7 Things: Schools dealing with laws on social issues, another Biden speech on ‘soul of the nation,’ and more …

7. Student loan ‘relief’ could be tax-free

• The Tax Foundation has reported that, in Alabama, individuals who receive student loan forgiveness through President Joe Biden’s new program will likely not owe additional state taxes.

• A spokesman for the Department of Revenue Frank Miles has said, “Alabama is tied to the federal statute for income from the discharge of indebtedness. If it is determined to not be taxable for federal, it will also not be taxable for Alabama.”

6. The grid cannot handle 100% electric cars

• After California put a plan in place to ban the sale of new gas vehicles by 2035, California Independent System Operator has asked for individuals to “Remember to defer using major appliances,” and they’ve warned as temperatures increase in the area, it “is likely to strain the grid with increased energy demands, especially over the holiday weekend.” 

• Gov. Gavin Newsom has also signed an executive order to allow for more electricity production ahead of the heatwave. Newsom has saidhis order is meant to give more availability and flexibility.

5. Tuscaloosa approves marijuana 

• Tuscaloosa’s city council agreed to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within the city with a 5 to 2 vote. Now that the city has approved, those who want to sell medical marijuana should start applying for a license today. 

• Alabama Cannabis Commission Director John McMillan says there are a small number of municipalities that have approved a similar measure to allow the sale of marijuana. 

4. No more ‘racially charged’ language in schools

• A video in Tuscaloosa’s Northridge High School shows a student using racial and misogynistic slurs, and now the Tuscaloosa NAACP is calling for more change after a mother of a student brought the video to the NAACP.

• The school district has responded to the video saying it “does not represent who we are as a school system,” and use of racial slurs is against school’s code of conduct and the punishment is suspension, extra work, or other consequences. The NAACP has said, “If the punishment for these degrading acts were applied equally across ZIP codes, we would see an immediate decline in their occurrence. Still, as long as some students know that they will continue to be sheltered they will continue their assault on Tuscaloosa’s marginalized communities.” 

3. Teacher shortage in Alabama will be addressed by the Biden administration

• President Joe Biden and his administration have announced an effort to limit the national teacher shortage, which would benefit Alabama, as well. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh has sent out a letter about the issue to school districts.

• In their letter, Cardona and Walsh focused on competitive teacher pay and opening more opportunities for people who are working on gaining teacher qualifications. Alabama has already been working to eliminate its teacher shortage by altering some of the requirements for teachers, and regular pay raises for teachers for four of the last five years.

2. Biden will claim to be fighting for “soul of nation,” while calling his opponents’ fascists

• As President Joe Biden’s poll numbers slip back to below 40% approval, The New York Times claims he has shifted his campaign strategy from “compromise to combat,” but tonight he will be back in Pennsylvania arguing that he is fighting for the soul of the nation.

• Biden is expected to try and show, “how our rights and freedoms are still under attack. And he will make clear who is fighting for those rights, fighting for those freedoms, and fighting for our democracy,” according to the White House. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy offered an early “prebuttal” to this speech titled, “Biden’s Assault on the Soul of America.” McCarthy will be focusing on Biden’s lack of actual achievements, inflation and crime.

1. Alabama schools dealing with multiple social issues under new laws

• Alabama law and common sense are leading to some changes in Alabama’s public schools this year as the political and sexual orientation flags are coming down, and students are being required to use the bathroom of the gender they actually are. Lawyers are on standby looking for a reason to sue school districts and the state over the law, according to AL.com.

• The new laws forcing these changes are related to restroom usage and the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. Controversies inside and outside Alabama led parents and lawmakers to seek clarification of what is allowed and what is not, what is appropriate and what is not. The ACLU’s takeaway is that teachers are having to “police” the bathrooms, but there is no evidence that this is true.