Alabama Politics
Doug Jones, Ensler propose unified governor/lt. governor ticket
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones and running mate Phillip Ensler announced plans for a constitutional amendment letting the governor and lieutenant governor run as a single ticket, aiming to restore powers stripped from the lieutenant governor’s office since 1999.
Alabama Reflector
Ivey weighs retroactive relief for death row inmates
Gov. Kay Ivey is considering whether her 2017 end to “judicial override” should apply retroactively to roughly 25 inmates sentenced to death after judges overrode jury recommendations for life imprisonment.
Alabama Public Radio
Alabama Education
Screen-time commission hears classroom tech recommendations
Gov. Ivey’s Commission on Screen-Based Instruction heard presentations urging schools to educate parents on AI tools and to prioritize real-world interaction over passive screen time for young children.
Alabama Reflector
Study: Alabama among states hit hardest by federal funding freezes
A new “Lost Funds” tracker found the Trump administration has frozen or cut about $177 billion in grants nationwide; Alabama saw nearly $70 million in education funding frozen last year, disrupting districts like Tuscaloosa before funds were released two weeks later.
Alabama Public Radio
Economic Development
Lawson State gets Alabama’s first Workforce Pell program
The federal approval extends Pell Grant eligibility to Lawson State’s 10-week lineworker training course, giving students financial aid access and opening a model other community colleges could follow.
Alabama Political Reporter
Gulf Coast workforce initiative to train ex-offenders for skilled trades
The Alabama Restart Initiative, backed by nearly $4 million in federal funding, will train formerly incarcerated residents in welding and pipefitting to meet demand from $14 billion in Gulf Coast capital investment.
Alabama Political Reporter
Rural Health
Senate candidate Wess blasts Moore’s record on rural hospitals
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Everett Wess criticized Rep. Barry Moore for backing federal Medicaid cuts, arguing the state’s $203 million Rural Health Transformation Program can’t offset the damage to struggling rural hospitals.
Alabama Political Reporter
Lakeland Community Hospital gets grant for telehealth, transport
The Winston County hospital received nearly $491,000 from the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program to expand telehealth services and start a nonemergency transportation program for rural patients.
Alabama Political Reporter
