7 Things: Ivey wants Alabama-made rockets’ effectiveness to be seen by Putin, China is Russia’s staunchest ally and more …

7. Alabama man is first convicted for seditious conspiracy

• Arab’s Joshua A. James has pled guilty to seditious conspiracy in a plot to delay the peaceful transfer of presidential power by taking part in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. It is estimated that he could be looking at up to nine years in prison.

• James participated in a conspiracy take over the U.S. Capitol, and at one point claimed the building was his. In an encrypted chat before January 6, he said he believed his group was adequately armed to stop the proceedings. On January 6, he rode a golf cart in a military-style formation to the U.S. Capitol where he pushed past officers who tried to stop rioters from moving toward the Rotunda and got into a physical confrontation with the officers.

6. Ban on transgender treatments advances

• In the Alabama Legislature, the House Judiciary Committee advanced the legislation, the Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, that would prevent certain treatments for transgender minors, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries.

• The bill is sponsored by State Senator Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) and states that the penalty for violating the law would be a fine of up to $15,000 and up to 10 years in prison. The bill passed in a 24-6 vote.

5. Alabama will receive $100 million grant for infrastructure

• The U.S. Department of Transportation will give a grant of $100 million that will go to the Mobile Airport Authority and the Alabama State Port Authority. The grant was announced by U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.).

• Shelby stated, “This is one of the most impactful federal grants during my time in Congress.” He added, “Our Gulf Coast and the entire state of Alabama stands to benefit immensely from this funding in ways we can only imagine. Mobile has a lot to offer, and I am thrilled that we are utilizing its existing infrastructure to create a new transportation hub and economic power source for the entire state.”

4. Confirmation hearings for Jackson will start this month

• The confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will reportedly be set to start on March 21. The schedule was announced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durban (D-Ill.).

• Durbin said, “[T]he Committee will undertake a fair and timely process to consider Judge Jackson’s nomination.” Questioning of Jackson won’t begin until March 22 and March 23, with the first day reserved for statements.

3. OPEC will pump more oil, America will not

• At Tuesday’s State of the Union, President Joe Biden did everything he could to not say that it was time to sanction Russian energy production and super-charge American oil production to counter their aggression and the power Russia has over Europe and the world. The White House defended that action, saying, “[I]n President Biden’s view is the fact that we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, on oil in general … and we need to look at other ways of having energy in our country and others.”

• To combat the Russian madmen, Biden has repeatedly begged the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to pump more oil, and they finally have complied by agreeing to increase oil output by 400,000 barrels a day. To put that in perspective, America buys roughly 700,000 barrels of oil from Russia at the cost of billions of dollars and our dignity.

2. China standing with Russia

• In a United Nations General Assembly vote, China has decided not to sanction Russia and instead will maintain “normal trade cooperation.” Those voting against the resolution to sanction Russia were Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea, Russia, China and Syria.

• Spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry Wang Webin said, “China firmly opposes all illegal unilateral sanctions, and believes that sanctions are never fundamentally effective means to solve problems. They will only create serious difficulties to the economy and livelihood of relevant countries and further intensify division and confrontation.”

1. Ivey declares day of prayer for Ukraine and hinted Putin may be killed by Alabama-made weapons

• Governor Kay Ivey declared a day of prayer for Ukraine as the nation undergoes an invasion from Russia, and reports continue to come in of deceased citizens and military troops. Ivey said, “Alabama stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they fight to protect their country and democracy.” Ivey stated that the invasion was an “inexcusable power grab by the Russian Federation” which “has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians, destruction of essential infrastructure and poses a great threat to democracy.”

• Comically, Ivey also tweeted a message about a Yellowhammer News story about Alabama-made Javelin missiles headed to Ukraine to attempt to hold off the Russians. The tweet joked that Putin would be killed by the missiles. She wrote, “We want the last thing Putin ever reads to be ‘Made in Alabama.'” It is unlikely the Russian head of state will be attacked by a tank-killing missile.