Presented by USA Health

 

1. Biden budget plan could close ‘coverage gap’ for 300K Alabamians

• All eyes are on the U.S. House of Representatives today as it is scheduled to begin debate on Democrats’ massive $1.75 trillion budget plan dubbed “Build Back Better.”
• While the far-reaching policies in the bill can sometimes seem nebulous, one provision could have a specific impact on Alabamians without health insurance.
• As written, the budget extends tax credits for the uninsured in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, including Alabama. The White House estimates that will allow 4 million Americans to afford private insurance through the healthcare.gov exchange, including 300,000 in Alabama.
• If enacted, the tax credits would expire after 2025. Like many provisions of the budget plan, health care tax credits had to be scaled back in scope to mollify concerns from moderate Democrats over the price tag of the bill, which has been cut in half from the original $3.5 trillion.
• This has implications for the state’s health care universe, including hospitals, the Medicaid agency and insurers.
• I spoke to Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who championed the provision, along with several stakeholders about its potential impact on Alabama.
• Read my full story HERE.

 

 

2. McClammy wins father’s former seat without a contest

• Patrice “Penni” McClammy, daughter of former Alabama House Representative Thad McClammy, has won House District 76 after no other candidates challenged her during the special election.
• Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill announced McClammy’s win on Wednesday after she was the only qualified candidate to register for the special election before the deadline earlier this week.
• McClammy thanked her family and supporters on Facebook after the election certificate was announced.
• “I am truly blessed to take the Oath of Office today as your new State Representative for District 76,” McClammy said in her post. “I have a special spirit in my heart today for my daddy, my former State Representative, the late Thad McClammy, mom, Patricia McClammy, and grandparents. You all will forever be in my heart!”
• Thad McClammy died in August. He was first elected to the House in 1994.
• Read more from Caroline Beck HERE.

 

 

 

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3. Former guard sentenced for bringing meth into prison

• A former Alabama Department of Corrections guard was sentenced to more than seven years behind bars for distributing methamphetamine in the state prison where he worked.
• Senior U.S. District Court Judge Karon O. Bowdre sentenced Gary Charles Dixon Jr., 36, on Wednesday to 87 months in prison on one count of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Dixon pleaded guilty to the charges in July.
• “Smuggling contraband into our state prisons compromises the safety of everyone in the facility,” U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona said in a news release.
• Read more HERE.

 

 

4. Trustees vote today on UAH interim president

• A former engineering dean at the University of Alabama is being recommended as interim president at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
• Chancellor Finis St. John’s appointment of Chuck Karr still must be approved by trustees, but St. John was a member of the board for 17 years and opposition to Karr was unlikely.
• Karr, who worked as engineering dean at the Tuscaloosa campus for 16 years, would replace Darren Dawson, who cited private family matters in stepping down after less than three years on the job at UAH, which has an emphasis on engineering and technology.
• “The board of trustees and the University of Alabama System have made the success of UAH a top priority, and I am confident that Dr. Karr is well-positioned to help UAH reach its full potential,” St. John said in a statement.
• Trustees will vote on Karr’s appointment during a meeting today. The interim appointment would be for at least 18 months, the system said, and Dawson will remain on the payroll until the end of the year.
• Full story HERE.

 

 

5. Ivey promotes key executive staff

• Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced more updates to her executive staff, including two new deputy chiefs of staff and a dual role for state Finance Director Bill Poole.
• Nathan Lindsay and Brooks McClendon will take on the roles of deputy chiefs of staff.
• Lindsay currently serves as director of appointments for the governor and McClendon is the Senate liaison in the Legislative Affairs Office, a duty he will continue to hold for the legislative session that begins on Jan. 11, 2022.
• Ivey named Poole as a senior advisor. He will remain as finance director but will also assume the key leadership role in Ivey’s executive office.
• Earlier this week, Ivey named Liz Filmore as chief of staff after Jo Bonner was selected to be the next president of the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
• Read more HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

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Headlines

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Biden budget plan could close ‘coverage gap’ for 300,000 Alabamians

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Patrice ‘Penni’ McClammy takes HD76 seat unopposed

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Former guard sentenced for trying to bring drugs into prison

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Trustees to vote on interim UAH president

 

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Ivey promotes key executive staff

 

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

 

AL.COM – Feds investigate claim migrant teens trafficked in Alabama but find no evidence

 

AL.COM – Columnist Cameron Smith: Rep. Gary Palmer has no shame supporting Birmingham Northern Beltline

 

AL.COM – ‘I can’t say anything’: Alabama students, parents wrestle with impact of racist video

 

AL.COM – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey picks 3 staff members for new leadership positions

 

AL.COM – Alabama police department hires mental health liaison to deescalate crises

 

AL.COM – COVID booster shots could be approved for all US adults this week

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Alabama Attorney General’s Office: Mike Hubbard emails, phone calls show lack of remorse

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Looking for a feast with none of the fuss? Montgomery restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day

 

Montgomery Advertiser – Order up! Grab Thanksgiving feast to-go this year at these Montgomery-area restaurants

 

Decatur Daily – Labor shortage hitting state agencies

 

Decatur Daily – Streets closed in Athens for Christmas Open House

 

Decatur Daily – Alabama School of Fine Arts opens applications for 2022-23 school year

 

Times Daily – Florence city workers awarded $4,000 bonuses

 

Times Daily – Muscle Shoals leaf pickup is in full swing

 

Times Daily – Attorney happy with judge’s ruling in jail lawsuits

 

Anniston Star – COVID caution still limits lineup of Thanksgiving meals

 

Anniston Star – James Spann predicts an open, generous spirit will improve our lives

 

Anniston Star – Oxford’s Festival of Lights begins Saturday night

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Calera woman says someone stole gas out of her tank

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – USPS ‘ready’ to tackle upcoming holiday season

 

WBRC Fox 6 Birmingham – Truck drives into house in Bessemer

 

Tuscaloosa News – Eight Tuscaloosa police officers placed on leave after Wednesday shooting

 

Tuscaloosa News – McCalla man faces life sentence for role in 2019 killing

 

Tuscaloosa News – PHOTOS: Habitat dedicates low carbon footprint built house

 

YellowHammer News – U.S. Rep. Moore calls on Republicans to look beyond just bringing ‘home the bacon to their district’ — ‘It is so much bigger picture’

 

YellowHammer News – Businessman Todd Mitchem announces candidacy for Alabama House of Representatives District 26

 

YellowHammer News – Retired Colonel David Cole launches bid for Alabama House of Representatives District 10

 

Gadsden Times – Gadsden Humane Society plans Thanksgiving for animals, other events

 

Gadsden Times – Lott stepping down as county’s economic development director

 

Gadsden Times – FAA briefing on rendering plant: Here’s what Aderholt and city officials had to say

 

Dothan Eagle – New Delhi’s air still ‘very poor’ despite emergency measures

 

Dothan Eagle – Global shares mixed after US stocks fall back

 

Dothan Eagle – Differences endure as Biden brings back North America summit

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Global shares mixed after US stocks fall back

 

Opelika-Auburn News – Taiwan deploys advanced F-16V fighter jets amid China threat

 

Opelika-Auburn News – New Delhi’s air still ‘very poor’ despite emergency measures

 

WSFA Montgomery – Area leaders, residents against proposed Montgomery development

 

WSFA Montgomery – USPS ‘ready’ to tackle upcoming holiday season

 

WSFA Montgomery – Cold front brings a few showers to the area Thursday

 

WAFF Huntsville – Steve Marshall feels “very strongly” President Biden’s vaccine mandates will be struck down in court

 

WAFF Huntsville – United Launch Alliance responds to lawsuit filed by current, former contractors

 

WAFF Huntsville – Sheffield officer hired as private investigator for murder suspect

 

WKRG Mobile – John Deere workers end strike, reach deal

 

WKRG Mobile – Man shot, killed on 1st day of work at Alabama company

 

WKRG Mobile – Fire officials warn of Thanksgiving cooking mishaps

 

WTVY Dothan – Police: Couple aim stolen gun at Academy employees

 

WTVY Dothan – Person of interest nabbed in murder probe

 

WTVY Dothan – Headland pet rescue receives $1,000 donation

 

WASHINGTON POST – Biden lauds electric cars in Michigan as climate agenda hits road bumps in Washington

 

WASHINGTON POST – 2.6 million children under 12 have received their first vaccine dose, White House says

 

WASHINGTON POST – Pentagon inspector general raises questions about former D.C. Guard commander’s Jan. 6 account

 

NEW YORK TIMES – As G.O.P. Fights Mask and Vaccine Mandates, Florida Takes the Lead

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Live Updates: Plane to Bring Iraqi Migrants Home From Belarus

 

NEW YORK TIMES – Risk for Leader of Belarus: Migrants He Lured May Want to Stay

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Unemployment Claims Likely Fell in ‘Job-Hopper Economy’

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Supply-Chain Snarls Deliver Windfalls to Wall Street

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Deere Workers Approve New Contract, Ending Strike

 

 

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