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Senator Katie Britt Recognized as 'Federal Champion' for Flood Resilience Efforts

Senator Katie Britt Recognized as 'Federal Champion' for Flood Resilience Efforts

U.S. Senator Katie Britt has been designated a “Federal Champion” by the American Flood Coalition. This recognition is for her dedicated work in promoting flood resilience, enhancing disaster preparedness, and supporting water forecasting initiatives across Alabama and the United States. Senator Britt's role as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security is pivotal, as it grants her oversight of funding allocations for critical agencies such as FEMA and other Department of Homeland Security programs focused on disaster preparedness and response. Her efforts have also resulted in securing substantial funding for various flood-mitigation projects within Alabama, directly benefiting her constituents and the state's infrastructure. The American Flood Coalition, a nonpartisan organization, publicly announced this acknowledgment, highlighting her significant contributions to these vital areas.

Second federal judge freezes Trump mail ballot order with US Supreme Court poised to weigh in

Second federal judge freezes Trump mail ballot order with US Supreme Court poised to weigh in

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has issued a new order freezing President Donald Trump's attempt to limit mail voting for the midterm elections

Senator Tuberville Introduces 'Student Visa Integrity Act' to Address Student Visa Reporting Noncompliance

Senator Tuberville Introduces 'Student Visa Integrity Act' to Address Student Visa Reporting Noncompliance

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has introduced the 'Student Visa Integrity Act,' S. 2555, aimed at rectifying perceived unfairness and noncompliance in the student visa system. This proposed legislation seeks to impose monetary penalties on schools that fail to report required information, suspend their authority to issue I-20 forms until compliance is met, and ultimately terminate approval if noncompliance persists for over 180 days. The bill addresses a long-standing issue where schools are mandated to report foreign student information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) via the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Despite these reporting requirements, there has been a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms, leading to situations where schools might not face immediate consequences for noncompliance. A companion bill, H.R.7063, was introduced in the House by Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas), but both bills have remained in committee.

Stray Showers and Record Heat Expected in Alabama

Stray Showers and Record Heat Expected in Alabama

Residents in Birmingham, Alabama, and surrounding areas are experiencing a mostly dry Sunday morning with temperatures in the lower 70s and patchy fog in areas that received rainfall yesterday. Visibility in some spots is reduced to half a mile or less, but the fog is expected to dissipate by 9 a.m. The afternoon will bring hot weather with highs reaching the low-to-mid-90s (32-35°C) under partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies. Winds will remain light from the northwest at 5-10 mph. A stray shower or storm is possible in west Alabama, but most areas will stay dry. Looking ahead to Monday, record-breaking heat is possible, with temperatures potentially reaching 98°F (36.7°C) in Birmingham, 100°F (37.8°C) in Tuscaloosa, and 96°F (35.6°C) in Anniston.

Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot restrictions for now ahead of midterms

Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot restrictions for now ahead of midterms

The Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to restrict mail ballots ahead of the midterms

Representative Gus Bilirakis Urged to Advance Major Richard Star Act for Veterans

Representative Gus Bilirakis Urged to Advance Major Richard Star Act for Veterans

Representative Gus Bilirakis is being urged by advocates to sign a discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act, a bill he co-sponsored. The petition aims to advance the legislation, which seeks to provide retirement pay for 54,000 combat veterans. The call to action emphasizes that despite his co-sponsorship, Bilirakis needs to take further steps to move the bill forward. Constituents are being encouraged to contact his Washington D.C. office and his district offices in New Port Richey, Brooksville, and Inverness to press for his support in signing the discharge petition. This initiative highlights a push to ensure that the legislative process for this veterans' benefit bill progresses beyond its current stage.

National Portrait Gallery Acquires Thirteen Portraits by Photographer Jerry Siegel

National Portrait Gallery Acquires Thirteen Portraits by Photographer Jerry Siegel

The National Portrait Gallery, a part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., has acquired thirteen artist portraits by Atlanta-based photographer Jerry Siegel. These acquired works are drawn from Siegel's published monographs, 'Facing South' and 'At This Moment.' The collection represents over three decades of Siegel's dedication to documenting artists across the American South. His photography captures individuals whose lives and work have significantly influenced the region's cultural landscape. Siegel, a fifth-generation native of Selma, Alabama, has focused his career on portraying the people, places, and culture of the American South. His work is already featured in more than twenty public museum and institutional collections, including the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Georgia. This acquisition further solidifies his standing in the art world and ensures his contributions to documenting Southern art and culture are pre...

Democratic U.S. Senate Nominee Everett Wess Criticizes President Trump's Beef Import Plan, Backs Figures' Legislation

Democratic U.S. Senate Nominee Everett Wess Criticizes President Trump's Beef Import Plan, Backs Figures' Legislation

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Everett Wess has publicly criticized President Trump's plan to import 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef into the United States, describing it as a threat to Alabama's cattle industry. Wess cited concerns from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, whose CEO, Erin Beasley, stated that the announcement has already negatively impacted the live-cattle market and could discourage producers from investing in their herds. Wess expressed support for legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, which aims to nullify the presidential proclamation. Figures' bill would require importers to pay all applicable tariffs, taxes, and fees on beef products and prohibit the president from waiving or reducing these without congressional authorization. Wess also called for similar scrutiny of the Trump administration’s broader trade and tariff policies, which he argued have increased costs for domestic producers and consumers.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Rick Barnes to appear alongside Ted Cruz in support of Protect College Sports Act

Rick Barnes to appear alongside Ted Cruz in support of Protect College Sports Act

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes will be in attendance when Ted Cruz hosts a press conference on to discuss the Protect College Sports Act.

Representative Alma S. Adams Introduces Bill to Increase IRS Oversight on University Tax Inquiries

Representative Alma S. Adams Introduces Bill to Increase IRS Oversight on University Tax Inquiries

Representative Alma S. Adams has introduced H.R. 10330, the Higher Education Oversight for Nonprofits Ensuring Standards and Transparency Act, which seeks to establish new regulations for IRS investigations and audits of colleges and universities. The bill, introduced on September 10, 2026, with 17 cosponsors, aims to make it more challenging for the IRS to initiate and conduct tax inquiries into universities without adhering to specific preliminary steps. The legislation broadly defines 'university' to include institutions of higher education and their related organizations. It applies to tax inquiries concerning a university's tax-exempt income, nonprofit status, or engagement in unrelated business activities that could be taxable. Before an inquiry can begin, a high-level Treasury official must reasonably believe a tax issue exists, based on written facts. The IRS would also be required to provide written notice to the university, detailing the concerns, general subject matter, and legal rights, includi...

Alabama Department of Education Seeks Dedicated Funding for Key Programs in FY28 Budget Request

Alabama Department of Education Seeks Dedicated Funding for Key Programs in FY28 Budget Request

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) is proposing a $5.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2028, marking a 1.3% increase, or $77.8 million, over its FY27 appropriation. A primary goal of this request is to establish dedicated line-item funding for critical education programs that have historically relied on supplemental appropriations. State Superintendent Eric Mackey emphasized the importance of 'memorializing' funding for initiatives such as school safety, security, and climate within the annual budget. These programs were largely supported by the Education Trust Fund (ETF) supplemental appropriations, receiving $25 million in FY26 and $2.5 million in FY27. For FY28, the board plans to request $27.5 million from the ETF for these specific areas. Additionally, the ALSDE is requesting $14 million for school breakfasts, which were entirely funded through the supplemental budget at $7.3 million in FY27, aiming to cover the gap for all schools to offer breakfast. The department also seeks a signific...

Representatives Massie and Burlison Introduce 'Flock-Off Act' to Prohibit Federal Funding for Surveillance Technologies

Representatives Massie and Burlison Introduce 'Flock-Off Act' to Prohibit Federal Funding for Surveillance Technologies

U.S. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Eric Burlison (R-MO) have introduced H.R. 10221, known as the 'Flock-Off Act.' This legislation aims to address growing concerns about government surveillance by prohibiting the use of federal funds for the purchase, installation, maintenance, operation, or upgrade of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and biometric surveillance cameras. The move comes amidst increasing scrutiny of companies like Flock Safety, which provides extensive surveillance networks, including drone-based systems capable of automatically launching in response to incidents and collecting vast amounts of data. Critics argue that these technologies, such as Flock's Alpha drone, which can fly at 60 mph and use thermal imaging to read license plates from 2,000 feet, turn public spaces into searchable surveillance networks and can lead to mass data collection on innocent individuals.