The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Tomatoes aren't just another backyard crop in Alabama-they're a warm‑weather ritual, a marker of the seasons, and the pride of countless gardeners from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast. Whether you're slicing a Cherokee Purple for a July supper or canning Romas for winter, Alabama's long growing season gives gardeners a real advantage. But the state's heat, humidity, and unpredictable spring weather also demand a smart, region‑aware approach. Growing great tomatoes here isn't dif...
Overview: Cooking Southern fried chicken outdoors with a propane turkey cooker brings together the best of backyard tradition and crispy comfort food. The high heat and steady temperature of the propane setup allow for perfectly golden chicken with a juicy interior, while keeping the mess and heat outside. Equipment and Setup Propane turkey cooker - sturdy base, burner, and large pot with frying basket (usually 30-quart aluminum or stainless steel) Thermometer - for monitoring oil temperature...
Alabama’s workforce participation challenge stems primarily from a disconnect between individuals and available employment opportunities. Too many able-bodied, working-age adults remain outside the labor force. We need to examine the structural barriers, misaligned incentives, and limited access points that keep them on the sidelines. If our state is serious about long-term economic growth, collectively we must focus less on job creation alone and more on bringing able-bodied people back into t...
April 16, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday signed House Bill 527 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. James Lomax and Sen. Arthur Orr, provides an income tax deduction for qualified overtime compensation, up to $1,000. HB527 also suspends the state's portion of the grocery tax for two months beginning in May. "Alabamians are the best workers out there. I applaud Rep. James Lomax and Sen. Arthur Orr for working with us to provide tax relief to those employees p...
April 16, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 342, the Let the Kids Play! Act, into law, legislation designed to reinforce existing state law and prevent discrimination against students participating in athletics while benefiting from the CHOOSE Act. "The Let the Kids Play Act stands up for students and families who followed the law and played by the rules," said Governor Ivey. "The CHOOSE Act was designed to expand educational opportunities for all A...
After three weeks of near perfect weather conditions, Alabama hunters have had significant success in the turkey woods this season with the usual stories of the birds that flew off the roost and came straight to the calling and those wary birds who got the best of the most seasoned hunters. With the season nearing the midpoint, hunting tactics are about to need adjustment. The foliage in the trees is almost full, which means it's going to be much harder to hear and pinpoint the gobbling. Plus,...
Dr. Matthew J. Memoli, an infectious disease physician‑scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), emerged as one of the most prominent internal critics of COVID‑19 vaccine mandates during the pandemic. His position-rare inside a federal research agency that strongly supported mass vaccination-placed him in a politically and professionally precarious position. According to publicly available reporting and documentation, Memoli feared that his dissent could cost him his job, damage his...
April 16, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey has signed several bills into law this session to improve the availability and delivery of healthcare services for all Alabamians. She also signed a bill to encourage people using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to make healthier choices in their food purchases. "In December, I announced Alabama's participation in a new Trump Administration program funded by the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' passed by Congress to expand r...
April 10, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Governor Kay Ivey on Friday marked nine years since being sworn in as the 54th Governor of the State of Alabama, a milestone that cements her as the longest consecutively serving governor in state history. Her tenure, which began on April 10, 2017, has been defined by major policy initiatives, economic expansion, and a series of reforms that have reshaped multiple sectors of state government. Over the past nine years, Alabama has experienced record‑setting e...
Why direct mail is making a comeback: Small businesses turn to mailboxes to beat digital fatigue The economics of digital attention are reaching a breaking point for small business owners. According to the WordStream 2025 Google Ads Benchmarks, cost-per-click (CPC) increased for 87% of industries last year. For a lean enterprise, this inflation represents a significant drain on working capital. While the digital-first giants are chasing clicks, the mailbox is quietly becoming the most reliable...
No test can confirm perimenopause. Doctors say you should get one anyway If you’re in your mid-40s or older and having symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, weight gain, sleep issues, and more, you might be wondering if a blood test can tell you whether you’re in perimenopause. It can’t. Hormone levels fluctuate too widely during this transition for any single test to tell you where you are on your menopause journey. But doctors strongly encourage getting a blood test during perimenopause to ru...
How to save money on any budget When you’re already living paycheck to paycheck, learning how to budget to save money can feel out of reach. Rent, groceries, gas—it all adds up quickly. In fact, about one-third of U.S. adults say they’re living paycheck to paycheck, and more than 40% spend their paycheck within the first three days of receiving it. But don’t despair. Even if your budget is stretched thin, you can still start saving. "The most common thing I hear from people I work with is, ‘I...
The mental health stigma is changing: What America’s increasing therapy rates reveal As more Americans seek therapy than ever before, shifting attitudes toward mental health are revealing a broader cultural change in how people approach emotional well-being. Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults now say that having a mental health condition is nothing to be ashamed of, and 83% report feeling comfortable talking about their mental health openly. That level of acceptance reflects a meaningful shift in how Am...
April 17, 2026 – WASHINGTON, D.C. - Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons will be leaving the Department of Homeland Security at the end of May. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the move on Thursday, praising Lyons' service and confirming that he will transition to the private sector. Lyons sent an emailed statement to ICE employees. ".Transition and Gratitude as the Mission Continues," Lyons began. "I want to share with you directly t...
April 15, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the availability of $16 million in new grants to support national, regional, and community-based organizations that provide adaptive sports programs for Veterans and service members with disabilities. The Adaptive Sports Grant Program funds organizations that help Veterans build independence, improve well-being, and enhance quality of life through recreational and competitive activities. These programs include...
April 18, 2026 - HUEYTOWN, Ala. - Congressional candidate Case Dixon sharply criticized Rep. Gary Palmer after Palmer voted Thursday night in favor of H. Res. 1175, the procedural rule governing debate on H.R. 8035, legislation to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Dixon argued that the vote signaled support for extending what he described as unconstitutional surveillance powers. "Last night, my opponent voted for H. Res. 1175-the rule for considering...
April 12, 2026 – OPELIKA, Ala. – Controversial pastor and schoolmaster Dean Odle has endorsed Terri LaPoint in the Republican primary in Alabama Congressional District 3. "I give my wholehearted endorsement to Terri LaPoint for U.S. Congress District 3 in the Republican Primary on May 19, 2026," LaPoint said in a statement. "I have been able to get to know Terri since 2020 and her heart to bless and protect the children and families of Alabama is unmatched. She has been in the fight against cor...
April 17, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey has signed into law legislation passed this session to expand benefits for Alabama Guard personnel, veterans and their families. These new laws will improve education and workforce training assistance for Guardsmen, offer temporary teaching certification for veterans and expand employment opportunities for military and veteran spouses. "Alabamians are among the most patriotic Americans and their dedication to protect our country and s...
The campus of Judson College, an historic private Christian college for women in Marion, Alabama that closed its doors to instruction and students in 2021, has officially been sold to Monarch Property Management, LLC. The announcement was made in an e-mail that was sent to all of the alumnae of Judson College by Daphne R. Robinson on behalf of The Judson College Foundation Board on Thursday evening. The e-mail stated that the property consisting of 150 to 151 acres located at 302 Bibb Street,...
April 18, 2026 - HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - A 19‑year‑old Alabama A&M University student was shot and killed inside a Huntsville apartment earlier this month, prompting an hours‑long manhunt that ended with the arrest of the suspected gunman. Police have identified the victim as Nadiya Dayana Elise Perkins, a freshman criminal justice major from Montgomery. The Shooting Huntsville Police responded to Candlewood Apartments off Julia Street around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, after receiving repor...
Retirement savings by state Tax-advantaged retirement accounts can give savers a leg up in building their nest egg. While many American workers qualify for Social Security benefits in retirement, these benefits are rarely enough to cover expenses — especially since retirement often brings added costs for health care and aging. On average, Americans have roughly one year’s worth of their current annual income saved in tax-advantaged accounts. For most households, that figure hovers around $80...
Currency and commodity hedging for middle markets More than five years of cross‑current volatility in currencies, commodities and interest rates has middle market companies thinking longer and acting faster about hedging risk. Markets moved hard in 2025: The dollar sold off roughly 10% in the first half, then settled into a tighter range, reminding treasurers that timing and tenor matter. "We’ve seen all kinds of things happen. What we’ve mainly seen is a real push to look at longe...
Districts nationwide continue to face school bus driver shortages Compared to 2019, there are now 21,000 fewer school bus drivers in America. Here’s how that affects your family. Maybe the bus didn’t come this morning. You got a last-minute text, scrambled to find another way to get your child to school, and they arrived 10 minutes late. If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. The shortage of school bus drivers in America has been getting worse for years, and it’s still not fix...
Wedding travel trends and honeymoon ideas 2026 Weddings used to be all about The Big Day. But a major shift is underway. Instead of focusing on a single event and all its accompanying details, weddings have become a full-blown era that includes destination proposals, multi-day nuptials, and honeymoons that span multiple stops. Travel is increasingly central to how couples plan and experience this chapter of their lives. Rather than sticking to traditional rules and formats, they’re crafting i...
Barbecue pork chops are one of those backyard classics that look simple but reward you for doing things the right way. When they're handled properly, you get a chop that's smoky, juicy, lightly charred on the outside, and brushed with a glaze that caramelizes just enough to stick to your fingers. Whether you're cooking for a weeknight dinner or a Saturday cookout, grilled pork chops deliver big flavor with minimal fuss. Choosing the Right Pork Chops The cut you choose determines how forgiving...
