Alabama Democratic Party opens candidate qualifying on Friday
The Alabama Democratic Party opened its candidate qualifying on Friday. Alabama Presidential Delegate qualifying will open on October 16, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. The big news this year is that Alabama’s Second Congressional District looks like it could be open as incumbent Republican Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) has been drawn out of his district by the court-appointed special master assigned to redistrict the state. Moore has said that he will wait before deciding what to do next. At present, he and GOP Congressman Jerry Carl now live in the First Congressional District. When Moore was re-elected in 2022, Congressional District 2 was 30% Black. The federal courts have ordered the state to draw a second Congressional District that is majority minority “or something close to it.’ The maps drawn by the special master have increased the Black voter percentage in the Second Congressional District to between 48.7% and 50.5%. This makes Congressional District 2 much friendlier for Democrats than it was previously. Austin Vigue has already announced that he is running for Congress in what now appears to be an open seat. In addition to the seven congressional seats, numerous county offices are on the ballot in 2024, including the Public Service Commission President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Supreme Court Associate Justice, and other judicial seats. Candidate qualifying opened on September 29, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Individuals interested in running for office as a Democrat or serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention may submit a Declaration of Candidacy and pay the appropriate qualifying fees at the Alabama Democratic Party Headquarters at 501 Adams Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104, or online. Democratic candidate qualifying will close on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. CST, 116 days before the primary election, as required by Alabama Code § 17-13-5(a). “The 2024 Election Cycle is vital for Alabama Democrats,” said Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Randy Kelley. “We have an opportunity to elect a 2nd Democrat to the U.S. House, win state races, and re-elect President [Joe] Biden so that he may complete his historic agenda. Alabama has benefited greatly from President Biden’s policies, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with over $3.2 billion allocated for roads, bridges, high-speed internet, and other major projects. We will do our part by winning seats for local, state, and national offices.” “We are excited to work with candidates that stand for Democratic values and who will move Alabama forward,” Kelley continued. “I would like to commend those who are seeking elected office and answering the call to serve others. Running for office is an endeavor that requires many sacrifices in a candidate’s life. Your time and efforts will make a difference for the people of Alabama. The Alabama Democratic Party will be here to support our candidates and guide them to victory.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republican party announces qualifying dates for House District 10 special election
On Friday, the Alabama Republican Party announced that qualifying dates for the District 10 Special Election will open on Monday. All Republican candidates interested in running for this office must file with the party before qualifying closes. Candidate qualifying will open at 8:30 a.m. on Monday and close at 5:00 p.m. on October 10. The seat in House District 10 became vacant following the resignation of former State Rep. David Cole, who pleaded guilty to voting at the wrong polling place. Cole ran for and won the open District 10 seat in 2022, even though he did not live there. To qualify for the Republican ballot, go online or visit Alabama Republican Party headquarters at 3505 Lorna Road in Hoover during the qualifying period. The special primary election will be held on December 12. A primary run-off election will be held on January 9, 2024, if necessary. The Special General Election is set for March 26, 2024. Republican qualifying for 2024 races, including President, begins on October 16 and closes on November 10. For more information, visit the website or phone Alabama Republican headquarters at 205-212-5900. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Spring Hill College receives $35 million grant for health and science initiative
Spring Hill College recently announced a significant milestone in its pursuit of academic excellence and innovation. The College can now access the $35 million awarded in early 2023 to construct a state-of-the-art Health and Science Innovation Center. While planning is already well underway, construction is scheduled to commence in September 2024. The Center promises to revolutionize education, research, and healthcare delivery in the region, ultimately benefiting our entire community. The initiative will encompass several key components: Advanced Research Facilities: The grant will enable the construction of state-of-the-art laboratories and learning spaces, fostering innovation and discovery in health and science. Enhanced Academic Programs: Spring Hill College will develop new academic programs and expand existing ones to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers in health and science. Community Outreach: The College will collaborate with local healthcare providers and organizations to enhance community health services and promote overall well-being. Scholarships and Research Opportunities: The grant will lead to related scholarships and research opportunities that will ensure Spring Hill students have access to financial support and hands-on research experiences. President of Spring Hill College, Mary Van Brunt, PhD, expressed gratitude for the grant, stating, “This generous grant, which would not have been possible without the support of former Senator Richard Shelby, is a game-changer for Spring Hill College and the communities we serve. It will enable us to propel our commitment to education, research, and community service to new heights. This grant is another great example of how we carry out our mission of developing leaders while caring for the whole person. We are excited about the transformative impact this initiative will have on our institution and the broader society.” Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2024, with completion anticipated around the summer of 2026. Founded in 1830, Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast and the third-oldest Jesuit college in the United States.
California Senator Dianne Feinstein dies at age 90
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California has died, the Associated Press reported. She was 90 years old. Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington, D.C. Feinstein’s chief of staff, James Sauls, said in a statement, “Sadly, Senator Feinstein passed away last night at her home in Washington, D.C. Her passing is a great loss for so many, from those who loved and cared for her to the people of California that she dedicated her life to serving. Senator Feinstein never backed away from a fight for what was just and right. At the same time, she was always willing to work with anyone, even those she disagreed with, if it meant bettering the lives of Californians or the betterment of our nation. There are few women who can be called senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mom and grandmother. Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state. She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary. There is much to say about who she was and what she did, but for now, we are going to grieve the passing of our beloved boss, mentor and friend.” Feinstein was born on June 22, 1933, and was the oldest sitting U.S. Senator. Many leaders had expressed concern about her health in the past few years and questioned if she was fit to continue to work as a Senator. Feinstein stepped down as the top Democrat on the Judiciary panel after the 2020 elections. In February, she announced that she planned to retire at the end of 2024 when her term was up. Elected to the Senate in 1992, Feinstein was seen as more of a centrist Democrat and was known to work to find common ground with Republicans. “In San Francisco, she showed enormous poise and courage in the wake of tragedy and became a powerful voice for American values. Serving in the Senate together for more than 15 years, I had a front-row seat to what Dianne was able to accomplish,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties. She’s made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.” “As we mourn with her daughter Katherine and the Feinstein family, her team in the Senate, and the people of California, we take comfort that Dianne is reunited again with her beloved Richard. May God Bless Dianne Feinstein.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, “Sen. Dianne Feinstein was a friend, a hero, a leader who changed the Senate and America for the better. Mourning this tremendous loss—we’re comforted in knowing how many mountains she moved, lives she impacted, glass ceilings she shattered. America’s a better place because of her.” Senator Katie Britt wrote on X, “Dianne Feinstein lived a life of service, blazing a path for women in the Senate and girls across our nation. In the face of tragedy and tribulations throughout her career, she was fearless. Our prayers are with her loved ones.” Senator Tommy Tuberville said, “Sad to hear about the loss of my friend Dianne Feinstein. Grateful I got to know her. Keeping her family and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers.”
Louisiana lawmakers aim to fix shrimp industry crisis caused by cheap imports
By Victor Skinner | The Center Square contributor A legislative task force convened this week to brainstorm ways to address a crisis in the Louisiana shrimp industry brought on by a flood of imported seafood. The Legislature’s Seafood Safety Task Force met on Wednesday to review state policies for imported seafood in the wake of an ongoing shrimp crisis forcing many Louisiana shrimpers to stay on the dock. Gov. John Bel Edwards last month requested an emergency disaster declaration from the federal government at the behest of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, which has raised the alarm about the safety of imported shrimp that have driven dockside prices below $1 per pound. The Southern Shrimp Alliance made the same requests for disaster declarations from governors in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. The task force, initially created in 2009, was revived with Senate Resolution 159, sponsored by Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, who chaired Wednesday’s meeting. The Louisiana Shrimp Association has repeatedly highlighted how imports of 1.8 billion pounds of farm-raised foreign shrimp have created a record-high global supply and rock bottom prices, despite concerns over harmful antibiotics, chemicals, and toxins that put consumers at risk of food-borne illnesses. The association contends most Louisiana restaurants serve imported shrimp and other seafood but do not clearly label it as required by state law. Despite 2,671 violations since the law was enacted in 2019, the state has not imposed fines available through a separate law. State health officials told the task force that limited funding has also restricted testing of imported seafood, with just 11 inspections in 2023. A lack of oversight on the federal level prompted Republican U.S. Rep. Garret Graves to introduce legislation in August to provide more FDA funding for testing. Along with Edwards’ request for an emergency disaster declaration, he penned a letter to President Joe Biden last month “asking for additional funding for testing of imported shrimp by the Food and Drug Administration, as well as support for random testing, seizure and destruction of shrimp that contain banned substances, and implementation of a quota on the amount of shrimp imported from other countries,” the governor wrote in a letter to Louisiana Shrimp Association. The task force on Wednesday discussed the possibility of sending health inspectors to more of the state’s major ports to improve testing before products reach the state’s 58 distributors, but state health officials noted that would require cooperation with federal authorities that control the ports. Mills suggested officials could possibly intercept transport trucks on state roadways before they reach distributors. Other suggestions centered on adopting a law similar to Texas that bans the use of imported shrimp as bait. A 2020 study by the LSU Agricultural Center that tested imported shrimp from locations in the Baton Rouge area found prohibited antibiotics in 70% of samples, findings that further substantiated prior studies. The task force meeting followed several bills or resolutions introduced in the 2023 legislative session aimed at addressing foreign imports, from increasing the fine in the labeling law to $1,000 to resolutions asking Congress to ban shrimp and crawfish imports and for the FDA and Louisiana Department of Health to improve testing. While multiple resolutions were adopted, the increased labeling fines for restaurants and retailers failed in committee amid pushback from the Louisiana Restaurant Association. The Louisiana Seafood Safety Task Force is expected to meet again in October. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Tommy Tuberville addresses potential government shutdown; “What a mess we are in”
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) spoke with the Alabama press about the growing possibility that Congress will not get a budget passed in time to prevent a government shutdown at midnight on Saturday. “What a mess we are in,” Sen. Tuberville said. “I don’t like shutdowns. No Republican wants to shut the government down. Senator [Susan] Collins and Senator Pattie Murray of the Appropriations Committee did their job. They want regular order, and so do I. Regular order means that you have 12 bills, and you do each one of them individually. We haven’t done that in a long time. It is time for the Senate to have an amendment process on each one of these bills. It gives everybody an opportunity to express their thoughts, but (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer, he doesn’t want to do that. He is doing everything he can to prevent the Senate from acting on any of these bills. That will eventually lead to a shutdown if we’re not careful. You have got to remember Chuck Schumer controls the floor, so this will be a Schumer shutdown. If a continuing resolution gives us time to consider all 12 of these bills, then I am for it, but we will have to see what the House does also.” Tuberville responded to a reporter’s question about criticism of the Senate by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). “It is hard to compare both the House and the Senate, to be honest with you,” Tuberville said. “They have got different personalities over there – as me. I didn’t vote for a supplemental for Ukraine. We are spending somewhere around $260 million a day, somewhere in that range in Ukraine. We are spending it for their farmers, helping them plant their crops. We are spending it for their borders when we have farmers here who need money. We have a border that needs to be shut down. There is a lot of things going on behind the scenes. I am real interested in how McCarthy handles this. He has got not just a division between Democrats and Republicans but also division in his own caucus, so we will see what happens. We have done our 12 bills over here. We have got them out of committee. If we would do them one at a time like Chuck Schumer should, I think we could really encourage the House to do the right thing, but right now, we are in the middle of the road with no way to get this thing going.” Sen. Tuberville and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) both have cosponsored legislation to end the repeated government shutdowns and force Congress to pass the budget. Tuberville was asked about why that legislation did not pass. “First of all, there is a lot of people up here that when they do a budget, they just want to jam this thing full of pork, and that has gotten us $33 trillion in debt,” Tuberville responded. “We need to spend what we need to spend. Take care of all of our bills. Get that done. Take care of the American taxpayers, but we need an opportunity to tell everybody: OK, here is the deal: we run out of money at the end of September every year. We have got all year long – eight, nine months to put these bills together and get it passed. I think we need a bill that says we run up to a time restraint, which, at the end of this week, we are basically done. We do not go home. We stay here seven days a week until we get a budget passed for the American citizens and the taxpayers of this country. There is no reason that we need to keep kicking this can down the road and give people up here an opportunity to jam-pack this thing full of pork with things that we shouldn’t spend money on, but take care of the people of this country. That is what we are here for.” Alabama Today asked why the Alabama Legislature can pass two budgets months ahead of the same deadline and roll a surplus over into the next fiscal year while Congress having a budget crisis is almost expected. “Yea, you know there has been a lot of shutdowns,” Tuberville admitted. “A lot of people say this is a terrible thing to do to shut the government down, but sooner or later, we need to wake up and say we are $33 trillion in debt. But we have got to be more competent on understanding what we can and we can’t spend money on. Every year, we just bump it up. If you look at what happened after 2019 in COVID, there is trillions of dollars that we spent then that we don’t need to spend now, but the Democrats want to leave it in the budget. It makes no sense. We should go back to the 2019 budget and look and see where we are at, but you have so many people up here from different states that say, hey, let’s push it all the way to the end where we have to do a budget so we can do whatever we need to do. That’s the reason we want to get to regular order. Really, the Senate Appropriations Committee did their job. Susan Collins really pushed the Republicans to get this done the right way. They are done. We are done with the Senate version. We just can’t get it to the floor where Chuck Schumer will vote on them one at a time. He wants to control this process because he wants to get pork in there for New York. He wants to spend more of the taxpayer money than we should, so it is unfortunate that we have got people who try to do things to benefit themselves rather than the country. That is what we are seeing now. We are $33 trillion headed to 34.” Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020 – defeating
Austin Vigue announces run for Congress in Second Congressional District
On Thursday, Alabama Today spoke with Democratic Congressional candidate Austin Vigue from Wetumpka. Vigue graduated from Auburn University in Montgomery (AUM) with a degree in political science. He currently works there as an admissions counselor, where he is involved in recruiting community college students to the campus to finish their degree. “I feel that the people of the United States, the people of Alabama, deserve more than they get right now,” Vigue said. “The people serving in Congress now are completely out of touch.” Vigue said Americans deserve affordable healthcare. Additionally, for many Americans, college has become unaffordable. Vigue believes voters of the Second Congressional District deserve what he calls “The New Square Deal.” “I have been preparing for this my whole life,” Vigue said. “I was involved in student government in college, and I had to learn how to work with people that I vehemently disagree with in order to get things done.” Alabama Today asked Vigue if he was active with his local Democratic Party group. “Elmore County (Democratic Party) is presently inactive,” Vigue said. “I have been meeting with Democratic parties and clubs around the state.” Alabama Today asked if he agreed with the court imposing new district lines on Alabama or if he felt it should have been left to the Alabama Legislature. “The Supreme Court was very clear in what it ordered the state to do,” Vigue said. Vigue blamed the state Legislature for defying the federal court and supports the rights of Alabama’s minority to have representation in Congress. Alabama Today asked if he expects the U.S. to be at war with China in the next five years. “I don’t. Frankly, I think there is a lot of saber-rattling,” Vigue said. “A war between China and the U.S. would devastate the global economy.” Vigue supports robust military funding to ensure the United States is militarily superior to every country. “I support funding missile defense systems,” Vigue said. “I support a grant program to build (fallout) shelters throughout the state. We also live in a state where tornadoes can appear suddenly out of nowhere. Citizens can take shelter there for tornadoes and hurricanes as well.” “The best way to prevent war with China is diplomacy,” Vigue added. “A nuclear war between China and the U.S. would be devastating for the whole world.” Alabama Today asked if he supports the U.S. continuing to arm Ukraine in its war against Russia. “Yes. What Russia has done in invading Ukraine is not just wrong morally, but it also violates international law.” Vigue believes allowing Russia to take Ukraine would be similar to allowing Hitler to take Czechoslovakia in World War II. “They would go into Poland next,” Vigue said, and after that, it would precipitate a larger war that would be devastating. “They do not own Ukraine.” When asked about education, Vigue stressed the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Education, and Math) classes and additional funding for education. “Families have an inherent right to make the school decision that is best for their child,” Vigue added and said that he also supports a voucher program so that families who cannot afford it can have the option to send their child to private school. When asked about the state’s plan to bury old coal ash ponds on-site or at a toxic waste storage facility like Emelle, Vige stated, “I think we have to be careful with things like that. I think we should go with the data.” Vigue said that if the data shows that it is safer to bury it, he would support that. However, if the Environmental Protection Agency has data showing that doing that will allow something to get in the groundwater that will lead to health problems for people moving forward, he would rather spend the upfront cost of moving it rather than paying for the health issues it would cause. When asked about federal debt and paying it down, Vigue stated, “First of all, where there are departments that are bloated and over staffed that we can do without, I am for getting rid of them.” Vigue said that he and his staff would go over the entire federal government to find places where budget cuts could be made, and he also thinks the government should do something to ensure that millionaires and billionaires cannot game the system. He also supports eliminating tax loopholes that allow the wealthy and corporations to avoid paying their fair share and preventing them from moving their money offshore to foreign tax havens. He also opposed allowing corporations to move factories and jobs overseas. Vigue said that as a member of Congress, he supports developing a robust rural infrastructure so that kids who don’t go to college can get blue-collar jobs that pay well and have benefits. Vigue said that we need to do more to help students pay for trade and technical schools and believes that the U.S. is not helping people get back on their feet. “We are putting people in an impossible situation where if they get a minimum wage job, they lose their health insurance and all of their government benefits.” Vigue said that even though he is just 26, he brings “new energy and new ideas” to Congress. “I grew up in the Second District. I went to school in the Second District. I work in the Second District. I live in the Second District,” Vigue said. “In a few days, that appears to be changing” with the maps prepared by the Special Master for the Court. Vigue began his campaign expecting to be running against incumbent Congressman Barry Moore (R-ALO2). Moore, who lives in Enterprise, was also drawn out of the second district and now finds himself in Jerry Carl’s First Congressional District. Moore has stated that he will wait to see what he does next. Vigue is still running for Congress in the Second District, but at this moment, he is the only declared candidate in the Second District in what likely will be an open seat. The Constitution of the United States does not require someone to live
Raccoon in Clay County tests positive for rabies
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) reports that a raccoon in the city of Ashland, Alabama, in Clay County, has tested positive for rabies. A fox was found in the same area earlier this month. Authorities say that the two cases are probably related. ADPH said in a statement that both animals have posed a significant risk to pets. Samples have been taken from both animals, and additional testing is underway. The ADPH is working with the Clay County rabies officer to develop a vaccination strategy for the animals in the area. The plan will be announced soon. There are two major strains of rabies: a raccoon strain and a bat strain. Both are found in Alabama. Wildlife, especially raccoons, pose a risk of rabies to other animals and humans. The best protection is to keep your animal current on rabies vaccines. ADPH is reminding pet owners to keep their animals up to date on rabies vaccines. State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Dee Jones said, “Vaccinating your animals against rabies is the best way to keep your pets protected from the deadly virus. Animal vaccinations also help protect people. People are often exposed when the animal first becomes sick and before rabies can be confirmed.” Fifteen people in Russell and Lee County, as well as pets, were recently exposed to rabies by a rabid cat this summer. A fox in Houston County tested positive for rabies in April. A raccoon in Houston County tested positive for rabies in February. Alabama law requires that all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated at three months of age and annually unless they receive a three-year rabies vaccine. The first rabies vaccination is only good for one year, regardless of which vaccine a pet gets. The best way to combat rabies is prevention: · Taking precautions with wildlife. · Make sure their pets are current on rabies vaccinations. · Always report any animal bite or other exposures to their medical provider and the ADPH. · Do not let pets run loose. Keep them in the house or in a pen or enclosure. · Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence. · Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets. · Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner. · Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior. Rabies is fatal for humans and pets alike. There is no treatment. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republicans kick off President Joe Biden’s impeachment inquiry
By Casey Harper | The Center Square U.S. House Republicans launched the first impeachment inquiry Thursday into President Joe Biden, who faces an array of allegations around bribery and financial impropriety related to personal business dealings spearheaded by his son, Hunter Biden. Republicans say they have significant evidence to back allegations that Hunter Biden received more than $20 million from several overseas entities in China, Ukraine, Russia, and more. Hunter also faces gun and tax-related legal difficulties. The impeachment inquiry, though, forces Republicans to focus on how much President Biden, in particular, was involved and benefited from these alleged dealings as Democrats argue the evidence is lacking. “Evidence reveals that then-Vice President Joe Biden spoke, dined, and developed relationships with his family’s foreign business targets,” House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said in his opening statement, referring in part to testimony from IRS whistleblowers and long-time business associate of Hunter Biden, Devon Archer. “These business targets include foreign oligarchs who sent millions of dollars to his family,” Comer added. “It also includes a Chinese national who wired a quarter of a million dollars to his son.” The wire in question from a Chinese national broke headlines this week and added further weight to the allegations against the president. Comer said this week that multiple wire transfers from Chinese nationals listed the president’s home address in Wilmington, Delaware, as the beneficiary address. “This happened when Joe Biden was running for President of the United States. And Joe Biden’s home is listed as the beneficiary address,” Comer said. “To date, the House Oversight Committee has uncovered how the Bidens and their associates created over 20 shell companies – most of which were created when Joe Biden was Vice President – and raked in over $24 million between 2014 to 2019. “We’ve also identified nine members of the Biden family who have participated in or benefited from these business schemes,” Comer added. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who launched the impeachment inquiry earlier this month, referenced those wire transfers when speaking with reporters ahead of the hearing. “While Joe Biden was running for president and told, and his attorney told too, that they received no money from China, we now know that yes, it came from Beijing,” McCarthy said. “It came from Jonathan Li, and the address on the wire is Joe Biden’s address. And then you find out, how did he meet this Jonathan Li? Well, he took Hunter Biden on Air Force Two when he went to China, and then Hunter had him meet the vice president then. “The vice president … he wrote letters of recommendation for his children too,” McCarthy added. The House Ways and Means Committee also released documents and communications earlier this week, including one with Hunter Biden “bragging in a 2017 email to a Chinese business executive that he negotiated a contract for $10 million per year for ‘introductions alone.’” Democrats remained steadfast during the hearing, arguing that there is no evidence against President Biden, specifically. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the ranking member on the committee, called it “preposterous,” and a “fairy tale.” “They’ve got nothing on Joe Biden,” Raskin said, arguing that former President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani sparked this “conspiracy theory.” They also pointed to the indictments facing former President Donald Trump, who faces 91 charges across several states and from the federal government for his handling of classified documents, alleged ‘hush money’ payments to an adult film star, and his role in allegedly working to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. “It’s scandalous to use impeachment to establish a counterfeit moral equivalence between President Biden, an honorable public servant who has never been indicted or convicted of anything in his career of more than 50 years in public life,” Raskin said. “…and Donald Trump, a twice impeached president who’s recently been found in court to have sexually abused and defamed a woman and fraudulently inflated the value of his real estate properties…” Democrats also blasted Republicans for focusing on impeachment when the federal government is just days away from shutting down if Congress does not pass a new spending measure. “They are wasting time and taxpayer dollars in an illegitimate impeachment inquiry when we’re about 48 away or so from an extreme MAGA Republican government shutdown, and this is what they’re focused on?” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Road and bridge projects fueled by $2.3M locally, $2.25M from state
By Steve Wilson | The Center Square Cities and counties throughout Alabama have contributed $2.3 million for various road and bridge projects to match gifts totaling $2.25 million from the state. Projects are within the Rebuild Alabama program, a 2019 legislative initiative. According to state law, projects must be started within a year of receiving funds. The Rebuild Alabama Act included a 10-cent per gallon gasoline tax increase. “I am proud to announce today’s latest installment of road and bridge projects, a testament to our enduring dedication to improving our state’s infrastructure in all 67 counties,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a release. “For several years now, Rebuild Alabama has been the bedrock of progress, and our state continues to see its transformative impact. We are taking tangible steps toward safer, more efficient travel, and there is more to come.” The projects include: • Sumter County will receive $250,000 to widen and resurface County Route 30 from the Mississippi state line to State Route 17. The county will match the state grant with $1,075,590. • Sardis City in Etowah County will receive $250,000 for a bridge replacement on Whitesboro Road over Short Creek. The city will contribute $600,000 to the project. • The resurfacing of 17 streets in Weaver in Calhoun County, with the city providing $169,250 in local funding and the state providing $250,000. • Highway in Opp in Covington County. The state will provide $250,000, while the city will kick in an additional $150,000. • Resurfacing Maloy St. from State Route 52 to the Opp-Elba Highway. • A $250,000 resurfacing of Railroad Street, Plank Road, Kelly Drive, First Street, Robinson Street, and McElwain Street in Clio in Barbour County. The city also provided $92,000 in matching funds. • The city of Opelika in Lee County will receive $250,000 for a new traffic signal at the intersection of State Route 51 and Gateway Drive. • Madison County will receive $250,000 for new guardrails on Zierdt Road at Barren Fork Creek between Beadle Lane and Nature Valley Drive. The county will provide $39,096. • Alexander City in Tallapoosa County will receive $250,000 and contribute $149,535 to recoat the bridge on the Coven Abbet Highway that spans Lake Martin/Elkahatchee Creek. • West State Street in Citronelle in Mobile County will be resurfaced with a $250,000 state grant. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
In $11.3M federal fund maneuver, Planned Parenthood services expand
Tennessee and Oklahoma will receive a combined $11.3 million in federal Title X money in a workaround after the states were denied that money earlier this year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that $3.9 million each in federal funds will go to both the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood and Converge Inc. in Mississippi to expand services into Tennessee. Meanwhile, the Missouri Family Health Council will receive $3.3 million to expand service into Oklahoma. HHS withheld $4.5 million in federal Title X funds from Oklahoma earlier this year and more than $7 million from Tennessee. Title X, according to the federal website, “is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services.” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said the maneuver was “wrong on many levels” and HHS should correct its actions. “The federal government withheld critical funding from TN families, so they could funnel taxpayer dollars to a radical political organization,” Lee said on social media. “Some things should simply rise above politics – especially resources that TN mothers, children & families have counted on for decades.” Earlier this year, HHS provided Tennessee with notice because it was not complying with federal regulations. It was recommended to not receive Title X funding. “Title X recipients must follow all federal regulatory requirements regarding nondirective options counseling and referrals, including providing referrals for abortion upon client request,” the letter from HHS’ Office of Population Affairs said. The Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition objected to the move to shift federal funding to Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi through a workaround that its CEO acknowledged in a statement to the media, saying the group partnered with the Virginia office to receive the funding. “It is also egregious to note that the Biden Administration ignores and enables the evil history and practices of Planned Parenthood by giving them more taxpayer dollars, as their founder Margaret Sanger demonstrated in her writings and speeches, as evidenced in their targeting of minority communities, and their sick practices involving the tissue of dead children,” the Faith and Freedom Coalition said in a statement. “Furthermore, it is ridiculous to give that organization taxpayer money, irregardless of one’s position on abortion. “Roe v. Wade is dead, and the world is better for it. Women deserve better than abortion.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
