there is an even stronger incentive for the platforms to moderate such content. This is particularly true given the very limited monetary benefits that can be derived from targeting advertising to children or teens, who generally lack either the bank accounts or payment cards for online transactions. Second, consistent with what you would expect from the incentives they face, social-media platforms do, in fact, offer a number of features designed to protect the mental health of teenagers who use the platforms. For instance, Instagram announced a number of initiatives to help those struggling with body image, including putting resources from local eating-disorder hotlines in the search results for terms related to such problems. They also announced stricter penalties for abusive speech and introduced a new feature to filter abusive messages. Instagram also created a “take a break” function, allows users to set daily time limits, and has a “Quiet Mode” that lets other users know you are not using the app. Instagram also, by default, limits the amount of “sensitive content” that teens can access. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has an entire “Family Center” to provide resources and tools to limit harm to teen users. Snapchat introduced a set of new features called “Here for You,” designed to help those experiencing a “mental health or emotional crisis.” This includes safety resources from experts that are shown when users of the platform search for topics associated with “anxiety, depression, stress, grief, suicidal thoughts, and bullying.” Twitter introduced a “Safety Mode” that allows users to limit contact with abusive posters. When turned on, the feature “temporarily blocks accounts for seven days for using potentially harmful language – such as insults or hateful remarks – or sending repetitive and uninvited replies or mentions.” TikTok also has introduced a “Family Safety Mode” that links a parent’s account with a teen’s and allows for screen-time management, limits on direct messages, and the restriction of inappropriate content. Much like Snapchat and Instagram, TikTok also offers support when users search for terms associated with eating disorders. In sum, far from “doing nothing to protect children,” major social-media platforms have all created tools to help protect teens’ mental health. The economics of multi-sided platforms explain why it’s actually in the platforms’ interest to do so. Many of the tools may actually limit how much teens use the platforms, which would be counterintuitive if the expectation were that these platforms simply wanted to maximize the time teens spend on the platform in order to sell them products. Policymakers in Congress should focus on protecting children and teens from real harms online and offline and avoid the temptation of regulation based on theories that don’t stand up to scrutiny. Online bullying and harassment, unsuitable online content, and getting kids the mental-health help they need are all important topics. The myopic focus on targeted advertising is a distraction from tackling these important issues. Ben Sperry is associate director of legal research with the International Center for Law & Economics.
Shooting at Dadeville birthday party kills 4 people, wounds 28
Alabama law enforcement officers Sunday were imploring people to come forward with information about a shooting that killed four people and injured 28 others during a teenager’s birthday party. Among those killed was a high school senior who planned to play college football and was celebrating his sister’s 16th birthday. The shooting erupted Saturday night at a dance studio in downtown Dadeville. During two news conferences Sunday, Sgt. Jeremy Burkett of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency did not take questions. He did not say if a suspect was in custody or if investigators knew about any motivation. He did not provide the names of those killed. “We’ve got to have information from the community,” Burkett said during a Sunday evening news conference. Philstavious “Phil” Dowdell, a Dadeville High School senior who had committed to Jacksonville State University, was celebrating at his sister Alexis’ party before he was shot to death, his grandmother Annette Allen told The Montgomery Advertiser. “He was a very, very humble child. Never messed with anybody. Always had a smile on his face,” Allen told the newspaper, calling it “a million-dollar smile.” Dowdell’s mother was among those hurt in the shooting. “Everybody’s grieving,” Allen said. Burkett said the shooting occurred about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. “There were four lives tragically lost in this incident,” he said. The shootings rocked the city of 3,200 residents, which is about 57 miles (92 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery, Alabama. Pastor Jason Whetstone, who leads the Christian Faith Fellowship, said the granddaughter of one of his church members was shot in the foot and underwent surgery Sunday. “All of our hearts are hurting right now. We’re just trying to pull together to find strength and comfort,” Whetstone said before an interfaith vigil in the parking lot of First Baptist Church. “We are a loving community,” he said. “We’re pulling together in every aspect to comfort each and every one of these children, the teachers, all of the community.” Dadeville’s compact downtown is centered around a courthouse square with one- and two-story brick buildings. The town’s busiest commercial district is a few blocks north of the square, off a bustling four-lane highway that runs between Birmingham and Auburn. Dadeville is close to Lake Martin, a popular recreational area. Investigators on Sunday continued filing in and out of the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio, denoted by a banner hanging on the outside of a one-story brick building just off the square. Less than a block away, the American and Alabama flags were lowered to half staff outside the Tallapoosa County Courthouse. Dadeville Mayor Frank Goodman said he was in bed asleep when a council member called him just before 11 p.m. Saturday. He said he went to Lake Martin Community Hospital in Dadeville, where some of the people who had been shot were taken. “It was chaotic,” Goodman said. “There were people running around. They were crying and screaming. There were police cars everywhere, there were ambulances everywhere. People were trying to find out about their loved ones. That was a scene, where we never had anything like this happen in our city before.” Pastor Ben Hayes, who serves as chaplain for the Dadeville Police Department and for the local high school football team, said most of the victims are teenagers. Dowdell was within weeks of graduation and faced a bright future, Hayes told The Associated Press. “He was a strong competitor on the field,” Hayes said. “You didn’t want to try to tackle him or get tackled by him. But when he came off the field, he was one of the nicest young men that you could ever meet, very respectful and well-respected by his peers.” Hayes said worried families swarmed the local hospital Saturday night, trying to find the condition of their children. He said serious crime is rare in Dadeville, and the small city is “sad, traumatized, in shock.” Jacksonville State football coach Rich Rodriguez said in a statement Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night. He was a great young man with a bright future.” Dowdell also recently won medals at a high school track meet at Troy University. Counseling will be available for students at Tallapoosa County schools Monday, said the school district superintendent, Raymond C. Porter. “This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said on social media. President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting, the White House said, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and has been in touch with local officials and law enforcement to offer support. “What has our nation come to when children cannot attend a birthday party without fear? When parents have to worry every time their kids walk out the door to school, to the movie theater, or to the park?” Biden said in a statement Sunday. “Guns are the leading killer of children in America, and the numbers are rising – not declining. This is outrageous and unacceptable.” Biden called on Congress to “require safe storage of firearms, require background checks for all gun sales, eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.” The mayor said Dowdell was “a great young man.” He also said he is concerned about those wounded and psychologically traumatized by the shooting. “We are praying for them,” Goodman said. “We ask God, if it’s his will, to bring them back to their parents safe, so they can mend.” Goodman said guns and violence are not a frequent presence in Dadeville. He said trying to control guns would prove as futile as trying to control illegal drugs. Dadeville High School had 485 students in grades 6-12 in 2022, according to Alabama state data. It serves Dadeville and nearby parts of Tallapoosa County. Like the rest of Dadeville,
