Opinion & Policy
Campaigning 2026
A new Congress has just begun, and President Trump has just over 100 days in office, but the next campaign season is already in motion. Ready or not for 2026? Political advertisers certainly are. Not only did political ad spending top $12 billion recently (a new record), with total marketing estimates exceeding $18 billion (another record), but political ad buys are well…
Read MoreGov. Ivey signs HB307, creating Speedy Trial Act
Special to the News On Tuesday Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 307, creating the Speedy Trial Act. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot and Rep. Jim Hill, expedites trials for violent criminal cases, reduces backlogs and ensures swift justice for victims. Attorney General Steve Marshall, Chief Justice Sarah Stewart and Sen. Barfoot joined…
Read MoreGov. Ivey signs “FOCUS Act” preventing use of cell phones in Alabama public schools
Special to the News Gov. Kay Ivey has signed the FOCUS Act, prohibiting students’ use of smart phones and other wireless devices inside Alabama’s public schools. Flanked by middle school students, Ivey signed the FOCUS Act into law Wednesday morning in her office. “In my state of the state address, I repeated the requests of Alabama…
Read MoreIt’s already here
Last week there was an interesting letter to the editor from Lynne Taylor about government involvement in the media and education. She questioned whether the problems in other countries could come to us here in America. I hate to say it, but IT’S ALREADY HERE. Education was not originally included in our Constitution as…
Read MoreGraphite, the game changer
Graphite is one of the three forms in which carbon is found naturally; diamond and coal being the other two. In today’s world graphite’s uses are numerous, from being an important component in lithium-ion batteries, nuclear reactors, playing an essential role in the electoral industry, as well as being the “lead” in pencils. As a material it is quite greasy and…
Read MoreUpdate from Gov. Ivey: SB119, budgets signed
Gov. Kay Ivey speaks at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Alabama Update. Photo submitted Special to the News Monday morning, Gov. Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 119, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot and Rep. Cynthia Almond. The bill, which is intended to combat inner city gun violence, includes: New firearm possession prohibitions. It will now be…
Read MoreDangers of losing independent voices
To the Editor: When the government takes control of the media and education, it puts our freedom at risk. History shows us this has happened before. Leaders like Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini kept power by shutting down independent news and forcing schools to teach only what they wanted people to believe. Today, we see…
Read MoreHigh cost of education
As our Alabama Legislature is going into its final days of this session, it’s time for them to pass the budgets that will take effect on October 1. They are almost always the last things that are approved. We have two separate budgets – one for education (the Education Trust Fund) and one for…
Read MoreAll politics is local
For decades we have accepted the philosophy that All Politics is Local, but in today’s electronic world and instant communication; the question is, what is local? Voters today are more likely to trust the information that comes from social media sites as they are to trust information from national news organizations, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. The same…
Read MoreYour voice is heard
In the United States, voting is a fundamental right and an essential part of being an engaged citizen. It allows each of us to have a say in shaping the policies and future of our communities, our cities and country. Regardless of age (as long as you’re 18!), ethnicity, or background, every person has…
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