Marijuana license awardees getting nervous as legal saga drags on
In June, a number of businessmen and women were awarded a limited number of medical marijuana licenses by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC). If things had gone according to plan, in July, those men and women would have gotten their licenses formally issued, construction on new marijuana farms, factories, and dispensaries would be underway, and Alabama’s first legal marijuana crop would be growing in an Alabama greenhouse right now. Nothing went according to plan. Business entities not awarded a license by the AMCC began filing lawsuits within days of the awards being issued. The AMCC staff discovered errors in tabulating the scores, and the commission itself held an emergency meeting to stay issuing their licenses. Days after, Montgomery Judge James Anderson issued a temporary restraining order barring the AMCC from issuing the licenses. Rather than pressing ahead and finding a way to issue those licenses, the AMCC nullified its previous awards and held a new round of awards. Most of the business entities that received awards in June also received awards in August, but not all. Verona was one of five business entities awarded an integrated facility license by the AMCC in June. In August, they did not get the award. They are now suing on the grounds that the AMCC violated the Alabama Open Meetings Law. Verona is represented by lobbyist Curt Lee. “Verona had the highest scores both times,” Lee told the Mid-Alabama Republican Club on Saturday. “Obviously, we have some concerns about why, if you had the highest score, Verona didn’t get a license.” Some of the parties who were denied applications in both June and August are also suing, alleging that they were treated unfairly. Redbud – who couldn’t figure out how to upload their application, is also bringing litigation to be considered for a license. Judge Anderson has extended his temporary restraining order twice in past weeks. Over a dozen plaintiffs’ attorneys are in court-ordered negotiations with the AMCC. Those applicants who were awarded licenses are reportedly getting nervous as it increasingly appears as if the AMCC will vacate those license awards and instead award licenses for a third time. Sources report that some of those entities have engaged with an attorney on their own possible litigation to ask Judge Anderson to lift the temporary restraining order and urge the AMCC to issue the licenses. Chey Garrigan is the founder and executive director of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA). Alabama Today asked Garrigan about reports that the license awards winners have engaged with an attorney. Garrigan would not divulge any details of what was discussed but did acknowledge that there have been “discussions” in recent days. Some of the awardees and applicants have reportedly been in negotiations with Tru-Leaf – a marijuana company that is active in Florida and other states, but in recent weeks, Tru-Leaf has pulled out of the state due to the uncertainty. Licensees and applicants whose secret plan was to sell out to Tru-Leaf may have been left without a business plan if those reports are true. “I have heard that as well,” Garrigan acknowledged. “I can’t say with any certainty what Tru-Leaf is going to do.” The next regularly scheduled AMCC meeting is scheduled for September 19. The legislation creating the AMCC and making them the regulators of marijuana in Alabama is considered the most restrictive medical marijuana law in the country. “They talked with legislators in other states that opened it up too wide and regretted it,” Lee said of the Legislature’s thinking behind the bill. Lee was asked if the Legislature would intervene and just overturn the marijuana law, ending this experiment in medical marijuana in Alabama. “I don’t see it going away and being reversed,” Lee said. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
U.S. marks 22nd anniversary of 9/11
Today is the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. On that day in 2001, Al Qaeda terrorists seized four massive airliners filled with passengers by force and flew two of them into the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The third crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. After learning of the plights of the first three jets by cell phone, the passengers of the fourth airliner attacked their terrorist captors and took control of the plane by force. They all died, but their heroism likely saved the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands of their fellow countrymen that day. The War on Terror that began that day would last for twenty years in Afghanistan. U.S. forces are battling ISIL (an offshoot of Al Qaeda) in Syria today, and U.S. forces in Niger are involved in anti-terror actions there. Nine days after the crushing terrorist attack, then-President George W. Bush said, “Even grief recedes with time and grace. But our resolve must not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day, and to whom it happened. We’ll remember the moment the news came — where we were and what we were doing. Some will remember an image of a fire or a story of rescue. Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever. And I will carry this: It is the police shield of a man named George Howard, who died at the World Trade Center trying to save others.” Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. “Twenty-two years ago, our world was forever changed by the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,” Rep. Rogers said. “Today, we remember the thousands of innocent lives that were lost and honor the many heroes who selflessly risked their lives to save others.” “Over two decades later, the threat our nation faces from terrorism has not subsided,” Rogers continued. “Every day, brave men and women in our armed forces continue to fight against those who seek to harm our nation. It is only because of their service and sacrifice that the United States remains unbowed in the fight against evil.” “Our nation was forever changed on September 11, 2001,” said U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) on X. “Today, we pause to remember the thousands of American lives lost. #NeverForget.” “Today we mark 22 years since the September 11 attacks on our nation,” said U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama). “We will never forget the innocent lives lost and the heroes who displayed extraordinary courage in the face of terrible evil. “These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”” In last year’s remembrance ceremony, President Joe Biden said we will never forget 9/11. “Never Forget. We’ll keep the memory of all those precious lives stolen from — from us: 2,977 — at Ground Zero in New York; in Shanksville, where my wife is speaking now — in Pennsylvania; 184 of them here at the Pentagon. And I know, for all those of you who lost someone, 21 years is both a lifetime and no time at all. It’s good to remember. These memories help us heal, but they can also open up the hurt and take us back to that moment when the grief was so raw.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
State Sen. Chris Elliott concerned about cost of West Alabama Highway Project
On Thursday, State Senator Chris Elliott (R-Daphne) placed a hold on two Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) contracts for design work on the West Alabama Highway – Governor Kay Ivey’s promised Mobile to Florence West Alabama five-lane highway project. The Senator placed the hold during Thursday’s Joint Legislative Contract Review Committee meeting. Sen. Elliott spoke with Alabama Today about the situation Friday. Elliott said he is not opposed to the project but was concerned about the funding mechanism and the cost. “They have no idea,” Sen. Elliott said. “They quoted three different numbers yesterday. First, it was $800 million, then it was a billion, and then it was $1.1 billion. They don’t know.” Elliott said that he was concerned that ALDOT was rushing the project forward. “They are trying to lock this down while she (Ivey) is still in there,” Elliott said. Yellowhammer News asked the Senator why no federal dollars are being used for this project even though Highway 41 is a U.S. Highway. “They never asked,” Elliott said of ALDOT. “They are not going to ask. They said something about getting those federal grants is too difficult, and they have not had luck in the past.” Elliott said he was concerned that because of “the way they are doing it, they might be leaving federal money on the table.” Elliott expressed skepticism about the numbers given by the administration. “This is intentional lowballing,” Elliott said, citing the two mega prisons the state is building as an example. “Yes, concrete has gone up, but it did not go up over 100 percent. Fuel is up, but it did not go up over 100%. Labor did not go up over 100%.” In response to Elliott’s hold on the West Alabama Highway project contracts, State Representative Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) vowed to block all ALDOT contracts in response to Elliott’s opposing the West Alabama five-lane project. “Whatever is going to happen, it will be resolved within 45 days,” Elliott said. Elliott explained that members of the contract review committee can place a hold on a contract for 45 days. The only thing missing on the contracts is the Governor’s signature. At the end of 45 days, the Governor may sign the contract whether or not legislators are opposed. “Rep England and I are going to meet with highway department officials this week,” Elliott said. West Alabama officials insist that the West Alabama five-lane highway project is necessary for economic development and so residents can access services like healthcare. Ivey has promised that no county will lack four-lane highway access to an interstate. This project is part of her effort to fulfill that promise. Alabama Today also attempted to reach out to Rep. England for his comments. In a heated hearing on Thursday, ALDOT Engineer Clay McBrien told Elliott that the project cost could be over $1 billion – this is up from earlier estimates of $767 million. The Mayor of Thomasville hosted a press conference for West Alabama Mayors earlier this week to gain support for the project. West Alabama Mayors insist that the project is needed for economic development and so their communities can more easily access services such as health care. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to visit Birmingham on September 19
The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) is hosting historian Doris Kearns Goodwin for “An evening of cocktails, discussion, and a special book signing” in Birmingham on Tuesday, September 19. Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned presidential historian, public speaker, and Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times #1 best-selling author. PARCA is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to work to inform and improve the decision making of state and local leaders in Alabama through objective research and analysis. PARCA studies state and local finances and taxes, school performance, workforce development, and government operations. Since 2020, she has worked as the executive producer for the History Channel’s miniseries events “Washington,” “Abraham Lincoln,” and “Theodore Roosevelt,” with more projects in the pipeline. The event will include a reception for all guests, a private cocktail reception with Goodwin, a fireside chat, a book signing, and a dessert reception. Priska Neely, the regional managing editor for the Gulf States Newsroom, will be the moderator. Goodwin is a frequent news media and late-night TV guest to discuss leadership and provide historical context for current issues, including the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, presidential politics, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ms. Goodwin’s seventh book, “Leadership In Turbulent Times,” was an instant bestseller and published to critical acclaim in Fall 2018. Focusing on Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Baines Johnson, the book provides an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field and for all of us in our everyday lives. Goodwin graduated magna cum laude from Colby College. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Government from Harvard University, where she taught Government, including a course on the American Presidency. Goodwin has been a critic of former President Donald Trump. Goodwin previously authored six critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling books, including the Carnegie Medal winner “The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism,” which is in part the basis for a film being developed about Ida Tarbell, the famous muckraking journalist of the era. Ms. Goodwin’s award-winning “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” was the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s film “Lincoln,” which earned 12 Academy Award® nominations, including an Academy Award for actor Daniel Day-Lewis for his portrayal of the 16th president. Ms. Goodwin earned the Pulitzer Prize in History for “No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II.” Her “The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys” was adapted into an award-winning television miniseries. Goodwin worked with President Johnson in the White House and later assisted him in the writing of his memoirs. She then wrote “Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream,” which became a national bestseller and achieved critical acclaim. It was re-released in Spring 2019, highlighting LBJ’s accomplishments in domestic affairs. Goodwin has served as a consultant and has been interviewed extensively for PBS and HISTORY’s documentaries on Presidents Johnson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln, the Kennedy family, and on Ken Burns’ “The History of Baseball” and “The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.” She was a consultant on HBO Films’ “All the Way,” starring Bryan Cranston as President Johnson. She played herself as a teacher to Lisa Simpson on” The Simpsons” and a historian on “American Horror Story.” The event will be held at the Birmingham Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus. Proceeds for this event will go toward PARCA’s mission to inform and improve the decision-making of state and local leaders in Alabama through objective research and analysis. General admission tickets start at $100. PARCA is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to work to inform and improve the decision making of state and local leaders in Alabama through objective research and analysis. PARCA studies state and local finances and taxes, school performance, workforce development, and government operations. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Ken McFeeters to run for Congress
On Saturday, in Vestavia at the Mid-Alabama Republican Club (MARC), independent insurance agent Ken McFeeters announced he is a candidate for Congress in Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. McFeeters has been very active in local Republican politics and has previously served as a MARC officer. McFeeters had offered himself up as a candidate for the vacant Alabama House District 42 seat after Rep. David Wheeler (R-Vestavia) died. The ALGOP Steering Committee chose Hoover City Councilman Mike Shaw instead. As an independent insurance agent, McFeeters has lobbied the state Legislature hard for a level playing field in the insurance industry and against tax breaks for insurance firms with a large physical presence in the state – primarily benefitting ALFA insurance and State Farm. McFeeters is challenging incumbent Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), who has already announced that he is running for a sixth term. Qualifying for Congress formally opens next month for the major party primaries. Since the court-appointed special master has not yet submitted his congressional redistricting map, it is unknown where the seven congressional district boundaries will be. The court has thrown out the redistricting map passed by the Legislature in a special session in July. The state is appealing. The special master will complete his redistricting map by September 25. The major party primaries will be held on March 5. The Mid-Alabama Republican Club meets on the second Saturday of each month in the Vestavia Hills Public Library at 8:30 a.m. John Lyda is the current President of MARC. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Campgrounds, cabins temporarily close for maintenance at Roland Cooper State Park as it transitions back to ADCNR management
Beginning on Monday, September 11, through October 1, the campgrounds and cabin areas at Roland Cooper State Park will temporarily close for maintenance as park management transitions back from a concessionaire contract back to the State Parks Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Existing overnight reservations will be honored during the maintenance period. In 2015, Roland Cooper was temporarily closed due to cost-cutting measures ordered by then-Governor Robert Bentley (R). The park reopened in 2016 under a concessionaire contract with an Arizona-based management company, Vista Recreation, taking over the management. Greg Lein is the Director of ADCNR’s State Parks Division. “We are grateful for the partnership with Vista Recreation over the last seven years,” said Director Lein. “Going forward, we are excited to have our park personnel once again operating the park and working with the City of Camden, Wilcox County, and local tourism professionals to promote the region and all that Roland Cooper State Park has to offer.” Roland Cooper State Park is 6 miles north of Camden in Wilcox County. Lein said that Roland Cooper State Park is the perfect base camp to enjoy various outdoor recreation in Alabama’s Black Belt, including boating, fishing, hunting, birding, wildlife watching, hiking, camping, and more. Chris Blankenship is the Commissioner of ADCNR. “For decades, Alabama’s Black Belt region was overlooked as a vacation destination,” said Commissioner Blankenship. “An increased interest in outdoor recreation has started to change that. We encourage Alabamians and out-of-state visitors to explore the many recreational opportunities at Roland Cooper and in the surrounding areas.” One of the main attractions at Roland Cooper is its access to boating and fishing on Dannelly Reservoir, also known as Millers Ferry. The lake is known for its abundance of game fish. The park also boasts a recently constructed pier that significantly expanded the available docking space for recreational boaters and anglers. The new T-shaped pier measures 160 feet long by 128 feet wide and is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. Fishing tournaments can be hosted at the park throughout the year. In addition to excellent boating and fishing access, Roland Cooper State Park offers several overnight accommodations, including 47 improved and 13 primitive campsites, six tiny house-style cabins, and five two-bedroom cabins. Hunters and anglers who have trips planned to the various nearby ADCNR Wildlife Management Areas, Special Opportunity Areas, and State Owned Public Fishing lakes are encouraged to make reservations to stay at Roland Cooper during the upcoming hunting and fishing seasons. The park also has hiking trails, a rental pavilion, a bathhouse, and boat rentals. Roland Cooper is also a stop on the Alabama Birding Trail, and bald eagles and ospreys can be spotted at the park throughout the year. The park is convenient to Montgomery, Mobile, and Selma, with all three being within a two-hour drive, The Bentley Administration closed five state parks: Bladon Springs, Chickasaw, Paul Grist, Roland Cooper, and Florala as part of the governor’s cost-cutting plan. The closings, which disproportionately affected the Black Belt Counties, were criticized at the time because the cuts, like the cuts at the time of 31 driver’s license offices by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), targeted the government infrastructure closest to the people rather than management and redundant administration and staff in Montgomery. Gov. Kay Ivey has made a point of reversing many of her predecessor’s more controversial policies. State Revenues have more than doubled since 2015. Four of the five have reopened as State Parks. Florala is now owned and operated by the City of Florala, who took over the park after the state cut the park. To plan your next adventure at Roland Cooper State Park or to make reservations, visit www.alapark.com. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
House committee chairman Michael McCaul says Sen. Tommy Tuberville is ‘paralyzing’ the Pentagon by blocking promotions
The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is slamming a fellow Republican in the Senate for waging an unprecedented attempt to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is “paralyzing the Department of Defense.” “The idea that one man in the Senate can hold this up for months, I understand, maybe promotions, but nominations,” McCaul said. He added, “I think that is a national security problem and a national security issue. And I really wish he would reconsider this.” Tuberville’s move has forced less experienced leaders into top jobs and raised concerns at the Pentagon about military readiness. Defense officials say Tuberville is jeopardizing American national security. Senators in both parties, including Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, also have criticized Tuberville. Tuberville has refused to budge, saying will not drop the holds unless majority Democrats allow a vote on the policy. Democrats argue that a vote for every nominee could tie up the Senate floor for months, and they do not want to give in to Tuberville’s demands and encourage similar blockades of nominees in the future. McCaul said on CNN that the House would be tackling the issue of abortion in the military as part of a sweeping defense spending bill making its way through Congress. In the meantime, he said, “To hold up the top brass from being promoted and lower brass, I think, is paralyzing our Department of Defense.” Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
