Presented by the
Alabama Department of Public Health
Good afternoon!
Sad news to report this Sunday: Bob Dole died this morning. The longtime Senate leader, presidential candidate and World War II veteran was 98.
Here’s your Daily News for December 5.
1. Bama beats the odds, rolls into playoff
- Underdog is an unusual role for Alabama.
- Turns out, it suits the Crimson Tide just fine.
- Now, Nick Saban’s team is in a much more familiar position: getting ready to play for another national title.
- Bryce Young carved up the nation’s top-rated defense, throwing for three touchdowns and running for another as the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide rolled over No. 1 Georgia 41-24 in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday.
- Both teams now go to the College Football Playoff, ranked 1st and 3rd, respectively.
- For Alabama, it is the seventh appearance in the eight-year history of this postseason format, but this might the most unlikely one of all given the way the Tide struggled late in the regular season.
- Saban made sure his players heard all the skeptics.
- “You guys gave us a lot of positive rat poison,” the coach quipped to reporters. “The rat poison you usually give us is fatal. But the rat poison you put out there this week was yummy.”
- Read more about the SEC Championship HERE.
- Read more about the College Football Playoff HERE.
2. Tim James running for governor
- After months of speculation, Tim James has made it official: he’s running for governor, challenging incumbent Kay Ivey in the Republican primary.
- This will be James’ third run for the state’s top office, having come up short of primary runoffs in 2002 and 2010.
- Of course, his father Fob was twice elected governor, once as a Democrat in 1978 and once as a Republican in 1994.
- Tim James has an uphill battle to try to unseat Ivey. Our ADN/ Cygnal poll back in August showed him polling at 3.5% to Ivey’s 41.5% in a ballot test of a hypothetical GOP primary. But, it’s not hypothetical any more and James is likely not the last candidate to attempt to challenge Ivey.
- Mary Sell caught up with him to ask about his campaign and why he’s running for governor again.
- It turns out it’s not just Ivey he’s running against, but the greater Republican leadership of the state.
- Mary’s story is worth your time today. Read it in full HERE.
A message from the
Alabama Department of Public Health
- COVID won’t have the last word. We will.
- Protect yourself and those around you. Please get vaccinated today!
- And if you have symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, make sure to get tested.
- Find a vaccine and testing center near you at AlabamaUnites.com.
3. Hovey to challenge Whatley for State Senate
- Another significant State Senate primary challenge is taking shape, this time in Auburn.
- Auburn City Council member Jay Hovey announced his campaign for the Republican nomination for Alabama State Senate District 27 on Friday.
- Hovey is the first Republican candidate to challenge current state Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, for the seat.
- Hovey is the city council member for Ward 7 and currently a mortgage loan originator with Auburn Bank.
- Read more from Caroline Beck HERE.
4. Alabama Farmers Federation marking 100th anniversary
- The Alabama Farmers Federation, a statewide force in agriculture, lobbying and insurance, is marking its 100th anniversary at its two-day annual meeting, which begins today.
- Almost 1,200 farmers from each of Alabama’s 67 counties are expected for the meeting, which will include the election of state leaders of the organization and a program honoring the group’s history.
- The program also will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of Alfa Insurance Co., which was started by the organization in 1946. The company now provides coverage for more than 1 million farms, homes, cars and businesses.
- “The centennial is a time to reflect on the past, remember those who came before us and rejoice in our accomplishments,” Federation President Jimmy Parnell said in a statement. “It’s also a time for recommitment to our values and visions.”
- The president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Zippy Duvall, is among the speakers at the gathering.
- Story link.
5. BP oil spill fund: $103M to projects in 3 Gulf states
- Alabama, Florida and Mississippi are receiving more than $103 million in BP oil spill settlement money for new and continued coastal projects.
- The 11 new projects and two extensions from the foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund bring its total allocations across the five Gulf states to $1.6 billion.
- Alabama is getting more than $43 million for four new projects, the foundation said.
- Three of the new projects in Alabama are designed to stabilize eroding shorelines and restore coastal marsh in Mobile County and on the north side of Dauphin Island. Previous grants covered engineering, design and permitting for those projects. The fourth grant will pay for engineering and design of beach and dune restoration on Dauphin Island’s west end.
- Read more HERE.
Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Tim James running for governor
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Playoff set: Alabama vs. Cincinnati, Michigan vs. Georgia
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Bama rolls No. 1 Georgia 41-24 for SEC title
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Auburn City Council member Hovey challenging Whatley for Senate seat
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama Farmers Federation marking 100th anniversary
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – BP oil spill fund: $103M to projects in 3 Gulf states
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – State leaders: Focused plan needed for ARPA money allocations
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Congress passes stopgap funding bill, avoiding shutdown
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Retired Alabama deputy killed in shooting recalled fondly
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – US employers added a sluggish 210,000 jobs in November
AL.COM – Alabama still lags nation in COVID vaccines, but keeping pace on boosters
AL.COM – Alabama residents least likely to survive lung cancer, report says
DECATUR DAILY – ‘Drive Electric Alabama’ campaign promotes EVs
DECATUR DAILY – Supply chain, weather issues mean late harvests for Alabama farmers
TIMES DAILY – Officials: Omicron a mystery, but vaccines a must
TIMES DAILY – Supply-chain, weather issues mean late harvests for Alabama farmers
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS – Tim James files paperwork for gubernatorial effort with Secretary of State
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS – UNA College of Education and Human Sciences experiences significant teacher education growth
DOTHAN EAGLE – SE Health enjoys low number of COVID patients as Omicron variant threatens disruption
DOTHAN EAGLE – The Dothan Eagle: Another broken cog
WASHINGTON POST – A Kamala Harris staff exodus reignites questions about her leadership style — and her future ambitions
WASHINGTON POST – What Happens to Democracy When Local Journalism Dries Up?
WASHINGTON POST – Snow may vanish for years at a time in Mountain West with climate warming: Study warns of impending water supply problems due to nearly snowless mountains in about 35 to 60 years.
NEW YORK TIMES – Thefts, Always an Issue for Retailers, Become More Brazen
NEW YORK TIMES – Billions for Climate Protection Fuel New Debate: Who Deserves It Most
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