7. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed denounced and ordered the removal of a controversial billboard that featured a Bloody Sunday image with “Make America Great Again” superimposed on it, arguing that such historical moments should unite rather than divide communities. The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, which had unknowingly sponsored the billboard, stated the decision was made without leadership or board approval and took immediate action to remove it. In response to the backlash, the museum and the city’s Cultural Affairs Department pledged to review processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
6. The Trump administration’s recent e-mail offering federal workers a “deferred resignation” with pay through September has sent shockwaves through the federal workforce, with many interpreting it less as a buyout and more as a coercive ultimatum. Employees are grappling with deep mistrust and confusion, suspecting this could be the last chance to leave with some financial security before potentially more drastic measures are implemented to reduce government size. The move, reminiscent of Elon Musk’s approach at Twitter, has not only instilled panic but also prompted legal and ethical scrutiny, with unions and federal workers questioning its legality and the implications for their careers and the services they provide.
5. Alabama professors, students, and the ACLU are suing to block Senate Bill 129, a law that bans DEI programs and restricts teaching “divisive concepts,” arguing it violates constitutional free speech and due process rights. The plaintiffs, including University of Alabama professor Cassandra Simon, who admits she is breaking the law, contend that it forces educators to self-censor and deprives students of critical academic discussions. The law, passed by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, has already resulted in the closure of DEI offices and loss of funding for student organizations, echoing similar legal battles in other states like Florida.
4. Alabama State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) called for an investigation into Magic City Acceptance Academy, an LGBTQ+ charter school, accusing it of violating state law by promoting “divisive concepts” such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He argued that the school’s approach fosters an ideological agenda rather than preparing students for the real world and insisted that taxpayer dollars should not fund policies the Legislature has explicitly banned. Oliver’s stance aligns with a broader conservative movement, including President Trump’s federal efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives and reinforce traditional gender and historical narratives in education.
3. Protesters in Albertville took to the streets to oppose President Trump’s immigration policies and ICE enforcement, with chants and signs advocating for immigrant rights and denouncing immigration raids. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth voiced strong support for Trump’s immigration actions, emphasizing the need to uphold border security nationwide. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) condemned the anti-ICE protests in Albertville, emphasizing the agency’s role in public safety and supporting President Trump’s immigration crackdown, including the recently signed Laken Riley Act.
2. A fatal mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet over Washington, D.C., left all 67 passengers dead, with an FAA report revealing abnormal air traffic control staffing at the time. The controller managing helicopters was also overseeing runway traffic, a role typically handled by two people. In fact, the controller was directing helicopters near the airport while he was also instructing planes that were landing and departing from its runways; these two situations collided and became a deadly crash.
1. In the wake of the tragic plane and helicopter collision in Washington a lot of ridiculous unhelpful blame is being tossed around. President Trump has sparked another overblown non-troversy by suggesting that previous diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at the FAA could be partially to blame, even though there have been pushes to lower standards for air traffic controllers. Trump was also baselessly blamed for the crash, with Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager (D-Calif.) blaming his administration for fostering incompetence and CNN’s Bakari Sellers walking back his earlier comments, acknowledging that politics should not play a role in the aftermath of such a tragedy. As the investigation continues, the debate over DEI policies in federal hiring and their potential impact on aviation safety remains a contentious topic.
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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 on WVNN at 10 p.m.
