JASPER, Ala. — Former Walker County jail lieutenant Benjamin Shoemaker pleaded guilty last week to federal charges in the death of Tony Mitchell, a 33-year-old inmate who succumbed to hypothermia after enduring two weeks in what prosecutors described as “inhumane and deadly” conditions. Shoemaker is the ninth jail employee to admit guilt in the case,…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers have introduced a controversial bill, House Bill 231, that would require public K-12 schools to conduct daily recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer reflecting Judeo-Christian values. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram and 13 other Republican lawmakers, was introduced on February 6 and is currently pending…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Senate has approved a bill prohibiting the recreational use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” amid growing concerns about its misuse and health risks. The bill, passed on Feb. 6, 2025, now heads to the House for further consideration. Nitrous oxide, a colorless gas widely used in medical…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers are once again facing backlash over a proposed bill that critics say reflects the state’s tendency to lag behind national trends on cannabis reform. Senate Bill 132, introduced on Feb. 6, seeks to classify psychoactive hemp derivatives, such as Delta-8 and Delta-10 THC, as Schedule I controlled substances—placing them alongside…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers are considering a bill that would raise the age at which minors can independently consent to medical treatment from 14 to 18, a move that critics say could have serious consequences for vulnerable youth seeking care. The legislation, introduced by Republican Sen. Larry Stutts, would require parental consent for most…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Chris Hodges, founder of the Church of the Highlands, announced his decision to step down as lead pastor of Alabama’s largest congregation, marking a pivotal moment for a church that has grown into a nationwide religious powerhouse while navigating its share of controversies. Hodges, 60, who launched the church in 2001 with…