7. As former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial enters the closing arguments phase, Fox News Digital did a comprehensive story finding that many Americans have bought into the argument that Trump’s prosecution is politically motivated. Wider polls have backed these findings, with most not even paying attention, this issue has many variables, some viewed Trump as innocent and criticized the trial’s fairness, others believed he should be held accountable for any wrongdoing, emphasizing the importance of upholding the law regardless of one’s political status.
6. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) is touting the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a bipartisan vote of 57-1 out of The House Armed Services Committee. Strong highlighted provisions in the NDAA aimed at improving troops’ quality of life, including a significant pay raise for lower enlisted service members and on-base housing reform and fellow Alabama U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) praised its passage and Strong’s advocacy for North Alabama.
4. In the past 11 days, bullets have either hit or almost hit Birmingham’s youngest citizens at least seven times, these incidents include four children being shot, one grazed by bullets, another injured by shattered glass, and two others narrowly avoiding injury. The city’s mayor is blaming former President Donald Trump while responsible authorities are highlighting the increasing culture of violence, stress the devastating impact on children’s lives and emphasize the need for community outrage over every shooting. Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald said, “it just shows you the criminal element has no regard for human life.”
3. The fake news freak-out over Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is as phony as the Amy Coney Barrett allegation, as phony as the freak-out over Clarence Thomas’ allegations, and as phony as the freak-out over Brett Kavanaugh’s allegations. None of the “journalists” who have found themselves fretting over our “democracy” can explain exactly what is scaring them so much, but they assure you, this is serious, and democracy hangs in the balance because their colleagues believe it as well.
2. Jacksonville State University dumped its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and becomes the first public college in Alabama to comply with a new state law prohibiting the use of state funds DEI offices and initiatives and mandates the closure of such offices by Oct. 1. In a university-wide announcement, JSU President Don Killingsworth Jr. stated that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will close May 31, with all current employees reassigned to other roles on campus.
2. The Supreme Court ruled that South Carolina’s redistricting map, which shifted over 30,000 Black voters to a different district, was motivated by partisan rather than racial concerns. In a 6-3 decision, the justices upheld the Republican-drawn map, overturning a lower court’s finding of racial gerrymandering. The decision emphasized that while partisan gerrymandering is permissible, racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional, which some experts expect could bring Alabama’s Second Congressional District back to court after the 2024 election.
1. The Alabama State Department of Education released the results of the 2023-2024 Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, indicating that 91% of third-graders are reading at or above grade level across the state. In Birmingham, numbers jumped from 51% to 84% after the law threatening to hold back failing kids passed and this significant improvement from previous years shows that real consequences works.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.
