The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 5085
April 1, 2026 - As NASA prepares to launch Artemis II today - the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years - Huntsville, Alabama stands at the center of the effort, just as it did during the Apollo era. From rocket hardware to mission oversight, the Rocket City is once again the backbone of America's lunar ambitions. A Mission Half a Century in the Making At 6:24 p.m. EDT tonight, four astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - will ride atop...
Drop in opioid overdose deaths nears 50% since 2023 Since their peak less than three years ago, opioid overdose deaths have dropped nearly by half as of October, according to a Stateline analysis. The drop comes as a shrinking fentanyl supply has made the drug weaker and less deadly and volunteer efforts get more people into treatment. The weaker fentanyl tracks to a crackdown on materials used to make fentanyl in China around the time U.S. deaths started dropping in 2023. Some experts see it...
April 1, 2026 - Huntsville, Ala. - In a sweeping move to accelerate U.S. air and missile defense capabilities, the Department of War announced a landmark seven‑year framework agreement with Boeing and Lockheed Martin to triple production of seekers for the Patriot Advanced Capability‑3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC‑3® MSE). The initiative represents one of the most significant industrial base expansions in recent years and is a cornerstone of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's broad...
March 31, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a landmark free‑speech ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court held 8–1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's 2019 ban on certain forms of talk therapy for minors violates the First Amendment. The decision marks the Court's most sweeping statement to date on the constitutional protections afforded to licensed counselors and other professionals whose work consists entirely of speech. The Colorado law prohibited licensed counselors from engaging in conversations aim...
March 31, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) was admitted to Baptist South Hospital today for a procedure to remove fluid that was pushing against her lung causing the Governor discomfort. "For the last three weeks, Governor Kay Ivey has experienced some discomfort in her left side," the Governor's office said in a statement. "After monitoring the pain and recently feeling slightly short-of-breath, she made the decision to be seen again by her primary care physician ear...
March 31, 2026 - (Montgomery, Ala) – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has urged federal officials to work with state and local authorities to combat the alarming rise of criminals using drones to deliver narcotics, weapons, cell phones, and other contraband into prisons. Drones have become a major public safety threat impacting correctional facilities across the country and are fueling broader crime both inside and outside of prison walls. Under current federal law, only a narrow set of f...
Opelika, Ala. - March 31, 2026 - More than a week after an inquiry was submitted to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) and Governor Kay Ivey regarding public education efforts for the state's medical cannabis program, no response has been issued by either office. The lack of communication has intensified concerns about how Alabamians will be informed as the long‑delayed program moves toward implementation. The initial inquiry, sent on March 22, 2026, sought clarity on a fundamental q...
March 28, 2026 - OPP, Ala. - Participation in the Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo from March 27-29, 2026 offered a valuable opportunity to spend time with the people who are the backbone of South Alabama and the Wiregrass. The longstanding event continues to showcase the best of our communities and brings together families, local businesses, and visitors from across the region in a way that highlights our traditions as well as economic potential. Throughout the weekend, I had the chance to hear directly...
April 3, 016 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The chairmen of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees are applauding President Donald Trump's newly released fiscal year 2027 defense budget request, calling the $1.5 trillion topline a historic investment in American military strength and industrial capacity. Senator Roger Wicker (R‑MS), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Mike Rogers (R‑AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued a joint statement endors...
The rise of CTV IRL: Valuable TV audiences are no longer just sitting at home For decades, the advertising industry fixated on the living room and linear television viewership. Connected TV then reshaped how audiences stream and engage with content at home and on second-screen devices. But a new frontier is gaining momentum, and it looks a lot more like real life, Atmosphere TV reports. Call it CTV IRL: connected TV in the places where people are more frequently spending time, such as...
Most Americans considering personal loans are focused on debt reduction, not spending Personal loans have become an increasingly common financial tool, offering borrowers flexibility to fund everything from major purchases to unexpected bills. As adoption grows, a key question emerges: What is actually driving interest in personal loans today? New proprietary data from SoFi suggests the answer may be less about spending and more about financial optimization. As economic pressures continue to...
What’s behind your eye-popping power bill? Here are the reasons, region by region. It’s no secret that U.S. electricity prices have been rising over the last few years: The average residential energy bill in 2025 was roughly 30% higher than in 2021. This jump is largely in line with the overall inflation Americans have experienced during this period. As the cost of groceries, gas, and housing has increased, so too has the cost of electricity, Grist reports. But there are big differences from sta...
April 3, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Governor Kay Ivey today, on Good Friday, shared a special Easter message to the people of Alabama, reflecting on the hope, renewal and promise of this sacred season. Delivered from the Governor's Mansion, Governor Ivey reflects on the story of the first Easter morning, citing Scripture from the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of John, and reminds Alabamians that the promise of new life and renewal is all around us. Script: Happy Easter, Alabama! As I sit here i...
April 4, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday afternoon signed House Bill 475, legislation aimed at freezing electric rates and expanding representation on the Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC). The measure, passed by the Alabama Legislature earlier this week, marks one of the most significant updates to the state's utility oversight structure in more than a decade. The bill's passage follows months of discussion about rising energy costs and the need for broader public...
April 4, 2026 - IRAN - The United States has successfully rescued both crew members of the F‑15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran, concluding one of the most complex and dangerous combat search‑and‑rescue missions undertaken by American forces in decades. The recovery of the second airman early Sunday morning ended a tense 48‑hour period that gripped the nation and underscored the risks U.S. aviators face in the ongoing conflict with Iran. The incident began Friday when Iranian air defense...
On the evening of April 1, 2026, the United States took its most significant step toward deep‑space exploration in more than half a century. At 6:35 p.m. EDT, NASA's Space Launch System (SLS)-the most powerful operational rocket in the world-ignited at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B, sending the Artemis II crew on a 10‑day journey around the Moon. The launch marked the first time since 1972 that humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit, and it signaled the beginning of a new era in lun...
Witaya Proadtayakogool // Shutterstock Hottest Aprils in Alabama since 1895 In 2022, the continental United States experienced its third hottest July since 1895, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their 10 hottest days in the same month. The year prior, July marked the hottest month on record worldwide. Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The Earth’s temperature has climbed each decade since 1...
What happens to bus ridership when gas prices spike Every time gas prices spike, Americans go through the same five stages. Disbelief at the pump. Quiet fury. Arithmetic. Googling. And then, for more of them than you'd expect, a decision that turns out to be more convenient than they expected. They get on the bus. As of March 20, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline sits at $3.84, up nearly 60 cents since the conflict in the Middle East disrupted Strait of Hormuz oil shipments...
Big beautiful refund? 5 tax code changes that may put more money in your pocket The days are getting longer and W-2s are blooming, which can only mean one thing — the U.S. tax season is here. Many Americans may receive a bigger tax refund than in previous years as a result of changes under what has been dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a package of tax breaks and spending cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025. The act renewed tax cuts originally put in place in 20...
Public Service Commission candidate Jim Ziegler announced that he will attend a community meeting by a company that is planning to turn 4,500 acres of Baldwin County forestland into a massive solar farm to power a Montgomery data center being built by Meta. The Tennessee company that is seeking to develop the 4,500-acre site for solar panels in North Baldwin County will host a community meeting Wednesday, April 8. Zeigler announced on social media that he will attend the meeting. Zeigler says...
Independent contractor vs. sole proprietor vs. LLC: What's the difference? For many entrepreneurs, the legal aspects of starting a business loom large. One of the first things you’ll have to figure out when opening your business, and reconsider as you grow, is your business structure. If you’re comparing a limited liability company (an LLC) versus a sole proprietorship, this can be an important choice. This explainer from ERGO NEXT shows it’s not as complicated as it might sound. The differences...
April 6, 2026 - TALLADEGA, Ala. - For decades, Mike Raita was one of the most recognizable faces in Alabama sports journalism-a steady presence on Birmingham television, a storyteller with deep ties to the state's athletic culture, and later a political staffer for U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville. But in early April 2026, Raita's reputation was shaken when he was arrested and charged with using his official position for personal gain, a development tied to a sweeping investigation into financial...
With a high‑stakes Special Election set for Tuesday, April 7, former President Donald Trump is calling on Republicans across Georgia's 14th Congressional District to mobilize and support GOP candidate Clay Fuller, whom he has endorsed in emphatic terms. In a message to voters on the eve of the election, Trump described the contest as "very important" and urged "all Republicans, America First Patriots, and MAGA Warriors" to get to the polls. He highlighted Fuller as a "fantastic candidate" and r...
How to generate passive income by selling digital products and growing your online audience Passive income gets talked about a lot, but it’s rarely explained in a way that feels realistic. For creators, freelancers, coaches, and small business owners, digital products are one of the most practical ways to do this. They allow you to turn knowledge, experience, or creative output into something that can be sold again and again, without needing to be delivered manually each time. In this a...
April 7. 2026 - Montgomery, Ala. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that former International Motor Sports Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) Executive Director Michael Raita, 67, has been indicted and arrested on a felony ethics charge alleging the use of public employment for personal gain. Raita, a resident of Chelsea, voluntarily surrendered to the Talladega County Sheriff's Office following the indictment. Allegations Stemming From State Audit The Attorney General's Special...
