Good morning!

Here’s your Daily News for Wednesday, January 15.

 

1. Prison reform recommendations coming

• With the legislative session just 20 days away, the big question everyone keeps asking is, “what’s going to happen with prison reform?”
• Some expect a big, over-arching prison reform package with a push from Gov. Kay Ivey akin to last year’s infrastructure bill. Others expect something more subdued, allowing lawmakers to guide the process with individual bills.
• At its final meeting Tuesday, the Governor’s Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy discussed a lot of ideas, but made it clear we won’t see specific policy proposals until closer to session.
• “I think we’ve had 20-40 years of a ‘lock everybody up’ mentality, and you can see in 2020 where it’s gotten us,” Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said during the meeting. “So I think it’s time to try something different and I think it’s time to try something revolutionary.”
• Kelly Butler, director of Alabama’s Department of Finance, is a member of the study group and told Alabama Daily News that discussions about funding in the 2021 General Fund budget are still ongoing.
• “We’re hearing a lot of ideas,” Butler said. “I would predict that maybe some of those things might happen, but it’s too early to be sure.”
• The group mostly agreed that pre-trial diversion programs that allow offenders to get treatment instead of jail time and that more mental health services and in-prison education programs were all areas that needed improvement and better funding.
• Read the full story from ADN’s Caroline Beck HERE.

 

2. Impeachment crosses the Capitol

• The U.S. House is set to vote today to send the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate for a landmark trial on whether the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are grounds for removal.
• The Senate is expected to transform into an impeachment court as early as Thursday. The Constitution calls for the chief justice to preside over senators, who serve as jurors, and swear an oath to deliver “impartial justice.” The House managers will walk the articles across the Capitol in a dramatic procession this evening after the midday vote.
• The articles will be escorted by specific political stars along a tightly choreographed path from the House through the Capitol rotunda to the Senate for trial. There awaits more history, formality and tradition of a type that’s only been seen on television once, and not since the 1999 trial of President Bill Clinton.
• Like Clinton, Trump is expected to be acquitted. But the nation has never seen Chief Justice John Roberts cross the street from the Supreme Court and preside over the Senate trial. Or witnessed four Democratic presidential candidates sitting in silence, without their phones, ahead of the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses.
• Also, Twitter was not a thing the last time this happened. It’s now the president’s favorite bullhorn to proclaim his innocence and his fury in real time.
• Read more about what to watch for as the House transmits the impeachment articles to the Senate HERE.

 

3. Internal poll shows Coleman leading AL-2 primary

• One of the most watched political races this year is Alabama’s 2nd District, where several candidates are vying to succeed Rep. Martha Roby, who is not running for re-election after five terms in Congress.
• New internal polling from one of those candidates, Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman, show him surging ahead to lead the pack in the race.
• Coleman has considerable resources, both raised and self-contributed, which has allowed his campaign to blanket the district with a consistent barrage of advertising on television, radio and billboards. The strategy seems to have worked, bringing Coleman from virtually unknown among most of the electorate to within striking distance of avoiding a runoff in a crowded field.
• Also, campaign finance numbers are starting to trickle in.
• See the survey results, now liberated from behind the IAP paywall, HERE.

 

4. New map illustrates rural broadband issue

• One of the biggest legislative issues over the past three sessions has been expanding access to high-speed broadband internet in rural communities. Multiple laws have been enacted to take steps toward the goal of connecting rural communities. However, rural broadband has also been a nebulous issue. While individual lawmakers are keen to get their districts connected, it has been difficult for some to see the problem from a statewide perspective. Now, that might change.
• A new statewide map shows the significant portions the Alabama that lack access to high-speed internet, an issue that continues to become a priority for some lawmakers.
• The map from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs shows areas that have adequate broadband access, areas that don’t — they’re in every county — and areas that have applied for state-funded broadband grants.
• Kenneth Boswell, ADECA director, told the House Ways and Means Education Committee that statewide and regional plans currently being developed will help rollout broadband needs now and in the future.
• Read the full story from ADN’s Caroline Beck and see the draft map HERE.

 

 

5. Iron Bowl of basketball tonight

 

• The Auburn Tigers haven’t missed a step — or lost a game — after losing their three best players from last season’s Final Four team.
• The fourth-ranked Tigers have ascended 20 spots in the AP Top 25 since the season began, won their first 15 games and sailed through the opening games of Southeastern Conference play.
• Even with a relatively friendly early schedule, it’s an impressive start for a team that had to reload following the program’s first Final Four appearance.
• And all that success and mid-season hype makes tonight’s visit to Tuscaloosa a perfect trap game for the Tigers. Auburn plays rival Alabama (8-7, 1-2) in Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is at 8:00 Central on ESPN2.
• The Crimson Tide have a good team, too, but have come up just short in close road losses at Kentucky and Florida.
• Read more from John Zenor HERE.

 

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