7. State Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) is still pushing a “crackdown” in Alabama on hemp-derived THC products like Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10, which are currently legally being sold in convenience stores due to a 2018 Farm Bill loophole, but they lack regulation. The problem is that these items are appearing like gummies and slushies that appeal to kids. Whitt cited alarming statistics, such as 40% of poison control calls involving kids under six overdosing, to explain the need for this bill that would impose strict guidelines and end “the wild west” of hemp products.

6. State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) has a bill that would remove exemptions for pregnant women from Alabama’s Human Life Protection Act and would redefine abortion as murder in Alabama. Proponents are arguing the exemption is fueling a rise in self-managed abortions, which are now roughly 70% of all abortions nationwide.

5. The Trump administration terminated the temporary legal status of nearly 985,000 immigrants who used the Biden-era CBP One app for legal entry. It has been suggested that these immigrants immediately depart the country or face threats of arrest, fines, and permanent reentry bans if they fail to self-deport via the newly rebranded CBP Home app. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem framed the revocation as fulfilling a promise to secure borders, while exempting immigrants from the Uniting for Ukraine and Operation Allies Welcome programs.

4. A bill thought to be a long-shot to become a law would help Alabama’s independent pharmacies in their fight against Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) by mandating Medicaid-level reimbursements for the independent pharmacies that are equal to those that are involved in the PBMs. The bill stalled last year over a a fear that it would make prescriptions more expensive. But an amendment removed the $10.64 dispensing fee and Alabama lawmakers passed the Community Pharmacy Relief Act, with unanimous votes (House 102-0, Senate 33-0).

3. President Donald Trump told 16,000 probationary employees fired from six agencies (Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and the Treasury), “you are (re)fired!” after the Supreme Court ruled that the unions suing to stop the firings obviously did not have standing. But the justices did not rule on the merits of the case. Like other rulings earlier this week, its narrow scope leaves the broader impact uncertain as the battle goes on. But the Trump administration sees this as a way to take some power back from the judiciary.

2. Mercedes-Benz may be signaling the threat of President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on foreign automakers is working by publicly contemplating a shift of SUV production from Bremen, Germany, to its Vance plant near Tuscaloosa. The automaker has also pledged not to raise sticker prices for U.S. customers on 2025 models, absorbing the tariff costs instead, as it navigates a potential $1.7 billion hit — 14% of its expected operating profit.

1. After foreign markets rebounded Tuesday morning, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average signaled they could rebound as well. Throughout the day, it appeared that was happening, but by the end of the day the S&P 500 slid 1.6% (after being up as much as 4%) and the Dow saw a similar play while losing all of its 3.9% increase and ending up down .84%. This happened as the Trump administration doubled down on imposing extensive tariffs, including a 104% levy on Chinese goods effective midnight, intensifying the fight between the two global goliaths. Trump’s not backing down, his words make that clear, “Think of it – 104%. Now, it sounds ridiculous, but they charged us for many items – 100%, 125%. Many countries have. They ripped us off left and right. But now it’s our turn to do the ripping. That’s ok. We’re gonna make our country even stronger, stronger than it ever was.”

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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.