Good morning! It’s a scoop-heavy digest this morning, so get ready to learn a few things. Here is your Daily News for Monday, March 5.
1. AG, Commerce hammer out ethics/EcDev agreement
- The prospects for passing a key economic development bill this session just got a whole lot stronger.
- Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield and Attorney General Steve Marshall have reached an agreement on how to proceed with HB317 – the Alabama Jobs Enhancement Act.
- The bill aims to get ahead of a potential pitfall for economic development in the ethics code. It sailed through committee, but then abruptly stalled when Marshall expressed concerns about language.
- Sources familiar with the negotiations said an agreement had been reached and would be announced as soon as this week.
- HB317 is scheduled to be considered on the House floor Tuesday, when an amendment will likely be adopted.
- Read the full, exclusive story on the details of the compromise at www.ALDailyNews.com.
2. Carter bows out of Senate race
Miranda Carter, the Shelby County restauranteur and aide to State Senator Slade Blackwell, is no longer running for State Senate to replace her former boss.
Remember when Blackwell surprised everybody by throwing his name into the governor’s race, only to withdraw it 72 hours later? Carter was the one who qualified to run for his Senate District 5 seat.
Her exit from the race leaves Dan Roberts as the only qualified Republican running. Laura Casey is running for the seat as a Democrat.
In her withdrawal statement, Carter answered some questions about the bizarre turn of events with Blackwell but raised a few more:
- “When Senator Blackwell decided not to run it was a spur of the moment decision, which left me only hours in which to decide. I decided to qualify so I could have the time to assess the opportunity and make a smart decision…
- “I’ve had that time and with less than 100 days until election day, there is just no way for me to organize a campaign, raise money, raise name ID and compete with a well-funded, independently wealthy opponent.”
- Read Carter’s complete statement in the full, exclusive story at www.ALDailyNews.com.
3. This is why we can’t have nice things
- The race for Alabama Attorney General is probably the hottest of the 2018 cycle. Sparks tend to fly in highly competitive races, but one attack launched late last week really crossed the line.
- A website was launched to attack former Attorney General Troy King in a personal, trashy and unfair way.
- It was promoted with a likewise trashy Facebook post by Will Parker, boyfriend of Claire Austin, who is a consultant for King’s opponent: Alice Martin.
- Martin released a statement acknowledging someone on her campaign team was behind the sleazy attack, while attempting to distance herself from it.
- Claire Austin confirmed that someone was Parker, her boyfriend.
Bush league
- Everybody denies knowing anything about the website. Yet, some want to claim at least some credit in getting it taken down.
- Everybody is distancing themselves from Will Parker. Yet, his ties to Claire Austin and the Martin campaign are apparent.
- This is bush league hackery at its worst.
- As one Montgomery politico told me, “this is why we can’t have nice things.”
More on the way?
- I hesitated to report on this, not wanting to add to the problem. However, part of what convinced me to publish was hearing word that more of these attack sites and memes are on the way.
- I hope calling out this first bit of trashy, sleazy campaigning can deter more of the same and elevate the debate a little.
4. Alabama man shoots himself in front of the White House
- Authorities have identified the man who fatally shot himself in front of the White House.
- 26-year-old Cameron Ross Burgess, of Maylene, Alabama, approached the fence along the north side of the White House and fired several rounds from a handgun shortly before midday Saturday.
- President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in Florida at the time, and the Secret Service says no member of the first family was at the White House then.
Video of the day
John Haygood made an awesome video celebrating the 5oth birthday of his friend and partner, Toby Roth. It’s well done and worth a watch, especially if you know the Roths.
Happy Birthday, Toby!
Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Roy Moore seeks donations to legal fund
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – AG, Commerce hammer out ethics agreement
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama’s “Bloody Sunday” racial violence of 1965 remembered
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Miranda Carter bows out of Senate race
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – “Despicable.” A low blow in the AG’s race
MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Arrests continue in Montgomery ‘pill mill’ case
MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – ‘Touched by the spirit of history’: Marking a milestone for voting rights.
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS – Ready for Battle? Huntsville mayor is first gubernatorial candidate to surpass 1,000 contributions.
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS – Alabama Justice Tom Parker wins suit challenging restrictions against judges commenting on cases.
DECATUR DAILY – Despite absences, Henry ‘making sure nothing stupid happens in Montgomery’.
DOTHAN EAGLE – Sessions weathers tweetstorm.
AL.COM – Who is Cameron Ross Burgess? 26-year-old Alabama man fatally shot himself near White House.
AL.COM – Two teens arrested for making ‘terrorist threat’ on Snapchat.
AL.COM – Doug Jones says Alabama is ready for gun restrictions.
AL.COM – Columnist Kyle Whitmire: Will Jeff Sessions burn down the building?
AL.COM – Time running out for school safety, gun control bills.
AL.COM – Columnist Dana Hall McCain: Guns: A layered problem demands layered solutions.
AL.COM – How Trump’s tariffs could affect Alabama’s breweries.
AL.COM – Alabama fails to stop many with mental illness from buying guns.
AL.COM – Called racist on a national stage: How does Gardendale, an aging city, bounce back?
CULLMAN TIMES – A chance to gain money without taxes.
SELMA TIMES JOURNAL – Foot soldiers reunite to share stories, motivate others.
LAGNIAPPE – Africatown leaders announce Clotilda investigation.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – Bill levels playing field between county, city superintendents.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – Legislation helps vets, state fight drug abuse.
GADSDEN TIMES – After Parkland, even idle school threats get tough response.
GADSDEN TIMES – Representatives square off on local bills.
OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS – Gambling, guns top agenda in Alabama Legislature.
WASHINGTON POST – ‘Pure madness’: Dark days inside the White House as Trump shocks and rages.
WASHINGTON POST – Trump escalates trade war, threatens European carmakers with stiff tariffs.
NEW YORK TIMES – As Primaries Begin, Divided Voters Weigh What It Means to Be a Democrat
NEW YORK TIMES – School Officer: A Job With Many Roles and One Big Responsibility
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