Good morning!
Everybody finding their sea legs okay today after the discombobulating time change? Yeah, me neither.
Here’s your Daily News for Monday, November 4.
1. One year out
- We are one year out from the 2020 election. Well, we were one year out yesterday, to be precise. The election will be on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
- Of course, there are some big elections in Alabama that get more intriguing by the day. More on that to come.
- But the big one is for the White House and a lot is going to happen between now and then to determine the outcome.
- Who will President Donald Trump’s opponent be? Will the economy still be going gangbusters or will sings of a recession start to show? Will the House of Representatives make Trump only the third president to be impeached, and will the GOP Senate have the president’s back? How will the small percentage of the voting public that hasn’t already chosen a side react to all these variables?
- Julie Pace takes a look at those questions and more as a deeply divided nation stares down another monumental presidential election. Her story HERE.
- If you’re keeping tabs on POTUS polling, you might be interested in the most recent round of battleground state numbers. The latest New York Times/ Siena College surveys show Trump still highly competitive in the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina.
- But, the most interesting data is how Trump fares against the top Democratic contenders. Against Joe Biden, Trump loses all but Michigan and North Carolina. Against Bernie Sanders, he splits them evenly. Against Elizabeth Warren, Trump wins three states decisively, splits two and loses one.
- Basically, if the election were held today, Sanders and Warren would have an electoral college problem against Trump – yet they are the ones gaining popularity in the Democratic primary.
- It’s easy to get caught up in national polls (as many in the media did in 2016). But, it’s the states that matter, and how these battlegrounds fluctuate will decide the election.
- Read that full story from Nate Cohn HERE.
2. Trial begins on Congressional map lawsuit
- Today, a federal judge will begin a trial in a lawsuit that contends Alabama should have a second majority-black Congressional district and that the current map violates the Voting Rights Act.
- The state is disputing those claims and argues it would require gerrymandering to carve out another district.
- The case is part of a trio of lawsuits, filed in 2018 in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, on behalf of several black voters and backed by the National Redistricting Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which is chaired by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. The Alabama suit is the first to go to trial.
- The Alabama suit claims the state’s 2011 congressional map illegally “packs” black voters into its sole majority African-American district, now represented by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell.
- Alabama is arguing that the case is moot because the state could lose a congressional seat based on the new census numbers, which would require a wholesale redrawing of the map.
- Read Kim Chandler’s full story HERE.
3. Coleman launches w/ ‘Mover and Shaker’ video
- Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman has launched his campaign for Congress in Alabama’s 2nd District with a new video highlighting his roots in the trucking industry and his similarities to President Donald Trump as a “mover and shaker.”
- “We’ve seen what happens when you send a strong businessman like President Trump to Washington,” Coleman says in the video, newly released Monday. “The White House has a businessman, now Congress needs one. I’m ready to stand behind President Trump as he fights to secure America’s broken borders and continues bringing high paying jobs back to our country.”
- Coleman also offered respectful words for outgoing Congressman Martha Roby, who announced in July she would not seek a sixth term in the House of Representatives.
- “Our country, state and district are all in good hands. One of those good hands is leaving – Congressman Martha Roby. If you’ll have me, I’d like to try and take her place,” Coleman says.
- “I like moving and shaking, kind of like President Trump.”
- Full story and video HERE.
4. AP Top 25
- With nine ranked teams off this past weekend, including four of the top five, there was little movement throughout the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank.
- LSU and Alabama remained No. 1 and No. 2, setting up this weekend’s contest as the third time the two teams have matched up as the top two teams in the country.
- Georgia climbed back up to No. 6 after beating Florida, Florida fell to No. 10, and Auburn fell one spot to No. 12.
- Of course, the all-important College Football Playoff rankings come out tonight, so the AP won’t really matter too much any more.
- But, Ralph Russo has a comparison of each first CFP ranking versus the AP counterpart going back four years. It’s pretty interesting.
- Check that out, plus the rankings themselves, HERE.
- (Note: sometimes the graph shows up better in browser “read mode” or horizontally on your cell phone for some reason)
5. ICYMI
In case you missed it, here are some news stories from over the weekend…
- Ella Bell, a longtime member of the Alabama School Board, has died, the Alabama State Department of Education announced Sunday. She was 71. Full Story HERE.
- State and city leaders are offering condolences to State. Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Gardendale, after the passing of his wife, Susan, who died Saturday after a long bout with cancer. Full story HERE.
- State Rep. Chris England was elected chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party Saturday after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled its meeting could proceed. But outgoing Chairwoman Nancy Worley said she’s not going anywhere. Full story HERE.
- A reward has risen to $80,000 for information about missing college student Aniah Haley Blanchard, after pledges from those involved in the Ultimate Fighting Championship competition. Blanchard’s stepfather is a UFC fighter. Full story HERE.
You can read these stories and more in Caroline Beck’s Weekend Digest . If you aren’t getting the weekend digest on Sunday afternoons, make sure you have “[email protected]” saved to your “safe senders” email list.
A message from
Alabama’s Electric Cooperatives
Alabama’s rural electric cooperatives are grateful that Rep. Terri Sewell is the lead sponsor of a bill which would ensure that co-ops don’t lose their tax-exempt status if they accept government grants to restore power after natural disasters or provide broadband service to rural communities.
A majority of House members are now co-sponsoring the RURAL Act , which would fix the problem.
Headlines.
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – One Year Out: A divided nation lurches toward 2020 election
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Trial begins in challenge to congressional district map
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Coleman launches campaign with ‘Mover and Shaker’ video
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – AP Top 25: LSU, Alabama set for top two showdown
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Mark Dixon: Remember When We Could Say ‘Thank Goodness for Mississippi?’
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – New Alabama Democratic chair elected; infighting continues
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – School board member Ella Bell dies
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Condolences offered for State Rep. Allen Treadaway after wife’s passing
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Weekend Digest – November 3, 2019
AL.COM – Marine conference to include look at Clotilda science
AL.COM – Birmingham selected for 2023 NABJ Convention
AL.COM – Hurricane helped boost sales taxes in this Alabama city
AL.COM – One of Alabama’s last remaining abortion providers fights back
AL.COM – Sewell: GOP counterparts ‘defend the indefensible’
AL.COM – Historic church guide gives more than an easy lesson
AL.COM – New Rampart device, invented in Alabama, offers radiation protection
AL.COM – Contributor Rachel Bryars: Alabama abortion controversy reveals our fixation on the past but we should worry about the future
AL.COM – What A’s on a report card mean to this Alabama town
Montgomery Advertiser – Ella Bell, Alabama Board of Education member for 19 years, dies
Montgomery Advertiser – Christopher England elected new Alabama Democratic Party chair
Montgomery Advertiser – Airbnb bans ‘party houses’ after 5 die in Halloween party shooting at home rental
YellowHammer News – State Rep. Steve Clouse: Medicaid expansion in 2020 not likely
YellowHammer News – Longtime Alabama state school board member Ella Bell dies
YellowHammer News – Ivey announces Alabama’s participation in 2020 Girls Go CyberStart Challenge
Tuscaloosa News – Street light upgrades to target high crime areas
Tuscaloosa News – Tuscaloosa sets 2 open houses for input on master plan
Tuscaloosa News – Alabama school board member Ella Bell dies
Decatur Daily – Council-manager government explored for Decatur
Decatur Daily – ‘Long hours and hard work’: Farmers struggle to fill jobs in strong economy
Decatur Daily – Decatur official proposes changing ice complex to sports and event center
Times Daily – Southeast Sheffield to get storm shelter
Times Daily – Florence State of the City address is Thursday
Times Daily – Colbert Commissioner Jimmy Gardiner switches to Republican party
Anniston Star – Police: Anniston man hit woman with brick
Anniston Star – Library cards will be good for more than just books and movies
Anniston Star – Commissioner wants to preserve site where soldiers were buried two centuries ago
Dothan Eagle – GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT: Dothan Utilities to roll out payment kiosks soon
Dothan Eagle – Against the world: Auburn faces rivalry row bent on proving doubters wrong
Dothan Eagle – In manufacturing Midwest, signs of trouble amid good times
Gadsden Times – State Democrats elect new party chair
Gadsden Times – Osborn talks about commercial development outside the (big) box
Gadsden Times – Episcopal Day School set to compete in regional robotics competition
Troy Messenger – Downtown Holiday Market offers one-stop Christmas shopping on the Square
Troy Messenger – Banks mayor, council seek reelection
Troy Messenger – Pike County Schools to expand academies, dual enrollment
Andalusia Star News – RLHS earns ‘B” on state report card
Andalusia Star News – Honor Flight to fly twice in 2020
Andalusia Star News – 12 have qualified for GOP primary
Opelika-Auburn News – Beat Bama Food Drive is the Iron Bowl of donations
Opelika-Auburn News – Merchants, city see progress with downtown Auburn issues
Opelika-Auburn News – Harbert college of business implements ethics course
Daily Mountain Eagle – Property crimes on decline in county
Daily Mountain Eagle – Town celebrates Eldridge Day
Daily Mountain Eagle – Dora vet monument dedication to be held Saturday
Trussville Tribune – 103-year-old Trussville resident, Mary Reid, dies
Trussville Tribune – POLICE: Person found shot to death in Birmingham
Trussville Tribune – CRIME STOPPERS: Irondale man wanted by Birmingham Police
Athens News Courier – UAH grad in key management role at MTM plant
Sand Mountain Reporter – School News: Students participate at Special Olympics
Sand Mountain Reporter – School News: Pirates celebrate homecoming
Sand Mountain Reporter – Truck hit by moving train in Boaz
WSFA Montgomery – Dispute over new chair, vice chair elected to Alabama Democratic Party
WSFA Montgomery – Search continues for Aniah Blanchard; recovery group meeting with police to help
WSFA Montgomery – Woman pleads guilty to passing contraband to inmate
Fox 6 Birmingham – Shooting leaves 1 dead and another injured in the Inglenook community
Fox 6 Birmingham – Fire breaks out at Hanceville Plant
Fox 6 Birmingham – Reward for missing Aniah Blanchard climbs to $105,000
WKRG Mobile – Texas search group joins effort to find Aniah Blanchard
WKRG Mobile – Mobile church receives Federal Grant for lighting improvements
WKRG Mobile – Greater Gulf State Fair breaks attendance record
WTVY Dothan – Police investigate two deaths at Panama City Beach condominiums
WTVY Dothan – Body found during search for missing Tuscaloosa man
WTVY Dothan – New chair, vice chair elected to Alabama Democratic Party
WASHINGTON POST – Governor’s races in three states test whether every election now is about Trump
WASHINGTON POST – Trump leaves door open to shutting down government before Thanksgiving
WASHINGTON POST – EPA to scale back federal rules restricting waste from coal-fired power plants
NEW YORK TIMES – One Year From Election, Trump Trails Biden but Leads Warren in Battlegrounds
NEW YORK TIMES – Flood of Oil Is Coming, Complicating Efforts to Fight Global Warming
NEW YORK TIMES – As Warren Gains in Race, Wall Street Sounds the Alarm
Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize)