PRESENTED BY the Stop The HIT Coalition

Good morning and Happy Friday! Here’s your Daily News for November 30.

1. Jo Bonner to Ivey Administration.

• Gov. Kay Ivey will appoint former Congressman Jo Bonner as Senior Adviser in her administration as she prepares to begin a full term in office.
• According to the Governor’s Office, the appointment is effective beginning December 1.
• Bonner retired from Congress in May 2013 amid his sixth term representing Alabama’s 1st District. He was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and chaired the House Ethics Committee. Prior to being elected, Bonner served as Press Secretary and Chief of Staff to his predecessor, Congressman Sonny Callahan.
• He worked as Vice Chancellor for Economic Development at the University of Alabama for five years before stepping away in July 2018 to lead industrial recruitment efforts for Tuscaloosa County.
• Ivey said Bonner’s high-level experience in government and economic development make him ideal to serve the state in this new capacity.
• You’ll hear a lot today about how this is a very strong addition to the Gov’s team and those takes will be correct. I was able to see his work from both a state and federal perspective and there’s a reason he built a reputation for being the epitome of a public servant. Remind me to tell you about a story from the oil spill back in 2010.
• Full story HERE.

 

2. Kelly Butler named permanent Finance Director.

• Gov. Kay Ivey will name Kelly Butler Finance Director today.
• The appointment makes the job permanent for Butler, who has been serving as Acting Finance Director since August following the departure of Clinton Carter.
• Butler began his state career with the Alabama Department of Revenue more than thirty years ago. Later, he worked for the Legislative Fiscal Office before joining the Alabama Department of Finance.
• The Finance Director is one of the top positions in state government, responsible for crafting the governor’s annual budget proposals, ensuring the state’s bills and payroll get paid, and overseeing a department with 13 divisions and 350 employees.
• Like with Bonner, Ivey’s appointment is effective December 1.
• Congrats, Kelly!
• Full story HERE.

 

A Message from the Stop The HIT Coalition

• The Stop The HIT Coalition thanks Senator Doug Jones for protecting Alabama small businesses, middle-class families and seniors from the 2020 Health Insurance Tax.
• This costly, unfair and hidden tax increases the cost of health insurance in the small business market, needlessly stifles economic growth and should be repealed.
• Senator Jones joined a bipartisan group in urging Senate leadership to prioritize urgent cost savings for hardworking Alabamians before the tax returns.
• Thank Senator Jones for working for Alabama small businesses and families by supporting efforts to stop the 2020 Health Insurance Tax.

 

3. Galleria shooting suspect arrested; the latest.

• Erron Martez Dequan Brown, 20, of Bessemer was captured in Georgia and is awaiting a hearing to be sent back to Alabama.
• ALEA says Brown was charged in the shooting of Brian Xavier Wilson, who was wounded at Riverchase Galleria on Thanksgiving night.
• Not sure there’s anything to this, but he is not charged with the shooting of the 12 year old who was also wounded. At least not yet.
• Protests over the killing of E.J. Bradford continued Thursday, as did pleas for ALEA to release video footage of the shooting.
• ALEA says releasing video evidence before the investigation is complete would hamper their efforts, including by possibly discouraging witnesses from coming forward.
• The full story including a thorough timeline of events from Jay Reeves and Kate Brumback HERE.
• Watch the latest from WBRC’s Alan Collins HERE.

 

4. Donald Watkins arrested.

• An indictment was handed down Thursday against Atlanta attorney Donald Watkins Sr. and his son Donald Watkins Jr.
• They face multiple counts of wire and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy.
• The senior Watkins is somewhat of an enigma in Alabama politics and beyond.
• He represented one of the Scottsboro Boys, Judge U.W. Clemon, Richard Scrushy, and Auburn football player Eric Ramsey.
• Charles Barkley said Watkins cheated him out of millions.
• He was the first to publicly accuse former Gov. Robert Bentley of having an affair.
• There’s a lot more to Donald Watkins, which Kyle Whitmire gets to in his piece.
• But now he’s indicted along with his son, charged with inducing investors to pay millions into an account that was supposed to grow two companies they were associated with. According to the indictment, the money was used for other costs, including alimony and clothing.
• They are also charged with conspiring to obtain loans from Alamerica Bank through an allegedly fraudulent scheme involving the use of a third party to take out the loans on their behalf.
• Watkins denies all wrongdoing.
• Given the personalities involved and Watkins’ long history, this case could get wild.
• Full story HERE.

5. FBI bringing 1,350 positions to Redstone.

• The FBI is expanding is presence at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville and adding as many as 1,350 positions.
• The agency already has two campuses on Redstone, including the Terrorist Explosive Devise Analytical Center.
• They’ve been transitioning offices and personnel from Washington, D.C. to Huntsville for the past few years and Mayor Tommy Battle says the FBI could eventually employ 5,000 people on Redstone.
• That’s a big deal, even for Huntsville.
• Congressman Mo Brooks said it shows “the Bureau’s commitment to growing its presence in the Tennessee Valley.”
• Paul Gattis has the full story HERE.

‘Tis the Season

• The official state Christmas tree arrived at the Capitol yesterday.
• The Eastern Red Cedar stands at 35 feet tall and approximately 24 feet wide. The tree will be decorated throughout this week and next until the official tree lighting ceremony that will be held on December 7 at 5:30 p.m.
• The cedar was grown in Bullock County on the same farm that previous year’s Christmas trees are from as well. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Allen of Fitzpatrick, Alabama.
• The tree was placed directly in front of the main entrance to the Capitol building and it overlooks Dexter Avenue.
• See more photos and video from Caroline Beck HERE.

Headlines.

 

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