Opinion & Policy

Interim commissioner for state VA named   Special to the News   After the State Board of Veterans Affairs failed to remove Kent Davis as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs during a special meeting Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey used the “supreme executive power of this state” to immediately remove him from his…

  With just some four weeks to the big election day, we are going to hear more about the integrity of the election results on November 5. Following the 2020 elections, there were a lot of questions around the nation about potential voter fraud, including right here in Alabama. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen is…

Dear Editor, We are writing this letter to request that everyone reading takes the time to vote in the 2024 election. The beauty of casting your ballot is only possible when everyone votes for the candidate of their choice so that the majority’s voice is heard. As we have cast our votes consistently over the past…

  I am tired of all this election drama, and I’m sure you probably are, too. But, we have 18 days left for us to really understand the enormous stakes that are involved. This is not an ordinary election that will have little consequences. This election is going to decide the future direction of our…

  I am so happy I live in a rural area where people help people. I feel so sorry for people who live in big cities where they may or may not know their neighbors. We may be called backward or uneducated, but WE know that is not correct. We know we are caring, helping,…

Editorial by Christa Jennings   It is one of my favorite weeks, professionally speaking – National Newspaper Week! The theme this year is “Telling our Stories,” with journalists being encouraged to share their stories of what led them to this profession and the stories that define and inspire us, as well as keep us committed…

  I’m watching the news this morning (Tuesday) as I ponder what I am going to write about today. There are so many different topics that are extremely important so I’ll just try to hit the high spots. At the moment the thing that scares me to death is the report that Iran is planning…

  Alabama has a lot of important corporate citizens. Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials Company is one of them, as it is the United States’ number one producer of aggregate materials, such as crushed stone, sand and gravel. The company is also a major producer of asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. And unfortunately, the company made the news…

Editorial by Dena Sattler   For more than 30 years, I worked among fellow journalists who were passionate watchdogs reporting on the actions of people in power as a way to hold them accountable. I’m proud to see that important work continue, from the reporting on local government budgets to investigations of corruption in the…

Special to the News   Twenty-five years after committing three murders, the execution of Alabama death-row inmate Alan Eugene Miller was carried out by nitrogen hypoxia on September 26 at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. He was pronounced deceased by a physician at 6:38 p.m. On September 25, Miller had seven visitors…