The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate (R) recently joined the Brandon and Christopher Show Podcast about his role as Agriculture Commissioner. The Alabama Gazette's Brandon Moseley and the Alabama Political Contributor's Christopher Peeks host the weekly news/information podcast. Pate said that the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries is actually in charge of one of the largest state agencies. "We're a relatively big state agency," Commissioner Pate said of the...
April 10, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama Senate passed legislation to change how the state distributes funding to K-12 schools. In the current model, the state funds schools by taking a count of all the students and dividing the money between public schools based on the number of pupils in each system with the same per pupil amount per student, without regard as to whether a student is special needs, an English learner, or in poverty. The bill that passed in the Senate moves the state to a...
A Journey Through the Most Important Week in Christianity Holy Week is the most important week in Christianity. This week of great reverence and reflection spans the final eight days of Jesus' life-from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to His Last Supper with His Apostles, to His execution as an enemy of the state, to His rising from the dead on the third day as He foretold to his disciples. It is astounding how much wisdom, insight, and inspiration are available to us during this one week...
April 12, 2025 – VESTAVIA HILLS – State Representatives Jim Carns (R-Vestavia), Susan DuBose (R-Greystone), and Mike Shaw (R-Hoover) delivered their reports to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club (MARC) on the status of the ongoing 2025 Alabama regular legislative session. Rep. Carns said that the Legislature has passed pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform in hopes of "Saving the independent pharmacists." "We lost 50 of them in the last year," said Carns. "It was extremely heavy lifting for the...
Key Event in the American Civil War On April 13, 1861, a significant event in American history unfolded as Fort Sumter, a federal fort located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, surrendered to Confederate forces. This event marked one of the first major conflicts of the American Civil War, which would last until 1865 and profoundly shape the nation's future. Background Fort Sumter was strategically important due to its location at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. The fort was controlled by...
Thursday, April 3, 2025 - MOBILE, AL – Today, U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello announced criminal charges against seven defendants related to a multi-million dollar fraud scheme at the Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Prichard ("Prichard Water Board"). A federal grand jury in Mobile has returned a thirty-two count indictment against five individuals, while two people have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing. According to the indictment unsealed today, Nia Bradley, 50, of M...
April 8, 2025 -MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) spoke to the Montgomery Kiwanis Club during National Crime Victims Week. Marshall also emphasized the work that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's (ALEA) Crime Suppression Unit is doing in association with the Montgomery Sheriff's Department. Marshall was introduced by former Montgomery Mayr Todd Strange. "I thought I would make you aware of a couple of issues," said Marshall. "This is National Crime Victims week." Nat...
Secretary of State Wes Allen announced today that Ohio is the latest in a long list of states to join Alabama's voter integrity database to cross-check the states' voter files and discover individuals registered to vote in both states. Alabama has previously entered into similar MOUs with all four border states, as well as, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Texas. Ohio is the ninth state to partner with Alabama as part of the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID) voter file maintenance system...
In the past, finding a private sports coach often meant word-of-mouth referrals, expensive training facilities, and time-consuming scheduling. But as technology continues to reshape the way we work, learn, and connect, the world of youth sports training is getting its own upgrade. Just as Airbnb revolutionized travel and Uber reimagined transportation, new digital platforms are now decentralizing the $20 billion youth sports industry, giving families more direct access to qualified...
For affluent individuals, building and preserving wealth involves more than picking the right stocks or stashing cash in savings accounts. It requires intentional, strategic investing that accounts for the unique opportunities and challenges of high-income earners. With elevated income levels come tax implications, portfolio considerations, and the need for sophisticated wealth management strategies. This is where advanced investment approaches like Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and tax-loss...
In the modern job market, salary has long stood as the holy grail of employment decisions. Yet, in an age where medical bills can spiral into bankruptcy and health crises strike unexpectedly, a different factor has emerged as a silent but potent influence: healthcare benefits. Whether it's a routine doctor visit or catastrophic medical care, the cost-sharing structures employers offer can deeply affect employees' lives—and influence whether they accept, stay in, or leave a job, explains S...
Mother's Day is an opportunity to recognize the presence, love, and influence of mother figures in all their forms—from biological mothers and grandmothers to stepmothers, chosen family, and mentors. And while no single gift can ever capture all they do, jewelry offers a timeless way to honor their impact and celebrate their style. This year, instead of one-size-fits-all suggestions, VRAI, a fine jewelry brand specializing in lab-grown diamonds, suggests considering jewelry that feels as intenti...
April 14, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Attorney General Steve Marshall joined a coalition of 27 states in asking the Trump Administration to continue combatting the flood of illegal Chinese e-cigarettes into the U.S. that target kids. Last year, illegal Chinese e-cigarettes valued at billions of dollars were sold in the United States. The products often use colorful packaging, sweet flavors, and video game themes to appeal to teenagers and kids. Despite youth tobacco use being at a record low, m...
April 12, 2025 – VESTAVIA HILLS – Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate spoke to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club about his new 'Thank a Farmer' initiative. "We have the most abundant affordable and readily available food supply in the history of human civilization," said Commissioner Pate. "If you wake up and you have plenty of food you have a lot of problems to deal with work and kids. If you wake up and you don't have enough to eat you have one problem: what am I going to...
April 14, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) has released a statement in response to the Department of Defense Inspector General's report on the Biden Administration's decision to locate United States Space Command (SPACECOM) headquarters in Colorado even instead of Huntsville, Alabama. "The Inspector General's report confirms that the Trump Administration was correct in selecting Huntsville, AL, as the site for SPACECOM Headquarters, and r...
The 2025 tax season is in full swing, and IRS data is beginning to paint a clearer picture of how business owners are faring. 95% of U.S. business owners pay their business taxes through personal tax returns, known as "pass-through entities," and only 5% pay their taxes at the "business level." Refunds are down compared to 2024. Filing is slower, and many business owners are taking a wait-and-see approach. These numbers also provide an opportunity to plan smarter and avoid costly mistakes. Every...
Leveraging its in-house global trade and compliance expertise, Passport breaks down how the April 2 and subsequent tariff announcements are creating new challenges for international e-commerce—and what brands can do to adjust their strategies. The Trump administration has announced major changes to U.S. tariff policy throughout April 2025—making waves across global e-commerce. A 10% blanket tariff on all imports, the end of de minimis for China and Hong Kong, and escalating reciprocal tar...
April 25, 2025 - MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday shared the sad news that Alabama's First Dog, her beloved Missy Ivey, has passed away. Missy is around 10 years old. In January 2019, the governor adopted Missy, a blended collie mix, from the Montgomery Humane Shelter. Governor Ivey and Missy were inseparable, and Missy adored the governor from the start. Whether the governor was working in her office at the Governor's Mansion, hosting gatherings in the back courtyard, enjoying a m...
On April 14, 70 A.D.: the future Roman Emperor Titus leading four Roman legions surrounded the city of Jerusalem to begin the siege of Jerusalem Titus and the Roman Legions Encircle the Jewish Capital In the annals of history, few events have been as transformative and harrowing as the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This pivotal moment marked the culmination of the First Jewish-Roman War, an epoch characterized by intense conflict and profound upheaval. Led by Titus, the son of Emperor Vespasian,...
April 15, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) in sending a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the Biden administration's AI Diffusion Rule (AIDR). In the letter the Senators called on President Trump's administration to withdraw Biden's overly restrictive rule and propose an alternative that is effective in preventing Communist China from capturing the world market in leading technology. "We app...
A $100,000 salary may sound like a comfortable income but how far it goes varies largely depending on where you live. Earning $100,000 places an individual tax filer at the upper limit of the 22% federal tax bracket. On top of that, FICA taxes for Social Security and Medicare apply, and depending on where you live, state and local income taxes could take another bite. But taxes aren't the only factor. The cost of living varies widely across the country, affecting how much purchasing power...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming workplaces, boosting efficiency, and reshaping job roles. According to a 2024 Gartner poll, 59% of CEOs believe AI will have the biggest impact on their business in the next three years. However, about a third expect it to deliver a more than 15% boost in worker productivity within the next two years. But this optimism may be misplaced if organizations don't focus on investing in the right processes and support to bring their employees along f...
Every April, Second Chance Month challenges us to rethink how we treat those who’ve paid their debt to society. It’s not just about compassion—it’s about common sense. With nearly one in three formerly incarcerated individuals returning to prison in Alabama, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections' most recent recidivism data, it’s clear we need a better approach. That better way is taking root under the leadership of Director Cam Ward and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles,...
April 10, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama Senate passed the largest education trust fund (ETF) budget in the history of the state of Alabama on Thursday. Senate Bill 112 (SB 112) is sponsored by state Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). SB112 would set a new record for the state ETF at $9.89 billion for the fiscal year 2026 budget year which starts on October 1. That is an increase of $543.3 million over the FY2025 budget – the current record all time high education budget - a 5.81% inc...
April 15, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) on Tuesday signed Senate Joint Resolution 63 to continue encouraging the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense and the United States Secretary of the Air Force to immediately proceed in establishing a permanent headquarters for United States Space Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. "Alabama Republicans and Democrats – along with the facts – agree the U.S. Space Command Hea...
