Opinion & Policy
Rep. Rogers introduces legislation to make way for permanent Daylight Saving Time
Special to the News Last Friday U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03) announced the introduction of legislation that gives states the choice to remain on Daylight Saving Time year-round. Rogers has long supported measures to allow Alabama to remain on Daylight Saving Time. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 bars states from deciding whether to…
Read MoreRepresentatives Robbins, Fidler, Colvin, Brown, Kiel introduce bills targeting illegal immigration
Special to the News Representatives Robbins, Fidler, Colvin, Brown, and Kiel have introduced new legislation targeting illegal immigration. “The previous presidential administration’s open border policies have been absolutely disastrous for the state of Alabama,” said House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter. “Our school systems’ ELL programs have been pushed to the brink, housing in rural and urban…
Read MoreRural healthcare a challenge in Alabama
Think about this, 55 out of 67 of Alabama’s counties are considered rural; 42.3% of the entire Alabama population lives in rural areas. The average percentage of uninsured Alabama residents aged 18 to 64 who live in rural areas is 16.4%, compared to 14.1% of residents who live in urban areas. There are less than 54 rural county…
Read MoreSecretary Allen delivers monumental results from Alabama Voter Integrity Database
Special to the News Wes Allen, Alabama’s secretary of state, developed and implemented the Alabama Voter Integrity Database (AVID) with help from his team at the Secretary of State’s office in September of 2023. Since then, the Alabama-based voter file maintenance system has delivered massive results and put Alabama on the map for innovations in election…
Read MoreAlabama should look to Louisiana’s major tax reform package to benefit state citizens
There has been talk about tax reform in Alabama through the years. While there has been work around the edges, it is not what a lot of politicians have promised. However, one of our neighbors has tackled it head on. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the state legislature into special session this past November. The…
Read MoreIt’s time to follow the red letters
Dear Editor, in my humble and loving opinion, This will be my final opinion piece for a while. I’ve decided to step back and reflect on how we, as a community, engage with one another. It seems like we as Americans have become quick to label one another in ways that deepen division instead of fostering…
Read MoreIncome sources for a county
The three main sources of revenue are property tax, intergovernmental revenue and charges for services. Intergovernmental revenue is money provided by federal or state governments to counties in order to pay for services mandated by federal or state law. Ad valorem taxes: A property tax on real and personal property. The amount of tax is based on…
Read MoreCHOOSE Act Alabama student applicants surpass 20,000 mark
Application period open through April 7 Special to the News The number of students applying to participate in CHOOSE Act Alabama, the state’s new Education Savings Account (ESA) program, surpassed the 20,000 mark last week, shortly after Gov. Kay Ivey highlighted the program’s early success during her 2025 “State of the State” address. Proving…
Read MoreWhat are newspapers for?
It’s interesting what you can learn reading the newspaper. Every week I try to read almost every article or column because I do want to know what is going on in Coosa County and what the other contributors have to say. I like to read other peoples’ opinions, and I do find many areas…
Read MoreLetters to the Editor
In response to “Sean of the South” Dear Editor, Sometimes I think the reason I took an instant like to Sean Dietrich is because of his last name, and I want to think he is related, somehow, to Dietrich Bonhoffer, one of the smartest, bravest, creative Christians to ever live. And, so, when I saw…
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