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Caroleene Dobson to run for Alabama secretary of state

The secretary of state serves as Alabama’s chief elections official. The office also maintains business records and government records for the state.

Federal judge weighs whether Alabama’s anti-DEI law threatens First Amendment

The new state law, SB129, followed a slew of proposals from Republican lawmakers across the country taking aim at DEI programs on college campuses. Universities across the country have shuttered or rebranded student affinity groups and DEI offices.

Peter Mohler named new University of Alabama president

Mohler comes to the role from Ohio State University where he served as executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge and as chief scientific officer of the Wexner Medical Center. He also served as Ohio State’s acting president in 2023.

In vitro fertilization emerges as a central issue in the Alabama state Supreme Court race

An Alabama fertility lawyer announced her candidacy for the state Supreme Court, emphasizing her personal experience with in vitro fertilization and blasting a controversial 2024 decision that ruled frozen embryos can be considered children under state law.

Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal

A new edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a Christian hymnal first published in 1844, is being released this year. It helps carry on the more than 180-year-old American folk singing tradition that is as much about the community as it is the music.

Alabama study reveals hurricane resilience programs are paying off for homeowners and insurers

The first-of-its-kind analysis, released last week, reviews thousands of insurance claims linked to Hurricane Sally, which struck Alabama’s coast in 2020. Homes retrofitted or built to Fortified standards saw significantly fewer and less costly claims.

Hate groups in the US decline but their influence grows, report shows

In its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, released Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center said it counted 1,371 hate and extremist groups, a 5% decline. The nonprofit group attributes this to a lesser sense of urgency to organize because their beliefs have infiltrated politics, education and society in general.

What was approved, and what failed, in the 2025 Alabama legislative session

Alabama lawmakers ended the 2025 legislative session on Wednesday. Here is a look at a few of the notable bills that passed, and some that failed, during the session.

Lawmakers pass bill to criminalize bringing immigrants in the US illegally across state lines

The legislation given final approval Wednesday protects “not only the citizens of Alabama but also the people that are immigrating here legally and doing everything the right way,” said the bill’s Republican sponsor.

Iranian student in Alabama to self-deport despite withdrawal of initial charge behind his arrest

Alireza Doroudi was detained by immigration officials in March as part of President Donald Trump’s widespread immigration crackdown and has been held at a facility in Jena, Louisiana.

Nearly 60 cases dismissed due to corruption in Hanceville Police Department

The grand jury determined that 58 felony criminal cases had been tainted by corruption in the Hanceville Police Department, after four officers and the police chief were indicted on a variety of charges related to mishandling or removing evidence from the department's evidence room.

Ivey overhauls Birmingham Water Works Board amid cries of racial discrimination

The bill redistributes power from Birmingham city officials — who currently appoint a majority of the nine-person board — to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the surrounding four counties that are also in the board’s jurisdiction. It also reduces the number of board members to seven.

Alabama lawmakers approve tax cuts for food, diapers and other items

The food tax reduction, if signed into law, will lower the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2% beginning Sept. 1. The reduction comes as lawmakers in both parties said families are being hurt by soaring grocery prices.

Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack

The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year.

Birmingham fights against losing control of its water board, citing racial discrimination

Birmingham city officials sued the Alabama governor on Tuesday in an effort to halt the codification of bill that would strip the city of control over the state’s largest water board, alleging the move “constitutes blatant racial discrimination.”

International students in Alabama fearful after researcher with no political ties is detained

Alireza Doroudi has been detained in an immigration facility in Louisiana for nearly six weeks. Doroudi’s detention has instilled fear in the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he and his fiancee are doctoral students

Trump offers advice to University of Alabama graduates in speech interspersed with politics

The Republican’s jolting speech was standard fare for Trump and well-received by the crowd in deep-red Alabama, which backed him in all three of his presidential runs.

Bill overhauling Birmingham Water Works Board heads to governor’s desk despite local outcry

Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama.

Legendary civil rights attorney Fred Gray honored with statue in Alabama

Gray represented prominent civil rights leaders like King, Rosa Parks and John Lewis throughout the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, allowing activists to intentionally leverage mass arrests and civil disobedience to push for equal rights.

Republicans in Gulf states push to embrace Gulf of America name

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills requiring the use of “Gulf of America” in state law and textbooks. Alabama lawmakers advanced a similar bill as well.

Alabama lawmakers advance local ‘Laken Riley’ bill that deputizes police to enforce immigration law

The bill was dubbed “Laken Riley Act,” named after the 22-year-old Augusta University student who was killed last year in Georgia by an undocumented immigrant. President Donald Trump signed a similar law into affect in January that requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.

Review of decision not to award Space Command to Alabama inconclusive, with Trump reversal expected

The inspector general's report, issued Friday, said this was in part due to a lack of access to senior defense officials during the Biden administration, when the review began.

DOJ ends environmental justice agreement in Alabama county citing Trump

Justice Department officials said they were ending the agreement reached with the state regarding wastewater issues in Lowndes County. Federal officials said the decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order forbidding federal agencies from pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Doctors remove pig kidney from an Alabama woman after a record 130 days

Towana Looney is recovering well from the removal surgery and has returned home to Gadsden. In a statement, she thanked her doctors for “the opportunity to be part of this incredible research.”

Alabama approves regulations on pharmacy benefit managers in order to help small pharmacies

The Alabama House backed the proposal that will require pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse independent pharmacists at least at the state Medicaid rate for prescription drugs. The bill now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

Alabama lawmakers pass legislation that could give pregnant women more access to health care

The “presumptive eligibility” legislation states that Medicaid will pay for a pregnant woman’s outpatient medical care for up to 60 days while an application for the government-funded insurance program is being considered.

In conservative Alabama, Republicans are cheering for Trump – with some quiet concerns and caveats

Alabama Republicans cheered President Donald Trump and his agenda at a GOP party the day he imposed tariffs and sent stock markets tumbling worldwide. But there were signs of a more cautious optimism and some worried whispers over Trump’s sweeping tariffs, the particulars of his deportation policy and the aggressive cuts by his Department of Government Efficiency.

Florida heads to NCAA title game in a victory over SEC rival Auburn

Florida beat Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four on Saturday night. The Gators are going to the national championship game for the first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007.

Alabama lawmakers advance proposed ban on cellphones in school

A growing number of states are moving to ban or restrict cellphones in schools. The push has been fueled by concerns that phones are a distraction in the classroom and that screen time and social media have a negative impact on mental health.

Auburn completes sweep of No. 1 seeds into Final Four, beating Michigan State

The South Region champion Tigers, the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, became the last of the No. 1 seeds to advance to the Final Four — joining Florida, Duke and Houston.

Sears, Alabama can’t duplicate record 3-point night, fall to Duke with Final Four at stake

Duke handcuffed Alabama's All-American, Mark Sears, and did a pretty good job stifling the rest of the high-scoring Crimson Tide, too.

Top-seeded Auburn brushes off late-season lull to make Sweet 16 with contributions abound

Now, Auburn is in its first Sweet 16 since 2019 looking to top that Final Four run with its first national championship.