Rise to the moment of truth Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Posts by Will Blakely

Photo from Birmingham Southern Colleges Facebook page
Birmingham City Council debates pledging support for Birmingham-Southern bailout, delays decision to April

The Birmingham City Council is divided in its support for a Birmingham Southern College bailout, even as Gov. Kay Ivey, state legislators and a Jefferson County commissioner have already expressed disinterest in forking up money for the private school. 

Legacyarena
Birmingham police report zero crimes during NCAA Tournament despite record violent crime last year

The Birmingham Police Department ramped up security measures last week for a major sporting event and reported zero tournament-related crimes despite the city's ongoing crime epidemic.

Mike Rogers
U.S. Rep. Rogers rips Biden for vetoing anti-ESG investing bill — ‘Get woke politics out of Americans’ savings accounts’

President Joe Biden issued his first-ever veto on Monday to reject a bill that would have reversed a rule instituted by his own administration that allowed money managers to use environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making retirement investments on a client’s behalf. 

Photo by Jeriden Villegas
Tuberville co-sponsors bill to expand approved uses of state-sponsored college savings plans to include expenses associated with ‘skills training’ and ‘credentialing’

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) co-sponsored a bill that might encourage Americans to enter a trade career instead of pursuing careers requiring degrees from four-year universities.

UA Grad
How a University of Alabama women’s studies course promotes radical gender ideology

A Women’s Studies class at the University of Alabama (UA) that charged students $95 in the fall for a textbook with links to otherwise freely available material dedicated a large portion of its reading assignments to teach students that gender is subjective and not a matter of biological fact.

Gary Palmer lef T and Joe Biden right
U.S. Rep. Palmer on Biden family investigation: ‘A lot of smoke here and we need to get it cleaned up’

The GOP Oversight Committee released subpoenaed financial records that show multiple members of the Biden family received a total of over $1 million potentially tied to a business associate who was doing business with a Chinese energy company.

St Patrick Photo from Wikipedia
Alabama House approves resolution to officially recognize St. Patrick’s Day, Irish in Alabama

The Alabama House of Representatives approved a resolution this week to officially recognize St. Patrick’s Day and individuals of Irish heritage in Alabama. 

Auburn University campus
Auburn University's Office of Sustainability touts DEI, CRT, feminist theory, environmental activism in new report

Auburn University released its second annual United Nations (UN) “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) report for 2019 to 2020, praising its faculty for researching and teaching topics involving critical race theory (CRT), feminist theory and environmental activism. 

Photo from Kay Iveys Twitter
Ivey joins DeSantis in fight against Biden over ESG in retirement funds, signs joint statement vowing to 'leverage state pension' against woke investing

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey joined Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and 17 other states to oppose President Joe Biden’s efforts to keep environmental, social and governance investing in employee pension plans.

Carson Tubs
Ben Carson among 23 conservative leaders backing Tuberville opposition to DOD taxpayer-funded travel, leave for abortion-seeking U.S. military personnel

Twenty-three leaders in the conservative movement signed onto a letter in support of U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Auburn) push to reverse a Department of Defense (DOD) policy that uses taxpayer dollars to help service members get abortions.

Arthur Orr
State Sen. Orr to introduce legislation to gradually lift taxes on ‘essential’ groceries

Alabama is one of the only states to charge a sales tax on “essential” foods like milk and eggs, but as food prices soar due to inflation, one state senator has drafted a bill to lift the tax burden.

Photo from the Business Council of Alabama's Facebook page
House Speaker Ledbetter to BCA: Economic incentives renewal one of the 'biggest legislative issues this session'

While speaking to the Business Council of Alabama on Tuesday morning, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) gave his support to expanding economic incentive programs for select businesses in the state.

Biden SVB
Troy economist explains what bank runs mean for Alabamians; Says Biden’s assurance ‘could backfire’

An Alabama economist weighed in on last week’s Silicon Valley and Signature Bank Collapse, explaining that the central banking system is the “leading problem” of the country’s financial situation and warning that President Joe Biden’s assurance of the banking system’s safety “could backfire.”

Gary Palmer
U.S. Rep. Palmer running again in 2024; Claims pledge was to support term-limit legislation, but acknowledges saying would only serve five terms

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is officially running for a sixth term and stressing that the term limits pledge he signed in 2014 is to support legislation to limit terms to six years but not necessarily to limit himself.

Higher education
Report: Alabama 14th in higher education appropriations — $2.12 billion to public universities, some of which promote DEI, woke ideology

Only 13 states have promised more taxpayer money for public higher education than Alabama so far for this fiscal year. 

Photo from the office of Alabama Gov Kay Ivey
Birmingham-based Shipt once touted by Ivey labeled 'high risk' for viewpoint discrimination — Has donated to ACLU, BLM, Human Rights Campaign

A Birmingham-based company that was once praised by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey received a “high risk” score from an organization that rates companies based on their hostility to particular viewpoints.

Photo from UAH Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion Facebook page
Alabama Commission on Higher Ed executive director Purcell defends DEI programs in taxpayer-funded universities — Criticizes GOP efforts to prohibit endorsement, forced assent to 'divisive concepts'

Alabama Commission on Higher Education executive director Jim Purcell defended diversity, equity and inclusion programs on Friday, criticizing a GOP-backed resolution to eliminate these programs in public institutions and a bill that would prohibit "divisive concepts" from being endorsed by higher education professionals. 

The Wuhan Institute of Virology Photo from the WI Vs website
U.S. House unanimously votes for Biden to disclose details about potential Wuhan COVID-19 origin connections; U.S. Rep. Rogers says Americans deserve to know where pandemic 'came from'

The U.S. House voted on Friday to require the Biden administration to declassify information pertaining to the connection between the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Birmingham Water Works Board Linked In
Birmingham Water Works hires second PR firm; Spokesman says it won’t affect 2023 budget

Birmingham Water Works is hiring another public relations firm, but a spokesperson said it wouldn't add to the approximately $200 million budget already approved for fiscal year 2023.

UAB
UAB in top 1% of organizations funded by the National Institutes of Health under Dr. Fauci

The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) is in the top 1% of “public, private and international organizations” funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to a press release from the university.

Train by Ankush Minda
Norfolk Southern train derails in Calhoun County as company faces investigation from federal agencies, apologizes to Congress

Around 30 train cars derailed early Thursday morning from a Norfolk Southern Railway in Calhoun County, just as the railroad company’s CEO apologized to Congress for the devastating derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted in over a million pounds of toxic chemicals potentially being spilled.

Left to right Tina Tchen photo from
UA Women's History Month keynote speaker assisted Andrew Cuomo in discrediting sexual assault accusers

March is Women’s History Month, and the University of Alabama has booked a keynote speaker whose tenure as CEO of an anti-sexual harassment nonprofit ended when she privately consulted with former Democratic N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo amid the sexual harassment accusations levied against him. 

Gary Waters Photo from City of Pelhams Facebook page
Pelham Mayor Waters remains tight-lipped on potential Oak Mountain Amphitheatre move — Calls it a 'business decision,' Says city has a plan if move proceeds

On Tuesday, 1819 News approached Pelham Mayor Gary Waters at a Pelham City Council meeting to ask about the city's plans if Live Nation chooses to move forward with a deal that would result in them managing a new amphitheater in North Birmingham instead of Pelham's Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. 

Mike Pence Photo from eventbrite com
Mike Pence coming to the University of Alabama in April

University of Alabama YAF to welcome Mike Pence in April.

Regions
Alabama-based Regions Financial labeled 'medium risk' for discriminating based on differing views

Over 1,000 large corporations received bias ratings from a nonprofit organization seeking to determine how hostile the companies were to particular viewpoints. One Alabama-based corporation was labeled “medium risk.”

AL State House Lon Worley
House bill could permit state employees to make over $50K a year while receiving retirement benefits

If passed this legislative session, a new bill in the Alabama House of Representatives would allow beneficiaries of the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) and the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) to earn a salary of as much as $52,000 a year while still receiving retirement benefits.

Student loan debt
In-state tuition up 300-700% at Alabama public four-year colleges since 1990 as SCOTUS considers student loan forgiveness

As the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) hears a challenge to President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt for millions of borrowers across the United States, some economists say easy-to-obtain student loans from the federal government may be the cause of the problem in the first place.

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