Virginia Martin, Author at BirminghamWatch - Page 214 of 480
Donate About Subscribe

Virginia Martin

Both of Alabama’s Senators Vote to Acquit Trump

Alabama’s senators voted to acquit former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, both citing the constitutionality of the prosecution. “The Constitution speaks of removing a sitting president, not a private citizen,” Sen. Richard C. Shelby said in a statement posted to his website and social media. “I recently voted to dismiss this case based on its questionable constitutionality. The framers were clear in limiting impeachment to the president, vice president, and civil officers of the United States. That is why today, I voted to acquit,” Shelby said. Sen. Tommy Tuberville also said in a statement that he had concerns about the constitutionality of the trial. “But I had a duty as a juror to listen to the arguments of both sides and keep an open mind, which I did,” he said. “After hearing the arguments presented, I voted to not convict for a number of reasons, including the fact that I don’t think the Senate has the authority to try a private citizen.” Read more. Also read: Alabamians and Politicians Connect to the Insurrection From Start to Finish Democrats Gearing Up for Effort to Oust Mo Brooks in 2022 ‘For everything there is a season’: Richard Shelby Declines Senate Reelection Run in 2022

by Brett Davis and Voterama in Congress

Jefferson County Commission OK’s More Cleanup Help in Fultondale

Joe Knight didn’t want Fultondale tornado victims to miss out on help from whomever that aid might come. The District 4 Jefferson County Commissioner suggested that a resolution on today’s commission agenda be tweaked to broaden the scope of entities that could come to the north Jefferson County city to assist in cleanup. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

COVID-19 Makes Kindergarten Requirement Bill ‘Priority’

MONTGOMERY — A bill to require Alabama public school students to attend kindergarten or take an assessment to go directly to first grade received its first vote of approval, passing the House Education Policy Committee Wednesday. Bill sponsor Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said her goal is to offer a complete education to students. "Pre-K is not available for every child in the state of Alabama, so if there is a child who misses pre-K and kindergarten, that child is not ready for the first grade," Warren said. "So my whole thing is in support of the student being completely ready to go into the first grade when they get there." Read more. Also in the Legislature Thursday House Approves Improved Benefits for Newer Teachers Legislative Briefs: Alcohol Delivery, License Plate Data Among Bills Gaining Approval Earlier This Week Tax Reform, Economic Development Bills Sent to Ivey Broadband Expansion Bill Passes First Vote in Legislature AI in Crime Fighting, Wine Shipments, Memorial Preservation, Other Topics Discussed in the Legislature Wednesday School Funding Change on the Move in the Legislature PTSD Coverage for First Responders, Wiretapping Bill Passes House Read more on the legislative session.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

AI in Crime Fighting, Wine Shipments, Memorial Preservation, Other Topics Discussed in the Legislature Wednesday

MONTGOMERY — Here's what happened in the State House on Thursday. Artificial Intelligence Senate Bill 113 was approved in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Arthur Orr’s bill would put limits on how law enforcement agencies can use artificial intelligence and facial recognition to make arrests. Other factors or evidence must be used, as well. Read More.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Tax Reform, Economic Development Bills Sent to Ivey

The Alabama Senate on Wednesday gave final passage to bills preventing the taxing of federal relief funds and revamping the state's economic development incentives, sending the first two of three priority bills to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. Read more. More from the Legislature this week Broadband Expansion Bill Passes First Vote in Legislature AI in Crime Fighting, Wine Shipments, Memorial Preservation, Other Topics Discussed in the Legislature Wednesday School Funding Change on the Move in the Legislature PTSD Coverage for First Responders, Wiretapping Bill Passes House Read more on the legislative session.

by Mary Sell and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

New COVID Case and Hospitalization Numbers Keep Dropping in Alabama

COVID-19 numbers in Alabama continue to improve for the fourth straight week as the number of new cases per day and the number of COVID patients occupying hospital beds have each dropped by more than half in roughly a month’s time. In BirminghamWatch’s periodic analysis of the data provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Wednesday’s 7-day average of new cases has decreased to 1,573 per day. That’s a drop of more than 600 cases from a week ago and down 63.2% from the all-time high of 4,280.76 set exactly one month ago. The longer-term 14-day average is down 53.3% over the same period, from 4,019.43 on Jan. 10 to 1,875.79 Wednesday. Read more.

by Robert Carter

Wide-Ranging Gambling Bill Introduced in Legislature

MONTGOMERY — A wide-ranging gambling bill in the Alabama Senate could allow state voters to institute a lottery, expand casino gambling and legalize sports betting. The proposal, introduced Tuesday by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, comes after an extensive report from Gov. Kay Ivey's study group on gambling showed such proposals could bring in hundreds of millions in revenue and that voters favored expanded gambling. "I feel good about where the bill is right now," Marsh told reporters in the State House Tuesday. "This takes a lot of the (study group's) input into the bill. I think the people of the state are ready to address this issue and want to." Read more. School Funding Change on the Move in the Legislature Legislative Briefs Read more on the legislative session.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News
1 … 212 213 214 215 216 … 480