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Good morning!

Remember that the qualifying deadline for the candidates for office is Friday. Well, except for Congress (see below). Hit me up with any surprises or interesting developments emerging from qualifying.

Here’s your Daily News for Tuesday, January 25.

1. Judges block state’s new congressional district map

Federal judges on Monday blocked Alabama from using newly drawn congressional districts in upcoming elections, ruling that the state should have two districts — instead of one — in which Black voters are a sizeable portion of the electorate.
“Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress,” the three-judge panel wrote in the 225-page ruling that found plaintiffs are “substantially likely” to prevail on claims that the current districts violate the Voting Rights Act.
The case took place in Alabama’s Northern District, with the panel including Judges Stanley Marcus, Anna Manasco and Terry Moorer. For what it’s worth, Marcus was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, while Manasco and Moorer were both appointed by former President Donald Trump.
The judges blocked use of the map and stayed the candidate qualification deadline with political parties from Friday until Feb. 11 to allow the Legislature the opportunity to enact a remedial plan.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office said the ruling will be appealed.
Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.

2. Constitutional amendment needed for county, city ARPA spending on broadband

A proposed constitutional amendment clarifying that local governments can spend federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars on broadband expansion will wait until lawmakers’ regular session resumes next week.
That means it won’t get to Alabama voters until the November general election, potentially delaying when counties and cities can fully participate in broadband expansion.
Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Cullman, had hoped for passage in the current special session and appearance on the May 24 primary ballot.
The issue is the current constitution language that prohibits local governments from granting “public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any individual, association or corporation…”
The special is expected to end as soon as Thursday and no legislation beyond the bill spending about $772 million in ARPA funds has advanced.
The same fate met Sen. Dan Roberts’, R-Birmingham, bill to clarify state tax code to guarantee Alabamians aren’t penalized for some of the benefits for families in the American Rescue Plan Act.
That’s not always the case, though. During last year’s special session on redistricting, legislative leadership allowed unrelated bills dealing with vaccine mandates to come up and pass.
Shedd said he’ll file the same bill in the regular session that will resume next week, but that delay means the issue will be on November’s ballot, not May’s.
Read more from Mary Sell HERE.

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3. Trial begins in accuser’s defamation case against Roy Moore

A jury was selected Monday in the defamation lawsuit filed by a woman who had accused failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore of molesting her when she was 14.
Leigh Corfman said Moore defamed her and made false statements as he denied her accusations during the 2017 U.S. Senate race in Alabama. The sexual misconduct allegations helped derail Moore’s hopes of winning the election.
Moore, a Republican, lost the 2017 race to Doug Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in 25 years.
A jury of seven men and five women — plus four alternates -— was seated Monday. Opening arguments are expected Tuesday.
Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.

4. Ukraine on the brink: What are the options?

The Pentagon ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert to potentially deploy to Europe as part of a NATO “response force” amid growing concern that Russia could soon make a military move on Ukraine.
Putting the U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for Europe on Monday suggested diminishing hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will back away from what President Joe Biden himself has said looks like a threat to invade neighboring Ukraine.
Still, with a war weary country, the most likely options to be considered first are diplomatic and economic sanctions.
Those could involve anything from cutting Russia off from U.S. dollars and international banking to slapping sanctions on a former Olympic gymnast reported to be Putin’s girlfriend.
One problem is that Russia does quite a bit of business with European countries that have a say in what sanctions are imposed.
Read more about what all is on the table HERE.

5. Auburn flies to No. 1 in AP Top 25 for first time in history

War Eagle is flying high over men’s college basketball for the first time in history.
A barely ranked afterthought to begin the season, Auburn climbed past Gonzaga to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll released Monday. The Tigers beat Kentucky over the weekend for their 15th consecutive win, then scooped up 45 of 61 first-place votes to become the nation’s top-ranked team for the first time since the poll began with the 1948-49 season.
The Bulldogs dropped to No. 2 with 15 first-place votes. Arizona remained third and earned the other No. 1 vote.
“The No. 1 ranking matters because it’s historical,” Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said Monday. “I’m very happy for Auburn. I’m very happy for my coaches and or players to have been been able to achieve that. That said, we got a lot of work to do.”
This week alone, it includes a trip to Missouri on Tuesday night and a showdown with Oklahoma on Saturday.
Read more and see the full AP Top 25 HERE.

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Headlines

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama’s new congressional districts map blocked by judges

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Constitutional amendment needed for county, city ARPA spending on broadband

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Trial begins in accuser’s defamation case against Roy Moore

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – US orders 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia worry

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – EXPLAINER: What are US options for sanctions against Putin?

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Auburn flies to No. 1 in AP Top 25 for first time in history

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Durant defends record after sister, father abuse story resurfaces

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Taxpayers face overloaded IRS as filing season opens Monday

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Community college system sees enrollment increase

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Birmingham closing more than century-old bridge for safety

AL.COM – Alabama’s congressional redistricting maps blocked: Federal judges seek more Black majority districts

AL.COM – National police group comes to defense of convicted Huntsville officer

AL.COM – ‘Descendant:’ A film of many voices, telling the story of Africatown

AL.COM – Lynching marker unveiled, and then removed in Mobile

AL.COM – 2 ‘Flurona’ cases detected in Alabama, both in young children, lab says

AL.COM – Will omicron shift COVID pandemic into an endemic?

AL.COM – Filing state taxes: Alabama begins processing returns today; what to know

Montgomery Advertiser – Alabama COVID package should get first votes on Tuesday

Montgomery Advertiser – Three things to know about the defamation trial against Roy Moore, Leigh Corfman

Montgomery Advertiser – Sidewalk planned to cross Prattville’s pedestrian ‘Bridge to Nowhere’

Decatur Daily – Area students back in class this week

Decatur Daily – Priceville police officer injured in shooting

Decatur Daily – Decatur man charged in Tennessee with trafficking for sex

Times Daily – Durant defends record after sister, father abuse story resurfaces

Times Daily – Movement calls for a single broadband entity in Shoals

Times Daily – Florence-Lauderdale Tourism opens online Shoals Shop

Anniston Star – Alabama COVID package should get first votes on Tuesday

Anniston Star – Durant defends record after sister, father abuse story resurfaces

Anniston Star – Bill would end cities’ occupational taxes

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Making housing more affordable in Birmingham’s Belview Community

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Florida sheriff’s department describe arresting Helena man wanted for double murder

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Friends remember woman and her father after they were found dead in Helena; Police investigating double homicide

Tuscaloosa News – Third suspect charged in Valley Hills shooting death of Northport teen

Tuscaloosa News – Alabama COVID package should get first votes on Tuesday

Tuscaloosa News – Tuscaloosa City Schools on target for a return to in-person classes, superintendent says

YellowHammer News – U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl cosponsors bill granting public access to Fauci’s financial disclosures

YellowHammer News – Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School opens student enrollment, begins hiring teachers

YellowHammer News – Second Amendment advocates launch statewide grassroots campaign promoting constitutional carry

Gadsden Times – As IRS says to expect delays, RSVP offers free tax preparation help

Gadsden Times – Crossville, Snead State alum Nabors lands job with Bezos-owned company Blue Origin

Gadsden Times – Etowah Mega Sports Authority waiting for work to resume; play date still up in the air

Dothan Eagle – Abortion opponents eye priorities as high court ruling looms

Dothan Eagle – London police investigating Downing Street lockdown parties

Dothan Eagle – Ukraine urges calm, saying Russian invasion not imminent

Opelika-Auburn News – Very cold for the Upper Midwest as rain and storms strike along the Gulf Coast

WSFA Montgomery – City councilman pushing security upgrades for Ravenwood Apartments

WSFA Montgomery – C Spire to expand fiber broadband network in Montgomery

WSFA Montgomery – Federal Judges order Alabama to redraw Congressional map

WAFF Huntsville – 5 arrested on drug charges in Limestone County

WAFF Huntsville – Mississippi woman accused of scamming Limestone County resident

WKRG Mobile – Ukraine urges calm, saying Russian invasion not imminent

WKRG Mobile – German caution on arms to Ukraine rooted in history, energy

WKRG Mobile – Iconic musician seeks to rebuild Iraq through music

WTVY Dothan – Federal Judges order Alabama to redraw Congressional map

WTVY Dothan – Facebook group seeks broadband expansion in Alabama

WTVY Dothan – Dothan man convicted of child porn sentenced to 20 years

WASHINGTON POST – Russia conducts new military exercises as Biden, Europeans intensify diplomacy on Ukraine

WASHINGTON POST – Georgia prosecutor granted special grand jury in probe of Trump’s efforts to overturn state’s election results

WASHINGTON POST – Serial murders, beatings and beheadings: Violence against the homeless is increasing, advocates say

NEW YORK TIMES – For Ukrainian Soldiers, a Nervous Guessing Game on the Front

NEW YORK TIMES – Covid Live Updates: E.U. to Ease Travel Rules for Vaccinated Residents

NEW YORK TIMES – C.I.A.-Backed Afghan Fighters Are Still Waiting to Reach U.S.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Stock Futures Fall in Wake of Turbulence on Wall Street

WALL STREET JOURNAL – On the Brink of War With Russia, Ukrainians Are Resigned and Prepared

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Investors Lose Appetite for Stocks of Unprofitable Companies

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

Daily News Digest – January 25, 2022