Virginia Martin

Report: Changes to Habitual Offender Law Needed

A new report urges Alabama leaders to change state laws that mean “death in prison sentences” for inmates convicted of crimes in which victims were not injured. “Condemned,” from the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, details how Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act is more punitive than most other Southern states’ laws and how keeping these men — many of them now senior citizens — in prisons is costing the state millions of dollars in medical care. “We hope (lawmakers and other officials) realize that hundreds of people are still trapped in life without parole sentences for crimes where there was no physical injury and who if sentenced today would do a fraction of their current sentences,” Appleseed Executive Director Carla Crowder told Alabama Daily News. Read more. More from the Legislature: Legislative Session Starts With Caution, Big Bills Marsh Steps Down, Reed Steps Into Pro Tem Role in the Senate Bill Would Filter Emergency Health Orders Through Layman Board in Jefferson County Read more on the legislative session, which began Tuesday.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Alabama Needs More Vaccines to Stop the Spread of COVID-19, Doctor Says

To combat COVID-19, the virus variants that are now spreading in the U.S. and the high infection rate in Alabama, the state needs more vaccines, the head of UAB’s Infectious Disease Division said Tuesday. “People need to get that first shot before new variants of the virus take hold,” Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo said during a press conference. But Alabama still leads the nation with a positivity rate of 33.4%, and only 1.1% of Alabamians have gotten the vaccine so far. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Marsh Steps Down, Reed Steps Into Pro Tem Role in the Senate

MONTGOMERY — After ten years of leading the Alabama Senate as president pro tempore, Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, officially stepped down from the upper chamber's top job Tuesday, relinquishing the role to Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper. The friendly leadership transition, first reported in November, became official as lawmakers opened the 2021 legislative session. Turning in his letter of resignation to the secretary of the Senate, Marsh thanked his colleagues, staff and family for their support during his tenure as pro tem, the longest in Senate history. "It has been a privilege to serve as pro tem of this body since 2010," Marsh said from the Senate floor, choking up at moments. "I believe we've accomplished some great things together." Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Legislative Session Starts With Caution, Big Bills

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature gaveled in Tuesday for the first day of what leadership hopes are productive early weeks of the session, despite COVID-19 protocols that will slow their businesses. One House member was sent home after testing positive for COVID-19. Representatives were encouraged but not required to take a rapid virus test upon entering the State House. The member was not identified by leadership. One staff member who had come into contact with the lawmaker also was sent home to quarantine. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said that, despite the positive test, he is encouraged by the cooperation and attitudes of members. “We’ve just got to learn to function in a little different environment and we’ve just got to be willing to take on all the safety precautions," McCutcheon said. Read more. More from the Legislature today: Marsh Steps Down, Reed Steps Into Pro Tem Role in the Senate Bill Would Filter Emergency Health Orders Through Layman Board in Jefferson County Read more on the legislative session, which began Tuesday.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

COVID-19 Protocols Limiting Public Access to Legislative Session

Watch the Legislature remotely The Legislature’s external website has been upgraded to add enhanced streaming video of all business in the House and Senate chambers, as well as the meetings and hearings in committee rooms around the State House. There now are video links to both chambers and five committee rooms. You can watch proceedings on the Legislature’s video services page. In-person public access to the legislative session that starts Tuesday will be severely limited, and State House leaders are asking people to watch the action online and communicate with representatives electronically. “We need public input in what we do down here because the things we do make decisions on taxpayer dollars and public welfare,” Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said. But in-person interactions with House or Senate members will require appointments. “You won’t be able to just walk through the front door and go up to the seventh floor,” McCutcheon said. “What we’re telling people is, don’t come to the State House anticipating to meet someone unless you have made some phone calls and you have a prior appointment.” Read more. Read more on the legislative session, which begins Tuesday.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Online Vaccine Registration Now Available Statewide

Alabama now has a statewide online coronavirus vaccination registration website up and running.   Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Bell Lining Up for Another Shot at the Mayor’s Chair

Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell has signaled his intention to enter this year’s mayoral race, challenging incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin, who unseated him in 2017. Paperwork filed with Jefferson County’s probate court Monday shows that Bell has formed a principal campaign committee — of which he is the sole member — for a 2021 mayoral run. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Alabama is Home to 20 Hate Groups, 838 Operate Nationwide, SPLC Says

The Southern Poverty Law Center released its annual list of hate groups nationwide Feb. 1, and while the number of groups has gone down from last year, there are still 20 Alabama groups that made the cut. Altogether, the SPLC tracked 830 organizations defined as hate groups in 2020. “The number is a barometer, albeit only one, of the level of hate activity in the country,” the website says. Read more.

by Nick Patterson

Lawmakers Cautious of ‘Uncertain Environment’ for 2022 Budgets

MONTGOMERY — Passing the state’s two budgets is the Legislature’s only constitutionally required action each year. But in a COVID-19-altered session that will be anything but regular, even the most basic of tasks could prove to be a challenge. “Realistically, hopefully we can keep the budgets on the fast track, but when you look at the budgets and the work that needs to be done, it’s probably middle to end of March, preferably the first of April, before we could get budgets out,” Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said. Both Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, the education budget committee chairman in the House, and Sen. Greg Albritton, the Senate's General Fund committee chairman, have said lawmakers will be cautious in their 2022 spending plans. Albritton said the General Fund’s December revenue growth was essentially flat compared to December 2019. “I'm not suggesting level funding at this point, but I'm just concerned with the growth we've grown accustomed to and what we’re seeing now,” Albritton said. Read more. Read more on the upcoming legislative session.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Warning: If You Get Chills Reading This, Keep It to Yourself

Got a great job for you. It’s in journalism. Never mind that if you take it you can’t publicly support a political candidate, donate to a political campaign, make money on the side without your boss’ approval, date someone you met on the job or accept a small token of thanks from a subject grateful for your hard work. Here’s something else that many news organizations say you can’t do in your personal life: express a political opinion on social media. Read more.

by Tom Arenberg