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Good morning!
Here’s your Daily News for Wednesday, November 17.
1. Alabama wins ARPA tax cut ruling
- A federal judge has blocked the U.S. Treasury from enforcing a provision of the American Rescue Plan Act that prohibited states from using the pandemic relief funds to offset new tax cuts.
- U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler ruled that Congress exceeded its power in putting the so-called tax mandate on states. He entered a final judgement in favor of 13 states that had filed a lawsuit and instructed the Treasury Department not to enforce the provision. The judge left the rest of the law in place.
- The American Rescue Plan steered $195 billion in flexible relief funds to states but specified that states could not use it as a means to cut taxes by using the federal relief dollars to offset the revenue reduction.
- The judge described the tax-cut restrictions as “a federal invasion of State sovereignty” that was “unconstitutionally ambiguous” — leaving states guessing as to whether their tax cuts would trigger a repayment of federal funds.
- Full story HERE.
2. State: Hubbard’s words show apology was insincere
- Convicted former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard told people he was innocent and “held my nose” as he signed a letter apologizing for his crimes, according to state prosecutors who used Hubbard’s own phone calls and emails from prison to cast doubt on his claims of remorse as he seeks early release.
- The attorney general’s office combed through emails and 600 of Hubbard’s phone calls from prison and cited some of the conversations as they oppose his request for early release from prison. State attorneys said the communications show he was “not truthful” when he signed a letter apologizing for his 2016 conviction for violating state ethics law, including using his public office for personal financial gain.
- Hubbard submitted the letter in September along with a request for early release from prison. In the letter Hubbard said, “I recognize and admit my errors.” Hubbard wrote that his conviction embarrassed the state and his family and “for this, I am severely sorry and respectfully ask forgiveness from everyone affected.”
- According to the Monday court filing, Hubbard told a friend before submitting the apology letter that, “I promise you I did nothing wrong.” On the day he signed the apology letter to the court, Hubbard told his wife that part of the letter he liked was removed, but he was “looking at the ultimate goal” and “held (his) nose and signed it.”
- Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.
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3. 6th Circuit will hear vaccine mandate case
- Challenges to President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private employers will be consolidated in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, a panel dominated by judges appointed by Republicans.
- The Cincinnati-based court was selected Tuesday in a random drawing using ping-pong balls, a process employed when challenges to certain federal agency actions are filed in multiple courts.
- The selection could be good news for those challenging the administration’s vaccine requirement, which includes officials in 27 Republican-led states, employers and several conservative and business organizations. They argue the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not have the authority to impose the mandate.
- The employer vaccine mandate calls for businesses with more than 100 workers to require employees to be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or wear masks and be tested weekly for COVID-19. Exemptions are provided for religious reasons and for those who work at home or only outdoors.
- Because it’s an unusual rule from the workplace safety agency, there is no consensus among lawyers on how the challenges will go. OSHA has issued just 10 emergency rules in the half century since it was formed. Of the six challenged in court, only one survived intact.
- Read more HERE.
4. Defying inflation, Americans ramped up spending last month
- Despite worsening inflation, American consumers appear no less willing to spend freely at retailers — an encouraging sign for the crucial holiday shopping season.
- Buoyed by solid hiring, healthy pay gains and substantial savings stemming in part from government stimulus checks and other relief, Americans ramped up their spending at retail stores and online shops last month. Some of the increase reflected the impact of higher prices, and there were signs that Americans have started to seek out cheaper options.
- Yet the October gain the government reported Tuesday was solid enough for most economists to anticipate holiday shopping jumping by a record amount this year.
- The data also illustrates a key factor behind the supply chain backups that have left dozens of ships waiting to unload at U.S. ports: Americans are buying a tremendous amount of goods, from appliances to electronics to furniture. Retail and food service sales have surged 16.3% compared with a year ago. That is a record high excluding several months during the spring when federal stimulus checks caused sharp spikes in spending.
- Full story HERE.
5. CFP standings: Alabama’s path
- Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State held their places in the College Football Playoff ranking Tuesday, with Cincinnati still sitting at fifth.
- There was no movement in the selection committee’s top seven after all those teams won last week. Michigan was still No. 6 and Michigan State seventh, heading into the Spartans’ big game Saturday at Ohio State.
- Notre Dame moved up a spot to eighth. Oklahoma State (9-1) is now the highest-ranked Big 12 team at ninth after Oklahoma was handed its first loss last week.
- Wake Forest (9-1) is No. 10, the highest-ranked team from the Atlantic Coast Conference with three rankings left until selection Sunday.
- Can Alabama become the first team to reach the playoff with two losses?
- There are two scenarios here: Alabama (9-1) loses a competitive game to Georgia in the SEC championship game. Or Alabama loses one of its two remaining regular-season games and beats Georgia in the SEC title game. Hard to imagine the Tide not getting in under the latter scenario. The former? Less likely, but never doubt the power Alabama has to sway the committee.
- Read more and see the full rankings HERE.
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Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama wins tax cut ruling on American Rescue Plan
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – State: Ex-speaker Hubbard’s words show apology was insincere
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – 6th circuit will consider Biden vaccine mandate
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Defying inflation, Americans ramped up spending last month
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – CFP top 4: Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Labor shortage hitting state agencies
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – In teacher shortage, advocates stress better benefits
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Marshall sues to stop Biden healthcare worker vaccine mandate
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Lawsuits challenge new legislative, congressional lines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Biden signs $1T infrastructure deal
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Roads, transit, internet: What’s in the infrastructure plan
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Ivey taps Liz Filmore as chief of staff
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – NFIB: Support small businesses this holiday season
AL.COM – Palmer roasted for ‘hypocrisy’ of securing Northern Beltline funding, voting against it
AL.COM – $57 million FedEx distribution center coming to Alabama, bringing 200 jobs
AL.COM – Alabama public schools shrunk by 6,000 students during pandemic
AL.COM – Alabama has more than 2 jobs for every 1 person without a job
AL.COM – Alabama school first in weeks to go remote due to COVID increases
Montgomery Advertiser – Two more lawsuits filed against Alabama’s proposed congressional, legislative maps
Montgomery Advertiser – New Montgomery community center under construction along East Boulevard
Montgomery Advertiser – Alabama Attorney General’s Office: Mike Hubbard emails, phone calls show lack of remorse
Decatur Daily – Construction on new Career Academies facility to begin soon
Decatur Daily – Anderson hired as mental health liaison for Decatur police
Decatur Daily – Limestone County applying for grant for water rescue kits
Times Daily – Bentley seeks D-3 state House seat
Times Daily – Ag authority board accepts ALDOT’s right of way offer
Times Daily – Keller rolls out policy for employee vaccinations
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Alabama state superintendent supports literacy act delay, policy holds 3rd graders back who don’t read at grade level
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – St. Clair County voters split on taxes for education
WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Police: Birmingham man arrested after high speed pursuit in stolen car
Tuscaloosa News – Alabama Attorney General’s Office: Mike Hubbard emails, phone calls show lack of remorse
Tuscaloosa News – Former University of Alabama engineering dean picked as Interim president at UAH
Tuscaloosa News – State-of-the-art Saban Center won’t include branch of Tuscaloosa Public Library
YellowHammer News – Brooks cosponsors series of pro-life bills, says ‘Socialist Democrats’ radical, anti-life position’ out of step with Americans
YellowHammer News – Optometrist Mark Shirey launches bid for Alabama House of Representatives District 100
YellowHammer News – Shelby announces $18.5M in grant awards for Tuscaloosa, Auburn infrastructure projects
Gadsden Times – Commissioners reveal Phase Two of mega-site prep plan, get donation from Norfolk Southern
Gadsden Times – Meeting Friday could be pivotal moment in rendering plant conflict
Gadsden Times – Hiring issues discussed by Gadsden’s Human Relations committee
Dothan Eagle – Pfizer asks US officials to OK promising COVID-19 pill
Dothan Eagle – ‘We don’t deserve this’: Inflation hits Turkish people hard
Dothan Eagle – Hate speech trial of likely French far-right candidate opens
Opelika-Auburn News – Forecasting fox predicts snowy winter ahead by using coat and tail
Opelika-Auburn News – Maryland mayor charged with posting revenge porn on Reddit
Opelika-Auburn News – Palestinian amputees take the plunge in Gaza City
WSFA Montgomery – Autauga County Commission tables vote on property tax increase
WSFA Montgomery – State superintendent says COVID-19 cases have dropped ‘dramatically’
WSFA Montgomery – Enterprise business wins national award from DOL
WAFF Huntsville – One year later: Mother of man killed in stand off with Huntsville police speaks on mental health
WAFF Huntsville – NCAC, multidisciplinary agencies sign updated Interagency Agreement
WAFF Huntsville – Madison Fire and Rescue mourns loss of beloved retired driver
WKRG Mobile – No verdict after daylong deliberations by Rittenhouse jury
WKRG Mobile – Suspect leads Mobile police on chase in stolen car
WKRG Mobile – Alabama prosecutors say former House speaker Mike Hubbard’s not sorry, and they have proof
WTVY Dothan – Daleville offering new robotics, STEM programs for kids
WTVY Dothan – City of Ozark is becoming the first in the Wiregrass to use a communication tool to reach their citizens
WTVY Dothan – Santa Claus has made an early stop in Ozark, dropping off the city’s newest gift
WASHINGTON POST – States circumvent federal guidelines to offer booster shots to all adults
WASHINGTON POST – Covid could be endemic illness by next year with more vaccine uptake, Fauci says
WASHINGTON POST – Trump’s legal strategy tested in fight with Congress over Jan. 6 records
NEW YORK TIMES – F.D.A. Plans to Authorize Pfizer Boosters for All Adults This Week
NEW YORK TIMES – Covid Live Updates: U.S. Plans to Spend Billions to Increase Vaccine Supplies
NEW YORK TIMES – Cold and Marooned in a Police State as Desperation Takes Hold
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Treasurys Edge Toward Stability After Inflation-Driven Selloff
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Stock Futures Muted Amid Retail Earnings
WALL STREET JOURNAL – One of the World’s Strongest Stock Markets Is Starting to Fizzle
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