7 Things: Ukraine nuclear plant in danger as Pelosi joins call to ban Russian oil, a gambling bill reappears in Alabama and more …

7. Mask mandate lawsuit dismissed

• Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate has dismissed the lawsuit against the Madison City school board over the mask mandate in the school system. This came after Madison City Schools filed a statement that the mandate has already ended.

• The mandate was ended on February 23, but the lawsuit had been filed on February 3, claiming the school board didn’t have the authority to create the mandate and that it would cause physical hardships.

6. Trump-loving Democrat has entered the U.S. Senate race, they want him out

• A new candidate, Victor Williams, has announced that he will be starting a campaign for U.S. Senate in Alabama, and he will be running as a Democrat despite being a devoted supporter of former President Donald Trump. Williams said, “My research is showing that Mr. Trump has tremendous support among Democrats.” His fellow Democrats want him out.

• Williams formerly taught at Catholic University’s law school; at another time, he was the law clerk for former U.S. District Judge William Brevard Hand. Williams also started trumpdemocrats.com, which he promoted at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Williams said that he wants to take the Democrat Party back from the “Marxists, anarchists and academic thugs.”

5. State Senate approves constitutional carry, Democrats claim it defunds police

• In a 23-6 vote, the Alabama State Senate has passed the legislation that would remove the statewide requirement for individuals to obtain a concealed carry permit for their firearm. Those who voted against the bill sided with sheriffs across the state, claiming that removing the requirement will endanger public safety.

• Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) also stated, “The conservative party of Alabama, better known as Republicans, wants to defund the police.” This is based on the claim that sheriff departments throughout the state need the funds that come from permits.

4. Orr: Alabama education is doing a disservice to children

• The Alabama Numeracy Act has passed the Alabama State Senate, which is a bill very similar to the Alabama Literacy Act. The bill requires students to achieve certain academic standards before advancing to the next grade. The Numeracy Act would focus on K-5 graders’ math proficiency, but it does not have a mechanism for holding kids back.

• State Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is the sponsor of the bill and has stated, “Only a third of our school systems, or 10 percent of fourth through eighth-grade students, are proficient in math.” He added, “There has been no urgency to attempt to improve math instruction in our schools, and the result is that we are failing these children. The responsibility falls on us to help propose solutions.”

3. A gambling bill with no real chance is proposed again.

• In what is most likely pretty good constituent services by State Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) with little real chance of passing, a gambling proposal has been proposed for the legislative session at a little beyond the halfway point. Albritton’s bills would establish a gaming commission and set up various games for a select few players and tax it at 20% for various earmarked programs from broadband to healthcare with 99% of lottery dollars going to education.

• The bills are basically the same bills that Albritton proposed in the past with various types of gambling (lottery, casino, sports betting) with protectionism for quasi-legal gamblers currently operating, a casino for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and slot machines with extra steps to bilk rubes in Lowndes and Houston County while pretending it helps the community. 

2. Safe zones agreed upon in Ukraine and a nuclear plant is in danger

• Temporary safe corridors have been agreed upon in Ukraine by Russia and Ukraine to provide a safer route for citizens of the country to evacuate as war between the neighboring countries continues.

• As people are evacuating in the specified areas, there will be a “cease-fire for the duration of the evacuation,” according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak. More details will be decided in the near future.

1. Pelosi wants to ban Russian oil

• After little action being taken against Russia other than sanctions, which are likely to be ineffective if there is nothing done about their oil sales, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has come out in support of banning Russian oil.

• The idea of banning Russian oil in the United States has gotten attention since Russia invaded Ukraine, and Pelosi said she’s “all for that. Ban it.” But she did not support the idea of the country being more energy independent and resuming drilling domestically. Other Democrats think buying oil from Iran is a solution to this issue.