7. The U.S. House passed the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), focusing on countering global threats from China and the Middle East while providing significant support for servicemembers, including a historic 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel. Alabama’s largely supportive congressional delegation highlighted the bill’s importance in enhancing military readiness, bolstering U.S. alliances like Israel, and supporting defense-related investments in Alabama. Though Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) expressed concerns over political provisions, she ultimately supported the bill for its critical benefits to national security and servicemembers’ welfare.
6. Fairhope High School Principal Jon Cardwell warned parents and students about the legal risks of texting or sharing explicit images, emphasizing the importance of reporting such incidents to authorities rather than deleting them. After consulting with police, Cardwell learned that failing to report could implicate students in investigations, potentially leading to serious charges like possession or distribution of child pornography. He urged parents to discuss the issue with their children and stressed that reporting images to school officials or law enforcement can protect students from legal consequences.
5. State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) emphasized the strong public and legislative support for a statewide lottery in Alabama, urging lawmakers to focus solely on a lottery proposal without including broader gambling measures to avoid division. Orr highlighted that a lottery could generate an estimated $150-$200 million annually, which, while helpful, would not significantly transform the state’s $10 billion Education Trust Fund. He stressed the importance of respecting public sentiment for a lottery vote, noting past legislative failures due to disagreements over expanding gambling beyond a lottery.
4. President-elect Donald Trump was named Time magazine’s 2024 “Person of the Year,” marking his second time receiving the honor highlighting his political comeback after a controversial first term. Alabama politicians, including U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and Reps. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), praised Trump for his resilience and leadership. They celebrated his ability to overcome challenges, such as legal battles and political opposition, and expressed enthusiasm for working with him in his upcoming presidency.
3. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey joined 25 Republican governors in endorsing President-elect Trump’s plan for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, emphasizing a focus on removing dangerous criminals, gang members, and terrorists. The governors criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies and highlighted their efforts to mobilize state resources to address border issues. Immigrant communities in Alabama expressed anxiety over potential deportations, with advocates urging awareness of legal rights and emphasizing immigrants’ economic contributions to the state.
2. Limestone County inches toward year-round school by approving a 2025-26 calendar that starts classes on July 31, 2025, trading a shorter summer for a longer winter break. While some praised the change for offering more breaks during the year, others expressed concerns over vacation conflicts, sports, and the mental health impact on students. This reflects a broader trend in Alabama of shrinking summer breaks as schools experiment with different calendar structures.
1. A underwhelming DOJ report revealed that the FBI had 26 confidential informants at the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, with most engaging in illegal activity, though no evidence showed FBI agents orchestrated the violence. The report found that only three informants were explicitly directed to monitor potential threats, while the majority acted independently, with four entering the Capitol and 13 accessing restricted areas. Despite acknowledging missteps in pre-riot intelligence gathering, the FBI agreed to improve procedures for managing informants in future high-security scenarios.
Listen here: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.
