MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In a move that has sparked widespread debate, Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, introduced a bill in the Alabama Legislature aimed at prohibiting the dispersion of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere to alter weather or sunlight, drawing concern and fueling “chemtrail” conspiracy theories. The proposal was discussed by a legislative committee…

ALABASTER, Ala. — A six-month-old girl died after being attacked by a dog at her great-grandparent’s home on March 14, underscoring the dangers posed by family pets. Ember Southard was fatally injured when she fell to the floor and was mauled by one of two dogs in the house, a pit bull mix. Despite efforts…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A proposed $90,000 pay raise for Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey has reignited debate over public salaries in a state where many educators and workers earn significantly less. If approved, Mackey’s salary would increase from $292,500 to $380,000, making him the highest-paid K-12 education official in the state and one of the…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The firing of Alabama Public Library Service Executive Director Nancy Pack on March 20 underscores a growing cultural battle over library content in the state. Conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups have intensified efforts to control what they deem “inappropriate” materials in public libraries, particularly books addressing LGBTQ+ themes, racial justice, and gender…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A new study reveals how Amazon deployed algorithmic management to quash unionization efforts at its Bessemer warehouse, reinforcing concerns over corporate surveillance and worker suppression in the heart of the Deep South. The study, published in Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, details how Amazon used digital monitoring and automated systems…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — As Alabama lawmakers debate Senate Bill 132, a proposal to reclassify psychoactive hemp derivatives like Delta-8 THC as Schedule I controlled substances, critics argue the state’s marijuana policies remain mired in outdated ideologies. The bill’s failure to advance highlights growing resistance to policies rooted in the decades-long War on Drugs, which many…