7. Shomari Figures, Democratic nominee for Alabama’s Secondnd Congressional District, is emphasizing his ties to former President Barack Obama, which Alabama Democrats usually downplay, and his father’s legacy in new campaign ads. Figures’ ad, which ignores President Joe Biden, highlights his experience with the Justice Department and Obama’s administration while promising to focus on affordable education, workforce development, and job creation.
6. After blocking an effort by Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) to get a bill passed to protect both in vitro fertilization and religious liberty, the U.S. Senate is set to vote again on a bill to establish a nationwide right to IVF, aiming to pressure Republicans on women’s health issues ahead of the election but the bill’s requirements placed on medical workers’ religious freedom doom the bill, by design. Despite its slim chances of passing due to previous Republican opposition, Democrats hope the vote will highlight contrasts between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, even though the supermajority Republican Alabama Legislature immediately addressed the IVF issue caused by a state Supreme Court ruling.
5. Vice President Kamala Harris faced a tense exchange with members of the National Association of Black Journalists, a friendly venue, during a 45-minute interview, where she discussed her policies on housing, child tax credits, and abortion access. The session grew contentious as reporters pressed her for direct answers on controversial topics, including reparations and the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Harris providing responses that left some attendees dissatisfied because the answers she gave on those issues were not extreme enough.
4. Baldwin County Commissioner Jeb Ball is drafting a resolution to seek state assistance in addressing the strain on public safety, education, and healthcare due to an influx of migrants in the area. While immigration is a federal issue, Ball and other commissioners hope state-level action can alleviate the pressure on local systems, with the resolution expected to be discussed at the Oct. 1 commission meeting, but a check from the state seems like an unlikely expectation from the state government.
3. Athens City Councilman Chris Seibert stated he will not resign from his District 1 seat despite accusations of failing to pay city taxes or purchase business a licenses for his rental properties. Several residents defended Seibert at a contentious council meeting, where others accused him of exploiting the influx of Haitian migrants by renting to them through his multiple LLCs, while a petition calling for his resignation circulated in the community. Even the city admitted Seibert will not be penalized the multiple years he has been running his rental business without holding a license and for the lengthy period of non-payment of fees and penalties.
2. Sylacauga City Councilwoman Laura Barlow Heath expressed concerns about the recent influx of Haitian immigrants, citing fears of resource shortages and a lack of information from federal authorities in her city. While the media insists this is all fine and will never be an issue, as all immigrants are peaceful and wonderful in every way, she noted growing community worries about crime, housing, and potential civil unrest, “When is enough enough? When do they stop coming in? How many are there going to be? There’s no answers. We have none. The unknown and uncertainty is scary. We have 12,236 people in our community, and we just do not have the adequate resources to handle an influx of migrants. It’s going to take away from resources that are already struggling here.”
1. During a Fox Business interview, Sen. Tommy Tuberville called for military protection for former President Trump following two recent assassination attempts, criticizing President Biden and Vice President Harris for inadequate security measures. Tuberville expressed concern that current Secret Service protections are insufficient and urged for enhanced security to prevent future attacks before someone else dies, “When people hear this violent, dangerous rhetoric, we’re going to have a copycat. It’s coming, and it’s just unfortunate, somebody’s going to get killed, even after the fireman in Pennsylvania.”
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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 and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.
