MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers have approved legislation defining “male” and “female” in state law based on biological sex at birth, a measure critics argue is unnecessary, legally dubious, and designed more to make a political statement than to address any real issue. The bill, informally referred to as the “What Is a Woman?” Act,…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama House of Representatives has passed legislation requiring parental consent for minors to receive vaccinations, a move critics say could undermine public health efforts in a state already grappling with low vaccination rates. House Bill 2, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, passed on Tuesday by a vote of 76-22….

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Birmingham City Council has approved a $2.69 million funding package to construct micro-shelters and provide support services for the city’s homeless population, a step aimed at addressing the growing issue of homelessness in the area. The funding will be divided between two organizations, Faith Chapel Care Center and Urban Alchemy, both…

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…