State and Surrounding Area News

Governor Kay Ivey Appoints Cynthia Lee Almond as President of Alabama Public Service Commission
Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey on Friday announced the appointment of Cynthia Lee Almond as the new president of the Alabama Public Service Commission

Rep. Mike Rogers Honored with Military Family Champion Award by Blue Star Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (AL-03), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been named a recipient of the Military Family Champion

Senator Katie Britt Discusses Child Care and Workforce Development During FY26 Labor Budget Hearing
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently participated in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

Judge Grants Injunction Against Business Accused of Agricultural Fraud
Baldwin County, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today that a Baldwin County judge has granted a preliminary injunction against AKME Group, LLC

Governor Ivey Announces 55 New Classrooms for Alabama’s P-3 Early Learning Expansion
MONTGOMERY, AL — Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) announced Thursday the addition of 55 new classrooms funded through

Gadsden State Launches Free Summer Workforce Program: “Cardinal Rise”
Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College, in collaboration with the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Innovation Center’s Skills for Success initiative, has announced the launch

Senator Katie Britt Questions DOE on Nuclear Innovation, Grid Security During Budget Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to examine the Biden administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26)

Jacksonville State University To Host Annual Deaf and Hard of Hearing College Prep Camp
Jacksonville, AL – As originally reported by Brett Buckner of JSU’s Media Department, Jacksonville State University (JSU), in partnership with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

Senator Katie Britt Co-Sponsors Buying American Cotton Act to Support U.S. Cotton Industry
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.)

Children’s of Alabama Launches “Look and Lock” Campaign to Prevent Pediatric Hot Car Deaths
Birmingham, AL – With summer temperatures on the rise, Children’s of Alabama has launched its annual “Look and Lock: A Child Safety Campaign” to raise

Attorney General Steve Marshall Joins 28-State Coalition Warning Meta Over AI Child Safety Concerns
Montgomery, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a coalition of 28 state attorneys general in a joint letter to Meta Platforms, Inc.,

Governor Ivey Unveils Restructured Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs
Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey announced the newly restructured Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA), a move aimed at enhancing the state’s ability

Gadsden State Community College Releases Spring 2025 President’s and Dean’s Lists
Gadsden, AL — Gadsden State Community College has announced the students named to the President’s List and Dean’s List for the Spring Semester of 2025.

Senator Britt Co-Sponsors Resolution Honoring 101st Anniversary of U.S. Border Patrol
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and

Governor Ivey Encourages Participation in Alabama’s Free Fishing Day on June 7
MONTGOMERY, AL — Governor Kay Ivey has officially invited the public to take part in Alabama’s Free Fishing Day on Saturday, June 7, 2025. As

Senator Katie Britt Applauds Appointments to Key USDA Positions in Alabama
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) on Friday commended the recent appointments announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, naming Twinkle Cavanaugh

Gadsden State Community College Hosts Summer Orientations for New Students
Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College is welcoming incoming students through its Cardinal Commit summer orientation sessions, beginning in June. The program is designed to

Senate Commerce Committee Advances Britt-Welch Water Research Optimization Act of 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Commerce Committee has unanimously advanced the bipartisan Water Research Optimization Act of 2025, a legislative effort led by U.S. Senator

All-State Baseball
The Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State baseball teams and honorable mentions. Mr. Baseball and the Super All-State teams to be named June 8 at the

Senator Katie Britt Advocates for Counter-Drone Authority for State and Local Law Enforcement
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week focused on defending against the threat of unmanned

Gadsden Honors Dr. Kathy Murphy with Proclamation and Plaque Presentation
GADSDEN, AL – Community members gathered at Gadsden City Hall to celebrate the extraordinary career and contributions of Dr. Kathy Murphy, a respected educator and

Etowah Chamber Honors Educators at 8th Annual Excellence in Education Luncheon
GADSDEN, AL – The Etowah Chamber of Commerce hosted its 8th annual Excellence in Education and Teachers of the Year Luncheon on May 8 at

Gadsden State Baseball Coach and Players Earn Top ACCC Honors
GADSDEN, AL – Gadsden State Community College’s baseball program is celebrating a remarkable season with top honors from the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC). Head

Bipartisan “Stop the Scroll Act” Reintroduced by Senators Britt and Fetterman to Address Mental Health Risks of Social Media
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) have reintroduced the Stop the Scroll Act during Mental Health Awareness Month, aiming

Attorney General Steve Marshall Urges Congress to Pass National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Law
MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a coalition of 23 state attorneys general in calling on Congress to pass the Constitutional

ALEA Reports Fewer Fatalities Over Memorial Day Weekend 2025, Launches Summer Safety Campaign
Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has announced a significant decline in both traffic and marine-related fatalities during the 2025 Memorial Day holiday

Governor Ivey Appoints Judge Benjamin M. Bowden to Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey has appointed Judge Benjamin M. Bowden to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, filling the vacancy left by Judge

Senator Katie Britt Supports New Legislation to Increase Transparency in Federal Permitting Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and other colleagues in introducing the Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act,

Glencoe Donates Police Vehicle to Gadsden State; Students in Collision Repair Program Help Restore Tahoe, Saving Thousands
GADSDEN, AL – In a collaborative effort highlighting community support and student-driven service learning, the City of Glencoe has donated a fully equipped 2015 Chevrolet

Half-Staff Alert: U.S. Flags To Be Lowered in Honor of Memorial Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In observance of Memorial Day, President Donald J. Trump has issued a proclamation ordering all United States flags to be flown at

House Passes Major Defense and Budget Bill Backed by Rep. Mike Rogers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1 — the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” — a sweeping piece of budget reconciliation

Wes Allen Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Bill Codifying Alabama’s AVID System
MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has commended the final passage of Senate Bill 142, legislation that formally establishes the Alabama Voter

ALEA Launches ‘101 Days of Summer Safety’ Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend
MONTGOMERY, AL — As Alabamians prepare for the long Memorial Day weekend, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is urging the public to make safety

Senator Katie Britt Hosts Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for Redstone Arsenal Tour in Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, AL — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) welcomed Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) to Redstone Arsenal this

Gadsden State Honors Nursing Graduates During Pinning Ceremony
GADSDEN, AL — The Health Sciences Division at Gadsden State Community College held a special pinning ceremony on May 8 to celebrate the achievements of

Former Commission Candidate Convicted of Absentee Ballot Fraud
CLAY COUNTY, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the conviction of Terry Andrew Heflin, a former Democratic candidate for the Clay County Commission

Senator Katie Britt Urges Bipartisan Support for Child Care Legislation on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor this week in support of her Child Care Availability and

Governor Ivey Appoints Judge Bill Lewis to Alabama Supreme Court Following Justice Mitchell’s Resignation
MONTGOMERY, AL — Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday the appointment of Judge Bill Lewis to the Supreme Court of Alabama, filling a vacancy created by

Gadsden State Community College Celebrates Spring 2025 Graduates in Cherokee Ceremony
CENTRE, AL – Gadsden State Community College held its Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 13 at the Richard Lindsey Arena on the Gadsden State Cherokee

Attorney General Steve Marshall Leads 24-State Coalition in Support of Ohio Law Restricting Gender Transition Procedures for Minors
MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has led a coalition of 24 states in filing an amicus brief urging the Ohio Supreme Court

Governor Kay Ivey Wraps Up 2025 Legislative Session with 287 Bills Signed into Law
MONTGOMERY, AL — With the final bill signed into law on Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey has officially concluded the 2025 Regular Session of the Alabama

Wes Allen Applauds Passage of SB158 Prohibiting Foreign National Driver Licenses for Voting
MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has publicly praised the final passage of Senate Bill 158, sponsored by Senator Will Barfoot and

Senator Katie Britt Presses for I-65 Widening During Senate Appropriations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development hearing today, questioning Secretary of

Mass Casualty Simulation Brings Real-World Training to Gadsden State Students
GADSDEN, AL — Screams and sirens echoed across Gadsden State Community College’s Wallace Drive Campus, but the chaos was all part of a meticulously planned

Governor Ivey Signs Speedy Trial Act into Law to Expedite Justice in Violent Crime Cases
MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed House Bill 307 into law last week, officially enacting the Speedy Trial Act. The legislation, designed to

Two Jacksonville State Faculty Honored at Etowah Chamber’s 2025 Excellence in Education Awards
GADSDEN, AL — Two Jacksonville State University faculty members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to education during the Etowah Chamber’s 2025 Excellence in Education

Senator Katie Britt Joins Introduction of Legislation to Block U.S. Funding to Entities Granting Additional Privileges to PLO
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in introducing the

Gadsden State Hosts Signing Day for Second Cohort of CoMeT Apprenticeship Program
Gadsden, AL – Gadsden State Community College celebrated a major milestone in workforce development on May 15, hosting a Signing Day event for the second

Governor Ivey Signs “Powering Growth” Legislation to Boost Alabama’s Energy Infrastructure and Economic Development
Montgomery, AL — Governor Kay Ivey has signed into law a sweeping new legislative package aimed at strengthening Alabama’s energy infrastructure, enhancing economic development, and

Alabama Man Sentenced to Life for 2018 Murder of Greg Davison
Evergreen, AL — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Jadarrin Watkins, 23, of Conecuh County, has been sentenced to life in prison for the