Supreme Court rules in favor of Black Alabama voters in unexpected defense of Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a surprising 5-4 ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case from Alabama, with two conservative justices joining liberals in rejecting a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law. ...

LBJ's daughter Luci watched him sign voting rights bill, then cried when Supreme Court weakened it

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Luci Baines Johnson was a somewhat impatient 18-year-old on Aug. 6, 1965, when she happened to be on what she called “daddy duty,” meaning “I was supposed to accompany him to important occasions.” The occasion that day was President Lyndon Johnson’s...

Voices from the violent civil rights era see attacks on voting rights as part of ongoing struggle

They are part of a small, vanishing group who lived at the epicenter of the struggle for voting rights six decades ago, an era driven by segregation, violence and the yearning for equality that eventually led to laws bringing the U.S. closer to its promise of democracy for all its citizens. ...

Supreme Court, in surprise, rules for Black voters in Alabama in congressional redistricting case

A look at what passed and failed in the '23 session

MONTGOMERY, Ala, (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday concluded the 2023 legislative session. Here is a look at some of the major bills introduced this year and what passed and what failed. WHAT PASSED: REDUCED SALES TAX ON FOOD Alabama lawmakers...

Lawmakers vote to exempt overtime pay from state income tax

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Overtime pay in Alabama will be temporarily exempt from state income tax under a tax cut approved Tuesday by lawmakers The legislation will exempt overtime pay from the state's 5% income tax beginning in the 2024 tax year. The tax cut will expire in June of...

Supreme Court rejects case of woman on Alabama death row

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place the sentence of a woman on death row in Alabama who helped her boyfriend kill his two young children. The high court on Monday rejected an appeal from lawyers for Heather Leavell-Keaton. As is typical, the court rejected the...

Today in History: June 4, Battle of Midway begins

Today in History Today is Sunday, June 4, the 155th day of 2023. There are 210 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On June 4, 1942, the World War II Battle of Midway began, resulting in a decisive American victory against Japan and...

Lawmakers vote to shield release of their personal information

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers voted Thursday to include themselves in legislation that would allow judges, law enforcement and prosecutors to shield personal information from being released on public records, such as a home address, phone number or driver’s license number. ...

Alabama approves enhanced penalties for 'criminal enterprise'

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers gave final approval on Thursday to legislation that could lead to lengthier prison sentences for felonies committed as part of a "criminal enterprise." The House of Representatives voted 95-6 for the Senate-passed bill intended to allow...