The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Severe weather last weekend hindered travel across the state, which limited the number of Alabama Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) members who were able to meet at Troy University for the second CAB meeting of the year. Being one member short of a quorum to conduct any official business, the CAB members were apprised of what had occurred affecting the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) since the March meeting. Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship updated...
Seasonal employment: 7 tips for small businesses hiring for the summer For many small business owners, the busy summer season brings both increased profits and staffing headaches. Instead of hiring permanent employees, seasonal employment can be a flexible solution to keep your operations running smoothly during your busiest months. However, hiring seasonal employees can be tricky. To help, NEXT researched the pros and cons of seasonal employment, tips for hiring and retaining summer workers,...
7 health insurance options to consider before leaving a job and coverage expires Employment-based health insurance is the most common type of coverage in the U.S., so quitting a job is likely to affect your insurance status. It’s a good idea to explore your insurance options before you quit your job and your coverage expires. If you don’t plan properly, you could have a gap in coverage. You could also face high out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits, prescriptions, and emergency care—or delay...
May 19, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) is urging Congress to end all of the bickering and pass Trump's budget which will keep the government funded until the end of September. Sen. Tuberville joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the urgent need for Congress to finally pass President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." The budget proposal cleared the House Budget Committee last night. An earlier version of the bill failed when a handful of Republican b...
On May 17, 1987, a tragic event unfolded in the Persian Gulf. An Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 fighter jet launched two Exocet missiles at the U.S. Navy warship USS Stark. This unexpected attack resulted in the loss of 37 sailors and injuries to 21 more. Background During the late 1980s, the Persian Gulf was a region of intense conflict, primarily due to the Iran-Iraq War. Both nations targeted oil tankers and military vessels to disrupt each other's economic and military capabilities. The U.S....
May 16, 2025 – the 2025 Alabama regular legislative session is over and pundits and citizens alike are left to contemplate what just changed here in the state of Alabama. Some pundits have recently said that the legislators did not accomplish much of anything this session. That take could not be more wrong, as this session yielded several pieces of legislation that will be felt if you are a parent, student, or operate a business in this state. Whether you agree with everything the Legislature d...
May 15, 2025 - HUNTSVILLE, AL – The Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM) on Thursday elected Sherry Sullivan, mayor of Fairhope, as its new president and Rusty Jessup, mayor of Riverside, as its new vice president during the business session of the League's 90th convention at the Von Braun Center. Over 800 municipal officials from around the state attended this three-day convention to discuss legislative issues, hear from state leaders, share resources and conduct official business. "We are e...
On May 25, 1977. the first Star Wars film was released. The movie starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guiness, and Harrison Ford was a commercial success and spawned what became a cultural movement. Prior to the release of Star Wars, which has since been retitled 'Star Wars : Episode IV: A New Hope' science fiction was a niche market for Hollywood. There were more crime movies and westerns than sci-fi movies. That all changed with the box office of Star Wars. The movie is ostensibly about...
Every year on the last Monday of May, Americans across our nation pause to observe Memorial Day—a solemn occasion that transcends barbecues, long weekends, and the unofficial start of summer. While these traditions bring families together, the true heart of Memorial Day beats in remembrance and reverence. It is a day carved out to honor the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Memorial Day is about loss as well as l...
May 23, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) denounced growing antisemitism around the world after two Israeli embassy employees were gunned down in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Tuberville released a statement the morning after the senseless attack on the young couple. “I want to begin today by extending my condolences to the families of the two Israeli embassy staffers who were tragically murdered by a terrorist in our nation’s capital just last night,...
May 19, 2015 – MONTGOMERY, AL – All manner of hemp derived psychoactive cannabinoids are currently being marketed across the country. Starting on July 1 that is going to change for people in the state of Alabama after the Legislature passed and the Governor signed landmark legislation that will fundamentally alter where psychoactive hemp products are sold in the state of Alabama, how they are regulated, and even bans many of these products (legal in most states) from being sold in Alabama at...
There is only one place on the continental United States where enemy action killed American citizens. 80 years ago in Bly, Oregon, 5 people died when a Japanese bomb exploded. The bomb had been sent over by a balloon to cause indiscriminate damage and loss of life. America's mainland has generally been spared the destruction of war that has ravaged so many countries in the last century. Until September 11, offensive attacks on the United States mainland were limited to sabotage efforts executed...
May 23, 2025 - HUNTSVILLE, AL. – On April 21, at 4:15 A.M. EDT, samples from the UAH Biology Sysoeva Lab were launched into orbit as part of NASA's SpaceX CRS-32 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission will carry out the Genetic Exchange in Microgravity for Biofilm Bioremediation, or GEM-B2 experiment. A collaborative project between The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Texas State University and Bioserve at t...
May 23, 2025 - MONTGOMERY. AL – Attorney General Steve Marshall sent a multi-state letter urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act and create a framework for lawful concealed carry across state lines. In a letter sent to House leadership about H.R. 38, Attorney General Marshall and 23 other state attorneys general emphasized that broad rights for concealed carry among law-abiding citizens promote public safety and respect gun owners' f...
President Donald Trump's new executive order on regulating elections is striking for the way it asserts broad powers for the executive branch that go far beyond what's prescribed in the Constitution or sanctioned by courts. Experts expect the order to face legal challenges for that reason. But what's also striking about the order is how it seeks to dictate some arcane details of the way voting systems work in some of America: Specifically, it bans the machine-readable barcodes or QR codes that...
May 20, 2025 - Hoover, AL - Bluff Park Elementary students and staff celebrated a familiar face earlier today during a special assembly honoring first-grade teacher Katie Collins, who was recently named Alabama's 2025-26 Teacher of the Year. Thunderous roars of applause and chants of "Mrs. Coll-ins!" echoed through the gymnasium as Alfa Insurance and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell presented Collins with keys to a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse during the program, which she will use...
Former Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) recently spoke on the Brandon and Christopher Show Podcast about President Donald J. Trump's (R) second term as President of the United States. Brooks said that he found similarities between President Trump's second term as President and Richard M. Nixon's second term including both Presidents' decline in polling numbers. "The Trump administration is already panicked," said Brooks. "They are all over the map and they are doing that in large part...
May 21, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - As mosquito season ramps up, the Alabama Department of Public Health urges all residents to take preventive measures to protect themselves and their communities from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and La Crosse virus (La Crosse). Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance; they can carry viruses that cause serious illness in humans. Fortunately, there are simple steps...
May 22, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Dr. Nicole Wadsworth officially launched her campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama this morning at a packed event at her campaign headquarters in Montgomery. Supporters, community leaders, and members of the press gathered to hear Dr. Wadsworth share her bold, Alabama-first vision rooted in economic growth, workforce development, safer communities, rural healthcare access, and conservative values. "Every Alabamian deserves the opportunity to have a good job...
May 24, 2025 - FLORIDA - At its May meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order to close recreational harvest of snowy grouper in state waters of the Atlantic Ocean, including all state waters off Monroe County. The 2025 recreational season will close at 12:01 a.m. on June 9, 2025, consistent with the closure in adjacent federal waters. Consistent state and federal recreational seasons for Atlantic snowy grouper will help prevent quota overages...
Retirement savings can serve as a key indicator of financial stability, reflecting not only a household's ability to set aside money but also shaping retirement timelines and broader workforce and economic dynamics. Across the United States, the average retirement savings per household is estimated to be $114,435—but this figure varies significantly by state, ranging from less than half to double that amount. These disparities can significantly impact when and how comfortably Americans retire. E...
May 22, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald J. Trump's (R) "Big Beautiful Bill" to keep the federal government funded and provide tax relief to 80 percent of Americans, while adopting many of the President's budget priorities. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) voted in favor of the bill. Aderholt said that the landmark legislation delivers critical wins for American families, strengthens national security, and ensures responsible government...
While inflation metrics may show broad trends across the U.S., costs of individual necessities like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and medical expenses may see wider price volatility from city to city. Many dynamics may help influence price differentials across the country, such as geographical location—which may impact the availability and import cost of raw materials—and demographics, which often influences demand for goods and services as well as the supply of labor. Reg...
May 22, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) in introducing the No Loan Forgiveness for Terrorists Act. This bill prohibits students from receiving credit for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) while working at organizations that engage in illegal activities. The legislation works to codify an Executive Order from President Trump that would end taxpayer-funded student loan forgiveness for students that participate in illegal, a...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) recently spoke before a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee during the markup of President Donald J. Trump's (R) proposed federal budget. Sewell complained that the legislation provides more than $4 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade while slashing $715 billion from Medicaid and $290 billion from SNAP benefits. "We are here because-according to President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in Congress-the wealthiest...
