Rep. Barry Moore introduces bill to strengthen school safety by creating grant funding for school resource officers
On Tuesday, Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) introduced the Securing American Classrooms Act of 2023, which would use some of the $1 billion in unspent COVID relief funds to provide grant funding for partnerships between schools and local law enforcement agencies to increase school safety and provide jobs for veterans. “Instead of tolerating the same old, same old Washington status quo and letting unspent COVID funding sit unused in our treasury, my legislation puts that money to use to protect our children and hire our veterans,” said Moore. “The Democrat plan to defund the police and use bureaucracy to take guns away from law-abiding citizens trying to protect themselves is counterproductive and dangerous. We can better protect our children by giving schools the resources to increase security measures and encouraging stronger partnerships between schools and law enforcement.” The Securing American Classrooms Act of 2023: · Uses $1,000,000,000 in funds currently sitting in our treasury for grants to increase school safety. · Creates a stronger partnership link between schools and local law enforcement agencies. · Ensures that at least one veteran is hired as a school resource officer to receive grant funding. There were 46 school shootings in the USA in 2022 – the most since 1999. Since the Columbine high school shooting, there have been 386 school shootings. 201 students and faculty have been killed, and another 430 have been wounded or injured. Thousands more have been traumatized by experiencing this level of violence firsthand. In addition to violence, school grounds are often used to market illicit drugs to students. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. drug overdose deaths increased 30% from 2019 to 2020 and 15% in 2021, resulting in an estimated 108,000 deaths in 2021. Among people 14–18 years old, overdose deaths increased 94% from 2019 to 2020 and 20% from 2020 to 2021, even though illicit drug use declined overall among surveyed middle and high school students during 2019–2020. There is widespread availability of fentanyl in most communities today. That and the proliferation of counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs but containing fentanyl have resulted in soaring overdose deaths reaching into American middle schools. Tied to both issues is the growing prevalence of gangs in schools. According to the federal government’s National Gang Center, “Gangs, unchecked and unidentified in a school setting, often engage in threat and intimidation; physical and cyber bullying; fighting; recruiting; and criminal activities such as the introduction and use of weapons, assault, sex trafficking, vandalism, and illegal drug sales. The absence of a well-developed, strategic, collaborative, and effective school safety plan can lead to violence and other unsafe and disruptive activities within a school setting.” The presence of trained school resource officers can help mediate many of these problems that might occur in schools. Barry Moore is in his second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District. He is a veteran, a small businessman, an Auburn graduate, and previously served as a state legislator from 2010 to 2018. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Fitch Ratings has downgraded U.S. credit rating
Fitch Ratings has downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+, the Wall Street Journal reported. This is the first downgrade of America’s creditworthiness by a major credit rating service in over a decade. Fitch said on Tuesday that the downgrade reflects an “erosion of governance” in the U.S. relative to other top-tier economies over the last two decades. “The repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management,” Fitch said. Fitch expects the general government deficit to rise to 6.3% of gross domestic product in 2023 from 3.7% last year. The predicted deficit growth reflects cyclically weaker federal revenues, new spending initiatives, and a higher interest burden. The firm expects the U.S. economy to slip into a recession later this year. Moody’s has not yet lowered the U.S.A.’s credit rating. The White House responded strongly to the decision by Fitch. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the Administration strongly disagrees with the decision by Fitch. “We strongly disagree with this decision,” Jean-Pierre said. “The ratings model used by Fitch declined under President [Donald]Trump and then improved under President [Joe] Biden, and it defies reality to downgrade the United States at a moment when President Biden has delivered the strongest recovery of any major economy in the world. And it’s clear that extremism by Republican officials—from cheerleading default to undermining governance and democracy, to seeking to extend deficit-busting tax giveaways for the wealthy and corporations—is a continued threat to our economy.” “The change by Fitch Ratings announced today is arbitrary and based on outdated data,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. “Fitch’s quantitative ratings model declined markedly between 2018 and 2020 – and yet Fitch is announcing its change now, despite the progress that we see in many of the indicators that Fitch relies on for its decision. Many of these measures, including those related to governance, have shown improvement over the course of this Administration, with the passage of bipartisan legislation to address the debt limit, invest in infrastructure, and make other investments in America’s competitiveness.” Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) retweeted a response from the House Freedom Caucus. “A rundown of Fitch’s downgrade of the United States credit rating: The Biden Administration played politics with a possible government default. The @HouseGOP did our job in April by passing Limit Save Grow, but Biden waited till the last minute to negotiate.” The U.S. is spending $1.57 trillion a year more than it is taking in revenues. The total debt has topped $32.7 trillion, and the Administration has refused to present a framework for a balanced budget within five years even though the nation is at full employment, and the U.S. is not currently at war. The cost of servicing the debt is $652 million a year and climbing. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Donald Trump to appear in court before his speech in Alabama on Friday
Former President Donald Trump will speak to a packed house of over 2,200 Alabama Republicans in Montgomery on Friday. The former President, however, is scheduled to appear in a Washington, D.C. courtroom on Thursday afternoon to answer charges that he used “unlawful means” in an attempt to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election and maintain power. Trump will be arraigned on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction; and conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted. He is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse around 3:00 p.m. CDT. The reaction by Alabama leaders to the news was mixed. Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement slamming the latest indictments. “The latest indictment appears to be an even greater stretch of the law in an effort to destroy Donald Trump,” said Rep. Palmer. “Much of this indictment centers on statements made by President Trump on January 6th that create legal problems for the prosecution in regard to free speech. Regardless of any opinions about President Trump or his statements about the outcome of the 2020 election, President Trump’s statements are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech, especially political speech.” “As some legal experts have already pointed out, this is criminalization of disinformation and misinformation which raises serious concerns about the public’s right to speak openly in opposition to policies they oppose,” Palmer continued. “This is especially troublesome in view of the Biden Administration’s aborted attempt to establish a bureau of disinformation that many believe would have been weaponized against the political opponents of President Biden and the Democratic Party. Consequently, this indictment falls short of the criminal legal standard for charging anyone and has the appearance of indicting political speech.” Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) said that on social media that the indictment shows that no one is above the law. “Today’s indictment shows that no one is above the law,” said Rep. Sewell. “We are seeing the political process play out, and though we do not know the outcome, all parties who are involved in one of the darkest days in our nation’s history must be held accountable.” Former Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL05), who led the floor fight in the House of Representatives to overturn the electoral college results, is more critical of the former President. Brooks said on Twitter, “In early 2022, #DonaldTrump demanded I publicly support: 1. Rescinding 2020 election. 2. Physically removing Biden from White House. 3. Putting Trump back into White House. 4. America conducting a special presidential election. ALL violate Constitution &/or federal statutes.” Brooks said, “@Mike_Pence is right. A candidate who puts self above US Constitution should NEVER be GOP nominee. When #DonaldTrump told me to support violating Constitution & federal statutes, I refused. So Trump “unendorsed” me & endorsed #KatieBritt. So be it.” Brooks lost the 2022 Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate to first-time candidate Katie Britt – who is now Alabama’s junior Senator. Brooks shared a link to a story about former Vice President Mike Pence criticizing Trump and his legal team. This is the third round of indictments against Trump, but likely not the last. The legal woes that have already cost his campaign over $40 million have not hurt him with Republican primary voters. He is dominating Pence and his other GOP rivals in early polling. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Birmingham Zoo plans to relocate unmarked graves to make way for a new cougar exhibit
About a dozen unmarked graves of people buried at an old cemetery that partly overlaps the grounds of the Birmingham Zoo would be dug up and relocated to clear the way for a new cougar exhibit, under a proposal submitted by the zoo. Zoo officials have applied for a permit from the Alabama Historical Commission and presented a plan to relocate graves on the property, said Chris Pfefferkorn, president and CEO of the Birmingham Zoo. “We want to treat these people with the respect and dignity that they deserve, and we wanted to know what that process is,” Pfefferkorn told AL.com. Long before the Birmingham Zoo and the nearby Birmingham Botanical Gardens existed, the property was known as the Red Mountain Cemetery and Southside Cemetery, an indigent burial ground for more than 4,700 people. Many of the people were buried in unmarked graves between 1888 and about 1905. About 12 to 15 graves are believed to rest within the footprint of the zoo’s newest planned exhibit. The cemetery was abandoned when a graveyard for the indigent opened in Ketona in 1909. Most of the cemetery land on the zoo property is unmarked except for a small, fenced area that remains undisturbed. “With the majority of this, nobody knows who is where. But we still want to treat the people with the respect they deserve in this process,” Pfefferkorn said. If the zoo moves forward with its proposed plans, an archeologist from the University of Alabama would excavate the site and collect any remains and items interred there. “We would rebury them as close as we can to where we found them,” Pfefferkorn said. “We would reinter them with a ceremony and then a marker to make sure that people know that these folks are resting here in that space.” The zoo also intends to add a marker to identify the cemetery in addition to graphics and interpretive information about the history of the area. Pfefferkorn noted the variety of the people interred in the site, each with their own life experiences going back to Birmingham’s earliest days. “These people had stories, so we want to tell some of that story,” he said. Meanwhile, the new exhibit, called Cougar Crossing, is to be 15,000 to 20,000 square feet (1,400-1,800 square meters). It will be located in the Alabama Wilds area of the park and house Bob, the zoo’s current bobcat, in addition to a new cougar. Cougar Crossing is to feature a public viewing area along with two outdoor habitats. Officials hope to open the exhibit next summer. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Military bases could receive more than $337M for construction projects
Alabama military bases could receive $337.65 million under the Department of Defense’s funding bill passed by the U.S. Senate this week. The Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act passed Thursday on an 86-11 vote, setting up a possible showdown with the House, which passed its version on July 14. The two sides must settle differences in conference before the $886 billion bill can go to President Joe Biden for a possible signature. The biggest proposed outlay is $197 million for new construction at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, which is the Army’s primary center for research, development, and doctrine for its missiles. Redstone would receive more than $77 million for a new ground test facility. Montgomery’s Maxwell Air Force Base, home of the Air Force’s officer training school, post-graduate Air University, and a training squadron for the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter, would receive $65 million to build new base housing. Senate appropriators plan to allocate $57 million to build a new Army reserve center in Birmingham. Montgomery’s Dannelly Field will receive $7 million in facility upgrades to prepare for the 187th Fighter Wing’s conversion from the now-departed F-16 to the F-35, the first of which arrive in December. Fort McClellan, which is located near Bynum, will receive $7 million to build a new enlisted barracks for the Alabama National Guard. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Donald Trump indictment draws fresh wave of pushback, concern
Former President Donald Trump faces new charges related to his role in protesting the 2020 presidential election results, sparking a wave of pushback and continued criticism of the U.S. Department of Justice. Trump released a lengthy statement online Tuesday night blasting the 45-page indictment, his third. “This is nothing more than the latest corrupt chapter in the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 Presidential Election, in which President Trump is the undisputed frontrunner, and leading by substantial margins,” Trump said. The latest poll from The New York Times/Siena College released Tuesday shows Trump and President Joe Biden in a dead heat if they were to face each other in the 2024 presidential election, with both candidates having 43% support. Four new charges were included in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia indictment, which says Trump attempted “to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election.” Trump also has been indicted on charges related to payments to Stormy Daniels and his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. The new indictment drew support from Trump’s critics and sparked fresh backlash from Trump and fellow Republicans who say the charges are politically motivated and argue that Biden has so far eluded charges of his own. “Yesterday was yet another dark day in America as Joe Biden continues to weaponize his corrupt Department of Justice against his leading political opponent Donald J. Trump,” U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said on social media. For Democrats and Trump’s critics, the indictment is long overdue. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., released a joint statement responding to the indictment, saying it “illustrates in shocking detail that the violence of that day [Jan. 6, 2021] was the culmination of a months-long criminal plot.” “This indictment is the most serious and most consequential thus far and will stand as a stark reminder to generations of Americans that no one, including a president of the United States, is above the law,” the lawmakers said. “The legal process must continue to move forward without any outside interference.” In Trump’s response to the indictment late Monday, he raised a question his supporters have shared: why did the indictment take so long? “But why did they wait two and a half years to bring these fake charges, right in the middle of President Trump’s winning campaign for 2024?” Trump said. “Why was it announced the day after the big Crooked Joe Biden scandal broke out from the Halls of Congress? The answer is, election interference!” And the indictments have only seemed to help Trump’s campaign, or at the very least not sink it. His polling numbers rose after the FBI raid of his Mar-a-Lago estate last year. “These un-American witch hunts will fail and President Trump will be re-elected to the White House so he can save our country from the abuse, incompetence, and corruption that is running through the veins of our country at levels never seen before,” Trump posted. Now, he holds a sizable lead over the Republican primary field. According to the same poll, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trails Trump with 17% support while former Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and former ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley all have 3% support. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy both have 2% support. Pence, Trump’s vice president from 2017 to 2021, also took aim at his former boss after Tuesday’s indictment. “Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States,” Pence said in a statement. “I will have more to say about the government’s case after reviewing the indictment.” But Trump’s supporters have remained by his side despite the legal woes. “We’ve become completely accustomed to seeing President Trump indicted for ‘crimes’ while Joe Biden skirts the law every single day,” U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said on social media. “No politically-motivated indictment is going to change my mind.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Why are gas prices rising? Experts point to extreme heat and oil production cuts
Drivers are in for another headache at the pump as U.S. gas prices continue to rise. The national average for gas prices stood at about $3.78 a gallon on Tuesday — about 25 cents higher than that seen one month ago, according to motor club AAA. While today’s prices at the pump remain far lower than they were last year, when energy costs soared worldwide in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experts say such a jump is unusual. “Usually it takes a hurricane to move prices that much,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross, who said the rise is especially interesting as “fewer people are fueling up” their cars this summer compared to years past. In the U.S., gasoline prices are highly dependent on crude oil. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, has stayed above $80 per barrel since Thursday, standing at over $81 as of Tuesday afternoon. That marks a $12 jump since July 3, according to OPIS global head of energy analysis Tom Kloza. There are a few factors causing oil prices to rise, Gross and Kloza say, including global supply production cuts and impacts of this summer’s extreme heat on refineries. Here’s what you need to know. WHY ARE GAS PRICES RISING? BLAME THE HEAT AND PRODUCTION CUTS This summer’s record temperatures are partly to blame for the rising gas prices. “While the heat may be keeping people home, it also keeps refineries from making refined product,” Gross explained, noting that refineries are typically designed to operate between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (0 and 35 degrees Celsius). “They don’t like temperature extremes because they’re inherently dangerous places… So they dial back the production for safety purposes, but that then constrains supply.” According to Kloza, there are about 10 million daily barrels of U.S. refining capacity on the Gulf Coast. The heat wave has caused those refineries to operate below normal capacity — resulting in a loss of hundreds of thousands of barrels each day, he said. Still, “the fact that some refineries are struggling has meant that the ones who are able to operate are making really nice profits,” he said. Today’s U.S. domestic demand is about 9 million barrels a day, about half a million below expectations for peak summer months, but the country is exporting a lot of gasoline, he added. Beyond the heat, Kloza pointed to crude supply cuts from major producing countries in the OPEC+ alliance. In July, for example, Saudi Arabia started reducing how much oil it sends to the global economy by 1 million barrels each day. Russia is also exporting less, he said. The cuts aren’t OPEC-wide, Gross noted. As inflation eases, he suspects that better economic prospects may also be putting pressure on oil worldwide. WHICH STATES HAVE THE HIGHEST GAS PRICES TODAY? As always, certain parts of the U.S. are facing high gas prices than others — due to factors ranging from routine maintenance at regional refineries to limited supplies in some states. On Tuesday, according to the AAA, California had the highest gas prices in the nation at an average of $5.01 a gallon. Washington and Oregon followed at $4.96 and $4.92, respectively. Mississippi had the lowest average at about $3.29 per gallon, followed by $3.39 in Louisiana and $3.40 in Alabama. WILL GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO CLIMB? It’s hard to know what gas prices will look like in the coming weeks, experts say. While relief from the heat can hopefully be expected as we enter the fall, both Gross and Kloza pointed to risk of hurricanes — which, of course, leads refineries to power down. “If you could guarantee we’re not going to have tropical storm force or hurricane winds in the Gulf of Mexico, I’d say it’s going to be clear sailing for the rest of the year. But that’s a real fly in the ointment,” Kloza said, pointing to the unprecedented water temperatures the region has seen recently. HOW CAN I SAVE GAS? If you’re looking to save money and cut back on trips to the pump, there are a few ways you can maximize your mileage per gallon. One important habit is staying on top of getting your tire pressure checked, Gross said. In addition to safety risks, low tire pressure is “not maximizing your fuel efficiency,” costing you more money down the road, he said. AAA offers additional gas-saving tips — which include using cruise control when possible, not overfilling your tank at the pump, and removing unneeded items in your car’s trunk to cut down on excess weight. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
