Red snapper season closes on September 4
If you plan on fishing for red snapper this year, you have just ten days left. The Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced on Friday that the 2023 private angler red snapper fishing season will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 4. The federal government is limiting Alabama to 591,185 pounds of Red Snapper in 2023. It is anticipated that that quota will be caught by the time of the announced season-end date. Scott Bannon is the Director of the MRD. “Weather is generally the primary factor in the duration of the red snapper season in Alabama,” said Director Bannon. “Other than multiple days of excessive heat, the weather was very favorable for offshore fishing this year. Having a red snapper season that runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend is much better than the 3, 7, and 9-day seasons we had prior to states having the opportunity to manage their quotas. We thank anglers for continuing to report their red snapper, greater amberjack, and triggerfish catches through Snapper Check. It’s an important tool that helps provide increased access to these fisheries.” MRD anticipates that Alabama will be granted an increase to the Alabama quota for the 2024 season based on a rule to be approved by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in late 2023. Chris Blankenship is the ADCNR Commissioner. “It has been a good, long red snapper season in Alabama this year,” said Commissioner Blankenship. “Under state management, we were able to have red snapper season open during the prime months for offshore fishing. It was exciting to see anglers steadily reeling in red snapper throughout the summer. ADCNR will continue working to ensure our citizens and visitors have access to the incredible red snapper fishery off the coast of Alabama.” Alabama did not reach the quota in 2022. According to Red Snapper landing information from the 2021-2023 seasons, the state is very close to the federal quota. Red snapper management and the number of fish that live in the Gulf of Mexico has been a point of contention between the state and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Division. Anglers are reminded that the daily bag limit is two red snapper per person per day, with a minimum size limit of 16 inches in total length. To take any fish beyond the two-fish limit or any red snapper smaller than 16 inches is strictly illegal. To lawfully fish for red snapper – or any other saltwater fish – you must have a valid Alabama Saltwater Fishing License. License requirements, harvest requirements, reporting, and daily bag limits still apply during jubilees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Billy Taylor: Federal legislation needed to prevent corporate hospitals from raising the cost of care
The exorbitant cost of health care is a well-known issue for countless families across the country. Patients, health care professionals, and lawmakers alike need to work overtime to bring problematic practices in our healthcare system to light. When it comes to lowering healthcare costs, ensuring fair medical billing must be part of the discussion. In recent years, there has been an uptick in major hospitals acquiring independent community health care practices. When looking closer at this trend of consolidation of medical practices, a concerning pattern emerges new corporate hospital owners will raise the cost of care even though there is no change in services delivered. The vehicle to increase patient expenses? Tacking on hospital facility fees. These high prices are problematically added to medical invoices by hospitals when services are administered at so-called hospital outpatient departments, which are facilities owned and operated by big hospitals. More times than not, these extra charges are added without the knowledge of the patient. Our neighbors, family members, and friends need to be aware of this issue, as do our elected leaders who are in positions of power to address it. In Alabama, it is no secret that many of our communities deal with critical health issues. An array of chronic health conditions exist across Alabama, with concerning projections showing that the total cost of managing chronic disease in our state will be a whopping $671 billion from 2016-2030. With this outlook in mind, any opportunity to lower healthcare costs should be a top priority when our leaders come to the policymaking table. For these reasons, I urge my federal representatives, Senator Katie Britt, Senator Tommy Tuberville, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, and the entire Alabama delegation, to support legislation that would make a meaningful impact on health care costs for state residents. Fortunately, there are measures before Congress right now that would ensure fair hospital billing and implement site-neutral payments to benefit both patients and taxpayers supporting the Medicare program. The Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement Act (SITE) in the Senate and the Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act (FAIR) in the House of Representatives would be crucial steps towards ensuring medical bills are more reasonable – regardless of where care is delivered. Site-neutral billing is a solution that would prevent hospitals from charging exorbitant prices for medical procedures. This would also benefit the Medicare program by ensuring costs remain consistent across the board. I am encouraged to see the significant bipartisan momentum to address these facility fees through the SITE and FAIR Acts. The potential impact of the site-neutral payment reform legislation is significant, with projections indicating a possible reduction of $153 billion in Medicare spending and a corresponding decrease of $94 billion in healthcare costs for Medicare beneficiaries. The site-neutral savings go even further by reducing national health expenditures by as much as $672 billion. With high inflation and everyday expenses growing daily, that money can go back into the pockets of hard-working Americans. Something as critical as health care for ourselves and our loved ones should not be an uphill financial battle. Surely, fair medical billing is something all of our elected leaders can get behind in Washington to make an impact on the daily lives of every American. Making meaningful changes to bring healthcare costs down often seems insurmountable. But it all starts with small steps, and fair billing reform is part of the way forward. Billy Taylor is the Founder and CEO of Hometown Lenders.
Dale Strong insists that the fight for Space Command Headquarters is not over
In July, President Joe Biden made the decision to override military planners and the nonpartisan process that decided that national security would be better served by relocating Space Command headquarters (SPACECOM) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Red Stone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. On Thursday, Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) sent an email to constituents saying that this fight is not over. There will be a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, Space Command Commander General James Dickinson, and Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman will have to testify before the Committee on the Space Command basing decision. “I’m excited to tell you that the next steps related to Space Command are starting to materialize,” Rep. Strong said. “I am fighting the Biden Administration’s corruption and reckless spending from all angles, and President Biden’s decision to award Space Command to the blue state of Colorado is no different.” “Following the July announcement from the White House that the President decided to keep Space Command in Colorado, I sent Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) a letter requesting the committee bring Secretary Kendall and General Dickinson to testify “at the earliest opportunity” regarding the basing decision,” Strong continued. “I am writing today to let you know that Chairman Rogers has agreed with my request, and announced a hearing in the House. I wasn’t kidding when I said this is far from over. Our next step is to bring these military leaders before the Committee to answer questions under oath.” “The findings of the Defense Department’s robust basing process, and two separate and independent investigations supporting the Department’s initial selection of Redstone, were completely ignored when the fifth best location in Colorado was chosen to host the Space Command headquarters,” Strong stated. “The way the Biden administration and Department of Defense leadership has handled the Space Command situation is something that should worry every American. Inserting pure politics into the Defense Department’s basing process does untold damage to our national security, threatens the credibility of the DOD, and sets a dangerous precedent for all future military decisions. I’ve certainly got a lot of questions I’m ready to ask, and I hope you will tune in.” “In May, I opened a Congressional investigation into the Biden administration’s shameful delay to finalize the permanent basing decision for U.S. Space Command,” Rep. Rogers said. “When the Secretary of the Air Force finally made a decision, he upheld his predecessors’ decision to base U.S. Space Command in Huntsville, Alabama. President Biden then usurped the Air Force Secretary’s authority and named Colorado Springs the permanent basing site for U.S. Space Command in order to improve his political standing for next year’s re-election.” “I have invited Secretary Kendall, General Dickinson, and General Saltzman to testify to the House Armed Services Committee in a public hearing,” Rogers explained. “We will get answers on President Biden’s political manipulation of the selection process.” Strong is serving in his first term representing Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District. He previously served the people of Madison County as head of the County Commission. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Stephanie Smith addresses Young Republicans
On Wednesday, Stephanie Smith addressed a joint meeting of the Shelby, Jefferson, and St. Clair County Young Republican Clubs. The three groups of YRs were gathered at Hoover Tactical Firearms to watch Wednesday night’s Republican Party Presidential Debate. Smith is the third president of the Alabama Policy Institute (API). Smith said API was founded in 1989 by Gary Palmer and Tom Parker. Palmer served as President until he ran for Congress in Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District – a position he still holds. Caleb Crosby led the group for about eight years until being replaced by Smith in January. “The Alabama Policy Institute has gone through some transition over the last nine years,” said Smith. “We try to strike a balance between the social conservative side and fiscal conservative side,” Smith said. “We try to set a conservative agenda for the state,” Smith explained. “To hold elected officials accountable for their vote.” “We opine on national issues with our congressional delegation, but we are more focused on state issues,” Smith continued. She went on to explain to the YRs how to watch the debate. “Try to focus on the issues rather than the personality,” Smith said. “With Trump not being here, they are going to try to jockey for that second spot.” She handed out sheets and asked the group to rank the candidates on the issues and how close they came to their views without the bias of how they felt about the candidates before the debate. “It has been interesting to me since I took over API in January,” Smith said. “I have had national officials come up to me and ask, why are you here? Alabama is great. You have a supermajority. You can pass whatever you want.” “Many of the men and women in leadership are more moderate,” Smith explained of state government. “They are not as conservative on the Alabama side.” “There are plenty of things we can do to be more conservative as a state,” Smith said. “We are nonpartisan, but we are conservative-led.” She said that one thing that API does is “push out as much information as we can.” State Representative Susan Dubose (R-Greystone) said, “I cannot tell you how beneficial Stephanie and her group have been to me.” Dubose said that the information that she gets from API is trustworthy. “It is actual fact. It is not something that they made up,” Dubose said. The YRs then watched the over two-hour debate. Former President Donald Trump elected not to participate in the debate. Also at Wednesday night’s event was former State Senator Bryan Taylor, who is running for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, and Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judge Matt Fridy. Before Smith’s presentation, the Shelby County Young Republicans elected their officers. Shane Plyler was elected the group’s chairman. River Morris was elected Vice Chair. St. Clair County Republican Party Chairman Logan Glass announced that the club is raffling off a customized AR-15 built by one of the club’s members. Tickets are $5 each. The Alabama presidential primary is on Tuesday, March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Visitors asked to take precautions with fire at select State Parks
Ahead of Labor Day weekend, the State Parks Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has announced that visitors to select State Parks in the southern portion of the state should take extra fire precautions because of dry conditions. The five state parks are Gulf, Meaher, Bladon Springs, Roland Cooper, and Frank Jackson. Visitors and overnight guests are asked to take extra precautions with campfires and barbecue grills. Greg Lein is the Director of ADCNR’s State Parks Division. “As park guests plan for the upcoming Labor Day holiday, we ask that they keep the recent hot and dry conditions in mind when it comes to campfires and grilling,” said Director Lein. “Those conditions have increased the risk for wildfires at state parks in south Alabama. We encourage park visitors and overnight guests to be very cautious with campfires and grills during this period until we get some much-needed rain and the temperatures moderate.” The additional fire precautions at Gulf, Meaher, Bladon Springs, Roland Cooper, and Frank Jackson state parks include the following: · No campfires outside of designated day-use picnic areas, campgrounds, or developed recreational areas. · Barbecue grills and gas-fueled stoves are permitted only in designated day-use picnic areas, campgrounds, or developed recreational areas. · Do not use barbecue grills or gas stoves in areas that can scorch, burn, or damage lawns or picnic tables. · Place barbecue grills a minimum of 15 feet away from any flammable material such as grass, weeds, wood chips, brush, or park facilities. · Do not leave a campfire or grill unattended. · Completely extinguish all burning fuel, such as wood or charcoal, before disposing of it in an existing fireplace, fire pit, or barbecue grill. If you have questions about the additional fire precautions at Gulf, Meaher, Bladon Springs, Roland Cooper, and Frank Jackson state parks, please contact the main offices of the individual parks. The recent forest fire in Maui, Hawaii, has the highest death toll from a forest fire in American history, and bodies are still being found. Park visitors should also monitor each state park’s social media accounts for updates on fire precautions and restrictions. Visitors should also be aware that there have been two human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Baldwin County recently, including one where a little girl died. Since EEE is spread by mosquitos, the Alabama Department of Public Health is advising everyone to take precautions against mosquito bites. Wear chemical repellants and always wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Kay Ivey: Promoting students before they are ready is a major disservice to them. Ensuring they are ready is the mission of the day
As Alabama students are beginning the new school year, there is already discussion on the promotion policy included in the Alabama Literacy Act that takes effect this year. There is no life skill more vital than reading, and there is nothing more transformational we can do for Alabama than to ensure all our students can read proficiently. So, we must press on with this mission. Passing our students along when they are not reading at grade-level is doing them a major disservice. Recently, we have seen some discussion that if this promotion portion of the Literacy Act had been in effect last school year, more than 12,000 students would be subject to being held back. That has, once again, brought back chatter about potentially delaying the full implementation of the Literacy Act. I have had reporters ask me about it, too, on multiple occasions. My answer has been clear: Further delaying the promotion policy cannot happen, and I will very firmly veto a delay if a bill reached my desk. It frustrates me to see a few folks in Montgomery not have the same faith in our students that I see out on the road when I visit our schools. The full implementation of the Literacy Act is simply vital to our students’ success. Last year, I launched the Governor’s Turnaround Schools Initiative that aims to transform low-performing schools, as well as the surrounding communities. Fifteen schools were chosen from all areas of the state to participate, where they are receiving additional funding and targeted support. Two of the Turnaround schools are in my home of Wilcox County. I had the opportunity to visit J.E. Hobbs Elementary and ABC Elementary to kick off the new school year in Alabama, and I left encouraged. From the caring teachers to the supportive school board members to the engaged students – I am extremely hopeful we are headed in the right direction in Alabama. Our students are excited to read and to learn. I saw that in the hundreds and hundreds of letters I received this summer in response to my Summer Reading Challenge. Instead of focusing on just getting by, we need to focus on success. Our students, teachers, and parents have the tools and are more than up to the task. Alabama’s students should take full advantage of our tutoring, after-school, and summer programs. Last summer, less than half of all eligible students attended summer literacy programs. We need that to be 100 percent – not fifty – especially for those who are reading below grade-level. While we are making progress with sound policy like the Literacy Act, we must also ensure our students and teachers are focused on the reading science and phonics rather than discredited theories like three-cueing. Three-cueing has the students guess the meaning of words. That does not seem to make a lick of sense, especially to someone who was a teacher. Of course, as a former teacher, I know full well that our parents are our first teachers. Learning to read begins at home. That is why we are supporting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library book gifting program to be available statewide. When parents are reading to their kids at home, they will be ready by the time they come to school. Wise investments in our children and in our families will lead to a better Alabama. When I visited Dozier Elementary in Montgomery, one of the students asked me how I liked being governor. It is certainly an awesome and busy job, but I told him that out of all my responsibilities, my number one priority is them – our students – and making sure that each of them has the opportunity to receive a quality education. Ensuring our students are ready is the mission of the day, and I am more optimistic than ever before that Alabama students, teachers, and parents will help us meet our goal of ranking in the top thirty states on student achievement. I tell our students I believe they can be anything they want to be, but that they first have to be good students. Let’s tackle this challenge head on and not waste another moment. Delaying student success will keep Alabama at the bottom. I want every child to be ready to be promoted from third to fourth grade and so on, and we are committed to making that a reality. The future of Alabama’s children depends on our work today. After all, strong students will lead to a strong Alabama. Kay Ivey was inaugurated to her second full term as Governor in January.
House Republicans launch inquiry into Georgia official behind Donald Trump indictment
Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation Thursday into whether the Department of Justice coordinated with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in Georgia on the fourth indictment of former President Donald Trump. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sent a letter to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis demanding all records of communication with the DOJ to determine whether it was “politically motivated.” “Turning first to the question of motivation, it is noteworthy that just four days before this indictment, you launched a new campaign fundraising website that highlighted your investigation into President Trump,” the letter said. “Additionally, the forewoman of the special grand jury you convened to investigate President Trump earlier this year bragged during an unusual media tour about her excitement at the prospect of subpoenaing President Trump and getting to swear him in.” The investigation comes the same day Trump is expected to turn himself in to the Georgia jail for processing. “Last week, the Fulton County Superior Court’s Clerk publicly released a list of criminal charges against President Trump reportedly hours before the vote of the grand jury,” the letter said. “A Fulton County court has disqualified you from targeting current Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones as part of your probe on the grounds that you actively supported and held fundraising events for his Democratic opponent. And unlike officials in other jurisdictions, Fulton County officials ‘have suggested [they] will process [the former President] as [a] typical criminal defendant[], requiring mug shots and possibly even cash bond.’” Notably, IRS whistleblowers recently testified that the DOJ interfered to protect the president’s son, Hunter Biden, in the legal investigation into his alleged tax, gun, and other crimes. Republicans kicked off a similar investigation into New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg after brought his charges against Trump. Bragg has a long history of anti-Trump comments and even ran for election on the promise to prosecute Trump. Trump faces 91 total charges across indictments in New York, Florida, Washington, D.C., and now Georgia. Those charges are related either to Trump’s handling of classified documents, his alleged payments to Stormy Daniels, or his alleged work to overturn the 2020 election results. The Georgia indictment features 41 charges against 19 of Trump’s alleged co-conspirators. Trump has blasted all the indictments, calling them a political effort against the Republican frontrunner. Trump currently holds a wide lead over his primary challengers, most of whom promised at Wednesday’s debate to still support him for president even if he is convicted. “THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST ME SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND HIS RADICAL LEFT THUGS,” Trump wrote on social media Wednesday. “THIS WILL BE THEIR UPDATED FORM OF CHEATING & ELECTION INTERFERENCE. REMEMBER, THESE ARE BIDEN INDICTMENTS, PURE & SIMPLE!” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
