1. Tua out for the season
- What was planned to be the last series of the day for Tua Tagovailoa ended in the final play of his season — and maybe his Alabama career.
- The Crimson Tide’s star quarterback will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his right hip in the first half of No. 4 Alabama’s 38-7 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.
- Tagovailoa, the potential top pick in April’s NFL draft, was injured while being dragged down by two Bulldogs late in the first half, with the Tide up four touchdowns.
- He was flown by helicopter to the St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Hours later the school announced he has sustained a dislocated right hip.
- “He is undergoing further testing to determine the best course of treatment,” Alabama team orthopedic surgeon Lyle Cain said in a statement. “He is expected to make a full recovery but will miss the remainder of the season.”
- Support poured in via social media from around the country for the Bama quarterback who helped electrify the Crimson Tide offense.
- Tua later poster on twitter: “Thank you all for the prayers and well wishes. God always has a plan.”
- Read more HERE.
2. Poarch Creek Indians propose agreement offering revenue for exclusivity
- The Poarch Band of Creek Indians have rolled out a plan to pay the state as much as $1 billion in revenue for the exclusive rights to operate casinos in Alabama.
- The proposal includes: a $225 million payment to Alabama for exclusive casino rights in the state through a compact; two additional casino sites with table games; taxes on the two additional destination resort sites; a negotiated revenue share on casino games at existing sites on tribal lands; and the creation of a state lottery.
- The tribe projects the plan could boost state revenue by $1 billion from revenue sharing, taxes and license fees.
- “We’ve been discussing gaming in this state for over a decade. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians have developed a very lucrative plan that could generate over a billion dollars just in the first year alone,” Poarch Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie Bryan told The Associated Press in an interview.
- But Republican leadership have stated they have concerns about handing out a monopoly on gaming,
- “Sen. Marsh is still reviewing the plan, and there are many good things about it, however he does not believe the people of Alabama will support giving anybody a monopoly over gaming,” said William Califf, spokesman for Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh.
- Read the full report HERE.
A message from
The Boeing Company
- Fifteen years ago, the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system became operational and for the first time in U.S. history, the nation possessed the ability to defend against an incoming long-range ballistic missile.
- As the GMD prime contractor, Boeing designs, produces, integrates, tests and sustains all GMD components deployed across 15 time zones.
- Recognizing the importance of this mission, Boeing’s GMD team — managed out of Huntsville — continues to work tirelessly to meet this milestone under a presidential directive to detect, intercept and destroy a target aimed at our homeland.
- Boeing stands ready to use its expertise to keep the GMD system modernized and help protect the nation 24/7.
3. J C Love appointed Montgomery County Probate Judge
- Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday appointed J C Love III the new Montgomery County Probate Judge after her previous appointee was disqualified because of age restrictions.
- “J C Love III has an impressive career, both in his work as an attorney and his involvement in the Montgomery community,” Ivey said. “I’m confident that he will hit the ground running and be able to serve as Montgomery’s next probate judge with character, a hard work ethic and a sense of service. I appreciate his willingness to serve in this role and know he will do a great job.”
- Thursday, the governor’s office announced that Gen. Ed Crowell would not be the next probate judge, despite her Wednesday announcement of his appointment, because Alabama law prohibits the election or appointment of judges older than 70, except some supernumerary judges.
- Love also ran this year for Montgomery mayor but did not advance beyond the primary. Love currently serves as president of the Britton YMCA Board and is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Foundation Board.
- Read the full report HERE.
4. Teens catching child predators
- Authorities arrested two men based on YouTube sting videos that three Alabama teenagers created with the aim of catching people seeking underage sex.
- Bradley Lamar White, 27, and David Scott Fox Jr., 23, both from Jacksonville, were arrested after investigations that began with videos posted online.
- White was a choir teacher at middle and high schools in Alexandria and is charged with distributing obscene material to a student and having sexual contact with a student. He resigned Wednesday, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement this week.
- Fox is charged with electronic solicitation of a child.
- Longtime friends Dillon Busby, Cody Waller and Jackson Lewullis, who all are 18, were playing video games and discussing ideas for YouTube videos recently when Busby suggested they try to catch child predators on camera.
- They started making fake accounts on dating sites claiming to be ages ranging from 14 to 17 and began chatting with those who contacted them. So far they have made two videos confronting the men they’ve chatted with on the accounts.
- You can read the basics HERE and the full story from Anna Claire Vollers from Al.com who talked with the teens.
5. News Briefs
Solar fee hearing coming this week
- The Alabama Public Service Commission will hold a Nov. 21 hearing on a challenge to the solar power fees charged by Alabama Power.
- The utility says the fees are needed to provide backup power for customers.
- But critics say the fees are some of the highest in the nation and make it harder for people to use alternative energy sources. The Southern Environmental Law Center, which is bringing the complaint before the PSC, says the fees are some of the highest in the nation and work to discourage the installation and use of solar power.
- Alabama Power is asking utility regulators to dismiss the complaint. They said the $5 fee is actually not enough and are asking to be allowed to increase the charge to $5.42 per kilowatt.
- “There is a cost to having back-up power available to customers, including customers with solar systems who remain tied to the grid for backup service,” Alabama Power spokesman Michael Sznajderman said.
- Full story HERE.
Alabama prison commissioner honored despite troubles
- MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The head of Alabama’s troubled prison system is being honored with a national award.
- The department says Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn is being awarded a career achievement award by the Correctional Leaders Association, a national organization for prison administrators.
- Dunn serves as the group’s regional chair and is a member of its executive committee. He’s been commissioner of Alabama’s badly overcrowded prison system since 2015.
- Alabama’s prison system is plagued with a series of inmate deaths due to suicide, homicide and drug overdoses. And the Justice Department earlier this year cited the state for unconstitutional conditions including excessive violence.
- A prison reform group, Alabamians for Fair Justice, criticized Dunn’s award by saying his only solution has been to build new, larger prisons and keeping people locked up.
Grants to help fund water wells in 10 Alabama counties
- MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A national nonprofit group says grant money will help provide loans to increase the amount of safe drinking water that’s available in 10 Alabama counties.
- The North Carolina-based Water Well Trust says it has received a $300,000 federal Agriculture Department grant that will fund new and improved wells for rural households.
- Combined with matching funds from the Water Systems Council, the money will be available in Bullock, Barbour, Dallas, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery, Perry, Pike and Wilcox counties.
- A statement from the group says the grant money will provide low-interest loans of as much as $11,000 per household. The money is for homeowners who don’t have access to a public water system.
- Prospective applicants can apply online or get an application form from Water Well Trust website.
Week In Good News
Feeding Cleburne brings food to the less fortunate
- On Saturday, about 600 Cleburne residents were helped by the nonprofit organization, Feeding Cleburne, which hands out food and groceries to those in need.
- Every third Saturday the group helps distribute food in Ranburne, Heflin, Edwardsville and Muscadine with a team of about 50 volunteers and staff.
- Those needing food can drive up to one of their distribution points and pick up an assortment of meats, groceries and other staples.
- You can read more about the organization and their important work from the Anniston Star HERE.
Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Tagovailoa out for season after hip injury vs Mississippi St
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama Power fees on solar challenged
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Poarch Creeks offers $225 million for gaming exclusivity
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – 2 men arrested in underage sex sting set up by Alabama teens
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Ivey appoints J C Love III Montgomery County Probate Judge
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Daily News Digest – November 15, 2019
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS– Stacy Column: Jeff Sessions and the Audience of One
AL.COM – Worley faction of Alabama Democratic Party vows to continue legal fight against ‘splinter group’.
AL.COM – Tennessee Riverkeeper removes 1400 pounds of litter in Decatur.
AL.COM – Alabama Power fees on solar challenged.
AL.COM – Texas Equusearch to resume Aniah Blanchard search in Alabama.
AL.COM – Jeff Sessions praises Trump: ‘He doesn’t back down’.
AL.COM – Sierra Club challenges Alabama Power’s natural gas plan.
AL.COM – Bright Star’s Jimmy Koikos dies.
AL.COM – Legion Field to be site of opening, closing ceremonies for World Games 2021.
AL.COM – Columnist Kyle Whitmire: Dueling Dem party chairs: One has a key, the other says she has a gun.
AL.COM – Poarch Creek Indians CEO touts ‘$1 billion’ gaming package for Alabama.
AL.COM – Columnist Frances Coleman: Another day, another dollar, another school shooting.
AL.COM – Contributor Jim Vickrey: Is there no bad behavior GOP won’t excuse?
AL.COM – Columnist Kyle Whitmire: Sorry, Stockholm. It’s ‘Jeff Sessions Syndrome’ now.
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS – Appalachian Regional Commission grant, Leadership Institute addressing needs in Alabama.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – Funding inequities ignore UNA’s growth trajectory.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – The Times Daily: Giving is the true spirit of the holidays.
ANNISTON STAR – How fast is too fast? Anniston’s city court hears hundreds of cases each week.
ANNISTON STAR – Feeding Cleburne brings food to the less fortunate.
ANNISTON STAR – City’s plans for Satcher institute would require $18.9 million.
MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Contributor Vanzetta McPherson: Breathe and let Reed chart his course.
OPELIKA AUBURN NEWS – Couple gives $10M for new Auburn FB center.
DOTHAN EAGLE – The Dothan Eagle: High-flying hypocrisy.
WASHINGTON POST – Senior national security official ties key official more closely to Trump on Ukraine in impeachment inquiry.
WASHINGTON POST – The most remote emergency room: Life and death in rural America.
WASHINGTON POST – The Washington Post: The future of capitalism is a crucial issue in 2020. The debate isn’t simple.
WASHINGTON POST – Attorney General Barr accuses Democrats of ‘war’ on Trump in speech decried as partisan.
WASHINGTON POST – Bureaucrats aren’t joining the ‘resistance.’ They’re just doing their jobs.
NEW YORK TIMES – How FedEx Cut Its Tax Bill to $0.
NEW YORK TIMES – Contributor Teresa Bejan: What Quakers Can Teach Us About the Politics of Pronouns
NEW YORK TIMES – Bolton and Trump Met Privately Over Withheld Aid, White House Official Testified
NEW YORK TIMES – When the Judge Became the Defendant: Judge Shelley Joseph, charged with obstruction of justice and accused of helping an undocumented immigrant escape detention, has signaled she will risk a trial.
WHNT – Three U.S. Senate Candidates tell their vision for Alabama.
WHNT – Whooping cranes return to Alabama national wildlife refuge.