7. Alabama Athletics Director Greg Byrne has proposed a controversial solution to prevent fans from storming fields and courts after upsets: penalizing the home team with an automatic loss if fans rush the playing area. Byrne cited safety concerns, particularly after incidents involving Alabama’s football and basketball teams, and acknowledged the unpopularity of his idea while remaining open to other solutions. The proposal has reignited debates about the tradition of storming, with Byrne arguing that drastic measures are necessary to protect players, staff, and fans.

6. The anti-religion Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation is at it again, targeting the Alabama Legislature after an Alabama House committee advanced a constitutional amendment (requiring a vote of the people) mandating the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and a Judeo-Christian prayer in public schools, with penalties for non-compliance including withholding up to 25% of state funding. The bill faced limited Democratic pushback, though State Rep. Marilyn Lands (D-Madison) questioned its inclusivity, suggesting alternatives like a moment of silence. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has denounced an Alabama bill requiring public schools to begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance and a Judeo-Christian prayer, calling it a blatant violation of the constitutional separation of church and state, urges Alabama lawmakers to reject the bill and promises to challenge it in court if enacted.

5. Promoting American Patriotism in Our Schools Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), would mandate that schools receiving federal funding require daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, prominently display the U.S. flag in classrooms, and incorporate educational materials on the flag’s history and significance. The bill, aimed at fostering patriotism among students, has received support from 12 Alabama school districts and co-sponsorship from fellow Alabama congressmen, including Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Mike Rogers (R-Saks), Robert Aderholt (R-Haley), and Gary Palmer (R-Hoover). Strong emphasized the importance of instilling appreciation for America’s values and symbols in the next generation, citing a decline in patriotic education in schools.

4. Huntsville Utilities made national news as they were the only utility in the country to immediately seek to have grant recipients pay $100 after President Donald Trump’s executive order that paused some federal spending under the Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act, Huntsville Utilities customers reported sudden $100 debits on their accounts. In response, the Huntsville Alabama Community Resources worked to raise emergency funds and coordinate with the utility provider to help mitigate the impact of the funding pause; there are no reports of other utilities taking this action at this time.

3. Proving dishonesty is a key currency for modern Democrats, a billboard in Birmingham is slamming U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Elon Musk over proposed federal budget cuts that could strip $70 million in annual funding from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which they argue will cripple Birmingham by trimming overhead costs. The billboard, funded by a group called BBD, accuses Britt of prioritizing political loyalty over public service and urges residents to contact their representatives, but Britt’s office defends her focus on efficient spending and support for health research. Joellyn Beckham, speaking to a slobbering aldotcom, said the billboards, one which suggests Musk is a Nazi, raise the issue of Musk as an “unelected shadow president,” when he is clearly appointed to do the job he is doing.

2. Alabama state senators passed three bills targeting illegal immigrants which require law enforcement to collect DNA and fingerprints from individuals suspected of being unlawfully present, allows time to verify immigration status for those charged with crimes, and invalidates out-of-state driver’s licenses issued without proof of lawful U.S. citizenship. Additionally, SB77 proposed a fee on international wire transfers to fund immigration enforcement, though it was carried over due to procedural rules. The bills, part of a broader push to strengthen immigration enforcement, passed despite opposition from Senate Democrats and following a visit by several lawmakers to the U.S. Southern Border last year.

1. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) has voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s plan to move 100,000 federal jobs out of Washington, D.C., arguing it will help “drain the swamp” and align agency leadership with the “real world” beyond the U.S. capital’s unique culture. Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, emphasized the role of technology in enabling this shift and suggested the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, will spearhead the effort. Rogers also said jobs in federal defense and aerospace jobs in Alabama are not the target of the government cost-cutting, as “buyouts” and the firing of probationary employees could trim the workforce.