Skip to main contentSkip to main content

MONTGOMERY — Recently, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was made aware of incidents where an individual or individuals were reported to be using ALEA’s Sex Offender Registry to gather names listed on the website to possibly deceive and extort them, ALEA State Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett sa…

Alabama lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring hospitals and nursing homes to allow in-person visits, even during a pandemic. The Alabama Senate approved the bill on a 33-0 vote after several members shared stories of people being separated from loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill now moves to the state House. Republican Sen. Garlan Gudger, of Cullman, said he brought the bill after a constituent described not being able to see her husband of 50 years before he died. The bill requires that visitation be allowed in certain situations such as childbirth or when a person is dying.

Florida's move to expand its prohibition on teaching sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom comes as several states are pursuing similar bans. At least 30 bills similar to the ban critics have dubbed the “Don't Say Gay” law have been proposed in 16 states so far this year. DeSantis' administration is pursuing an expansion of the prohibition to all grades in public schools. Alabama and Arkansas are the only other states with laws similar to Florida's. DeSantis and supporters say they are protecting children from inappropriate material. But critics say the bans marginalize LGBTQ people and create a chilling effect.

The Biden administration and groups representing the forest products industry have reached a deal to promote logging practices intended to protect imperiled species on private lands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to cooperate on projects that could boost struggling populations of pollinating insects, birds and other animals. Officials say they hope it will prevent many species from declining to the point where they need federal listing as endangered or threatened, which often leads to lawsuits.

Alabama inmates could see more time behind bars under a bill approved Thursday in the Alabama Senate that restricts the use of good behavior incentives to shorten prison stays. Senators voted 30-1 for the bill. It now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives. While supporters said the change is needed to avoid a repeat tragedy, opponents argued the change would worsen Alabama’s ongoing prison crisis by adding to overcrowding. The legislation is named after a slain Bibb County Deputy Brad Johnson. Johnson was killed in 2022 by a man law enforcement officials said was released after serving four years of a 10-year theft sentence.

Affiliate

OZARK-“This court will uphold the law as written,” 33rd Circuit Judge William Filmore ruled as he denied the request of a man charged with capital murder to require a unanimous jury verdict instead of the agreement of 10 jurors as required law.

MONTGOMERY — Recently, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was made aware of incidents where an individual or individuals were reported to be using ALEA’s Sex Offender Registry to gather names listed on the website to possibly deceive and extort them, ALEA State Trooper Sgt. Jeremy Burkett sa…

HARTFORD — The second of two public involvement meetings in as many weeks as part of a Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission feasibility study was held Tuesday at the Wiregrass Electric Cooperative Complex in Hartford. A similar public meeting was held March 7 at the…

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

Breaking News

News Alert