7. Birmingham is finally getting serious about some of the stupid lawlessness dominating news about the city and when it comes to street racing, the city is now going to go after spectators, too. The new ordinance permits police to arrest and charge bystanders who livestream exhibition driving, with violators facing fines of $500 or up to 180 days in jail.
6. Alabama’s real estate market is not faring too poorly with the state’s housing market having improved significantly with conditions improving for buyers despite elevated lending rates. According to the April 2024 Alabama Economic and Real Estate Report released by the Alabama Association of Realtors, there has been a 3.8% increase in home sales from March to April, a substantial rise in active listings, and a decline in the median sales price.
5. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) has seen enough and believes that the anti-Israel protests and encampments on college campuses across the country are not spontaneous but are funded by left-wing groups. Palmer says the people funding the are the same people funding Democrat politicians and even National Public Radio, “The same foundations and the families behind them that are funding NPR are also funding the protesters. They’re paying the people who are training these college kids to go out and protest. They’re funding Democratic candidates and are also providing the dark money for Democrat operatives.”
4. A griping mom on TikTok says Gov. Kay Ivey’s office called the Department of Human Resources over a TikTok video. The governor’s office agrees but says the letter was misinterpreted. Ivey’s team says they contacted DHR so that the agency could reach out and potentially be helpful, but it seems rather clear that the TikTok-er appears to be seeking and receiving attention on social media, not help for her kids.
3. Every couple of months, advocates for expanding Medicaid are able to get a story written about how Medicaid expansion is coming from the Legislature or that Gov. Kay Ivey will do it on her own and it never pans out because it is special interest wish-casting in the hopes of generating buzz. Well here we go again: Ivey’s office says it is not happening, “Gov. Ivey’s position remains unchanged” and the long-term costs are still a concern.
2. The defense for former President Donald Trump rested after calling only one witness, a day after wrecking the prosecution’s star witness showing him as a thief and someone who was willing to lie to get what he wanted. The next step is for closing arguments and then the jury will start deliberating next week to decide the fate of the former president and quite possibly the 2024 election, making it a legal and political minefield for all involved.
1. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) is the latest Alabama Republican to show up in New York City to speak in support of former President Donald Trump at his “hush-money” trial, he appeared with Donald Trump Jr., Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker. Strong said he had to see it for himself, “I wanted to come see it myself — so the common people of this country can understand what’s going on: it’s ELECTION INTERFERENCE at a level never seen before.”
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.
