The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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November 14, 2024 - First responders are heroes. They stand ready to answer the call in the face of danger to serve and protect our communities. Often, they are the first to arrive to the scene of an emergency, an accident, or other disaster. When we are facing our worst, they are always their best, and they serve an important role as the backbone of emergency services. In Alabama, I have no doubt that we have the best first responders in America. A big reason why first responders in Alabama...
November 15, 2024 – the Alabama Department of Labor reports that Alabama's workforce participation rate showed a slight increase in October to 57.6%. Labor Secretary Marty Redden reported that the percentage of prime-age workers decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point to 79.1% over the month. Over the past year, this number increased by one percentage point from 78.1% to 79.1% as more people are being forced to enter the labor force due to inflation. Prime-age workers are those aged 2...
November 15, 2024 - (Montgomery, Ala.) - Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of Jeremiah Wesley Irvin, 25, of Thomasville, for murder. Irvin was convicted in the Clarke County Circuit Court on June 16, 2023. The evidence at trial showed that on the night of February 2, 2021, Fredrick Wright was shot and killed on the front porch of his house by Irvin. The evidence further showed the victim, and Irvin had engaged in an...
Selecting the perfect engagement ring isn't simply about the brilliance or the size of the diamond, it's also about the meaning behind the ring shape. Many shoppers wonder, "What does each diamond shape say and how does it reflect my relationship?" Every lab-grown diamond tells a unique story. Understanding the symbolism and meaning behind different engagement ring shapes will help buyers select a ring that's both beautiful and personally meaningful. VRAI shares tips to help navigate the...
A few years ago, so few high schoolers ate breakfast in Vermont's Essex Westford School District that the cafeteria looked like "a ghost town" in the morning, recalls Scott Fay, the director of child nutrition. But now that breakfast is free for all students, kids are packing the cafeteria to talk, munch on fresh cranberry-orange bread, and finish homework before the first bell, Chalkbeat reports. "It's really amazing to see that transition," said Fay, who helped lobby for the Vermont law that e...
Universal pre-K has been shown to prepare children for school, narrow the achievement gap, and help reduce child care costs. Still, just as state-funded pre-K programs have taken off nationwide, with enrollment increasing during the 2022-23 school year, a shortage of early childhood educators has thwarted progress toward providing a high-quality, equitable education for every 4-year-old. The reasons for the shortage are complex. Low wages and burnout have led to high turnover across the board,...
Attorney General Marshall Announces Court of Criminal Appeals Upholds Capital Murder and Attempted Murder Convictions in Jefferson County (Montgomery, Ala.) - Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the convictions of Alfreda Janapril Fluker, 44, of Birmingham, for capital murder and attempted murder. Fluker was convicted in the Jefferson County Circuit Court on February 6, 2023. The evidence at trial showed that on the night of April 10,...
A prescribed burn is planned at Gulf State Park as part of a forest management plan associated with longleaf pine restoration, fuel reduction and invasive species control. The planned burn will take place in the Eagle Loop section of the park near Lake Shelby on November 20-21, 2024, weather permitting. State Park Road will be closed during the burn period. Every effort is being made to ensure safety and proper smoke management during this burn. However, park guests staying in the lakeside cabin...
Our 45th President, Donald J. Trump, was elected as our 47th President on November 5. He not only won, he won overwhelmingly. Under the Electoral College system, our President is elected not by popular vote, but by a system where each state casts the same number of votes as they have Representatives and Senators in Congress. We, in Alabama, have seven Congressmen and two Senators. Therefore, we have nine electoral votes. National voters and the media knew in this 2024 Presidential election, ther...
November 15, 2024 - The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has temporarily closed the three-lane ramp at the McFarland Public Boat Ramp (McFarland West) on Pickwick Reservoir in Florence for major upgrades. The facility's two-lane ramp (McFarland North) will remain open during the majority of the renovation period. During the closure the launching slab at McFarland West and the access pier at McFarland North...
The end of the SEC season is now within sight. Both Alabama and Auburn are at home. Alabama plays Mercer, before they conclude the SEC schedule with Oklahoma and Auburn. With just two losses and favored in their last three games Alabama is well positioned for making a playoff berth. Auburn faces University of Louisiana at Monroe today then Texas AM before concluding this disappointing season with Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Auburn is unlikely to be going to a bowl this season. The SEC games this...
When the sun finally set, the three rabbis jumped in their car and sped down Interstate 15 to Provo, Utah. A Jewish quarterback was leading Brigham Young University against Kansas State, then the No. 9 team in the nation, under the lights of LaVell Edwards Stadium. Rabbis Avremi and Chaim Zippel and their brother-in-law Rabbi Moshe Nigri had to see it for themselves, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. And on that September night, they could. Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, lasts from sundown on...
Americans may have record-low gas prices to be thankful for this holiday season as at least one analyst predicts average gasoline costs could fall below $3 per gallon by Thanksgiving. "The question is not so much when do we drop below $3 per gallon, but how much lower can we go?" OPIS global head of energy analysis Tom Kloza told Yahoo Finance. About 24 states had average gas prices at or below $3 per gallon this week, according to AAA data. Part of that is due to volatile oil prices that have...
November 9, 2024- BIRMINGHAM – the University of Connecticut proved to be too much for the UAB Blazers in a football game that UAB led in in the fourth quarter. UAB dominated UConn for three quarters; but had no answers in a fourth quarters where the Blazers were outscored 21 to nothing. The final score was 31-23 and cements a second year in a row losing season for the Blazers and second year coach Trent Dilfer. UAB Quarterback Jalen Kitna threw for 233 yards and one touchdown; but it was his t...
November 9, 2020 – MONTGOMERY, AL. – the Alabama Gazette staff was divided on the Georgia and Ole Miss, South Carolina and Vanderbilt, and Alabama and LSU games. Sam was the only member of the panel to pick all six of the weeks games correctly. Some of us apparently underestimated Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss because they clearly were the better team that day. Alabama thoroughly dominated LSU in a game that we all thought would have been close. Brandon and Christopher made the mistake of pic...
It happened twice in recent months and taught me a lesson about priorities. I saw one lady at a political rally where she asked for support in an upcoming election. Her family joined our church when she was a child, and she reminded me, “Pastor, you baptized me at our church.” And I saw the second young lady at a 12-year-old football game. Her son and our grandson were on the same team. “You baptized me when I was a little girl,” she said. Few things are as important as taking time for boys an...
Since the first TV game show—the BBC's "Spelling Bee"—aired in 1938, these programs have captivated audiences. Game shows' popularity grew along with television ownership, which increased exponentially in the 1940s and '50s from just a few thousand homes in 1947 to roughly 50% of homes by 1955. One of the first U.S. hits, "What's My Line?", debuted in 1950. In the '60s, programs like "The Match Game" and "Password" appeared, each entertaining audiences for over 20 years. Then came some sho...
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 15, 2024– U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) recently wrote a letter to Jewish college students across America, expressing her unwavering support. amid a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents on campuses. Her letter comes just a week after Israeli soccer fans and Jews ran for their lives in Amsterdam. There are only 13 million Jews in the world. 6.6 million of those live in Israel; 5.7 million live in the U.S. The U.S. has proven to be a safe haven for Jews – unt...
November 11, 2024 – MONTGOMERY, AL – State Senator Greg Reed (R-Jasper) has announced that he will be giving up his role as Senate President Pro Tempore ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Reed along with Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), and Governor Kay Ivey (R) are effectively the three most powerful people in Alabama state government. The Senate President Pro Tem. has enormous influence over what bills are considered, carried over, or pass...
We are witnessing a significant shift in the leadership of the United States Senate, and I can confidently say that we are in great hands. John Thune, who took over as Senate Majority Leader, was the right man to lead our conservative charge at the right time. I also want to take a moment to honor both his remarkable journey and the monumental contributions of his predecessor, Mitch McConnell. First, let us remember how John Thune burst onto the national scene with that stunning upset of Tom...
You reap what you sow, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Donald Trump's new Washington, D.C. For years, the swamp has done everything in its power to tear down President Trump, his allies, and his supporters. From endless investigations to biased media attacks, they've used every trick in the book to keep their stranglehold on power. Now, they're reaping the whirlwind they themselves have stirred. This is precisely how Donald Trump is making his picks to run the people's federal governme...
Only 6.2% of millennial households earn $200,000 or more nationwide. But from state to state, that percentage of high-earning millennials can range from one-third of that to almost double. This group has more discretionary economic power than their peers, and an outsized portion of them among a statewide population—or an apparent deficit—could impact many aspects of that local economy. With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked states by the percent of millennial households earning at least $20...
Investing in small businesses helps foster community resilience and promote local economic growth. And there are many ways to support small and local businesses this holiday season—without breaking the bank. According to the Chamber of Commerce, small businesses employ nearly half of the American workforce and contribute 43.5% of America's gross domestic product. When small companies prosper, they create jobs, encourage local innovation, and contribute to a neighborhood's unique character. E...
Based on actual historical events, "I Heard The Bells" is an excellent movie about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's inspiration to write the poem that would become the Classic Christmas Carol, "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day". An independent production, the very well done feature film was released in movie theaters across the USA in December of 2022, making it the first ever theatrical release of a feature film production for the "Sight & Sound" ministries. A ministry that focuses on faith...
MONTGOMERY - Data collected and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Labor's Labor Market Information (LMI) Division shows that in October 2024, there were 79,656 job ads posted in Alabama, representing a monthly increase of 0.6%. The five occupations with the most online job ads are for Registered Nurses, Retail Salespersons, Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers, and Fast Food and Counter Workers with 13,152 ads placed for those occupations in October. T...
