Conservative Alabama Lawmakers Talk Gambling and Taxes
Alabama is a conservative state where political and religious rhetoric will sometimes mix in the halls of the statehouse. As a result, vices, such as gambling, don’t usually get favorable treatment in public policy. But the more than $280 million dollar shortfall in Alabama’s General Fund budget has lawmakers uttering the words casino, lottery, and even taxes. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about the political turnabout and a bill that would give Jefferson County lawmakers millions of dollars to dole out at their own discretion.
Bill would give give non-violent, aging prisoners a chance at freedom
Should the Second Chance Act be enacted, judges could review certain cases where an individual was sentenced to life without parole under the Habitual Offenders Act for potential resentencing.
States push Medicaid work rules, but few programs help enrollees find jobs
Some lawmakers are pushing to require that Medicaid recipients work in order to get or keep coverage, and some states already try to help them find jobs. But the effects of those efforts are unclear.
How Trump’s cuts to U.S. foreign aid are imperiling Syria’s war crimes investigations
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DOGE cut a CDC team as it was about to start a project to help N.C. flood victims
The National Center for Environmental Health was hollowed out in the cuts of 10,000 federal health workers on April 1. That's the same day an assessment of people hurt in floods was set to begin.
Europe deplores America’s ‘chlorinated chicken.’ How safe is our poultry?
President Trump wants European countries to start buying U.S. chicken and eggs. But the U.K. and E.U. think American poultry is gross and chemically washed. Turns out, chlorine isn't really the issue.
Bipartisan senators rebuke White House move to end legal aid for unaccompanied minors
The letter obtained by NPR marks a rare bipartisan critique from Capitol Hill of the administration's immigration policy.