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Daily News Digest – November 1, 2021

Presented by the

Alabama League of Municipalities

Good morning!

Here’s your Daily News for Monday, November 1.

1. Session continues: Maps move to House, Senate floors

  • Alabama lawmakers continue their special session today as the House and Senate meet to take up redistricting maps advanced through committees Friday.
  • The proposed maps for Congress, state school board and state legislature remained unchanged in committees and passed on party line votes. The House will take up its own map, along with the state’s congressional districts. The Senate will take up its map and the state school board districts.
  • In the House Government Affairs Committee, some current and potential GOP lawmakers raised concerns about changes to their districts — a debate that could carry on to the floor today.
  • Rep. Charlotte Meadows, R-Montgomery, told committee members her district, House District 74, would become Democratic leaning under the new map and the “core” of that community has been changed completely.
  • The proposed map makes HD74 52% Black and 40% white, according to information given to legislators. The district under the 2017 map was 67.2% white and 25.8% Black.
  • A similar concern arose during Friday’s meeting about House District 88 – but the complaint came from a candidate, not a current legislator.
  • Josh Pendergrass, a lawyer and former communications director for Gov. Kay Ivey, has announced that he is running for the Republican nomination for the district that has for decades contained the city of Prattville. But under the proposed map that splits Prattville, he would no longer live in the district he’s running for.
  • During a meeting of the Joint Legislative Reapportionment Committee last week, leadership assured Democrats that an accommodation had been made to make sure Montgomery’s House District 76 would include Penni McClammy, daughter of the late Rep. Thad McClammy, who is running for her father’s old seat.
  • Read more from Caroline Beck HERE.

 

2. Senate committee to hear vaccine mandate bills today

  • The Senate General Fund budget committee will meet this afternoon and could take up a number of bills extraneous to the special session on redistricting, including several having to do with vaccines or vaccine mandates.
  • There are now 12 vaccine-related bills filed for the special session, including five in the House and seven in the Senate.
  • Committee Chairman Greg Albritton, R-Range, said he predicted the panel would move at least one vaccine mandate bill.
  • “The issue will be addressed in the committee meeting and our plan is to get something out so we can have something on the floor Tuesday,” chairman Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, told Alabama Daily News on Sunday.
  • There are ten bills assigned to the Senate General Fund budget committee, but the agenda is set by the chairman and not all are likely to be considered.
  • Read more from Mary Sell HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A message from the

Alabama League of Municipalities

  • Municipalities are the foundation of Alabama’s economy. The Alabama League of Municipalities was formed in 1935 and currently represents more than 450 member municipalities.
  • Year after year, the League works to secure legislation enabling all cities and towns to perform their functions more efficiently and effectively; offers specialized training for both municipal officials and employees; and conducts continuing studies of the legislative, administrative and operational needs, problems and functions of Alabama’s municipal governments.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Sanderford won’t seek reelection

  • Longtime State Rep. Howard Sanderford announced Monday that he won’t seek reelection, opting to retire after 33 years in the Alabama House of Representatives.
  • The Huntsville Republican, first elected in a special election in 1989, said he believes it is time to end his run of public service and allow others the opportunity to lead.
  • “Representing the citizens of Huntsville and Madison County for almost 33 years has been the honor of a lifetime, but my heart tells me this is the time to step aside and allow someone else to take the reins of leadership,” Sanderford said. “I will leave the Legislature with the knowledge that Alabama is a better place to live, work, and raise a family than it was when I first took office more than three decades ago.”
  • We first reported via Inside Alabama Politics in August that Sanderford was on the fence about seeking reelection. Two candidates, Republicans James Lomax and Frances Taylor, have announced they are seeking the House District 20 seat.
  • Full story HERE.

 

4. Make or break time for Democrats on budget deal

  • It’s make or break time on Capitol Hill for Congressional Democrats hoping to deliver on President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar domestic agenda.
  • While members largely coalesced around a framework for the social and environmental taxing and spending plan late last week, there is no firm legislative text and that means pitfalls remain as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tries to herd her caucus toward a vote this week.
  • Biden bowed to Democrats’ handful of stubborn moderates demanding that he cut his 10-year, $3.5 trillion package of social and environment programs in half.
  • After months of bargaining, the party’s increasingly powerful progressives have largely decided to back an outline of that now diminished plan, though they’re still fighting to preserve some programs. While initially demanding $6 trillion and then falling back to $3.5 trillion, they’re declaring victory at a still hefty $1.75 trillion, perhaps a bit more.
  • A final deal would let Biden and his party try selling voters on the measure’s large sums for universal preschool, extended subsidies and tax breaks for health care, and tax credits to encourage cleaner energy. It’s paid for largely with new levies on millionaires and big corporations.
  • Also, remember the separate $1 trillion infrastructure bill that passed the Senate in a bi-partisan vote? It has been ready for action in the House for some time, but the Progressive Caucus won’t sign off until legislative text of the larger budget bill is released.
  • One near-term event that might affect Democrats’ talks is Tuesday’s Virginia gubernatorial election.
  • Should Republican Glenn Youngkin defeat Democratic former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the blue-leaning state, it could worry Democrats about their hold on swing-area suburbs enough to quickly settle their differences faster. Or it might make some of them less willing to back the larger package.
  • Read a full rundown from Capitol Hill HERE.

 

 

5. AP Top 25

  • Nothing much changed at the tippy top of the AP Top 25 this week, as Georgia remained an undisputed No. 1 with Cincinnati, Alabama and Oklahoma rounding out the top four.
  • Michigan State is now up to No. 5 after a big win over Michigan and could compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff when those first rankings are released on Tuesday.
  • Auburn jumped six spots to No. 12 after beating Ole Miss, setting up this week’s marquee college football matchup at No. 13 Texas A&M.
  • Also worth noting to a handful of key Wake Forest graduates (and parents) within Alabama politics that the Demon Deacons are ranked in the top ten for the first time in school history.
  • Read more and see the full AP Top 25 HERE.

 

 

Headlines

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Special session continues: Maps move to House, Senate floors

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Senate committee to hear anti-vaccine mandate bills today

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Longtime Rep. Howard Sanderford to retire after 33 years in House

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Tussling Dems tumble toward deal on Biden’s economic plans

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – AP Top 25: Michigan St up to 5; Wake in top 10 for 1st time

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama GOP sends new district maps for legislative approval

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama: Vaccine mandate will lead state employees to quit

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Bid considered to wipe Alabama arrest records of King, Parks

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – US, EU say deal on steel tariffs will help on climate change

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – People, homes vanish due to 2020 census’ new privacy method

 

AL.COM – Take a look at Alabama’s new proposed state House and Senate districts

 

AL.COM – Battle over Spanish Fort: Alabama redistricting places Republican area into Democratic hands

 

AL.COM – Alabama judge removed from office; court finds racist conduct and sexually inappropriate behavior

 

AL.COM – 300 ebikes now available on University of Alabama campus

 

Montgomery Advertiser – They’re here: HBO show highlights Selma’s LGBTQ community

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Now that the Autauga Board of Education passed a tax increase proposal, what happens next?

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Man shot dead early Sunday in Montgomery

 

Decatur Daily – Bear, Thor, and Bagheera loved like children

 

Decatur Daily – 6 anti-vaccine mandate bills filed in Senate include 2 from Orr

 

Decatur Daily – Mayor: Demolition of Carrie Matthews rec center likely

 

Times Daily – Tuscumbia’s Underwood selected for “Honor Your Hometown” campaign

 

Times Daily – Anna and Carol: Making beautiful music together

 

Times Daily – 6 anti-vaccine mandate bills filed in Senate

 

Anniston Star – 6 anti-vaccine mandate bills filed in Senate; futures in House doubtful

 

Anniston Star – Senate candidate Jessica Taylor offers her views at recent campaign event

 

Anniston Star – Oxford’s Main Street welcomes a full cast of characters

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Local food bank prepared for holiday food needs despite supply chain issues

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Car drives into Applebee’s in West Birmingham

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – One person injured in explosion in Fultondale

 

Tuscaloosa News – They’re here: HBO show highlights Selma’s LGBTQ community

 

Tuscaloosa News – November in Tuscaloosa will feature dance, music, art, Diwali and other holiday events

 

Tuscaloosa News – Buhl man dies after two-vehicle crash in Tuscaloosa County, state troopers say

 

YellowHammer News – State Rep. Pringle: Proposal to create second Democrat congressional district could help GOP — ‘I call it the Republican opportunity plan’

 

YellowHammer News – State Sen. Orr: Political momentum suggests anti-vaccine mandate legislation opponents ‘better get to the table’

 

YellowHammer News – AG Marshall files lawsuit against Biden’s ‘illegally decreed’ federal contractor vaccine mandate

 

Gadsden Times – WHEN HARRY MET: Preacher, Studebaker lover the Rev. Will Hughes

 

Gadsden Times – They’re here: HBO show highlights Selma’s LGBTQ community

 

Gadsden Times – Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity taking applications until Nov. 15

 

Dothan Eagle – Judge hopes to seat Kyle Rittenhouse jury within a day

 

Dothan Eagle – Biden swings focus of climate effort from US to the world

 

Dothan Eagle – COVID-19’s global death toll tops 5 million; world leaders feel heat on climate; NASCAR title field set

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Heating up: World leaders take center stage at climate talks

 

Opelika-Auburn News – COVID-19’s global death toll tops 5 million; world leaders feel heat on climate; NASCAR title field set

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Judge hopes to seat Kyle Rittenhouse jury within a day

 

WSFA Montgomery – Students continue support of Tuskegee band protest

 

WSFA Montgomery – One person injured in explosion in Fultondale

 

WSFA Montgomery – Buc-ee’s holds groundbreaking in Auburn, plans late 2022 opening

 

WAFF Huntsville – Alabama AG files lawsuit to block vaccine mandate for federal contractors

 

WAFF Huntsville – Murderer sentenced to 20 years in prison over $30

 

WAFF Huntsville – NAACP meets with Commission Chairman over redistricting concerns

 

WKRG Mobile – White House press secretary Psaki says she has COVID-19

 

WKRG Mobile – Human trafficking survivors able to recharge and reconnect at inaugural retreat

 

WKRG Mobile – Ugandan kids lose hope in long school closure amid pandemic

 

WTVY Dothan – Jackson Co. deputies retrieve body of homicide victim from Chattahoochee River

 

WTVY Dothan – UPDATE: One dead in Gadsden County plane crash

 

WTVY Dothan – Shooting death investigation underway in Geneva County

 

WASHINGTON POST – How does a pandemic start winding down? You are looking at it.

 

WASHINGTON POST – Justices hear arguments in two challenges to Texas’s abortion law, the most restrictive in nation

 

WASHINGTON POST – Treasury Secretary Yellen expresses openness to defusing debt ceiling without GOP votes

 

NEW YORK TIMES – COP26 Live Updates: As Peril of Warming Planet Grows, World Leaders Gather in Glasgow

 

NEW YORK TIMES – At Climate Talks, Biden Will Try to Sell American Leadership to Skeptics

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments on Texas Abortion Law

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Barclays CEO Jes Staley Steps Down Amid Pressure Over Epstein Ties

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Central Banks Fuel New Bets on Tighter Money as Inflation Rises Globally

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Stock Futures Rise, Treasury Yields Tick Higher

 

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

 

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