7. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump secretly sent scarce COVID-19 tests to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was reportedly fearful of the virus. According to a new book by Bob Woodward, and breathlessly repeated as if it is a massive bombshell, Putin asked Trump to keep the gesture hidden to avoid political backlash, but the relationship between the two persisted as Trump continued to campaign for the 2024 presidential election.
6. Alabama is safe from the direct impacts of Hurricane Milton, but will experience cooler, breezy fall weather as the storm moves through Florida. In response to the hurricane, Alabama Task Force 3 is deploying a team to Florida with technical rescue and swift-water capabilities to assist in the hardest-hit areas with members of the State Urban Rescue Alliance, National US&R Response System, Alabama Emergency Management Agency, Guntersville Fire and Rescue, Marshall County Emergency Management Agency, Madison Fire and Rescue, Decatur Fire and Rescue, and the Fort Payne Fire Department.
5. The pathetic pandering of Vice President Kamala Harris toward women and young people may be backfiring because it is weird, insulting, and cringeworthy. In Arizona, Trump leads Harris by 7 points among voters over 50, despite her slight advantage among younger voters. Additionally, Trump holds a strong 11-point lead among men, while Harris is only ahead by 6 points among women, micro-targeting (pandering) works but it could also alienate.
4. Even though 1 is too many, a new study from the nonprofit Do No Harm reveals that 35 minors in Alabama underwent gender-affirming procedures or received puberty blockers between 2019 and 2023. The data comes as Alabama’s law banning such treatments for individuals under 19 faces legal challenges, with advocates arguing for the protection of children from these interventions.
3. The Birmingham City Council approved Mayor Randall Woodfin’s $15.8 million plan to recruit and retain police officers, addressing the 172 vacant patrol positions in the department. The plan includes a $10,000 signing bonus for new recruits, quarterly retention bonuses for experienced officers, and funding for a take-home patrol car program to improve police presence in neighborhoods.
2. Republican candidate for Congress Caroleene Dobson in the Second Congressional District has denied any connection to Project 2025, accusing the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee of lying about her stance, but they are just using “Project 2025” as a catch-all smear. The DCCC has launched a billboard campaign in the district, claiming Dobson supports policies that would harm healthcare access for those with pre-existing conditions, which shows the willingness of the media and their Democrats to lie because Dobson wants a discussion on Medicaid expansion in Alabama.
1. Gov. Kay Ivey, alongside 24 other governors, and Republican candidate for Congress Caroleene Dobson expressed concern over the Biden-Harris Administration’s CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) parole program, citing a lack of communication and the strain on state resources due to the influx of migrants. In a letter to the administration, the governors requested detailed information on the migrants’ legal status, security vetting, and the resources provided to local communities handling their arrival.
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