What is Amendment One?
This year, there’s just one statewide constitutional amendment on the ballot for Alabama voters. But it affects only two counties. Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) sponsored the legislation.
The amendment involves the Franklin County School System, which owns land in Walker county.
“The land that Franklin County owns is at the Intersection of I-22 and State Route 13, which is a highly traveled highway. It’s called the sixteenth section land, and the land is devoted for educational purposes,” Kiel said.
The land is currently being managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation. Franklin County Schools would like to develop that property for commercial use. If passed by Alabama voters, Amendment One will allow the school system to sell or lease the land.
“It could be a truck stop. It could be hotels or restaurants. And it would make a huge financial impact on both the Franklin County School System and Walker County.”
Kiel said selling the land to businesses would bring in funds to the county through the collection of sales and property taxes. But more importantly, the money would help the local school systems. He said that’s why it’s a statewide issue.
“My hope is that people across the state would look at this as ‘what if this were my children,’ or ‘what if this were my city’ and that they would vote for it” Kiel said.
Read analysis of Amendment One from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.
Supreme Court appears split in tax foreclosure case
At issue is whether a county can seize homeowners' residence for unpaid property taxes and sell the house at auction for less than the homeowners would get if they put their home on the market themselves.
Top House Dem wants Justice Department to explain missing Trump-related Epstein files
After NPR reporting revealed dozens of pages of Epstein files related to President Trump appear to be missing from the public record, a top House Democrat wants to know why.
ICE won’t be at polling places this year, a Trump DHS official promises
In a call with top state voting officials, a Department of Homeland Security official stated unequivocally that immigration agents would not be patrolling polling places during this year's midterms.
Surgeon general nominee Means questioned about vaccines, birth control and financial conflicts
During a confirmation hearing, senators asked Dr. Casey Means about her current positions and her past statements on a range of public health issues.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 shortlist includes Lauryn Hill, Shakira and Wu-Tang Clan
The shortlist also includes a 1990s pop diva, heavy metal pioneers and a legendary R&B singer and producer.
This novel about family drama is so good you may want to re-read it immediately
Allegra Goodman's new novel is called This Is Not About Us, but critic Maureen Corrigan says that title is coy: Readers are bound to see aspects of themselves and their families in these pages.
