The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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It has been an entire year since I wrote my last “Bits and Pieces” column. But obviously there is a whole lot going right now. So, let’s get started. 1. Israel and Iran Conflict: Unless you have been sleeping under a bridge, then you certainly know that Israel attacked Iran in the early hours of 13 June. As usual, there are people on both sides of the proverbial fence. True to form, almost all Democratic representatives and senators are opposed while most Republicans are in favor of the attac...
June 9, 2025 - WASHINGTON, AL. – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Marine Corps Seargent Curt Griffith as the June “Veteran of the Month.” Excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and complete remarks can be found here. “Our veterans have a unique way of turning hardship into opportunities. No one displays that better than Sergeant Curt Griffith of Florence, Alabama. Curt experienced tragedy at a young age, losing his dad when he w...
What we have seen on display in California this week is complete anarchy—and a total embarrassment. It’s un-American, unpatriotic, and is rooted in Marxism. But we shouldn’t be surprised. The Democrat party has been taken over by radical leftists who hate this country and want to destroy our way of life. They want to see America fail, and this week’s riots in Los Angeles, along with other blue cities like New York and Chicago, are just the latest example of their plans to destroy this country...
A Closer Look at the Controversy Surrounding Recent Enforcement Actions June 27, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL - Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the recent raids on hemp stores across the state. The enforcement actions have sparked intense debate among business owners, legislators, and the public, raising questions about the interpretation of hemp-related laws and the future of the burgeoning industry. The Attorney General sought to clarify the r...
June 27, 2025 - While open borders and lax border security might facilitate the flow of commerce, they also facilitate another type of trade, that of human trafficking. And the reports are that 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children are missing and unaccounted for under the supposed "supervision" of U.S. immigration authorities. As while in 2008 there were but 8,000 cases of unaccompanied minors crossing the border into the USA, those numbers have since escalated. With 2022 featuring 149,000...
June 15, 2025 – Alabama leaders released statements expressing condolences to the two Minnesota legislators – who along with their spouses – were shot early Saturday morning. They also condemned political violence. Speaker of the Alabama House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said on his X social media account, "Heartbroken to hear that former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were murdered earlier today," said Speaker Ledbetter. "Violence of any kind has no place...
June 20, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Outdoor Alabama Academy is expanding its hunting workshop offerings starting this summer. The popular outdoor recreation how-to workshops will now be available for more activities and in graduated levels. New for 2025 the workshops will be offered in 101, 202, and 303 levels for archery, bowhunting, squirrel hunting, and deer or turkey hunting on public land. The workshops are part of ADCNR's A...
How to be debt-free by retirement Retirement can be a time to pursue hobbies, spend more time with the people you love, and travel whenever the mood strikes. Carrying debt into retirement may not be ideal, especially if it prevents you from doing what you want. You don’t have to be debt-free by the time you retire. But paying off debt before you say goodbye to the job for good could bring you peace of mind and greater financial security. Here, Freedom Debt Relief takes a deep dive into whether y...
June 18, 2025 – Republican State Auditor candidate Dadeville businessman Robert McCollum has been taking fire on and off social media for angry social media posts that he made in which he compared the College Republican Federation of Alabama to the Nazi Party. "The College Republican Federation of Alabama Chair can be compared to Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin," Robert L. McCollum posted on his X social media account. That was followed by, "The College Republican Federation of Alabama can be c...
8 ways to prepare your anxious dog for fireworks Most people love a fireworks display, but many of our furry friends don’t. The loud bangs and crackling sounds can trigger anxiety symptoms in dogs, like pacing, panting, and excessive drooling. It’s hard to watch your pup go through this. Fortunately, you can take steps to calm their anxiety and give them a sense of peace during a noisy night. What can I do ahead of holiday fireworks to help calm my anxious dog? The best way to deal with your dog...
June 24, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced that applications for the third round of Alabama's Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grant program will open on July 1, 2025, with a total of $23.2 million available to support site assessment and development efforts across Alabama. The SEEDS program, administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce in partnership with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), is designed to s...
Anniston, AL – June 27, 2025 - Former Alabama State Senator Marshall Douglas Ghee Sr., a longtime attorney and political figure in Calhoun County, has been indicted on one count of first-degree sexual abuse following allegations involving a female inmate at the Calhoun County Jail. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury on June 25, accuses Ghee of subjecting the woman to sexual contact by forcible compulsion, a violation of Alabama Code § 13A-6-66(a)(1). The charge is classified as a Cl...
The hidden dangers in your home: What the data says about furniture and appliance injuries Home might feel like your safe space, but the numbers tell a different story. In the past five years, tens of thousands of injuries have been linked to everyday items like kitchen appliances and furniture. These aren't always caused by misuse. They often stem from normal use, unexpected failures, or hidden hazards. As homes get smarter, it's easy to overlook the potential risks. But devices like ovens,...
How to write a corporate credit card policy (with template and best practices) As more employees begin using company cards, even minor policy gaps can quickly escalate into larger issues, such as missing receipts or unclear spending guidelines. A corporate credit card policy helps close those gaps by setting clear expectations around how cards are issued, used, and monitored. Whether you're using legacy corporate cards or modern spend management platforms, clear policies ensure everyone understa...
Washington, D.C. – June 26, 2025 - The U.S. Supreme Court issued a sweeping decision that reshapes the balance of judicial power in the United States. The Supreme Court ruled 6 to 3 on Wednesday that federal district judges may not issue nationwide injunctions. Liberal attorney generals and activist groups had been judge shopping for liberal district judges to issue injunctions blocking President Donald J. Trump's policies across the country. The court's ruling ends the judicial usurpation of ex...
These 4 states were caught sharing personal health data with Big Tech State-run health care websites around the country, meant to provide a simple way to shop for insurance, have been quietly sending visitors’ sensitive health information to Google and social media companies, The Markup and CalMatters found. The data, including prescription drug names and dosages, was sent by web trackers on state exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act to help Americans purchase health coverage. The e...
This is how you stop data trackers from sucking up your health data In April, The Markup and CalMatters found that Covered California, the state of California’s healthcare exchange, was sending its users’ personal health information to LinkedIn. The news triggered a class-action lawsuit and questions from federal lawmakers. In June, a Markup investigation further revealed that exchanges maintained by four other states have also leaked visitors’ sensitive health data. Readers have asked: Is th...
A denominational organization just endured a time of testing. Critics said it was “woke” and took money from a liberal icon whose name is anathema to conservatives. An independent researcher found that 98 percent of funding came from the denomination, and the remaining two percent from individuals, not including this icon. The charge couldn’t be proven, yet the charge was oft repeated. Of course, the accusation implied that contributions meant control. This episode brings up the age-old quest...
High mortgage rates are still impacting home sales in 2025 Spring usually brings with it open houses, moving vans and new mortgages. But for many would-be homebuyers, this year’s homebuying season felt more like Groundhog Day. Ever since interest rates for mortgages climbed from 3% following the COVID-19 pandemic to over 6% starting in late 2022, home sales in the U.S. have cooled to a level not seen in decades. Over the past 30 years, it's been typical for more than 5 million homes to change h...
These are the most popular cars in music Cars and music are woven into the fabric of American culture. Artists have sung about cars and the open road since the early 1900s, and, regardless of genre, cars — and trucks — still serve as musical metaphors for freedom, ambition, and self-expression. But we wanted to know: Which cars get the most love in songs? Edmunds analyzed song lyrics from more than 1 million songs from the last 10 years, across multiple genres, to learn which makes, models and b...
June 26, 2008 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual right. The Court also held that the District of Columbia handgun ban was unconstitutional. In the 2008 case of District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment to the Constitution protects an individual's right to possess firearms. This decision affirmed that Americans have a right of self-defense...
June 26, 2025, Caroleene Dobson officially announced her candidacy for Alabama Secretary of State in the 2026 Republican primary. A native of Monroe County and a graduate of Harvard College and Baylor University School of Law, Dobson is currently a shareholder at Maynard Nexsen, where she specializes in natural resources, commercial finance, and real estate law. In her announcement, Dobson emphasized her commitment to: - Reducing fees on Alabama businesses - Streamlining public services -...
EDITORIAL NOTE: An early version of this report had erroneously placed Broome with the Charlotte Hornets June 26, 2025 – Brooklyn, NY - After years of grinding in the paint and rewriting record books, Johni Broome has officially made the leap to the NBA. The Auburn standout was selected 35rd overall in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers, capping off a remarkable college career and launching the next chapter in his basketball journey. Though Broome was p...
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – June 26, 2025 - In a dramatic escalation of its campaign against gang violence, the Haitian government has begun using weaponized drones to target criminal groups that control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The strikes, which began earlier this year, have reportedly killed over 300 gang members and wounded hundreds more, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network. The drone operations mark a turning point in Haiti's struggle to reclaim territory from g...
Financial literacy in America: Why the knowledge gap still costs us Financial illiteracy costs the average American $1,015 a year. This isn’t just some abstract statistic — it’s real money lost to bad budgeting, high-interest debt, and missed chances to grow wealth. Every day, people make financial decisions like picking health plans, managing credit cards, or trying to save for retirement. But many don’t feel equipped to handle them. Studies show that even basics like interest rates, inflati...
