Presented by

The Alabama Port Authority

 

Good morning!

I enjoyed speaking to the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives this morning at their annual conference in downtown Montgomery. Welcome new 

Here’s your Daily News for Thursday, April 7.

 

1. What’s on tap: final day

• Welcome to Day 29 of the Alabama Legislature’s 2022 Regular Session. That of course leaves one more possible day on Friday, but most agree that this will be the final day and lawmakers will adjourn Sine Die by the afternoon or evening.
• Some of the most controversial bills of the session could get votes today.
• Senate President Pro Tem on Wednesday said the Senate could take up the so-called transgender bathroom bill, which requires K-12 students to only use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate.
• Meanwhile, a priority Senate bill awaiting a House vote makes it a felony for doctors to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones or perform surgery to aid in the gender transition of people 18 years old or younger.
• “The House has been working on that bill, we’ve encouraged them, it’s a very important piece of legislation to the Senate,” Reed said.
• One bill that Reed said the caucus is still measuring support for is the “divisive concepts” bill pending in the Senate. It would prohibit Alabama schools and agencies from promoting or advancing certain concepts regarding race, sex, or religion in teaching or training.
• A GOP priority bill from early in the session is House Bill 163, increasing state income tax standard deductions and dependent exemptions. It still needs a Senate vote. The bill was originally filed as Senate Bill 19 as a way to help low-income Alabamians, but bills that increase or decrease state taxes must start in the House.
• The House convenes at 9:00 and the Senate at 9:15. See you at the State House!

 

2. Education budget goes to the governor

• The Legislature on Wednesday gave final passage to the Education Trust Fund for Fiscal Year 2023. The $8.2 billion budget is a record level of school spending for the state and a $550 million increase over the current fiscal year’s budget.
• The budget includes a $200 increase in per-classroom supply spending, $20 million for math coaches under the Alabama Numeracy Act, and new investments in workforce development.
• Most notably, the budget contains the most significant teacher pay raise in a generation. All teachers, education workers and community college employees get an across-the-board 4% pay raise.
• But in an effort to reward and retain experienced teachers, those with with nine or more years of experience would get bigger raises ranging from 5% to up to nearly 21% for those with 35 years of classroom experience.
• A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience would see their minimum salary rise from $48,822 to $51,795.
• A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and 20 years of experience would see their minimum salary rise from $51,810 to $57,214.
• A teacher with a master’s degree and 25 years experience would see their minimum salary rise from $61,987 to $69,151.
• Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.

 

 

 

A message from the

Alabama Port Authority

• The Port of Mobile is vital to the economic growth of Alabama, generating more than 161,130 jobs.

• The Port is continuing to expand in order to accommodate for and generate even further economic growth and job creation – including through our recently announced inland intermodal transfer facility in Montgomery.

• Thank you to State Sen. Kirk Hatcher and State Rep. Kenyatte Hassell for sponsoring House Bill 250 authorizing the Alabama Port Authority to build inter-modal and multi-modal transfer facilities. And thank you to Gov. Kay Ivey for signing this essential legislation into law!

• Learn more HERE.

 

 

 

3. Legislature passes job seeking requirements for unemployed

• The Legislature on Wednesday gave final passage to a bill requiring people receiving state unemployment benefits to apply for at least three jobs per week.
• Senate Bill 224, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, was approved 76-24 by the House and now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
• “I want those on unemployment to get off as soon as they can, because the most they’re gonna make a week is $275,” Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, who sponsored the bill in the House . “The faster they’re back in the workforce the better.”
• Several Democrat legislators spoke against the bill, all citing concerns for a lack of equality in both resources and opportunity to seek jobs in Alabama.
• Read more from Heather Gann HERE.

 

 

4. Bill changing ‘good time’ early release law pending on last day

• A bill to change the state’s “good time” early release law for state prisoners awaits one vote on what might be the final day of this legislative session.
• The bill is named for Sgt. Nick Risner, a Sheffield officer who was killed in the line of duty in October. Several Shoals-area lawmakers are trying to advance the bill in the final days of the legislative session. It was approved Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• House Bill 143, by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Green Hill, would change state law so that current early release rules don’t apply to those convicted in killings.
• The bill was approved in the House on March 10 on a 99-1 vote as Risner’s widow, Brandy Risner, watched.
• Barry Matson, executive director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, said Tuesday the group is supportive of the bill.
• Good time reductions allow prisoners to earn time off their sentence with time that they serve with good behavior.
• Read more from Mary Sell HERE.

 

5. Bill banning public money expenditures on ballot initiatives awaits final vote

• A bill pending final passage in the Alabama House would prevent state agencies, universities and local schools from spending tax dollars encouraging people to vote for or against tax increases or other ballot initiatives.
• Senate Bill 313 was approved in a House committee on Wednesday and needs final passage on what might be the last day of this legislative session Thursday.
• The bill says “a public official or public employee may not expend any public funds from any source for activities to advocate in favor of or against a statewide or local ballot measure, even if the public official or public employee has determined that the expenditure serves a public purpose.”
• “Why should the public tolerate the government using taxpayer dollars to weigh in on an issue that is supposed to be decided among the voters?” bill sponsor Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, told Alabama Daily News.
• Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, is handling the bill in the House.
• Read more from Mary Sell HERE.

 

 

Headlines

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Education budget with historic teacher pay raise goes to governor

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Legislature approves unemployment compensation work search requirement

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Bill named for slain Sheffield officer pending in final days of session

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Bill banning public money expenditures on ballot initiatives awaits final vote

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – England: Legislature resists common sense parole board reform

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Ivey signs Numeracy Act into law

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Legislature gives final passage to Literacy Act bills 

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Lawmakers advance transgender bathroom bill

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – ‘Divisive concepts’ teaching ban advances in Alabama

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Bill to put fines on contractors who don’t clean up lead paint

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Senate advances to alter name of Edmund Pettus Bridge

 

AL.COM – Bills on transgender issues, ‘divisive concepts’ pending for last day of Alabama session

 

AL.COM – Alabama lawmakers approve tax exemption for Alabamians age 65 and older

 

AL.COM – Sen. Tommy Tuberville: ‘No’ on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for US Supreme Court

 

AL.COM – ‘Mobile International Airport’ can now be part of the conversation

 

AL.COM – Alabama federal Judge Abdul K. Kallon is resigning

 

AL.COM – Alabama House rejects bill to require governor approval for health officer’s orders

 

AL.COM – Gov. Kay Ivey signs bill eliminating $100 tax for many Alabama businesses

 

AL.COM – Alabamians 60 and older could receive $30 to use for fresh fruits and vegetables

 

AL.COM – Ohio Senate candidate shoots ad at Pettus Bridge in Selma, attacks critical race theory

 

AL.COM – ‘Stolen,’ ‘robbed’ or ‘cheated’: 2020 presidential election top election issue for Alabama Republicans

 

AL.COM – State investigating Alabama school district after student walkouts, principal ousted

 

AL.COM – Alabama driver license offices closing for a week this month

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Alabama House defeats bill requiring governor’s approval of emergency health rules

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Emotion fills courtroom as Prattville barbershop killers hear judge’s sentence

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Alabama Legislature sends $8.2 billion education budget to Gov. Kay Ivey

 

Decatur Daily – Villarreal apartments overcome residents’ opposition because of potential for city growth

 

Decatur Daily – McCary’s capital murder case sent to grand jury

 

Decatur Daily – Damaging winds and severe thunderstorms expected Wednesday

 

Times Daily – Florence takes no action on broadband initiative

 

Times Daily – Colbert Commission gives poll workers a raise

 

Times Daily – Risner to receive Legislative Medal of Honor

 

Anniston Star – Jacksonville police arrest ‘career criminal’ after chase in city

 

Anniston Star – Anniston City Council hears about solar energy generation project

 

Anniston Star – Officials warn community of surge in drug overdoses

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Birmingham Police and Firefighter unions calling for 15% raise from city of Birmingham

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Community cleans up man’s storm damage after wife taken off life support

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Birmingham community residents say bulk trash not being picked up

 

Tuscaloosa News – Alabama House defeats bill requiring governor’s approval of emergency health rules

 

Tuscaloosa News – Tuscaloosa plans to spend $2.5 million on street paving throughout city

 

Tuscaloosa News – University of Alabama chosen to lead North America’s water research efforts

 

YellowHammer News – State Sen. Barfoot: ‘Divisive concepts’ bill doesn’t force teachers to ‘gloss over’ history

 

YellowHammer News – Katie Britt spokesman Sean Ross blasts Mike Durant’s view on the Second Amendment — ‘It’s not conservative’

 

YellowHammer News – AG Marshall on not saying Biden was ‘duly’ elected: Didn’t want to ‘legitimize that everything that took place in the 2020 election was appropriate’

 

Gadsden Times – Southside first responders, school officials drive home drunk driving message with drama

 

Gadsden Times – Southside first responders, school officials stage wreck to drive home safety message.

 

Gadsden Times – DeKalb man charged in connection with hit-and-run crash

 

Dothan Eagle – For Tiger, a walk unlike any other awaits at the Masters

 

Dothan Eagle – Turkey suspends trial of Saudi suspects in Khashoggi killing

 

Dothan Eagle – US diplomat: Mediterranean gas pipeline to Europe not viable

 

Opelika-Auburn News – ‘We fought for liberty:’ Michigan WWII vets welcome memorial

 

Opelika-Auburn News – EXPLAINER: Can war massacres sway China’s support for Russia

 

WSFA Montgomery – PANDA project to serve people with Alzheimer’s, Dementia

 

WSFA Montgomery – Community cleans up man’s storm damage after wife taken off life support

 

WSFA Montgomery – West Montgomery residents want drainage issues fixed

 

WAFF Huntsville – Education budget passed by legislature includes at least 4% raises for education workers

 

WAFF Huntsville – Late wife of Huntsville mayor awarded posthumous lifetime achievement award by President Biden

 

WAFF Huntsville – Police: Mother accused of kidnapping Montgomery infant still sought

 

WKRG Mobile – Haunting Canada boarding school shot wins World Press Photo

 

WKRG Mobile – UN Assembly to vote on suspending Russia from rights council

 

WKRG Mobile – Scavino, Navarro held in contempt of Congress in 1/6 probe

 

WTVY Dothan – Panama City Beach sees hike in rent prices

 

WTVY Dothan – Police: Mother accused of kidnapping Montgomery infant still sought

 

WTVY Dothan – Coley McCraney’s murder trial delayed

 

WASHINGTON POST – Ukraine braces for assault in east; Russian talk of civilian killings intercepted

 

WASHINGTON POST – Eastern Ukraine braces for renewed assault as Russia regroups

 

WASHINGTON POST – Biden at war: Inside a deliberate yet impulsive Ukraine strategy

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Ukraine Live Updates: Western Allies Move to Further Isolate Russia Over Atrocities

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Russia Is Recruiting Mercenaries and Syrians to Ukraine, Western Officials Say

 

NEW YORK TIMES – ‘We Belong in These Spaces’: Jackson’s Successors Reflect on Her Nomination

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – As Mortgage Rates Rise, Home Sellers Fear Time Is Running Out to Cash In

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Shell Warns of Up to $5 Billion Hit From Russia Exit

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Stock Futures, Bonds Yields Stabilize After Fed-Driven Selloff

 

 

Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize)