April 20, 2018

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton files for U.S. Senate

The race for Thad Cochran's seat has another Democratic candidate. Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton announced today that he'll also be running in the 2018 special election.

Shelton says he intends to bring what he calls "energy and success" to Washington.

"We've had such a strong legacy of leadership in the United States Senate and on November 6, Mississippians are going to send the next generation of leaders to the United States Senate. Because of the record of success in my hometown of reducing debt and creating jobs. And we're going to go all across this state to make that case," said Shelton.

Shelton says he has the best record in the race and has the most conservative record as far as economic growth.

http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/38000708/jason-shelton-files-for-us-senate

This is a special election to be held in November 2018 to replace Thad Cochran (R) who is retiring due to health reasons.

More analysis of the race is at https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Mississippi,_2018 .

April 20, 2018

Tuition to Rise 4 Percent on Average at Mississippi Schools

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's eight public universities plan to raise tuition by an average of 4 percent next fall.

Presidents say lingering effects from state budget cuts two years ago require them to raise more revenue from students.

The College Board on Thursday preliminarily approved tuition increases at all of the universities. Trustees will vote again next month to finalize the changes.

The statewide average for two semesters of full-time tuition and fees will rise by an average of $303 to $7,805. That's for an in-state undergraduate.

Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/apr/19/tuition-rise-4-percent-average-mississippi-schools/

April 20, 2018

Governor Vetoes Opioid, Crime Reforms After Signing Reentry Law

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant has blocked an effort to help wean those addicted to opioids off the drugs with medication, as well as assist indigent prisoners. SB 2841, which he vetoed on April 13 citing financial concerns at the Mississippi Department of Corrections, would have enabled drug courts to make medication available to addicts.

Senate Bill 2841 also would have required MDOC to determine the indigence of Mississippians on parole, probation or supervision before assessing monthly community corrections fees. The governor took issue with this part of the bill.

"This bill replaces the discretion of the court or department to grant a hardship waiver to an offender with a statutorily mandated 'determination of indigence' based on Federal Poverty Guidelines. The department estimates that this change in the law could cost millions of dollars annually," he wrote in his veto message.

If the governor's message is correct, it follows that MDOC is bringing in millions of dollars to the Community Service Revolving Fund from Mississippians on probation or parole, who are at or above the federal poverty line currently.

Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/apr/19/governor-vetoes-opioid-crime-reforms-after-signing/

April 19, 2018

Alabama remains a safe haven for hate

By Josh Moon


In 1968, shortly after gunning down Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, James Earl Ray was running from police, who were, he believed, right on his tail. He was looking for an escape route — a place where people might not be too upset by his crime.

He turned his Mustang towards Alabama.

Ray believed Alabamians would be sympathetic towards him, that then-Gov. George Wallace — whose hateful segregationist rhetoric had inspired Ray in the first place — would protect him, even pardon him, for killing King.

Alabama was his safe haven.

This has been the perpetual image of Alabama for decades now.

Read more: http://www.alreporter.com/2018/04/18/opinion-alabama-remains-a-safe-haven-for-hate/

April 19, 2018

Roy Moore Countersues Misconduct Accuser

Failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore is countersuing a woman who says he molested her when she was 14 and he was 32.

Moore's attorneys filed the defamation counterclaim on Monday against Leigh Corfman — who has an ongoing defamation lawsuit against Moore — denying Corfman's accusations of sexual misconduct first raised in an interview with the Washington Post. Corfman is among several women who say Moore romantically or sexually pursued them decades ago when they were in their teens and he was in his 30s.

According to Moore's attorneys: "Leigh Corfman knowingly, willingly and maliciously made statements she knew to be false to the Washington Post with the intention and knowledge that such statements would damage the reputation of Mr. Moore."

The accusations of sexual misconduct became a prominent issue in last year's U.S. Senate race to replace now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Moore lost to Democrat Doug Jones. In the court filing, Moore's attorneys blamed that election loss on the misconduct accusations. Moore's attorneys said the accusations damaged his reputation, "leading to the loss of the Senate race."

Read more: http://apr.org/post/roy-moore-countersues-misconduct-accuser

This article is about one week old; however, it seems noteworthy.

April 19, 2018

Official Says 200 Montgomery Teacher Jobs Need to Be Cut

Alabama’s interim state superintendent says about 200 teacher positions in Montgomery will have to be eliminated in order to stabilize finances.

Al.com reports interim superintendent Ed Richardson also says Montgomery will need to outsource about 400 support jobs. He says the Alabama Education Association could have prevented those job cuts for Montgomery Public Schools if the group had not gone to court to block his plan to sell Georgia Washington Middle School to the town of Pike Road.

Richardson led a state intervention into the Montgomery school system due to financial and academic problems.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange joined Richardson during Thursday's news conference. The city has no authority over education, but did expend time and money studying the possibility of a city school system before determining it was not feasible.

Read more: http://apr.org/post/official-says-200-montgomery-teacher-jobs-need-be-cut

April 19, 2018

Birmingham Says Monument Screen Doesn't Break Law

Plywood obstruction surrounding Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Lynn Park, Birmingham, Ala.


The city of Birmingham says it did not violate state law when it put up a plywood box around a 52-foot-tall Confederate monument in a city park.

In a court filing yesterday, the city disputed the state of Alabama’s claims that Birmingham violated a law prohibiting the removal or alteration of any monuments more than 40 years old.

City attorneys argue the plywood structure surrounding the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument in Linn Park did not technically remove or alter the monument. They also argue the state is trying to stifle opposition to relics that “mourn the Confederacy’s ‘lost cause’ to operate as a separate and independent nation that fosters the enslavement of African-Americans.

Birmingham mayor William Bell erected the screen last year. The state of Alabama then sued the city, claiming it violated the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act. The screen has remained in place since it was first built.

http://apr.org/post/birmingham-says-monument-screen-doesnt-break-law
(short article)

April 19, 2018

Alabama governor says state shouldn't 'erase or tear down' Confederate monuments

Alabama doesn't need "folks in Washington" or "out-of-state liberals" instructing the state on what it should do with Confederate monuments, Gov. Kay Ivey said Tuesday.

Ivey, during a campaign appearance in Foley, defended a new campaign ad released earlier in the day that touted the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, which she signed into law less than 11 months ago.

"I believe the people agreed with that decision and support in protecting our historical monuments," Ivey said after speaking at a Baldwin County Young Republicans function. Her appearance also occurred one day before the Reckon by AL.com GOP governor's debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lyric Fine Arts Theatre in Birmingham. Ivey said she does not plan to attend.

"We can't and shouldn't even try to charge or erase or tear down our history. We must learn from our history," Ivey said.

Read more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/04/post_164.html

April 19, 2018

University of Alabama Cancels White Nationalist Speech

A student group at the University of Alabama won’t be hosting a speech from a prominent white nationalist this week after all.

The group Students for America First had invited Jared Taylor to speak on campus on Thursday. Taylor is the editor of the website “American Renaissance” and planned to give a talk entitled “Diversity: Is It Good for America?”

However, university officials moved to cancel the event yesterday, saying Students for America First didn’t meet the requirements for a registered student organization.

A university statement says the group did not have a full-time faculty or staff advisor. The statement reads that the University is committed to free speech, and Students for America First would be able to re-register as an active organization and reschedule the event if the group meets university requirements.

Read more: http://apr.org/post/university-alabama-cancels-white-nationalist-speech

April 19, 2018

State Lawmaker, Lobbyist Appear in Court on conspiracy, bribery and mail fraud charges

An Alabama legislator and a lobbyist who once chaired the Alabama Republican Party are scheduled to appear in federal court later today {Wednesday} on conspiracy charges.

Alabama Republican Representative Jack D. Williams of Vestavia Hills and lobbyist Marty Connors are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in federal court in Montgomery.

The two were arrested earlier this month, along with G. Ford Gilbert of California, on conspiracy to commit bribery and mail fraud charges.

Those charges relate to payments made to another lawmaker to advance an insurance bill. Prosecutors say Gilbert paid then-state Rep. Micky Hammon to push legislation in 2016 that would require Blue Cross to cover treatments at his diabetes clinics.

Read more: http://apr.org/post/state-lawmaker-lobbyist-appear-court


Related article:
Rep. Jack Williams, lobbyist Marty Connors and California healthcare CEO arrested on federal corruption charges

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Federal authorities arrested State Representative Jack D. Williams (R-Vestavia Hills), lobbyist Marty Connors, former chairman of the state Republican Party and Ford Gilbert, CEO of Trina Health, LLC on Monday on charges stemming from involvement with a public corruption scheme.

Each is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. This is according to US Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr.

The indictment reports Gilbert is the owner of a company that operates diabetes treatment centers around the world. Between 2014 and 2015, the company opened three clinics in Alabama. Not long after those opened, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama informed Trina Health it would not cover treatments provided by Trina Health. The indictment says Gilbert then plotted to force Blue Cross to change its stance.

According to the US Attorneys office, Gilbert came up with a plan to push a bill through the 2016 Alabama Legislature session. The bill would require Blue Cross to cover the treatments.

Read more: http://whnt.com/2018/04/02/rep-jack-williams-lobbyist-marty-connors-and-california-company-owner-arrested-on-federal-corruption-charges/

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Is anyone surprised that Republicans are involved?