Posts by Will Blakely

For thousands of years, money was based on precious metals like gold and silver, but in the 20th century, the United States moved away from metal-based currency and toward fiat currency backed only by full faith and trust in the federal government.

At one point in his life, Floyd Rodgers, Jr. was raking in as much as $47,000 a week selling drugs. Then he found Christ in prison and became a pastor. Now, he’s running for the Alabama House of Representatives.

For years, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has said what Alabama needs is more jobs. Now, she’s admitting that we may not currently have enough people willing to work to fill them.

Since a shooting on The Strip in Tuscaloosa that resulted in the death of a 23-year-old female and the arrest of a University of Alabama basketball player in January landed the city in the national press, Tuscaloosa City Council members and law enforcement have been discussing how to make the city’s bar scene safer.

The Homewood City Council is considering calling for a referendum so residents can consider remodeling their city government. 

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) called for the impeachment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday as the House Judiciary Committee geared up to grill the bureaucrat over his handling of the southern border.

Birmingham City Council approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Board of Health to fund the implementation of a hospital-linked violence intervention program, which is supposed to help reduce acts of retaliation from victims of violent crimes and their loved ones.

Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson told 1819 News on Monday that the ramifications for his city are not yet evident in response to the state’s new congressional district map, which moved the majority of Covington County away from its traditional place in District 2 to District 1.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth took to Twitter on Saturday to share a complaint about traffic on I-65 and call for new leadership in the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).

Last week, a Jefferson County judge placed a restraining order on Hoover and Helena in the midst of an annexation battle over part of an unincorporated community in Jefferson County. But Hoover is not the only nearby municipality conflicting with the City of Helena over land.

After a four-hour flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles and another brutal 15-hour trek across the Pacific, I arrived in Sydney, Australia, two weeks ago today.

After repeated attempts to reach Hoover officials for comment about an annexation legal battle with the City of Helena that resulted in a temporary restraining order last week, 1819 News has yet to receive a response. 

The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass an amendment to a bill on Thursday morning that would have required airlines to rehire pilots who were fired or forced to resign for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

In June, the Tuscaloosa City Council voted 5-2 to institute a moratorium on bars within the city limits, citing police shortages and concerns about calls from the Strip, the nightlife district just down the street from the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.

A U.S. Senate source told 1819 News that Senate Democrats intend to attempt lifting U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Auburn) hold on military promotions on Wednesday night.

Alabama GOP chairman John Wahl praised former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin on Wednesday for his “impressive win” in District 5 of the Jefferson County Commission, which he said secured the five-person commission in favor of conservatives. 

On Monday, a Jefferson County judge ruled to amend a temporary restraining order against the City of Hoover to restrict city officials from soliciting properties in a nearby unincorporated community for annexation. 

Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin won the seat for Jefferson County Commission’s District 5 on Tuesday’s special election, maintaining the conservative majority on the five-person commission.

Over 5,000 veterans signed a letter voicing support for U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Auburn) hold on military promotions to combat a U.S. Department of Defense policy that financially facilitates abortions.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville voiced his support on Monday for a suggestion by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to move the FBI’s headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Alabama.

A candidate to fill the fifth spot on the Jefferson County Commission was endorsed by Birmingham-area Democrats in spite of branding himself as “nonpartisan” in an election in which political parties will not be included on the ballot. 

In 2022, former Navy seal and law enforcement officer Jared Hudson narrowly lost to the incumbent Democrat Mark Pettway in the election for Jefferson County Sheriff. Now, Hudson is encouraging conservatives to get out and vote in a special election later this month that will determine which party holds the majority in the Jefferson County Commission.

On July 18, Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Homewood and Hoover residents will select the newest member of the Jefferson County Commission in a special election. Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin says he’s the man for the job.

Many Alabamians spend their July in the company of family and friends by the lake, beach or pool, celebrating American Independence and counting down the days to football season. The summer of 1943 was a much different experience for Alabamian Hugh B. Miller.

Earlier this year, a title wave of op-eds on various Alabama press websites exalted Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s economic incentive “Game Plan,” which moved smoothly through the legislature and officially became law in April, extending special privileges and rewards to specific corporations. 

On the Fourth of July, Americans celebrated the Declaration of Independence from the English crown and the birth of the new Republic, but today, July 5, Alabamians have something further to celebrate: the anniversary of our state’s conception.

Alabama Center for Law and Liberty president Matt Clark told 1819 News on Wednesday that one recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has the potential to help Alabamains who lost their jobs for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine due to religious beliefs.