Alabama Residents Protest Sessions’ Departure
More than a hundred people braved the November wind chill to gather outside the Huntsville office of Republican Congressman Mo Brooks Thursday afternoon. They’re worried that President Trump’s new acting Attorney General, Matthew Whitaker, will impede Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Michelle Woods says this is the first protest she’s ever attended. She says she couldn’t sit around anymore without saying something.
“If this was a president that we had in office in 2016 and in 2014 and you know who I’m talking about … he would have been gone,” she says. “I just can’t understand how everybody is just sitting back and letting this injustice run amuck.”
David Odom is part of the group that helped organize the protest and says he’s not a huge fan of Sessions.
“But he did the right thing on recusing himself because he had been a campaign aide and under scrutiny himself. So, Matt Whitaker needs to do that right thing and step out of it — say publicly that he will stay out of the investigation,” Odom says.
Protestors are gathering at @RepMoBrooks office in #huntsville. They’re protesting @realDonaldTrump‘s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting U.S. Attorney General. Hear more on this story in about five minutes on @WBHM #alpolitics #MuellerInvestigation pic.twitter.com/XGxNv67wtQ
— Miranda Fulmore (@mirandafulmore1) November 8, 2018
While opinions on Sessions are mixed, a poll from CNBC in August showed 64 percent of Americans believe Trump should not fire Sessions. In the last two days Alabama Senator Richard Shelby and former Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange both expressed support. Strange tweeted “Sessions for Senate in 2020,” but it’s not clear whether Sessions will make another run.
Thank you to my good friend, Jeff Sessions, for over 40 yrs of noble service to Alabama & our country. Jeff was a respected colleague of mine in the Senate for two decades & represented our nation with honor as US Attorney General. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. — Richard Shelby (@SenShelby) November 7, 2018
Gambling bills face uncertain future in the Alabama legislature
This year looked to be different for lottery and gambling legislation, which has fallen short for years in the Alabama legislature. But this week, with only a handful of meeting days left, competing House and Senate proposals were sent to a conference committee to work out differences.
Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says
Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?
That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.
Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy
Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.
How food stamps could play a key role in fixing Jackson’s broken water system
JXN Water's affordability plan aims to raise much-needed revenue while offering discounts to customers in need, but it is currently tied up in court.
Alabama mine cited for federal safety violations since home explosion led to grandfather’s death, grandson’s injuries
Following a home explosion that killed one and critically injured another, residents want to know more about the mine under their community. So far, their questions have largely gone unanswered.
