Alabama Reflector

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The Alabama Reflector is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to covering state government and politics in the state of Alabama.

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Via @alander.bsky.social: Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell told lawmakers Wednesday they urgently need funding to fill gaps in mental health care, particularly for crisis beds.

At budget hearing, Alabama Department of Mental Health cites need for more crisis beds • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The head of the state's Department of Mental Health told lawmakers they urgently need funding to fill gaps in mental health care.

The Heritage Foundation promoted its Project 2025 agenda -- including a stringent abortion ban -- mere blocks from the Republican National Convention, attracting officials and personalities from the party’s most conservative wing.

Heritage Foundation touts controversial Project 2025 plan on RNC outskirts • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The initiative’s driver, the Heritage Foundation, promoted the platform mere blocks from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Via @alander.bsky.social: The head of the Alabama Department of Public Health said Tuesday that an increase in their department’s budget was due to increases in enrollment and state costs for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

ADPH seeking budget increase to cover Children's Health Insurance Program • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The Senate budget chair raised concerns about state fund allocation after ADPH attributed their budget increase to rising enrollment and costs in CHIP.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Kelvin Datcher, deputy director of community development of Birmingham, won the Democratic nomination for House District 52 Tuesday. With no Republican in the race, Datcher should be the next representative for the seat.

Kelvin Datcher wins Alabama House District 52 Democratic runoff • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Kelvin Datcher won the Democratic nomination for a state House seat in Birmingham with 55% of the votes, defeating Frank Woodson who received 45%.

Alabama adopted a new crime victim notification system earlier this year. But it only applies to state prisons and the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, and left an earlier county jail notification system obsolete.

Alabama legislators to look at victim notification system for county jails • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Alabama to study gap in victim notification system that leaves out those held in local jails and not in the state prison system.

The Democratic senator was convicted of taking bribes to do favors for Egypt and Qatar and to meddle in two criminal cases to help three New Jersey businessmen.

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez convicted of bribery, other charges in corruption trial • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The Democratic senator was convicted of taking bribes to do favors for Egypt and Qatar and to meddle in two criminal cases to help three New Jersey businessmen.

Via @acvollers.bsky.social: The boards that have made the most progress face pushback from patient advocacy groups concerned about access, and those in the prescription drug supply chain whose profits stand to take a hit.

Angry patients spur new state watchdogs to bring down drug prices • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Most boards have had a slow rollout as they hammer out administrative and funding issues that come with creating a new state entity.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Polls have opened in the Democratic runoff in House District 52 in Birmingham, and will be open until 7 p.m. Here's a guide to race, featuring Kelvin Datcher and Frank Woodson.

Alabama House District 52 Democratic runoff election: A voter's guide • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The winner of the race will become the presumptive representative in the seat. A Republican contender appears to have dropped out.

The Ohio senator has less than two years experience in the upper chamber and has voted against major bipartisan bills during his tenure.

Trump picks Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Vance has less than two years experience as a senator and has voted against major bipartisan bills during his tenure in the upper chamber.

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My column this week. I'm glad Alabama lawmakers are looking for ways to more equitably distribute public school revenues collected by the state. But as long as Alabama makes it hard for local communities to fund their schools properly, the state's education system will continue to struggle.

Managing Alabama's school funding problems isn't fixing them • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com State leaders are looking at better distributions of public school money. But the major issue is that there isn't enough of it.

The order, while likely to be appealed, makes the possibility even more remote that Trump will be tried before the election on any of the federal charges pending against him.

Federal judge dismisses Trump classified documents criminal case • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The order, while likely to be appealed, makes it a remote possibility that Trump will be tried before the election on any federal charges he faces.

The Alabama Reflector won two first-place awards in the Society of Professional Journalists' Green Eyeshade Awards, announced last week.

Alabama Reflector wins two Green Eyeshade awards from Society of Professional Journalists • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The staff of the Alabama Reflector was honored for coverage of Alabama's redistricting fight and for commentary.

Via @jemmakstephenson.bsky.social: A federal court last week rejected an attempt from Alabama officials to dismiss the state's redistricting case over a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on redistricting in South Carolina.

Federal court declines to dismiss Alabama redistricting case after South Carolina ruling • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Legal experts told the Reflector Friday that the cases are likely different enough that Alexander will not have much impact

“We’ll debate and we’ll disagree, that’s not going to change," the president said. "But we’re not gonna lose sight of the fact (of) who we are as Americans.”

Biden asks the nation for unity, promises security review after Trump shooting • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com “We’ll debate and we’ll disagree, that’s not going to change," the president said. "But we’re not gonna lose sight of the fact (of) who we are as Americans.”

Via @penncapitalstar.bsky.social: A spectator at the Trump rally was killed and two others were injured in the shooting on Saturday. The victims’ identities have not yet been released by law enforcement.

FBI identifies shooter in assassination attempt on Trump at Butler rally • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com One person was killed and two wounded in the assassination attempt. Law enforcement had not released victims' names as of Sunday morning.

“There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick,” President Joe Biden said after a shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania Saturday. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country."

Biden says ‘no place for this kind of violence in America’ after shooting at Trump rally • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com “There is no place in America for this kind of violence. It’s sick,” Biden said. “It’s one of the reasons why we have to unite this country."

Members of Congress rejected political violence Saturday after a shooting at Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Pennsylvania left at least one rallygoer dead and forced the Secret Service to rush the former president off stage.

Members of Congress condemn violence after shots seemingly fired at Trump rally • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The shooting occurred less than 48 hours before the Republican National Convention is set to begin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Secret Service said Saturday that former President Donald Trump was safe after being taken off a stage in Pennsylvania following loud pops and Trump reacting to something hitting his ear.

Trump taken off stage at Butler rally after possible gunshots heard • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The Secret Service said the former president was safe after multiple pops could be heard and Trump appeared to be bleeding.

Election experts warn that it is nearly certain lawsuits would proliferate if a presidential candidate drops out late in the campaign, and the outcome very likely would be in the hands of the courts rather than state election officials.

If a presidential nominee drops out, what happens to states’ ballots? • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Election experts warn that it is nearly certain lawsuits would proliferate if a presidential candidate drops out late in the campaign.

Congrats to the Alabama Reflector team for winning 1st Place in SPJ’s Green Eyeshade Awards!

Alabama will receive a $550 million grant from U.S. Department of Transportation for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project gets funding boost from feds • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Alabama will receive $550 million grant from U.S. Department of Transportation for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Federal prosecutors are seeking a 14-month prison sentence for former Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, who pleaded guilty to charges of directing public money meant for charitable purposes to personal accounts.

Federal prosecutors seek 14-month prison sentence for former Rep. John Rogers • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Rogers pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of allegations that he diverted taxpayer dollars to personal accounts.

Via @arkansasadvocate.com: Supporters of a proposed Arkansas ballot to create a limited right to abortion said Wednesday that they will challenge Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston’s rejection of their submission of more than 101,000 signatures.

Arkansas Secretary of State rejects proposed abortion amendment; supporters plan challenge • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The Arkansas Secretary of State claims supporters did not submit an affidavit identifying paid canvassers by name.

Via @alander.bsky.social: Women undergoing in vitro fertilization in Alabama say the unsettled legal landscape -- which threatens access to the procedure -- has only added to the stress they face. alabamareflector.com/2024/07/11/w...

Women undergoing IVF in Alabama face uncertainty amid legal battle • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Amid legal uncertainties, Alabama women undergoing IVF face significant stress, urgently advocating for policies to protect their family-building efforts.

Via @jemmakstephenson.bsky.social: Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey presented statewide assessment test results Tuesday that showed improvement in reading scores but worrying trends in math scores.

Alabama state schools superintendent concerned about some math scores • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com New state assessments of students showed improvements in reading scores in lower grades but low math proficiency in higher ones.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey said Tuesday that the Alabama State Department of Education was getting “more and more reports” each day about last month’s data breach at the department.

Alabama State Department of Education getting 'more reports' on data breach • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com State superintendent Eric Mackey told reporters Tuesday they are still learning more information and getting reports

Via @alander.bsky.social: The Alabama Attorney General's Office said the three-term representative "falsely made, completed, or altered a builder’s license.” A copy of the indictment was not immediately available Tuesday.

Rep. Kelvin Lawrence arrested on fraud charges • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The Alabama Attorney General’s Office said the three-term representative was charged with forgery and with criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Democrats in Congress Monday called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee.

Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com The decision about whether to back Biden is especially tough for vulnerable senators, who are seeking to hold the chamber against long odds.

Alabama is scheduled to carry out its third execution of 2024 next week. A fourth is planned in September.

Alabama's third execution of 2024 scheduled for next week • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Keith Edmund Gavin is scheduled to be executed next week by lethal injection barring new developments in legal proceedings .

Via @jemmakstephenson.bsky.social: “Please know how grateful my family and I are for everyone who has reached out to offer help and concern,” Gudger, injured in a jet ski accident last week, wrote in a statement. alabamareflector.com/briefs/alaba... #alpolitics

Alabama Sen. Garlan Gudger says he's recovering after jet ski accident • Alabama Reflectoralabamareflector.com Gudger, who was airlifted to UAB Hospital, said he was still in urgent care but managed to walk down a hallway.