While the LCS did face challenges, it is now a significant asset of the Navy, particularly in combatting the flow of narcotics into the United States from South America and for projecting U.S. naval power in the South China Sea. Without the advocacy and support of Shelby, former Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), former Senator Luther Strange (R-AL) and former Representative Bradley Byrne (AL-01), LCS contracts would have been reduced or the program canceled altogether. This strong coordination and advocacy is a prime example of the benefits of the Alabama delegation working together, and it will be necessary for Mobile to remain a preeminent shipbuilder for the Navy.

Following Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Representative Jerry Carl’s (AL-01) elections in 2020, both freshman officials secured vital position on the Senate and House Armed Serviced Committees, respectively. Carl also secured a position on the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, which will further position him to influence legislation governing the Navy’s shipbuilding programs. Also of note, Representative Mike Rogers (AL-03) recently assumed the top Republican role on the House Armed Services Committee, where he will command GOP policy efforts on all military issues, including shipbuilding.

To secure the future of the shipbuilding industry in South Alabama, Austal will need to remain flexible and expand its ability to meet a wider range of future Navy requirements. The company took its first step in this direction in March when it announced it would open a production line for steel ships. Previously, Austal only produced aluminum-hulled ships which limited the programs it could compete for. This new capability will help Austal compete for the Navy’s light amphibious warship program and the Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter programs.

Next, it will need to prepare for future Navy needs such as autonomous ships and ships survivable against powerful adversary militaries like Russia and China, in line with the Navy’s most recent shipbuilding plan and the National Defense Strategy. These documents prioritize great power competition with Russia and China over the 20-plus years of low-intensity conflict the U.S. has waged in the Middle East. According to the Navy’s shipbuilding plan, the Navy will need to dramatically increase the size and sophistication of its fleet, culminating in a 355-ship fleet by the early-to-mid 2030s. Reaching that size will require all U.S. shipyards, especially Austal, to ramp up operations.

Austal’s efforts to grow its shipbuilding capability should be complemented by Alabama congressional engagement with Navy leadership and legislative efforts. Senators and representative need to be reinforcing the vitality the Alabama shipbuilding industry provides the Navy at a time when active U.S. shipyards are at an all-time low. These policy proposals should include support for a 355-ship navy, continued support for the Jones Act which supports U.S. ship manufacturing and emphasizing continued operational need for fast and agile small surface combatant ships, which are the specialty of the shipbuilders at Austal USA.

These efforts, in tandem with those laid out in the first two articles of this series, will ensure Alabama remains a preeminent provider of capabilities to the military, intelligence community and space sectors at a time of relative uncertainly in Alabama federal politics. To be sure, there will be pains following Shelby’s retirement. Very few members of the Senate grow to be as influential as he has, and even fewer can sustain that influence for decades.

However, all is not lost. Through coordinated efforts by the veteran and rookie members of the Alabama delegation and through concerted efforts during Shelby’s final two years in office, Alabama’s defense industry can continue to thrive to the benefit of the state’s economy and America’s national security.

Jake Proctor is a former intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency and previously held staff and defense policy positions for U.S. Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Luther Strange (R-AL), and Joni Ernst (R-IA). He is a Birmingham native and graduate of the University of Alabama and the U.S. Air Command and Staff College.

The MGMWERX innovation hub, which began operations at its current location in December 2018, supports the U.S. Air Force’s Air University through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement between DEFENSEWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory to align with the education initiatives of the university.

During the tour, Ainsworth was briefed on several Air University projects being brought to life by MGMWERX. The lieutenant governor also interacted with Air University students taking part in the U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College elective course titled Innovators by Design. This course helps develop future innovators in the Air Force and is regularly hosted at MGMWERX.

“MGMWERX strengthens and supports ongoing educational programs for military leaders training at Maxwell’s USAF Air University,” Ainsworth shared on social media. “Its mission, work, and results are much appreciated.”

Military bases play a vital role in our state, it’s economy, and it’s job opportunities. @mgmwerx strengthens and supports ongoing educational programs for military leaders training at Maxwell’s @HQAirUniversity. Its mission, work, and results are much appreciated. #MilitaryAL pic.twitter.com/yWA8oBeiu4

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) April 16, 2021

This continues Ainsworth’s leadership on military, defense and aerospace matters. He currently serves as chair of both the Alabama Military Stability Commission and the national Aerospace States Association.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

March’s Yellowhammer State rate represents 84,670 unemployed persons, compared to 91,041 in February.

“Once again, our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since the pandemic began. We’re still not where we were before, but tremendous progress is being made,” stated Washington. “We have more jobs in March than we’ve had all year, and we’re seeing monthly wage growth in several industries.”

Wage and salary employment increased in March by 9,100 to 2,019,500, the highest recorded level in 2021.

“As the unemployment rate steadily drops, our focus must turn to the number of people still unemployed in Alabama. ADOL launched its 53rd Career Center in Washington County on April 6. This new center furthers our efforts to serve EVERY county in Alabama,” Washington added. “Our career centers stand ready to assist the unemployed in getting back into the workforce by providing training, educational assistance, and assistance in finding and applying for jobs. We can also assist employers with their hiring needs.”

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates in March were: Shelby and Cullman Counties at 2.0%; Limestone, Franklin and Blount Counties at 2.1%; and Marshall and Cleburne Counties at 2.2%. Counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox County at 11.6%, Lowndes County at 10.6% and Perry County at 8.1%.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates were: Madison at 1.8%; Alabaster, Homewood, Hoover and Vestavia Hills at 1.9%; and Athens at 2.1%. Major cities with the highest unemployment rates were: Prichard at 10.0%, Selma at 9.4% and Bessemer at 6.4%.

Alabama’s preliminary March unemployment rate is 3.8%
Alabama’s preliminary January 2021 unemployment rate is 4.3%. https://t.co/lngjo9dtdR@GovernorKayIvey @ADOLSecretary @ALWorksSystem pic.twitter.com/KWaFekyR50

— ADOL (@al_labor) April 16, 2021

Alabama’s recent unemployment rate declines come after the successful Keep Alabama Open campaign over the winter months, which was spearheaded by the Business Council of Alabama. As other states shut down, Alabama focused on allowing businesses and other entities to stay open while following health guidelines in a safe and responsible manner.

Following this movement, Alabama in March once again recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast. The state’s rate is eighth best in the country.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“One of the things I heard, Jeff, I thought was interesting was that, ‘Well, they’re giving me a hard time back home about voting on that gas tax — voting ‘yes’ on that tax,'” he said. “So, what I’d like to do is turn around and give them a right to vote on this to kind of make up for it. I thought that was an interesting take.”

“I tell you what, if I was going to run against an incumbent, and they didn’t give them people the right to vote for this, I would make an issue out of it, big time,” McClendon added. “I’d bring it up. I wouldn’t let them get a free ride on denying the people the right to vote.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.

• In the Alabama Legislature, the State Senate has passed the Alabama Second Amendment Preservation Act, which is meant to prevent local and state governments from enforcing gun control laws and regulations. This only applies to regulations made effective after January 1, 2021, and the Senate approving this measure is after President Joe Biden announced executive action on gun control.
• State Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), who sponsors the bill, said this is going to protect people in Alabama “from any unnecessary overreach by the federal government and is meant to be a check on proposals that infringe on our right to self-defense coming from the Biden Administration or the Democrat-controlled Congress.”

5. Another fake news story completely discredited after an election 

• In news that will shock absolutely no one, one of the more salacious stories of the 2020 election cycle turned out to be completely based on nothing. The reports of Russian bounties places on U.S. troops came from Afghan prisoners of war looking to “get out of a cage.” Friendlies in the media and now-President Joe Biden treated them as fact. He stated in 2020, “I don’t understand why this president is unwilling to take on Putin when he’s actually paying bounties to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.”
• Even with the low confidence the intelligence agencies now say they have in this story, it was a main thread in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, it was referenced in debates, and received wall-to-wall coverage even after it was denied by the Trump White House and the intelligence communities.

4. Bill protecting women’s sports passes

• The legislation that prohibits biological males from competing in female sports in K-12 has been passed by the Alabama State Senate. It has been clarified that this doesn’t apply to sports that don’t have separate genders for competitions, as with football, where both genders would be able to compete still.
• In the Senate, the bill passed 25-5 and now goes back to the State House of Representatives where it has already passed in a lower chamber vote of 74-19. Currently, many other states are considering similar legislation as there’s been a stronger push to allow transgender females to compete with biological females in sports.

3. Pelosi attempts to end the conversation on packing the U.S. Supreme Court

• As legislation came up in the U.S. House of Representatives to expand the U.S. Supreme Court to 13 judges, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that she doesn’t “know that that’s a good idea or a bad idea.” Pelosi did note that there are “no plans” to put the issue to a vote, but that “it’s an idea that should be considered.” She supports President Joe Biden’s method of having a committee study the issue.
• After she said this, other prominent Democrats held a press conference on the matter. Incrompehensibly, U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) declared this isn’t about packing the court, stating, “We are not packing the Supreme Court, we are unpacking it.”

2. You’ll probably have to get a third shot within a year

• It’s expected that people who received the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine will “likely” have to get a third shot within a year of their initial vaccination, according to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. This third shot would act as a booster to keep people protected from the virus.
• Bourla is also anticipating people will need to get the vaccine every year, but Pfizer has been testing booster shots since February; Moderna is also testing booster shots for their coronavirus vaccine.

1. Palmer: This isn’t about science anymore

• U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is speaking out against how public health officials, such as White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, are releasing information and guidance to the public.
• Palmer said this guidance to continue coronavirus precautions after being vaccinated isn’t following the science, adding, “If they followed the science, kids wouldn’t be required to wear a mask … schools would be open.” Palmer also noted that he has “zero confidence” in those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He went on to add that “we’re to the point where it is more about control than it is about science.”

Garrett reiterated that Alabama is 47th in the nation in broadband connectivity, even lagging well behind Mississippi, as well as other neighboring states.

He said SB 215 is an “effort to develop a comprehensive, aggressive and robust strategy and process to expand broadband across the state.”

“Doing so will enhance Alabama’s education, health care system and economy,” added Garrett. “The state actually has no connectivity strategy or plan right now. All we really have is the ADECA (grant) program — which works very successfully, it’s a very good program. We like the way it operates. But $20 million a year is not going to solve the problem, which is to get internet access throughout this entire state.”

He explained that the endeavor to expand broadband access to all Alabamians carries a price tag between four and six billion dollars.

“So chipping away $20 million or so a year on a grant program is not going to do it,” Garrett added.

“This is a very serious issue for the state,” he stressed.

Proponents of the bill participating in the hearing included Blake Hardwich, speaking on behalf of the Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition; Jeremy Walker, CEO of the Alabama Association of Realtors; and Sean Strickler, vice president of public affairs for the ‎Alabama Rural Electric Association. Other key industry leaders, such as NFIB Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash, have also expressed their support for SB 215.

“We’re in full support of SB 215,” emphasized Hardwich. The Alabama Rural Broadband Coalition is comprised of a diverse membership across the business, education, health care and agriculture communities.

“We all believe that SB 215 will benefit the state of Alabama,” she added, speaking to the wide swath the coalition represents. “It is my belief, and our belief, if we continue down the current path that we’re on, Alabama will continue to fall further and further behind. We cannot afford to do that.”

Committee Chairman Randall Shedd (R-Cullman) noted that there is a draft of a substitute version of SB 215 that the committee members have; a final version of that sub is expected to be completed in time for a committee vote next week.

Some potential “tweaks” aside, multiple members of the committee expressed an urgency to bridge the digital divide.

Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley) said, “We cannot keep doing business in Alabama without proper internet services.”

She outlined an account of children in her district having to sit in cars parked near a bus with a hotspot during the pandemic to even do school work.

“That’s why we need this,” Wood underscored. “It’s vitally important.”

“We want a plan that’s best for the state, that utilizes all the tools in the toolbox,” Garrett reiterated. “We’re trying to do what’s best to provide internet access throughout the state.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Thompson became the first Auburn Tiger drafted to the WNBA since DeWanna Bonner and Whitney Boddie were selected in 2009.

“I wasn’t even paying attention at first,” Thompson said of when her name was announced on the ESPN broadcast. “And then I heard everybody start screaming, and I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I kind of expected it (being selected by Indiana), I had a long conversation with them on Zoom the other day and I just got off the phone with Teaira (McCowan), Victoria (Vivians) and a few of my other new teammates. I’m looking forward to getting there and getting started.”

Thompson led the Tigers in 2020-21 with 17.8 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, averaging a double-double for the third straight season. Her 12.8 rebounds per game led the SEC, and her 5.4 offensive rebounds per game led the nation. She was one of two players nationwide to have two games this season with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. For her efforts this season, she was named to the All-SEC Second Team and a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American.

The Theodore native finished her career Auburn’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,156 and all-time leader in double-doubles with 58.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

This comes after a season for the record books for Walker, who set the program’s single-game scoring mark with 41 points and working her way into every three-point top 10 list. She earned several accolades along the way, including WBCA Honorable Mention All-America honors and SEC All-First Team recognition; Walker also was a finalist for the Katrina McClain Award, which is presented annually to the best power forward in women’s NCAA basketball.

Walker averaged a near double-double in 2020-21 with 19.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game and was the only player in the SEC to rank in the top five in points and rebounds for the season.

She is a Montgomery native who played her high school ball at Jeff Davis. Walker was named the 2016 Alabama Miss Basketball and the 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year for Alabama.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

The Constitution of Alabama currently requires that “all persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and that excessive bail shall not in any case be required.”

Brown’s legislation would amend the state constitution to allow judges to deny bail to individuals facing violent crime charges who would place the public at grave risk if released.

The proposed amendment is named after the late Aniah Blanchard, the 19-year-old college student who prosecutors allege was slain by Ibraheed Yazeed after he was released on bond for several violent offenses including kidnapping and attempted murder.

Yazeed, who is currently being held on capital murder charges, had been awarded bail despite more than a dozen priors, which included drug and robbery arrests.

“Too many of those who are accused of violent crimes are bonding out of jail and committing even more serious offenses, and it is time for law-abiding Alabamians to start fighting back,” Brown stated. “Denying bail to those accused of violent offenses is a commonsense answer to a dangerous societal problem, and following three years of hard work that was necessary to pass this amendment through the Legislature, I am confident the citizens of Alabama will vote to ratify it.”

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson was a major proponent of Brown’s legislation as it worked its way through the legislative process.

“I’d like to commend Representative Chip Brown and Senator David Sessions for supporting us in the three-year effort to see this legislation passed,” Stimpson said on Thursday. “We thank the Blanchard family as well as the entire Alabama Legislature for recognizing the need for this legislation that directly impacts the safety of Alabama citizens. It is now in the hands of Alabamians to vote in favor of this constitutional amendment on the ballot next year. Once passed, this will help significantly in our efforts to close the revolving door and prevent violent offenders from being released to commit more violent acts like the senseless murder of Aniah Blanchard.”

The late Tuscaloosa police officer Dornell Cousette is another example of a prominent case that could have been prevented if Aniah’s Law was in effect. Cousette was killed in the line of duty in 2018 — allegedly murdered by a suspect who was free on bail for robbery and assault charges at the time.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

All six Alabama Republicans in the U.S. House are cosponsors of H.R. 619, which was was introduced by Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) in January. The bill would ensure any baby born that survives an abortion would receive the same standard of medical care as a baby born under normal circumstances.

“I will never understand how any human would not support caring for a tiny, living baby that survives an attempted abortion,” he continued. “Anyone who is okay with not helping these babies is simply supporting infanticide. I will always stand up for the rights of the most innocent among us, and it’s shameful that Nancy Pelosi will not even bring this critical legislation up for a vote.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

In sports where there are not separate competitions for females and males, such as football, both genders would still be able to participate together.

“This bill is significantly important to protecting the integrity of women’s sports,” stated Gudger. “Our sisters, daughters and granddaughters deserve to compete in fairly organized sports without being put at a disadvantage. I appreciate Representative Stadthagen for having me carry this bill in the Senate, and I commend him for his diligent work on this critical issue.”

More than a dozen states are considering similar restrictions on high school athletes to prevent what they view as an unfair advantage in competition.

The Senate’s vote on HB 391 was on party lines, 25-5. This comes after two Democrats supported and one Democrat abstained in a committee vote on the bill just two weeks ago. View a tweet thread from Thursday’s Senate debate here.

HB 391 now heads back to the House for concurrence or nonconcurrence. It originally passed the lower chamber in a bipartisan 74-19 vote.

“It is unreasonable for biological males to compete against females in high school sports,” Stadthagen commented. “Allowing this to happen does not put female athletes on a fair and level playing field with their biological male counterparts, and that is what this bill aims to resolve. I was pleased to hear that my colleagues in the upper chamber value the integrity and justness of female sports, and I thank Senator Gudger for handling this bill in the Senate.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“I took an oath of office when sworn into this body to defend the Constitution of this country and this state,” stated Allen. “As an elected official, I will do everything in my power to preserve the rights of Alabamians, especially those granted by the Second Amendment, and I will always push back on any proposals that seek to limit the freedoms bestowed upon us.”

“The Alabama Second Amendment Preservation Act ensures the people of Alabama are protected from any unnecessary overreach by the federal government and is meant to be a check on proposals that infringe on our right to self-defense coming from the Biden Administration or the Democratic controlled Congress,” he continued. “SB358 is about safeguarding our God-given rights to protect our families and homes. The Second Amendment says the right to bear arms shall not be infringed upon, and with this piece of legislation, Alabamians can feel confident that their rights are being protected.”

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) argued that SB 358 would violate the Supremacy Clause. The Democrats said the act, as a result, would ultimately be ruled unconstitutional by the judicial system after costing the State of Alabama significant money to defend it in court.

“We don’t need a ‘Second Amendment Preservation Act’ in the state of Alabama,” said Singleton. “The constitution does that already.”

He noted “the bill really does no harm,” before adding that he does not like the message it sends.

You can view a tweet thread on Senate debate regarding SB 358 here.

The Alabama Senate’s vote came after President Joe Biden last week began rolling out executive orders on gun control.

RELATED: Speaker Mac McCutcheon: As Biden attempts to roll back Second Amendment freedoms, Alabama House Republicans stand in the breach to protect them

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“In addition to his business and management credentials, the Trustee Selection Committee nominated Tim Vines for the position because of his dedication to Auburn University and its students,” stated Wayne Smith, who serves as board president pro tem.

This dedication includes Vines giving an annual scholarship to the Harbert College of Business. He is an Auburn Alumni Association lifetime member, a member of the James E. Foy Loyalty Society and a member of the 1856 Society. The Birmingham Auburn Club awarded Vines its 2019 Distinguished Auburn Alumnus Award.

He also served as the 2018 Auburn University summer commencement speaker, where he encouraged graduates, “Serve well by serving others. In life or in your chosen profession, ask what you can do to help others. … Whatever you do, make sure you do it with excellence.”

Vines’ term will expire on February 8, 2024.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

ASPF kicked off this campaign with pledges of $250,000 by Buffalo Rock Company and $100,000 from the Alabama Power Foundation.

“Since the creation of the Alabama State Parks Foundation in 2018, we have worked to improve and enhance our State Parks, and our corporate giving campaign is another significant and important step for our organization,” ASPF president Dr. Dan Hendricks stated. “I also applaud and thank Governor Ivey for her visionary leadership and support of the State Parks system.

“We believe this innovative public-private partnership will maximize our efforts to help the Alabama State Parks system maintain its place as one of the state’s true treasures,” he added.

The prospective bond issue and ASPF’s fundraising would fast-track projects to expand campgrounds, add cabins and improve internet connectivity, among other priorities.

A majority of funding for Alabama State Parks – 80-90% annually – is generated through user fees for rental, lodging, golf and other amenities in the parks. The system’s finances can also be impacted unexpectedly, such as the tornado that damaged Oak Mountain last month, Hurricane Sally damaging Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores last fall, and another tornado wreaking havoc on the campground and day-use areas at Joe Wheeler State Park in December 2019.

State parks attracted a record 6.27 million visitors in fiscal year 2020, and enhancing facilities or building additional ones should help that number continue to grow.

“Our state parks system is run as efficiently as ever, but there are plenty of needs in every one of the 21 parks — both the small and larger parks,” said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation. “What Governor Ivey and the Alabama State Parks Foundation have done is create a funding framework for how we can modernize and enhance an already dynamic State Parks system and make it better than ever.

“We plan to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money, as well as funds so generously donated by the corporate community,” he concluded. “Our state parks offer so many amazing outdoors adventures for all Alabamians, and we appreciate so many people working so hard to help us continue that legacy.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

EVs can no longer be categorized as a novelty. They are here to stay.

Automobile plants in at least 20 states are now building electric vehicles, creating thousands of new jobs. Mercedes-Benz is leading the charge in Alabama with a $1 billion, 600-job expansion that includes all-electric vehicle production and a state-of-the-art battery factory in Bibb County. In addition, DURA Automotive Systems announced an investment of $59 million in August 2020  to open a manufacturing facility in Muscle Shoals designed to produce battery trays for electric vehicles.

Thanks to Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Honda and Mazda Toyota, as well as the numerous suppliers, Alabama is well-known as one of the nation’s leaders in the automotive industry. As the No. 4 auto-exporter in the country, our state produced more than 1.6 million engines and featured more than 40,000 good-paying jobs in the sector in 2018.

With the growing shift toward EVs across the auto industry, it is critical that we continue to make significant investments in the expansion and adoption of electric vehicles in Alabama. To that end, last summer Gov. Kay Ivey announced the Alabama Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, which the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs developed to establish short and long-term strategies to guide the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state.

Importantly for the consumers in our state, driving an electric vehicle is significantly cheaper than fueling with gasoline, and it’s more convenient to plug in at home than stopping at a gas station on the way to the office. On average, it costs about half as much to drive an electric vehicle as a gasoline-powered vehicle. The electric equivalent of a gallon of gas in Alabama costs just $1.04.

Aside from fuel costs, EV maintenance costs much less than conventional gasoline vehicles, because EVs require no oil changes and have about 10 times fewer moving parts than a gas-powered car. There’s also no transmission, valves, starter, clutch or catalytic converter, all of which can break and need replacing. And don’t forget, all-electric vehicles have no tail pipe emissions. Even taking into account the emissions from the electricity produced to charge EVs, the vehicles on average emit significantly less CO₂ than conventional vehicles. Lastly, increasingly efficient technology and widespread adoption of EVs has significantly reduced the overall entry cost of electric cars. An impressive array of affordable EVs is now readily available to consumers.

Electric vehicles are an innovative and growing transportation option and mobility solution. Expanding Alabama’s EV infrastructure and overall investment in EVs will continue to spur growth in our automotive industry, promote clean energy and provide a cheaper fuel alternative for a society on the go.

Dr. Allen Parrish is the Executive Director of the Alabama Transportation Institute and also serves as a Senior Policy Advisor for the Energy Institute of Alabama.

• U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has been endorsed by the “Senate Conservatives Fund” (SCF), which is based in Washington, D.C. Executive director Mary Vought said Brooks is “someone Americans can count on to stand up to the establishment in both parties.”
• SCF has also endorsed candidates such as U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ). Brooks described this endorsement as “HUGE” in a statement, adding, “The impact of the SCF endorsement cannot be overstated, not only for what the SCF does but also because of what an SCF endorsement encourages others to do.”

5. Kamala Harris to visit the border — nope, not that one

• Vice President Kamala Harris is supposed to be overseeing issues at the southern border, and now she’s making her first trip south. Harris will be traveling to Guatemala and Mexico to look at the “root causes” of the border crisis.
• Harris, who is yet to even visit the border, said that “these are issues that aren’t going to be addressed overnight,” but she has already faced criticism for her lack of action or even public interest in the issues at the border since being tapped to lead the issue about 20 days ago.

4. Democrats want to pack the courts

• After spending four years fretting about how President Donald Trump was upending norms in the United States by sending mean tweets to journalists, Democrats in Congress have decided that they want to add four additional judges on the United States Supreme Court in an effort to destroy the current conservative majority. 
• President Joe Biden himself and liberal icons like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke out in the past against this practice. Last week, left-leaning Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer warned that doing this would erode “confidence in the courts, and in the rule of law itself.” He added it would lead to “diminishing the court’s power, including its power to act as a ‘check’ on the other branches.”

3. Officer arrested in shooting of Daunte Wright

• Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter has been arrested for second-degree manslaughter after the shooting of Daunte Wright. It’s already been claimed that Potter intended to use her taser and the use of her handgun was an accident.
• Washington County assistant criminal division chief Imran Ali said, “Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police officer.” Ali added that the former officer’s “Action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright and she must be held accountable.”

2. Legislature preparing to vote on medical marijuana

• State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) is sponsoring the medical marijuana bill being considered by the Alabama Legislature, and he’s said that none of the amendments proposed for the bill after a public hearing jeopardize the bill.
• The Alabama House Health Committee plans to vote on the bill today, and Melson has expressed confidence about the upcoming vote. If medical marijuana is legalized, Alabama would be the 37^th state to do so.

1. People in Alabama could get to vote on the lottery

• U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) expressed support for the people of Alabama getting the final say on legalizing the lottery, saying he doesn’t “think it should really be a government decision.”
• The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Stephanie A. Bryan, tribal chairwoman and CEO, supports a vote of the people as well. She advised, “This historic vote is the first step to empower Alabamians who deserve to have their voice heard on this issue.”

“You know this because you’re in the media — the old saying, if it bleeds, it leads,” Palmer said during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show.” “The more shocking, the fear they can instill in people, the better. That’s my concern. We know they don’t follow the science. If they followed the science, kids wouldn’t be required to wear a mask. If they followed the science, the schools would be open. I’ve gotten to a point where I, frankly, do not trust what comes out of the Democrats’ mouth. I don’t trust what is coming out of some of their advisers at the CDC and particularly the new head of the CDC, Dr. [Rochelle] Walensky. I have zero confidence in them.”

He added, “In Europe, they don’t require children who are traveling by air, train, whatever — the mask required is six years old and older. Here it is two years old. I don’t know if you have any children — it’s hard to explain to a two-year-old why they have to wear an uncomfortable mask. Now they’re talking about even though a substantial portion of the population has been vaccinated with one form of the vaccine or another — they want you to wear a double mask. Again, I think we’re to the point where it is more about control than it is about science. The loss of public confidence in these institutions, I think, is going to be long-term problematic.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.

The House committee slate got started with Health’s 9:00 a.m. public hearing on SB 46, Sen. Tim Melson’s (R-Florence) medical marijuana bill. After the public hearing, the committee substituted the bill and then tacked five additional amendments onto the bill. As expected, a vote on the bill was not held by the committee on Wednesday.

The House Committee on Boards, Agencies and Commissions gave a favorable report as substituted to HB 540 and HB 609 — two related bills, sponsored by Reps. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa) and Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika) respectively, to foster innovation and advance a 21st century Alabama economy.

At 3:00 p.m., House State Government took up an agenda that included Rep. Mike Holmes’ (R-Wetumpka) HB 242. This bill would increase the penalty provisions and otherwise alter the Memorial Preservation Act. No vote was taken on the legislation.

Looking ahead

The legislature on Thursday will convene for the 23rd day of its 2021 regular session. The Senate will gavel in at 9:00 a.m., while the House gets in at 10:00 a.m.

Before that, an especially important committee meeting will occur when House Urban and Rural Development takes up SB 215, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston). This transformational bill is aimed at expanding high-speed, affordable broadband internet access to all Alabamians. The committee agenda at 9:00 a.m. also includes Sen. Chris Elliott’s (R-Daphne) SB 8, which would prevent homeowner’s associations from banning residents displaying from displaying the Alabama state flag.

At 9:30 a.m., House Health will meet and take a vote on SB 46, the medical marijuana bill. The committee agenda additionally includes Sen. Arthur Orr’s (R-Decatur) SB 267, which would ban the requirement or governmental issuance of vaccine passports in Alabama.

On the floor, the House will work off of a 19-bill special order calendar.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

He led off the call by commenting on the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan.

“Our infrastructure (in Alabama) is in need of repair,” Tuberville affirmed. “Our highways need to be fixed, condemned bridges need attention, there are roads that need to be paved to connect our rural communities and broadband needs to be improved.”

“These are important projects, and that’s why every penny of every dollar in the infrastructure bill should actually go to traditional infrastructure projects like these,” he continued. “Unfortunately, President Biden is reimagining the idea of what you think of infrastructure.”

Tuberville said Biden’s proposal “is not about infrastructure.”

“It’s about the Green New Deal in disguise,” the Republican senator warned. He decried that Biden’s plan would represent “the largest tax increase since 1993” while threatening the existence of family-owned small businesses and farms.

The next topic was Biden’s proposed budget for FY22, especially when it comes to defense spending.

“President Biden’s plan threatens the strength and stability of our fighting forces,” Tuberville cautioned. He said the Biden administration is sending the signal that its priority is “a weak military.”

Tuberville emphasized Biden’s proposal “weakens military readiness and benefits our adversaries.”

“We can’t afford a setback,” the senator outlined, pointing to “bad actors like China and Russia” heavily investing in their militaries “just to get ahead” of the United States.

“Lack of investment in our military puts our men and women in uniform at serious disadvantage,” he remarked. “It has a direct impact on Alabamians. From Mobile to Huntsville, in Alabama more than 200,000 jobs are in national defense (related work).”

“Alabama has a longstanding history of contributions to our national defense,” Tuberville continued. “And our state plays a pivotal role in developing the future of our military. Simply put, this budget proposal is scary.”

RELATED: Senator Shelby stands up for military readiness, modernization amid defense budget concerns

Next, Tuberville expressed his support for maintaining the filibuster.

“We need the filibuster to protect the minority’s voice in the Senate,” he advised.

The Lee County resident wrapped up his remarks by reiterating his support for the COVID-19 vaccines.

He touched on the news this week that the CDC and the Alabama Department of Public Health have both temporarily paused the Johnson and Johnson vaccine due to a rare type of blood clot reportedly occurring in six individuals — all women — who received the J&J coronavirus vaccine.

“We’re looking at six cases here of nearly seven million shots administered nationwide,” Tuberville commented. “Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Operation Warp Speed, we have plenty of Moderna and Pfizer doses to go around. Just today, President Biden said — those two vaccines — we have enough for everybody in this country. I have been in contact with the governor’s office and state leadership, and they have assured me they are on top of all of this.”

“So I continue to urge Alabamians to take whatever vaccine is available at the time they are able,” he concluded. “[G]et the vaccine, just like I have.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Ainsworth noted that the meeting will bolster the state economy and bring attention to the region and the state, which is especially important following the damage COVID-19 did to tourism along the Gulf Coast and in other areas.

“Tourists paid more than one billion dollars in taxes to state and local governments in 2019, dollars which saved the average Alabama family about $537 a year in taxes,” Ainsworth added.

NLGA was founded in 1962, and this will be only the second time Alabama has hosted an annual meeting of the association. The sole previous NLGA Annual Meeting in Alabama was in 1975.

“NLGA meetings are nonpartisan and promote innovative plans for shared challenges, something that is especially critical for state leaders as all the states emerge from the global pandemic and seek to regain their economic and educational footing,” commented NLGA director Julia Brossart.

“NLGA is a platform for us to come together as leaders, in a bi-partisan way, to drive thoughtful and informative discussions,” concluded NLGA chair and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D-DE).

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

She said, “I want to thank Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, along with Senators Albritton, Marsh, and McClendon, and everyone who contributed to this effort in the Senate. This historic vote is the first step to empower Alabamians who deserve to have their voice heard on this issue.”

Under the legislation passed by the Senate and now up for consideration by the House, casino gaming would be authorized only at sites in Jefferson County, Mobile County, Macon County, Greene County, Houston County, and Jackson or DeKalb County. The licenses for these sites would go to the highest responsible bidder, with existing operators in those counties getting the right to make a final bid; for the Jackson/DeKalb site, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians would have the right to a final bid.

It is important to note that one entity could not own more than two of those six sites, ensuring a monopoly could not occur.

Proponents of the legislation point out that for the first time in state history, the package passed by the Senate Tuesday would fully control and cap gaming that already exists in the shadows in Alabama. Enforcement would be given teeth so illegal operators could be weeded out once and for all.

Based on work previously conducted by the Governor’s Study Group on Gambling, the package would generate between $510-710 million annually.

The distribution of revenue in the package directs proceeds to education, postsecondary scholarships, high-speed broadband internet access, rural health care, mental health care, agricultural programs, roads and bridges, and more.

The legislation, among other provisions, would ban elected officials from accepting political contributions from gaming interests.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“In 2010, U.S. Army Colonel John McHugh made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation when he was killed in action by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan,” stated Moore.

“Like many Americans, he dreamed of building a better life for his family, and we owe it to his family and millions of Americans in their situation to help realize this dream,” Moore explained. “My legislation secures critical in-state tuition benefits for dependents and survivors of eligible veterans, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to get these families the long overdue support they deserve.”

Established in 1968, the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program now provides $1,224 a month in tax-free benefits to eligible participants to help cover the cost of tuition, fees and living expenses while they are enrolled at an institution of higher education.

This bill would require GI Bill-eligible schools to extend in-state tuition benefits to beneficiaries of that program – bringing the rules for this program in line with the post-9/11 GI Bill. Moore’s office noted that this is a common-sense solution to help our heroes’ families meet their higher education goals.

Kelly McHugh Stewart, surviving daughter of Col. McHugh, said in a statement, “My family and I are honored and humbled that the COL John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act is named after my dad.”

“My father believed in the power of education and knowing, in his memory, that Gold Star children will now have access to college educations, regardless of which state the university they wish to attend is located, would have meant the world to him,” she continued. “As a military child, ‘home’ is all over the country, sometimes all over the world. By the time I graduated high school, I’d moved eleven different times. I didn’t call just one state home, rather, I called the U.S. as a whole, the nation my father would die for, my home. Having the chance to attend Kansas State University was a wonderful opportunity for me while we were stationed at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Now, as family resides in the state of Alabama, my younger siblings will benefit from this change for in-state tuition as well. The chance to go to any university in this great country is a huge opportunity for children like my siblings and me, and we’re grateful to Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Senators Moran and Tester and Representatives Moore and Trone for making it happen.”

Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), made her support clear as well.

“Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors is grateful to Senators Moran and Tester and Representatives Moore and Trone for introducing the Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act to bring parity to Chapter 35 recipients eligibility for in state tuition,” Carroll remarked. “Chapter 35 recipients are often forgotten in legislation and this is a huge step forward in ensuring they have equitable benefits. We look forward to seeing it passed into law.”

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

DeMint in 2012 left SCF, which was then run by former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli until he was nominated by the president to be the director of ICE during the Trump administration.

Cuccinelli and Lee were “Never Trumpers” who led the unsuccessful “Free the Delegates” campaign at the 2016 Republican National Convention in a last-minute attempt to prevent Donald Trump from becoming the party’s nominee.

Alabamians may remember that SCF backed State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs) in the state’s 2020 U.S. Senate race.

The endorsement of Brooks comes the week after former President Trump endorsed him.

Vought concluded, “President Trump endorsed Mo Brooks and said this about why conservatives should support him: ‘Few Republicans have as much COURAGE and FIGHT as Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks. Mo is a great Conservative Republican leader who will stand up for America First no matter what obstacles the Fake News Media, RINOs, or Socialist Democrats may place in his path.’ We agree!”

Brooks released a statement in reaction to the SCF endorsement.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of the preeminent Senate Conservative Fund,” he remarked. “The Senate Conservative Fund’s endorsement is HUGE! An SCF endorsement emphasizes that Mo Brooks is THE proven, reliable, principled conservative candidate in Alabama’s Senate race. The SCF endorsement means the SCF’s national conservative fundraising base will be mobilized to help the Mo Brooks for Senate campaign. The SCF can raise hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars to help principled conservative candidates serve in the U.S. Senate. The impact of an SCF endorsement cannot be overstated, not only for what the SCF does but also because of what an SCF endorsement encourages others to do.”

Brooks this past weekend was also endorsed by Congressman Barry Moore (AL-02).

Former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia Lynda Blanchard is the only other announced candidate in the nascent Senate race.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

HHQ is comprised of four partners, including former Congressmen Ben Quayle (R-AZ) and Kevin Yoder (R-KS).

“Hamilton is a tremendous addition to our firm. Hamilton’s knowledge and expertise in the appropriations process in particular will greatly enhance our abilities to provide our clients with guidance in their dealings with the federal government,” stated Quayle.

“The addition of Hamilton to the HHQ team is a huge win for our clients as his experience and connections on Capitol Hill will help us greatly expand our reach and expertise. As HHQ continues its rapid growth and expansion, Hamilton will be instrumental in our firm’s future,” Yoder added.

Bloom graduated from the University of Alabama, where he was student body president.

“It was the honor of a lifetime to work for such giants of public service to solve problems facing constituents across the nation,” Bloom said in a statement. “At HHQ, I look forward to leveraging what I learned during my tenure both in Senator Shelby’s office and while serving the members of the Appropriations Committee to help stakeholders navigate the difficult landscape of the federal government. I believe the experienced and dynamic staff at HHQ is uniquely positioned to help solve issues impacting our nation, and I look forward to joining the team.”

HHQ also counts former Vice President Dan Quayle and Lt. General (Ret.) Emil R. Bedard among its strategic advisors.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn