Alabama top stories in brief

• Five lawsuit contracts to defend Alabama Department of Corrections officers, totaling at $1 million, were approved by the Alabama Contract Review Committee. Each contract is worth $200,000 to three different attorneys. Each lawsuit is ongoing and the approved contracts are meant to replace the current contracts that are set to expire soon. All lawsuits were filed against ADOC for alleged negligence and abuse by ADOC officers. In at least three of the cases, the alleged negligence and abuse by AODC led to deaths of the plaintiffs’ relatives. 

• Residents near Moody, Alabama are pursuing blood and urine PFAS tests in response to the ongoing landfill fire that has been burning since November 2022. PFAS are chemicals used in countless manufactured products and are considered “forever chemicals.” They’re nearly impossible to get rid of and cause a myriad of health issues from cancer to reproductive problems and immune system failures. Families in the area are concerned about the health of themselves and their children, especially after the months of smoke being released from the area. According to the Cahaba Riverkeeper, water testing from the area indicated significantly higher levels of PFAS than Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management stated the fire had little impact on water quality in the area after testing downstream and upstream of the landfill. However, the Cahaba Riverkeeper stated that ADEM did not test closest to the landfill site. Additionally, ADEM said PFAS tests are not useful since the chemicals are essentially everywhere. Taking blood or urine samples from local residents and comparing them to individuals who were not present or affected by the pollution would give a comparative analysis for PFAS, according to the Cahaba Riverkeeper. Residents and the Cahaba Riverkeeper are looking to obtain funding from the National Institute of Health and other sources to fund the most convenient testing for locals. 

• Infirmary Health in Mobile announced that it intends to end all in vitro fertilization treatments at the end of the year, citing concerns over future litigation. The clinic has been at the heart of the IVF conversation in Alabama, since three families sued them seeking damages for wrongful death of a child after an unauthorized individual destroyed several embryos. A circuit court dismissed it, but the decision was overturned by the Alabama Supreme Court who ruled that frozen embryos are considered children for the purpose of wrongful death of a child under Alabama law. The Alabama Legislature passed a bill to grant immunity to IVF clinics, but did not alter the law regarding embryos legal status. 

• The United Auto Workers announced last week that it would apply to the National Labor Relations Board for a vote on forming a union at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Vance, Alabama. According to the UAW, more than 70% of workers have signed a petition in support of a union election at the plant. Both Gov. Kay Ivey and the Business Council of Alabama have come out against the unionization effort.

Our articles you might have missed

• In The Longleaf Hiker this month, Xander Swain explores Little River Canyon with friends and reflects on the importance of preserving history in addition to protecting ecological sites. 

• Check out our latest feature, which focuses on “StarFell” a comic series by Mike Uhlir that takes place in a fictional town based off Wetumpka, Alabama. 

• In the latest edition of The Breathing Room, Hannah Irvin explains why she dislikes the phrase, “you can do anything you set your mind to” and proposes an alternative.

Rounding up March

March kicked off with the Alabama Primary Election. Perhaps the most watched race in the state was in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which has the potential to shift the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

This was the first election held for the district since courts mandated its creation last year. The district was required to give Black Alabamians a decent chance to elect a candidate of their choice. The majority of Black Alabamians vote for democratic candidates, so the district could switch parties, giving Democrats an additional seat in the house from Alabama. 

With almost 20 candidates spread across both parties, the race had more candidates than any other race in the state this primary. Both Republicans and Democrats will hold runoff elections for candidates. Dick Brewbaker and Caroleene Dobson will participate in a runoff for the Republicans, and Shomari Figures and Anthony Daniels will participate in a runoff for the Democrats. 

The runoffs will be held on April 16. 

Alabama also saw resolution to the ongoing court battle between federal authorities and Alabama’s longest serving representative, John Rogers, D-Birmingham, over a kickback scheme involving Rogers, his assistant, Varrie Johnson Kindall and former Rep. Fred Plump, D-Fairfield. Rogers agreed to step down from office and plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Rogers also will be confined to his home for 14 months and must pay over $197,000 in restitution. Rogers served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1982 until March 15, 2024. 

A special election to select a replacement for Rogers’s seat in House District 52 was set by Gov. Kay Ivey for June 18. 

Another ongoing story reached its conclusion in March. After a year of struggling to gather the funds to stay open, Birmingham Southern College announced in March that it would close its doors on May 31. 

The decision came after it was made clear that a bill to provide a loan to keep BSC open that would circumvent Alabama’s State Treasurer, Young Boozer, lacked the support to pass.

Since BSC made their announcement, several colleges and universities have announced their intent to provide special assistance to BSC students transferring to a new school to finish their degrees. These include Auburn University, the University of Montevallo, Auburn University Montgomery and the University of Alabama. 

While BSC is closing, another Alabama school has announced a large expansion. Tuskegee University announced that it has secured 6.7 million in federal funding, with the aid of Sen. Katie Britt, to launch a new flight program. 

According to a press release from TU, the school will start with 25 students, with plans to increase the size of students in the program. 

The Alabama Public Library Service continues to be a point of contention for many in the state. Ivey proposed an amendment to the APLS code which would require all libraries to develop policies for the relocation of materials deemed inappropriate for youth and to require advanced approval for any displays promoting books to youth. APLS told AL.com that, as of March 25, they had received 399 public comments opposed to adopting the changes and 17 supporting the changes. 

The amendments are open for public comments until April 29. 

The Alabama Legislature had filed over 600 bills by the end of March. Of those bills, seven have been enacted as state laws. 

• SB1 criminalizes some forms of aid for those applying for absentee ballots. The new law prevents applicants from being given forms pre-filled with their names or other information on the application. Additionally, it makes it illegal for organizations or individuals to receive payment for distributing, ordering, collecting, requesting, pre-filling, completing or delivering absentee ballot applications. 

• SB129 limits how public funds can be used by diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which the bill defined as “any program, class, training, seminar, or other event where attendance is based on an individual’s identity, ethnicity, national origin, race, sex, gender or sexual orientation or that otherwise violates this act.” The bill also states that public institutions of higher education must designate use for all multiple occupancy bathrooms based upon individuals sex at birth. 

• SB48 requires public K-12 grade schools to post curriculum online for parents or guardians of students to view at the beginning of the school year or after changes have been made. It also requires teachers to provide summaries of classroom specific materials and education upon request by parents and guardians of students in their class. 

• SB39 allows public dams to be part of a program for voluntary dam inspections. It was an amendment to a bill passed last year which allowed private dam owners to opt into dam inspections. 

• SB28 amended the constitution to give the Houston County Commission the authority to appoint members to the Board of Houston County Health Care Authority.

• SB159 provides criminal and civil immunity to in vitro fertilization clinics and states that “no action, suit, or criminal prosecution for the damage to or death of an embryo shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization.”

• HB129 created the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students Education Act, which created an education savings account to provide funds for parents to use on certain education expenses for eligible students. The program will come into effect in 2025 and will initially be restricted to family’s that make less than 300% of the federal poverty rate, which is around $75,000 for a family of three. After 2027, the program will be opened up to all Alabama students. The legislature will appropriate $100 million to fund the program.