The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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On January 15, 1865, as the American Civil War entered its final, grinding months, Union forces achieved one of the most strategically decisive victories of the entire conflict. Fort Fisher-an enormous sand‑and‑earth stronghold guarding the approaches to Wilmington, North Carolina-fell after a massive joint Army‑Navy assault. With its capture, the Union effectively sealed off the last major seaport available to the Confederacy, choking off the final artery through which supplies could reach...
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will return to Alabama's capital city in February as part of a national tour promoting her bestselling memoir 107 Days. Harris is scheduled to appear at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre (MPAC) on February 12, 2026, for a live conversation about her career, her time in the White House, and the political and personal experiences that shaped her book. The event, titled "A Conversation with Kamala Harris," is expected to draw a large audience from...
COLUMBIA - A new video released by Colombian guerrilla commander Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández, better known as "Iván Mordisco," is drawing international attention after he urged Latin American rebel groups to unite against the United States in the wake of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's capture by U.S. forces. The message, first reported by Reuters and carried by multiple outlets including Fox News, marks one of the most aggressive public calls for regional insurgent coo...
A Turning Point in the Opioid Crisis After years of devastating loss, the United States is seeing a dramatic and unexpected decline in overdose deaths. According to CDC data, fatalities dropped by nearly 25% from 2023 to 2024, with some states reporting even steeper declines. For Alabama families, this shift offers a glimmer of hope - but also a reminder that progress remains fragile. What's Driving the Decline? Experts point to a mix of public health interventions, drug market changes, and...
On January 12, 1539, two of Europe's most powerful rulers-King Francis I of France and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V-signed the Treaty of Toledo, a diplomatic accord intended to stabilize a continent exhausted by decades of rivalry, shifting alliances, and intermittent war. Though often overshadowed by the more dramatic battles of the Italian Wars, the treaty marked a pivotal moment in the long struggle between the Valois and Habsburg dynasties for dominance in Western Europe. A Rivalry That...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in two closely watched cases that could reshape the future of women's sports nationwide. The consolidated cases - Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. - will determine whether Idaho and West Virginia may enforce laws restricting participation in female sports to biological females. A ruling is expected by June 2026. At least 27 states have enacted similar laws, meaning the Court's decision could have sweeping...
Montgomery, Ala. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Monday that the state has reached a settlement with Aurora IV and Wellness, a Cullman IV infusion clinic accused of administering unapproved and potentially dangerous weight‑loss drugs to unsuspecting patients. The agreement permanently shuts down the clinic, bars its owners - Amanda and Chris Medders - from working in any healthcare role involving direct patient treatment, and requires more than $24,000 in combined r...
MONTGOMERY - Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will deliver her final State of the State address Tuesday evening, marking the ceremonial start of the 2026 legislative session and offering what is expected to be a forward‑looking reflection on her nine years in office. The speech, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Alabama State Capitol, will highlight stories of service, education, and community resilience - themes Ivey has emphasized throughout her tenure. According to reporting from al.com, ABC 33/40, and Rocket...
January 12,2026 - Montgomery - Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has released new details regarding the discovery of noncitizens who were illegally registered to vote - and in some cases, illegally cast ballots - in Alabama elections. The announcement follows last week's disclosure that 186 noncitizens had been identified on the state's voter rolls, including 25 individuals who had voted in past elections. On Monday, Allen's office published a county‑by‑county breakdown showing where the ill...
January 11, 2026 - GULF SHORES - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearings-three in person and one virtual-to gather public input on Draft Reef Fish Amendment 58A, a proposal that would significantly revise how several shallow‑water grouper species are managed in the Gulf. The hearings will take place January 8–21, 2026, with each session scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to no later than 9:00 p.m. local time. Why Amendment 58A Matters The amendment focuses on...
Mass protests, economic collapse, and rising casualties fuel speculation about whether the Islamic Republic is entering its most vulnerable moment in decades. Iran is facing its most intense wave of nationwide unrest since the 2009 Green Movement, with protests spreading across major cities, dozens killed, and the government imposing sweeping internet blackouts to contain the uprising. What began in late December as demonstrations over soaring prices and a collapsing currency has rapidly...
January 6, 2026 - Auburn, Ala. - In a game filled with momentum swings, controversial calls, and last-second drama, the Auburn Tigers suffered a heartbreaking 90–88 loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday night, Jan. 6. The Tigers led by as many as 16 points in the second half, but a furious Aggie comeback and a waved-off buzzer-beater sealed Auburn's fate in its first SEC home game of the season. Auburn's Hot Start and Second-Half Collapse Auburn (9–6, 0–2 SEC) entered the second half with a 10-point lead...
January may look like the sleepiest month in an Alabama garden, but beneath the surface it's one of the most important times of the year. While summer harvests and fall color feel far away, the work you do now sets the foundation for healthier soil, stronger plants, and a more productive growing season. Alabama's climate - stretching from the colder Tennessee Valley to the mild Gulf Coast - gives gardeners a surprising number of opportunities in mid‑winter. With the right tasks, January b...
What the shift means for American ranchers and Alabama's cattle economy In a historic shift, Brazil has overtaken the United States as the world's largest beef producer, according to market estimates released in early 2026. Fueled by aggressive export growth, rapid productivity gains, and a massive national herd, Brazil's rise marks a turning point in global protein markets - and raises pressing questions for U.S. ranchers, consumers, and policymakers. The Numbers Behind Brazil's Surge Brazil's...
In recent years, a quiet but powerful land rush has swept across America's heartland. Billionaires like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg have amassed vast portfolios of farmland and ranches, transforming the ownership landscape of one of the country's most vital resources: agricultural land. While some see these purchases as strategic investments or philanthropic ventures, others warn of long-term consequences for food sovereignty, rural economies, and local control. Bill Gates:...
On January 9, 1916, one of World War I's most grueling and consequential campaigns came to a close. After nearly eleven months of fighting, the final Allied troops withdrew from the Gallipoli Peninsula, marking a decisive victory for the Ottoman Empire and ending one of the war's most ambitious but ill‑fated operations. A Campaign Born of Strategic Ambition The Gallipoli campaign began in early 1915 as a bold Allied attempt to break the stalemate of the Western Front by opening a new theater o...
January 9, 2026 - MONTGOMERY - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is celebrating a recent U.S. Supreme Court order that vacated a lower-court ruling against religious protections for the Amish community in New York, calling the decision a win for parental rights and religious freedom. The case centered on New York's 2019 repeal of religious exemptions to school vaccine mandates, a move that imposed steep financial penalties on Amish-only private schools that declined to comply. Alabama led...
Alabama walked into Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday night knowing exactly what was at stake: a chance to hand undefeated No. 11 Vanderbilt its first loss and plant an early SEC championship flag. Instead, the Crimson Tide left Nashville with a 96–90 defeat, a game defined by foul trouble, cold second‑half shooting, and a furious late rally that came up just short. 🔥 A Breakout Night for Amari Allen Freshman forward Amari Allen delivered the best performance of his young career, pouring in 25 poi...
January 12, 2026 - MONTGOMERY - The Alabama House Democratic Caucus announced that Rep. Adline Clarke of Mobile (HD‑97) will deliver the caucus' official response to Gov. Kay Ivey's State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Gov. Ivey's address is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Alabama State Capitol. Immediately afterward, Rep. Clarke's remarks will be broadcast on Blueprint Alabama's Facebook page as well as the Alabama House Democratic Caucus Facebook page. Rep. Clarke, a veteran l...
January 13, 2026 - AUBURN - Auburn entered the 2026 transfer portal window facing one of the most dramatic roster resets in program history. Nearly 30 players were expected to depart when the portal opened on January 2, including a wave of former blue‑chip recruits who once formed the backbone of Auburn's talent profile. For new head coach Alex Golesh, the challenge was immediate and unforgiving: rebuild a roster capable of competing in the SEC while stabilizing a program that had endured two c...
President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to meet tomorrow with Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, the recently elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The meeting marks the first formal conversation between the president and the nation's top Catholic leader since Coakley assumed the role in November 2025. The White House has not released a detailed agenda, but senior aides say the discussion is expected to focus on areas where the administration and the bishops share...
On January 14, 1784, in the quiet winter capital of Annapolis, Maryland, the Confederation Congress gathered inside the Senate Chamber of the Maryland State House to take an action that would formally close one of the most consequential chapters in world history. With a unanimous vote, the delegates ratified the Treaty of Paris, the agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War and secured the independence of the United States of America. Though the fighting had ceased more...
On the final night of the year 406, as the Roman world prepared to welcome a new year under the consulship of Arcadius and Probus, one of the most consequential border breaches in European history unfolded. Along the frozen or weakened stretches of the Rhine River - Rome's most secure frontier in the northwest - a coalition of Vandals, Alans, and Suebians crossed into Roman Gaul. Ancient chronicler Prosper of Aquitaine recorded the moment with stark clarity: "Vandals and Alans came into the Gaul...
On December 28, 484, a young nobleman named Alaric II ascended the throne of the Visigoths, inheriting a kingdom that stretched across much of southern Gaul and the Iberian Peninsula. His rise marked a pivotal moment in the post‑Roman West - a world still reeling from the collapse of imperial authority, where new kingdoms were carving identities out of the ruins of empire. A Kingdom in Transition Alaric II succeeded his father, King Euric, one of the most powerful and assertive Visigothic rulers...
The week after Christmas is a quiet but meaningful moment in the Alabama gardening calendar. The rush of the holidays has eased, winter has settled in, and the landscape has that familiar mix of dormant browns, evergreen pockets, and the occasional stubborn bloom that refuses to quit. While it may feel like a sleepy time outdoors, late December is actually one of the most strategic windows of the entire year for gardeners across the state. From soil preparation to pruning, planning, and protecti...
