Good morning!
Here’s your Daily News for Monday, August 1.
1. Last word: Marsh, McCutcheon share memories, advice at BCA conference
- To hear former Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh and House Speaker Mac McCutcheon tell it, their tenure has included landmark reforms to set the state’s financial house in order, but much work remains to improve education and making sense of the ethics code.
- The two retiring leaders made something of a swan song joint appearance dubbed “The Last Word” at the Business Council of Alabama’s governmental affairs conference in Point Clear. The annual event brings together the state’s top political leaders for a three-day agenda of policy meetings, panel discussions and networking events.
- Marsh and McCutcheon took candid questions from Horace Horn of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. Marsh is stepping away after almost 25 years in the Legislature, including 10 as the Senate’s top leader, and McCutcheon is calling it a career after 16 years in the House, including the last six as Speaker.
- Read my full story HERE.
2. Alabama delegation discusses the post-Shelby future in Washington
- There was no glossing over the obvious during panel discussion of Alabama’s congressional leaders: the delegation’s work in Washington will be much different after the retirement of senior Sen. Richard Shelby.
- Yet, the changing of the guard may see the balance of influence shift to the House, where Alabama’s delegation has been rising in seniority and gaining key positions.
- “There’s no question that life will be different without Sen. Shelby, you can’t deny that,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville. “But I look over at my friend Mike Rogers who is about to be chairman of Armed Services, I look at Jerry Carl who, hopefully, is going to join me on Appropriations, I look next to me at Terri Sewell who is on Ways and Means and has a close relationship with the President of the United States — Alabama will still be punching above our weight in Washington.”
- Aderholt spoke alongside colleagues Rogers, R-Saks, Sewell, D-Selma, Carl, R-Mobile and Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Birmingham during a panel discussion at the Business Council of Alabama’s governmental affairs conference. Ted Hosp of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama moderated the hour-long event.
- Read my full story HERE.
3. DOJ: Lawsuit should proceed over Brookside’s police fines
- The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to let a class-action lawsuit go forward against an Alabama town accused of policing for profit with excessive fines and aggressive enforcement of local laws.
- The U.S. attorney’s office this week filed a statement of interest in the civil lawsuit against Brookside. The lawsuit was filed by four people who paid hundred of dollars in fines and said they were humiliated by what they described as a scheme to boost town revenue.
- Brookside is seeking to dismiss the lawsuit. The Justice Department argued that it should proceed against the police department and local officials.
- “Courts, prosecutors, and police should be driven by justice—not revenue,” an assistant U.S. attorney wrote in the court filing.
- Read more HERE.
4. Pelosi meets Singapore leaders, no word on Taiwan visit
- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held talks with officials in Singapore on Monday at the start of her Asian tour, as questions swirled over a possible stop in Taiwan that has fueled tension with Beijing.
- In a statement over the weekend, Pelosi said she will visit Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan to discuss trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security and “democratic governance.”
- She didn’t confirm news reports that she might visit Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing as its own territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against meddling in Beijing’s dealings with the island in a phone call last week with U.S. President Joe Biden.
- Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make the island’s decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step U.S. leaders say they don’t support. Pelosi, head of one of three branches of the U.S. government, would be the highest-ranking elected American official to visit Taiwan since then-Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997.
- Read more HERE.
5. Manchin demurs on Biden in 2024 and Dem majorities this year
- Sen. Joe Manchin, one of the Democrats’ most conservative and contrarian members, declined on Sunday to endorse Joe Biden if the president seeks a second term in 2024 and refused to say whether he wants Democrats to retain control of Congress after the November elections.
- In a round of appearances on five news shows, the West Virginia senator also expressed hope that Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., will back a Democratic package of climate, health care and tax initiatives that he negotiated. She joined Manchin last year in forcing cuts and changes in larger versions of the plan, and support from every Democrat in the 50-50 Senate — plus Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote — is needed to overcome anticipated unanimous Republican opposition in votes expected this week. Sinema has declined to tell reporters her stance.
- “I would like to think she would be favorable toward it,” he said.
- But beyond that, Manchin demurred when pressed about supporting his party or its nominee for president in upcoming elections.
- “I’m not getting into 2022 or 2024,” he said, adding that “whoever is my president, that’s my president.”
- Read more HERE.
Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama delegation discusses the post-Shelby future in Washington
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Marsh, McCutcheon share memories, advice at BCA conference
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – DOJ: Lawsuit should proceed over Brookside’s police fines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Pelosi meets Singapore leaders, no word on Taiwan visit
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Manchin demurs on Biden in 2024 and Dem majorities this year
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Capitol Journal: July 29, 2022
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama says delay in execution caused by IV line issue
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – New Troy University programs aims to counter corporate ‘wokeness’
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Court: 70-year-old indicted in Alabama church triple slaying
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Family: 2 Alabamians captured in Ukraine sent to prison
AL.COM – Alabama Constitution of 2022 removes repealed laws, racist language
AL.COM – Lamar Benefield: Visionary with a taste for Birmingham
AL.COM – ‘We don’t want to leave anything to chance’: After Uvalde, Alabama schools weigh increases in resource officers
AL.COM – ‘Amtrak expects to be able to run the train’: Mississippi city to reactivate train station for Gulf Coast
AL.COM – Huntsville won’t reveal how much it spent on lawyers in police shooting, claims records are ‘privileged’
AL.COM – Columnist Roy S. Johnson: Internships matter, so they should reflect us all
Montgomery Advertiser – The Market at John Hall Store hosting Summer Roundup for school supplies
Montgomery Advertiser – Montgomery shooting leaves juvenile male with life-threatening injury
Montgomery Advertiser – Montgomery police launch double homicide investigation after Friday evening shooting
Decatur Daily – Teachers do it because they love it despite stress of pandemic, school shootings
Decatur Daily – Volunteers: Athens-Limestone animal shelter in bad shape
Decatur Daily – Editorial: Job market shows why US needs immigrants
Times Daily – Shoals Theatre rolls out the red carpet
Times Daily – Florence woman who had been dead for weeks found on Friday
Times Daily – Florence contractor submits low bid to remove structures for U.S. 72 widening project
Anniston Star – Huntsville’s Space Center marks starting point of nation’s space travel
Anniston Star – Space Center: Still amazing 50 years later
Anniston Star – Anniston school system hosts families for fun at high school
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – How to protect yourself from Monkeypox
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Calling for HVAC repairs during intense summer heat
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Mechanic urging drivers to stay aware of extreme temperatures
Tuscaloosa News – Head-on collision in Tuscaloosa County kills 22-year-old Buhl man, Alabama troopers say
Tuscaloosa News – Tuscaloosa-area churches focus on keeping children safe
YellowHammer News – South Alabama’s Whiddon College of Medicine welcomes largest class
Gadsden Times – Steele man dies in single-vehicle wreck on Chandler Mountain Road
Gadsden Times – Ask The Candidates: Incumbent Dayton, challenger Darnell seek District 5 school board seat
Gadsden Times – On vacation, ‘go somewhere you haven’t been and learn something new’
Dothan Eagle – Remembering Bill Russell, Nichelle Nichols; Pelosi opens Asia trip; and more top news
Dothan Eagle – Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ has died at 89
Dothan Eagle – Pat Carroll, Emmy winner and voice of Ursula, dies at 95
Opelika-Auburn News – Remembering Bill Russell, Nichelle Nichols; Pelosi opens Asia trip; and more top news
Opelika-Auburn News – Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ has died at 89
Opelika-Auburn News – 1st ship carrying Ukrainian grain leaves the port of Odesa
WSFA Montgomery – Heavy delays after crash on I-65 SB near U.S. 82
WSFA Montgomery – Embrace Alabama Kids Week raises awareness, support for vulnerable children, families
WSFA Montgomery – Experts say gas prices likely to continue dropping through Labor Day
WAFF Huntsville – One dead, one in critical condition following a wreck
WAFF Huntsville – Alabama A&M mourns the loss of recent graduate and former cheerleader
WAFF Huntsville – “How do you not vote for something that is going to help take care of a lot of people down the road?”: Madison County Veteran speaks after PACT Act of 2022 fails to pass in Senate
WKRG Mobile – Appalachian cultural center reeling from historic flooding
WKRG Mobile – Deshaun Watson discipline decision expected Monday: Here’s what we know
WKRG Mobile – It’s coming home! England rejoices as soccer women win Euros
WTVY Dothan – UPDATE: Death investigation underway in Hartford
WTVY Dothan – New infrastructure plan to address Lowndes County wastewater issues
WTVY Dothan – One dead after house fire in Dale County
WASHINGTON POST – Major legal fights loom over abortion pills, travel out of state
WASHINGTON POST – Hollywood ‘nepo babies’ know what you think of them. They have some thoughts.
WASHINGTON POST – First ship carrying grain leaves Odessa in deal to ease global food crisis
NEW YORK TIMES – Using Nuclear Reactors for Cover, Russians Lob Rockets at Ukrainians
NEW YORK TIMES – Live Updates: For First Time Since Start of War, a Ship With Grain Leaves Odesa
NEW YORK TIMES – A Pelosi Trip to Taiwan Would Test China’s Appetite for Confrontation
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Ukraine Grain Shipment Departs for First Time Since Russian Invasion
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Dollar-Store Dinners and Vats of Shampoo Help Families Cope With High Prices
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Evergrande Told to Cough Up $1.1 Billion for Previously Undisclosed Guarantees
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