Alabama top stories in brief
- The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted to officially delay granting any licenses until a third party has a chance to review the process used to score candidates. The commission has contracted the accounting firm KPMG to review the process. After they have received a review of the process from KPMG, AMCC will vote on whether they should completely void the previous process. Before the commission called a halt to the awarding process, they awarded a total of 21 licenses to companies.
- Five attorneys have been given contracts worth $195,000 each to defend an Alabama law that made it a felony for doctors to prescribe hormones or puberty blockers to people under 19. The law was passed during the 2022 legislative session, but a federal judge blocked part of the law banning doctors from prescribing hormones or puberty blockers with an injunction. The case is currently in the discovery phase; a trial is expected in March 2024.
- Alabama Power is considering building a lake on top of Chandler Mountain in St. Clair County to function as a power storage facility. Much of the land that would become the lake is currently privately owned, and many of the owners are vocally opposing the project. If Alabama Power is issued a license, then local residents will be forced off through eminent domain. Alabama Power has said that no decision has been made yet, and it may be a few years before the residents in the area know if they will be forced to move.
- Alabama’s 18th back-to-school sales tax holiday will start Friday, July 21 at 12:01 a.m. and end Sunday, July 23 at midnight. During the holiday, the state’s 4% sales tax will be waived for eligible items. The list of eligible items includes clothing, computers, books, art supplies and school supplies. A detailed list of eligible items can be found on Alabama Department of Revenue’s website.
- The Republican political organization Americans for Prosperity plans to open a chapter in Alabama. The group has received funding from the super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action, which is associated with the conservative billionaire Charles Koch. The organization is planning to back a GOP presidential primary candidate. They haven’t said who yet, but they have made it clear that it will not be Donald Trump.
Alabama representatives block attempts to send more funds to Space Command temporary headquarters
Colorado lawmakers attempted to introduce legislation that, according to U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville), would have allowed the temporary headquarters for the U.S. Space Command to build itself up more, making it a more viable option for permanent residence.
Strong blocked the attempt by Colorado lawmakers.
The debate over where Space Command should be located is one that has continued to drag on for some time.
Now, Alabama representatives in Congress are beginning to push harder for a final decision to be made regarding Space Command. U.S. Rep Mike Rogers (R-Opelika) has proposed legislation to pause construction funding for Space Command in Colorado as well as cut the travel budget for the secretary of the Air Force in half.
It was announced in early 2021 that Space Command would be located in Huntsville, Alabama. Colorado was among one of the states that had also been considered for the permanent headquarters, and several of Colorado’s political figures made accusations that politics had come into play during the selection process.
This led to a year-long investigation by the U.S. Department of Defense to determine whether the process had complied with law and policy. In 2022, the DOD inspector general released a report that affirmed the original 2021 decision.
Politicians from Alabama have continued to ramp up their rhetoric involving Space Command since then.
“Alabama is the only choice for Space Command headquarters,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in May during a speech at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.
Ivey’s remarks came only a few days after NBC News released a report that cited U.S. officials who said they believed the Biden administration was delaying the move due to Alabama’s abortion laws, which are among the most restrictive in the nation.
The White House has denied these claims.
Our articles you might have missed
- Last week’s roundup focused on the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which is facing a lawsuit from some of the companies who didn’t receive business licenses.
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