1. The al-Baghdadi raid: how it happened

• The helicopters flew low and fast into the night, ferrying U.S. special forces to a compound where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was hiding in Syria. Half a world away, President Donald Trump watched the raid in real time via a video link as troops blasted into the hideout and sent the most-wanted militant running the last steps of his life.
• The daring raid was the culmination of years of steady intelligence-gathering work — and 48 hours of hurry-up planning once Washington got word that al-Baghdadi would be at a compound in northwestern Syria.
• The night unfolded with methodical precision and unexpected turns. This reconstruction is based on the first-blush accounts of Trump and other administration officials eager to share the details of how the U.S. snared its top target, as well observations from startled villagers who had no idea al-Baghdadi was in their midst.
• Read the full tick-tock report of how the raid that killed the world’s leading terrorist unfolded HERE.

 

2. Rep. Chris England to run for Dem party chair

• State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, announced Sunday night that he will run for chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party.
• In a tweet last night, England said “Transparent. Inclusive. An Alabama Democratic Party for everyone. That’s what we’re building. Together. It’s official. I’m in. SDEC members mark your calendars. Nov 2. Let’s get this done.”
• Of course, there are basically two Alabama Democratic Parties at the moment, each operating under different sets of recently passed bylaws changes.
• England is in the camp backed by the Democratic National Committee attempting to rid the party of its current leadership, including Chairwoman Nancy Worley.
• There’s really no telling how this leadership election is going to go down. Worley said she expects the whole thing to end up in court.
• In any case, England’s entrance into the race for chair is a significant development.
• Read more from Brian Lyman HERE.

 

 

3. Missing woman’s car found

• The vehicle of a missing college student was found in Montgomery over the weekend.
• Nineteen-year old Aniah Hayley Blanchard, a student at Southern Union Community College in Opelika, went missing on Wednesday after reportedly arranging to meet a young man.
• Here black Honda CR-V was found Friday with some damage to the front end.
• Blanchard’s whereabouts are still unknown.
• Anyone with information is asked to contact Auburn police at 334-501-3140 or the anonymous tip line at 334-246-1391.
• Full story from WSFA HERE.

 

 

4. Brian Rell to Balch

• The government relations arm of Balch & Bingham is gaining a heavy hitter in its Washington, D.C. office.
• Brian Rell, who has worked as Congressman Robert Aderholt’s chief of staff for 11 years, will join the Balch team on Nov. 1.
• Of note, Rell has managed Aderholt’s responsibilities on the House Appropriations Committee, including leadership roles on Defense, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Commerce, Justice and Science (NASA). That knowledge and experience makes him extremely valuable for those needed to navigate the very complicated, insular appropriations process.
• Aderholt said he was sorry to see his longtime staffer go, but happy for his professional success.
• “Brian has worked alongside me since managing my first congressional campaign and I have valued his counsel since,” Aderholt said. “While I am sad to see him go, I am happy that he has found a place at a first-rate firm like Balch.”
• On joining the firm, Rell said, “I am truly grateful to have worked with Robert for these many years and the legislative accomplishments we have been able to achieve. I am excited to join Balch & Bingham given their footprint in Washington and state capitals. I am attracted to their collaborative culture and commitment to client service.”
• Full story HERE.

• Speaking of staff moves, Caroline Franklin starts today as Rep. Martha Roby’s communication’s director. Franklin, who had been working in Sen. Richard Shelby’s press shop, replaces Emily Taylor, who recently took a position on the House Budget Committee.
• Congrats to all!

 

5. News Briefs

$3M grant to fund climate change education at Auburn

• AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — A $3 million grant will help fund climate change education at Auburn University.
• The school announced recently that money from the National Science Foundation Research Traineeship will be used to teach students how to study the changing climate.
• Faculty members will work with about 85 graduate students to create an interdisciplinary team. The team will work over a five-year period.
• Students will examine both natural systems and man-made infrastructure. Associate professor Karen McNeal says in a statement that understanding vulnerabilities, resiliency and recovery time is crucial as natural disasters become worse.
• The grant is the first such award in the state of Alabama. Auburn’s Department of Geosciences recently began offering a doctoral program related to climate change.

Prison contraband search finds more than 280 weapons

• MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Prison officials say more than 280 makeshift weapons and other contraband were confiscated during a sweep of a prison.
• The Alabama Department of Corrections said Friday that the search at Bullock Correctional Facility found 283 makeshift weapons, 71 contraband cellphones, 756 grams of synthetic drugs, and 416 pills or suboxone strips.
• The law enforcement operation was conducted Thursday. The Bullock County prison houses about 1,500 inmates.
• Several outside law enforcement agencies assisted the prison system in the operation.
• The Department of Corrections has conducted a series of similar prison sweeps in an effort to crack down on prison contraband.

Grant program to aid Alabama inland ports

• MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The state of Alabama is offering money to help develop its inland ports.
• The Department of Economic and Community Affairs says it’s accepting applications for grants of as much as $1 million to help improve infrastructure at ports located away from the coast.
• Money could be used for improvements like storage, moorings, new construction and maintenance.
• The grants are being offered through a $5 million program created by state legislators earlier this year.
• Alabama has inland ports along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in western Alabama, and there are more port facilities located in Florence and in Jefferson County near Birmingham.
• The head of the state agency overseeing the program, Kenneth Boswell, says the grants will help inland ports increase cargo and get products to coastal areas.

Flounder fishing prohibited in November

• MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Flounder fishing in state waters will be halted in November to protect migrating fish.
• The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is reminding anglers that commercial and recreational fishing for flounder is prohibited from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30.
• Flounder migrate from Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound and other inshore waters into the Gulf of Mexico to spawn beginning in November each year. Kevin Anson, chief biologist with the Alabama Marine Resources Division, said the November closure was established to protect the migrating fish and help grow the population.
• Additionally, the department said Alabama waters will close to the recreational harvest of greater amberjack on Nov. 1. That coincides with the closing of Gulf federal waters. State and federal waters will remain closed to amberjack fishing through April 30.

Tech park could mean 1,200 jobs in Birmingham

• BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Work is beginning on a business park that promoters say could mean about 1,200 jobs in Birmingham east of downtown.
• Officials held a groundbreaking on Thursday for Grand River Technology Park, which will be located off Interstate 20 beside Barber Motorsports Park near Leeds.
• The project is planned as a regional site for research, development and light manufacturing. It’s also being billed for tourism since the race track is nearby and the Southern Museum of Flight plans to relocate there.
• Al.com reports the park is being funded in part by a $6 million grant from an Alabama Labor Department program to use abandoned mine sites.
• The park will reclaim about 105 acres (42 hectares) of undeveloped land surrounding several old coal mining areas in eastern Jefferson County.

 

 

A message from

Alabama’s Rural 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.

• Click here to see what the RURAL Act is all about.

 

 

 

 

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