Latest Alabama state government News

Lands, a Democrat who ran on reproductive rights, flips seat in Alabama House

Mar. 27, 2024 20:02 PM EDT

Marilyn Lands, who campaigned on abortion rights in deeply conservative Alabama, won a special election to the Alabama Legislature, in a victory that Democrats say illustrates voter backlash to extreme reproductive restrictions imposed by Republicans. Lands, a Democrat, on Tuesday...

Struggling private Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama says it will close at end of May

Mar. 26, 2024 21:20 PM EDT

Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts college in Alabama, will close at the end of May after running into financial difficulties and being unable to secure a financial lifeline from the state, officials announced Tuesday. The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously...

Alabama gambling bill faces uncertain outlook in second half of legislative session

Mar. 22, 2024 17:09 PM EDT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Legislation to start a state lottery — and possibly allow casinos and other gambling devices — faces an uncertain outlook in the Alabama Statehouse because of divisions over sports betting and the number of casino sites. Lawmakers, who are on spring...

They don't define DEI, but Kansas lawmakers are attacking it like GOP colleagues elsewhere

Mar. 21, 2024 13:36 PM EDT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas have joined their GOP counterparts in other states in trying to restrict diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on university campuses, but the proposals they've advanced are written to avoid having to agree on how to define DEI. ...

Alabama enacts new restrictions on absentee ballot requests

Mar. 20, 2024 21:42 PM EDT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has placed new restrictions on assistance with absentee ballot requests, making it illegal to return another person's ballot application and making it a felony to pay someone to distribute or collect applications. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday...

GOP state attorneys push back on Biden's proposed diversity rules for apprenticeship programs

Mar. 20, 2024 18:31 PM EDT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Biden administration plan to promote diversity and equity in workplace apprenticeship programs is facing pushback from Republican attorneys general in two dozen states who assert it amounts to race-based discrimination. The U.S. Department of Labor...

The longest-serving member of the Alabama House resigns after pleading guilty to federal charges

Mar. 18, 2024 16:42 PM EDT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The longest-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives has resigned from the Legislature after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges related to a grant program. John Rogers, 83, submitted his resignation...

Bill shelved that sought changes to Iowa law outlining penalties for terminating a pregnancy

Mar. 14, 2024 16:12 PM EDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would have made changes to Iowa's fetal homicide law has been shelved after a Senate Republican joined Democrats in voicing concerns about the potential impact on in vitro fertilization after an Alabama court found frozen embryos can be considered children. ...

Alabama state lawmaker Rogers to plead guilty to federal charges

Mar. 11, 2024 18:48 PM EDT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — State Rep. John Rogers, a longtime member of the Alabama House of Representatives, will plead guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges, according to a plea agreement filed Monday. The charges are related to what federal prosecutors described...

Biden visiting battleground states and expanding staff as his campaign tries to seize the offensive

Mar. 09, 2024 04:25 AM EST

ROSE VALLEY, Pennsylvania (AP) — Fresh off his defiant State of the Union address, President Joe Biden on Friday laced into former President Donald Trump — by name this time — as he and his senior aides began barnstorming the country to aggressively sell his vision for a second term to...