Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter named chair-elect of the Council of State Governments Southern Office
Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) was unanimously elected to serve as the 2023-2024 chair-elect of CSG South on July 11, 2023, at the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) in Charleston, South Carolina. As chair-elect, Speaker Ledbetter will assist incoming chair, West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair, in guiding CSG South during the coming year. He also will chair the 79th SLC Annual Meeting, to be held in Alabama in the summer of 2025. “I am proud to welcome legislators, government staff, and their guests from across the Southern region to Alabama and showcase our state’s unparalleled southern charm and hospitality,” said Rep. Ledbetter. “The purpose of this meeting is to provide Southern state lawmakers with the opportunity to work together to create more effective public policy so that we may better serve our home states.” Alabama most recently hosted the SLC meeting in 2013 in Mobile, Alabama. The 2025 meeting is expected to draw more than 1,500 attendees from its member states and will feature successful programs and policy initiatives unique to Alabama. Each year, the Southern Leadership Conference brings together experts to discuss opportunities and solutions to challenges facing policymakers and staff across the region. Ledbetter, age 61, previously served as the Mayor of Rainsville in north Alabama. Ledbetter ran for the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010 but was defeated in the general election. He switched to the Republican Party and was elected in 2014. That turbulent term saw both the Speaker of the House (Mike Hubbard) and House Majority Leader (Mickey Hammons) convicted of corruption charges. In that leadership vacuum, Ledbetter was elevated to Majority Leader as a House freshman. Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) – who succeeded Hubbard – chose not to run for reelection in 2022. Ledbetter was chosen by the House Republican Caucus over veteran lawmaker Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) to be the GOP candidate for Speaker following the November 2022 election – effectively making him the Speaker-elect as the Republicans hold 77 to the 105 seats in the Alabama House of Representatives. Ledbetter was chosen as Speaker by the full House during the organizational session in January without a single dissenting vote. CSG South was established In 1947. The Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports members in all three branches of state government. The mission of CSG South is to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Predominantly, this is achieved through the ongoing work of CSG South’s seven standing committees and support groups. Legislative leadership, members, and staff depend on CSG South to identify and analyze solutions for the most prevalent and unique policy issues facing Southern state governments. We facilitate outreach in state capitols, leadership development, staff exchange programs, domestic and international policy delegations, and other efforts to support state policymakers and legislative staff to build stronger, more successful states. The Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) is the largest regional gathering of legislative members and staff. SLC boasts an array of well-established programs—focusing on existing and emerging state government innovations and solutions—providing policymakers and staff diverse opportunities to interact with experts and share their knowledge with colleagues. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Former State Rep. Johnny Curry seeking support for appointment to Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office following death of Eric Burks
The Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office currently has an opening in the Bessemer Division following the sudden death of Assistant Tax Collector Eric Burks in July. Burks was a native of Montgomery, Alabama. His wife, Karen Burks, serves as the Circuit Clerk of the Bessemer Cut-Off. Joey Sanders, posted on Facebook, in support of Johnny Curry. Sanders wrote, “There is a vacancy in the Jefferson County Tax Collector’s Office, Bessemer Division. Governor [Kay] Ivy will fill this vacancy by appointment. Johnny Curry is seeking this appointment. Johnny Curry served in the legislature for 16 years. He has served as chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee and currently serves on the State Republican Executive Committee. Johnny Curry is a true Republican and proud to be a conservative. He would love to have your support and would ask that you send a letter to the Governors office expressing your support.” . Gov. Ivey has not announced an appointment for this position.
UAH researcher John Bennewitz awarded $650K to develop propulsion system to boost surveillance of space between Earth and Moon
On Tuesday, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) announced that Dr. John Bennewitz, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has been awarded a $650,000, 45-month Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) grant. The grant is to develop an advanced propulsion system that will facilitate surveillance of space between the Earth and the Moon by the United States Space Force. The research is funded through the AFOSR Energy, Combustion, and Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics Portfolio. “With the recent international push for lunar missions, the U.S. Space Force has emphasized the need for surveillance of the region beyond geosynchronous orbit, i.e., xGEO and cislunar space, or out to approximately 385,000 kilometers,” Dr. Bennewitz explained. ‘Cislunar’ refers to the regions of space beyond the traditional geosynchronous orbits traveled by satellites orbiting the Earth. “To date, in-space surveillance and object tracking have largely been limited to the range of low Earth orbit, from 160-2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, through geosynchronous orbit, or approximately 36,000 kilometers,” Dr. Bennewitz pointed out. “However, to deliver long-term technologies that enable regular cislunar access, advanced in-space propulsion systems are required to meet the demands of satellite maneuvers, including orbit transfer, orbit maintenance, attitude control, and station keeping to support a long vehicle lifetime.” The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is developing satellite technology for the Oracle spacecraft program, with a target launch window in 2026. Formerly known as the Cislunar Highway Patrol System, the Oracle spacecraft program has been designed to increase the Space Force’s (USSF) ability to detect/track artificial objects operating out to even lunar distances. According to AFRL, the spacecraft will operate in the proximity of Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 1, which is nearly 320,000km away from the Earth or in space beyond GEO (XGEO). This range is ten times more than the conventional operational regime of the USSF and Space Command. Dr. Bennewitz is part of the UAH Propulsion Research Center and will serve as Principal Investigator for the work at UAH. “This is a multiyear effort with UAH serving as the primary institution and providing the experimental results,” Bennewitz said. “This research program addresses the underlying physics knowledge gaps required for exploring detonation-based combustion in small-scale thrusters for in-space applications using both methane and hydrogen as fuel.” Dr. Bennewitz’s proposal, titled “Multimode Detonation for Small Scale In-Space Propulsion,” plans to develop a detonation-based propulsion system, which is a new technology. “Multimode operation is significant to explore in these compact thrusters for both low-impulse maneuvers, including orbit maintenance and station keeping, as well as more aggressive spacecraft movements requiring high change in object velocity, such as orbit insertion,” Dr. Bennewitz explained. “A detonation engine offers multiple advantages for propulsion, including the potential for higher engine performance, compact heat release, and negligible acoustic instabilities due to mode-locking,” Bennewitz continued. “This can theoretically produce up to a 10% increase in performance, which will enable increased payload capabilities delivered to cislunar space for strategic satellite insertion to support the timely need for space domain awareness. Additionally, remaining knowledge gaps required to enable long-duration operation of in-space detonation-based thrusters will also be addressed in the proposed work.” In a rotating detonation rocket engine, or RDRE, fuel and oxidizer are injected into an annular channel, which is then ignited to initiate a detonation wave that travels around the channel. RDREs promise significant improvements over conventional deflagration combustion systems used in older-generation rocket engines. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gov. Kay Ivey announces new statewide brand for high-speed internet expansion
Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced how more than $400 million in federal funding and over $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) will be allocated to expand access to high-speed internet across Alabama. At Tuesday’s event in Dothan, Governor Ivey also unveiled Be Linked Alabama as the name and hub representing the state’s continued efforts to expand access to high-speed internet. “Providing broadband connectivity to every Alabamian, whether it be in our largest metros or most rural areas, has been a top priority of the Ivey Administration since day one,” said Gov. Ivey. “As we launch Be Linked Alabama today, we are furthering our commitment to fully connecting our state. Offering the ability to connect to high-speed internet in all 67 counties is a journey, not a short trip, but Alabama is certainly well positioned to finish this race in the near future.” The new brand comes alongside massive investments by the federal government into broadband expansion in Alabama. The American Rescue Plan Act funds were allocated by the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and 2023 special sessions to support expansion of high-speed internet to unserved areas of the state. Gov. Ivey announced the upcoming opening of grant applications for the $182 million from the Capital Projects Fund to support “last-mile” projects that provide the actual connections to homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions. The application period is expected to open on August 14 and close in October. The state’s new Anchor Institution/Middle Mile (AIMM) program will be funded with the second round of American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated earlier this year. More than $200 million will support this effort, which will potentially serve 500 anchor facilities – including institutions such as colleges and universities, rural hospitals, and government facilities that are inadequately served, along with “middle-mile” deployment that will provide the infrastructure to help facilitate last-mile deployment by internet service providers. The application dates for AIMM program will be announced at a workshop on Friday, August 11. Be Linked Alabama represents the state’s united effort to expand access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet to all Alabamians. The statewide initiative is coordinated by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and brings together partners from across the state, including but not limited to Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, internet service providers, research institutions, utility companies, community leaders and the public as Alabama works toward achieving the goal of high-speed internet access for all. The Governor introduced that Be Linked Alabama website, a hub of internet expansion information and news. It includes the Alabama Broadband Map, county profiles and dashboards, and statewide broadband news. Kenneth Boswell is the Director of ADECA. “We have a great team in Alabama that includes public officials such as our governor and members of the Legislature, private sector companies, citizens, local leaders, and communities all joining together with a common goal – to give every Alabamian the ability to be connected,” said Director Boswell. “Our state has already made tremendous progress on our journey to expand high-speed internet availability by providers, but we still have a long way to go. Be Linked Alabama represents the progress that we have made and the continued progress still to come.” “The funding announced today will have a lasting impact on Alabama’s future, and I am proud to have the opportunity to administer the deployment of these funds in a manner that will give our state the maximum benefit,” said Boswell. “Every dollar counts, and we are going to deploy these dollars efficiently to help make Governor Ivey’s goal of giving all Alabamians access to high-speed internet a reality.” Along with the massive influx of federal funds, since 2018, the state of Alabama has invested $88.6 million in state dollars through grant awards supporting 109 projects through the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. Once all the projects awarded to date have been completed, internet service will be available to more than 82,000 Alabama households, businesses, and community institutions that do not have access to high-speed internet. In September 2022, Governor Ivey announced a grant to support broadband “middle-mile” network infrastructure to improve access for last-mile projects. In June, Governor Ivey announced that Alabama would receive an additional $1.4 billion from the federal BEAD Program to boost ongoing efforts to expand access to unserved areas. ADECA will complete and submit Alabama’s required plan for using those funds to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Tuesday’s announcement included a demonstration from students trained at the Wallace Community College campus on how to deploy the fiber optic cables needed for high-speed internet delivery. This training was developed through the Alabama Community College System’s Innovation Center. The Innovation Center brings together the state’s community colleges, industries, and community partners to deliver training offered at no cost to participants thanks to funding provided by Ivey and the Alabama Legislature. Ivey has made broadband expansion a priority of her administration. State Senator Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) and State Representative Randall Shedd (R) have carried her rural broadband package of bills in the Alabama Legislature. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Friends and lawyers
We continue this week with our series of stories about Alabama’s most colorful governor, the legendary Big Jim Folsom. Big Jim was a true politician, and he was not above straddling the fence, but at least he was honest about it. When asked a tough question about a complex or difficult issue, Ole Big Jim would simply look at the inquisitive reporter with a pensive, thoughtful, and serious look and say with a straight face, “Well, you know some of my friends are for it, and some of my friends are against it, and I’m always on the side of my friends.” Big Jim had a real disdain for lawyers. He called them every name in the book. He especially criticized lawyers serving in the legislature, believing it was unconstitutional for them, as officers of the court, to serve in the legislative branch. He said lawyers belong in the judicial branch, and if they wanted to be in politics, they ought to be judges since judges are elected in Alabama. He would rail against lawyers in the legislature every chance he got. He said they could not serve two masters. They can’t serve the Lord and the Devil. He called them two pocket lawyers. In reality, he did not dislike all lawyers. A good many of his best friends were lawyers. Indeed, some of his best political friends and supporters were lawyers. Former Governor John Patterson, who passed away last year at age 99, shared with me this next story about him and Big Jim. During Big Jim’s second term, 1955-59, John Patterson was attorney general and succeeded Folsom as governor. On the surface, it appeared Folsom and Patterson did not like each other because Patterson was quick to condemn and prosecute some of Big Jim’s cronies. However, they did like each other and remained friends throughout their lives. Both were astute politicians. During this time, the Interstate Highway Act was created by the Eisenhower administration. It was and still is the largest federal project ever undertaken. A good bit of federal money began to flow into the states, including Alabama, for development of the interstate system. There were a good many Alabamians who did not want to give up their land for highways. Some had land that had been in their families for generations, and their forefathers had admonished them never to sell the land. In those cases, the state and federal governments had to condemn the land and take it over by right of eminent domain. The legal maneuvering fell upon the state attorney general’s office, and the work was so overwhelming that the attorney general’s staff had to hire outside lawyers. This is and has always been a lucrative plan for lawyers. Patterson was delighted to get to put a good many of his legal brothers and political supporters on the state’s payroll as assistant attorney generals. These lawyers would make a lot of money on these projects. One of the most expensive acquisitions was the purchase of the area in Jefferson County that today is known as “malfunction junction.” Forty acres of houses, including some very nice homes, were located in the path of the highway in the Norwood section of north Birmingham. The cost and legal fees were substantial. Patterson hired a good many of his Birmingham legal buddies. He sent the contracts over to the governor’s office to be approved. The governor legally had to sign off on the contracts. A good amount of time had elapsed between Patterson sending his list of lawyers over and Big Jim signing off on them. Finally, Patterson went over to see Big Jim about his appointments. He said, “Governor, what’s the problem? We need to sign off on this work. It’s delaying the highway system from moving on in Alabama.” Big Jim looked at Patterson and said, “John, you know that I have a lot of friends that are lawyers, too.” The Governor said, “I’ve got a deal for you. You name half of the lawyers, and I’ll name half of the lawyers.” What could Patterson say? That’s the way it came down! Big Jim believed in helping his friends. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
State releases the Alabama Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan to improve health behaviors
The Alabama Wellness Alliance (AWA), previously known as the Alabama Obesity Task Force, has released the Alabama Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan (ALPAN). ALPLAN is supported by the governor of Alabama and the state health officer. AWA said in a statement that low rates of physical activity, poor nutritional intake, food insecurity, chronic diseases, and obesity are public health concerns throughout the United States, especially in Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey, Dr. Scott Harris, as well as leaders and decision-makers in the state, recognize the significant impact of a healthy diet and adequate physical activity on improving health outcomes. “The stated mission of the Alabama Wellness Alliance, which produced this Alabama Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan, is creating a healthier Alabama through obesity reduction and prevention efforts,” said Gov. Ivey. “Eating a healthy diet and getting adequate exercise can reduce obesity. Suggested strategies for individuals to improve physical activity and nutrition are included in the report.” “Everyone has a role to play in making Alabama a healthier place to live, but doing so will require collaboration and strong partnerships,” explained Dr. Harris. “I encourage you to take ownership of this plan, working with partners to identify the strategies that can be successfully implemented in your community. The plan is our road map to a healthier state, and it will facilitate consistent and collaborative efforts that will enable Alabama to achieve better health outcomes by supporting healthy lifestyle behaviors.” The ALPAN utilizes the Social Ecological Model to provide a roadmap for creating a healthier Alabama through practical, evidence-based physical activity and nutrition strategies to produce long-term health benefits for individuals in the state. Members and non-members of the AWA from a wide range of regions and multidisciplinary sectors of the state contributed their expertise, knowledge, and experience to develop a realistic, achievable, and appropriate plan for Alabama. The plan sets goals, detailed objectives, and recommendations for physical activity and nutrition strategies for sectors across the state. These sectors included in the plan are business and industry; education; fitness and sports; healthcare; non-profit organizations; faith-based organizations; public health; public lands, parks, and recreation; and transportation, community planning, and access. The ALPAN seeks to address health disparities and ensure every person can achieve optimal health regardless of where they work, live, worship, and play. Policymakers, health professionals, and all Alabamians are encouraged to access and utilize the ALPAN, which can be found here: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alabama is the third most obese state in the nation, with 39.9% percent of the adult population being overweight. Additionally, 17% of Alabama high school students are overweight, and 17.3% of children aged 10 to 17 are overweight. County health departments throughout Alabama provide a wide range of confidential and professional services. Their mission is to promote, protect, and improve Alabama’s health. Contact your local county health department for additional information. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. are on the rise again, but not like before
Here we go again: COVID-19 hospital admissions have inched upward in the United States since early July in a small-scale echo of the three previous summers. With an updated vaccine still months away, this summer bump in new hospitalizations might be concerning, but the number of patients is far lower than before. A look at what we know: HOW BAD IS THE SPIKE? For the week ending July 29, COVID-19 hospital admissions were at 9,056. That’s an increase of about 12% from the previous week. But it’s a far cry from past peaks, like the 44,000 weekly hospital admissions in early January, the nearly 45,000 in late July 2022, or the 150,000 admissions during the omicron surge of January 2022. “It is ticking up a little bit, but it’s not something that we need to raise any alarm bells over,” said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It’s likely that infections are rising too, but the data is scant. Federal authorities ended the public health emergency in May, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many states no longer track the number of positive test results. WHAT ABOUT DEATHS? Since early June, about 500 to 600 people have died each week. The number of deaths appears to be stable this summer, although past increases in deaths have lagged behind hospitalizations. HOW ARE WE TRACKING THE VIRUS? The amount of the COVID-19 virus in sewage water has been rising since late June across the nation. In the coming weeks, health officials say they’ll keep a close eye on wastewater levels as people return from summer travel and students go back to school. Higher levels of COVID-19 in wastewater concentrations are being found in the Northeast and South, said Cristin Young, an epidemiologist at Biobot Analytics, the CDC’s wastewater surveillance contractor. “It’s important to remember right now the concentrations are still fairly low,” Young said, adding it’s about 2.5 times lower than last summer. And while one version of omicron — EG.5 — is appearing more frequently, no particular variant of the virus is dominant. The variant has been dubbed “eris,” but it’s an unofficial nickname, and scientists aren’t using it. “There are a couple that we’re watching, but we’re not seeing anything like delta or omicron,” Young said, referencing variants that fueled previous surges. And mutations in the virus don’t necessarily make it more dangerous. “Just because we have a new subvariant doesn’t mean that we are destined to have an increase in bad outcomes,” Dowdy said. WHEN IS THE NEW VACCINE COMING? This fall, officials expect to see updated COVID-19 vaccines that contain one version of the omicron strain, called XBB.1.5. It’s an important change from today’s combination shots, which mix the original coronavirus strain with last year’s most common omicron variants. It’s not clear exactly when people can start rolling up their sleeves for what officials hope is an annual fall COVID-19 shot. Pfizer, Moderna, and smaller manufacturer Novavax all are brewing doses of the XBB update, but the Food and Drug Administration will have to sign off on each, and the CDC must then issue recommendations for their use. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new CDC director, said she expects people will get their COVID-19 shots where they get their flu shots — at pharmacies and at work — rather than at dedicated locations that were set up early in the pandemic as part of the emergency response. “This is going to be our first fall and winter season coming out of the public health emergency, and I think we are all recognizing that we are living with COVID, flu, and RSV,” Cohen told The Associated Press last week. “But the good news is we have more tools than ever before.” Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Lawsuit challenges Alabama’s ‘de facto ban’ on freestanding birth centers
A group of midwives and doctors on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging what they described as Alabama’s de facto ban on freestanding birth centers by requiring the facilities be licensed as hospitals. The lawsuit — filed by the operators of one birth center that closed and two others that paused plans to open — asks a judge to block the Alabama Department of Public Health from requiring the facilities be licensed as hospitals. The suit argues the facilities, where low-risk patients can receive prenatal care and give birth, do not constitute hospitals under Alabama law and that the state health department has no authority to regulate them as such. “The department is imposing this illegal ban on birth centers in the middle of a maternal and infant health crisis in Alabama that is disproportionately harming Black mothers and babies,” Whitney White, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project, said during a Tuesday press conference. The freestanding birth centers, which provide an option between home and hospital births, would fill a crucial need, the providers argued. Many women in rural areas live far away from a hospital, or they may prefer to give birth outside of the hospital for financial or personal reasons, they said. The Health Department did not have an immediate comment on the lawsuit. “The Alabama Department of Public Health has just recently learned of the filing of this lawsuit and has not had opportunity to review it fully. ADPH does not otherwise comment on active litigation,” a department spokeswoman wrote in an emailed response. While lay midwives attended births for centuries, Alabama has only made midwifery legal in recent years. Alabama lawmakers voted in 2017 to legalize midwifery, and the state began issuing licenses in 2019. Stephanie Mitchell, a certified professional midwife who is building a freestanding birth center in Sumter County, said she serves a region where people may drive a roundtrip of 75 or more miles (120 kilometers) to receive prenatal care. “Having to drive that far can be a serious obstacle and may prevent some people from getting care during their pregnancy at all. People shouldn’t be forced to go without pregnancy care,” said Mitchell, a plaintiff in the case. “Expanding access to midwifery and birth centers in places like Sumter County is a life and death situation for many families.” Dr. Heather Skanes, who founded the Oasis Family Birthing Center in Birmingham, and Dr. Yashica Robinson, founder of the Alabama Birth Center in Huntsville, are also plaintiffs in the case. The Birmingham facility closed, and the two others paused plans to start deliveries because of regulatory issues. Alabama consistently has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation, with 7.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. The mortality rate for Black babies in the state — 12.1 deaths per 1,000 live births — is twice that of white babies, according to statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Tuesday’s press conference was held beneath a towering art installation known as the “Mothers of Gynecology,” which pays tribute to three enslaved Black women who were subjected to experimental surgery by a 19th century physician celebrated for advancing women’s health. JaTaune Bosby, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama, said that “history still follows us today in policymaking where we see marginalized communities consistently not given adequate health care.” “This monument reminds us of why we are here advocating for people who have been disregarded, who are solely asking for quality health care and dignity, and for individuals who are committed to giving that to them,” Bosby said. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
