I hope everyone had a good week and had fun at any of the homecoming games yesterday! Here is the news you need to know for September 30, 2018.
1. FBI probe into Kavanaugh allegations to begin
- President Trump on Friday announced that the FBI will conduct an investigation that includes his former Yale classmate Deborah Ramirez who claims Kavanaugh exposed himself to her at a party.
- The investigation is finally happening after continuous requests from Democrats on the Judicial committee, but only after Senator Jeff Flake gave the condition with his final deciding vote on Friday to allow the vote to go to the senate.
- There have been criticism of how exactly broad this investigation will go, and President Trump has said that he hasn’t put any limits on the FBI.
- The investigation will likely be over by the end of next week and then a vote will continue afterwards.
- Reactions to Kavanaugh’s and Dr. Ford’s hearing have been all that has consumed the news cycle this week, so here is a round up of what some of the Alabama delegation has said:
- Rep. Robert Aderholt said on Twitter: “Ridiculous. The senate should not delay the confirmation of Kavanaugh another day.”
- Sen. Doug Jones said on Twitter:
“I have called for:
—Complete disclosure of all documents
—Subpoena Mark Judge
—Postpone the vote
Dr. Ford was credible & courageous.
What message will we send to our daughters & sons, let alone sexual assault victims? The message I will send is this—I vote no. #RightSideofHistory“
- Rep. Terri Sewell has multiple tweets about the hearings including: “Kavanaugh says the Senate Judiciary Committee is “doing the investigation”. This is not an investigation. This is a hearing managed by a panel of white Republican men. Don’t fool yourself. #KavanaughHearing“
- Rep. Bradley Byrne said on the house floor: “I’m ashamed we find ourselves where we are today. It is shameful the way Judge Kavanaugh has had his name smeared, just as it is shameful that Dr. Ford has been used as a pawn in a political game. Frankly, my heart hurts for both of them.”
- Gov. Kay Ivey told Brian Lyman from the Montgomery Advertiser: “I am hopeful the U.S. Senate will move forward with the confirmation process, consider all information involved and make the right choice.”
- Lyman also reported that Sen. Richard Shelby said last week that “Dr. Ford deserves to be heard” and that he trusted the process used by Grassley.
- Attorney General Steve Marshall said that he supports “Senator (Chuck) Grassley and the Judiciary Committee’s efforts to ensure Christine Blasey Ford is given a chance to share her side of the story” but repeated his accusations that Democrats politicized the process.
- You can read more about the investigation here.
2. Schilleci elected to lead National Beer Wholesalers Association
- Michael Schilleci, president of Tanner, Alabama-based Supreme Beverage Company, has been elected as Chairman of the National Beer Wholesalers Association.
- He was chosen at the group’s annual convention in San Diego last week, taking over for Jim Matesich of Ohio.
- Schilleci has long been involved with the Alabama Beer Wholesaler’s Association and played a leading role in passing legislation that eased restrictions and allowed the craft brewing industry to grow in Alabama.
- He said at the convention that he wants to prioritize growing the beer distribution industry and help support the independent brewing industry in general.
- It’s a big deal to chair a national organization like that, and state leaders like Congressmen Mike Rogers and State Sen. Jabo Waggoner are taking notice.
- Read the whole story from Todd here.
A message from the Boeing Company
- Alabama’s workforce can help power an interim solution for the U.S. Army’s need for cruise missile defense systems – and they can do it quickly and affordably.
- Boeing’s Huntsville-based Avenger system can be upgraded to get more capability into the hands of warfighters who need it.
- Find out more about Boeing’s upgraded Avenger offer HERE.
3. House Race Profile: District 47
- This week I’ve got another installment of ADN’s coverage close/ interesting races this election year, I take a closer look at the race for House District 47.
- It’s an open seat race after Republican Representative Jack Williams gave it up to run for Jefferson County Commissioner seat.
- Now it’s between Republican David Wheeler and Democrat Jim Toomey. Both retired business men, both looking to shake up Montgomery.
- District 47 is in the “over the mountain” suburbs of Birmingham with Hoover and parts of Vestavia Hills within it.
- In years past it has tended to vote more Republican, but it actually went for Doug Jones in last year’s special election.
- Also, Williams’ being caught up in a State House bribery scandal could see Republicans facing a trust problem with voters.
- Read my full report on the race here and stay tuned for more of these profiles to come!
- (also, if you have tips on interesting races, email me or Will)
4. The Week in Good News
Here’s some happy and hopeful reads to bring in the new week:
So you say you like football…..
- BUT, do you love it enough to get married at a halftime show?????
- Well, that’s exactly what this devoted Texas Tech coupledid this weekend.
- I mean, it would solve the whole problem of having a fall wedding and it being football season.
- But while different, it did look like an adorable time with the mascot escorting the bride down the isle and school band playing around them too.
- You can check out this quirky wedding here.
Speaking of football…
- Amazon announced on Tuesday that the veteran sports broadcasters Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer will provide the company’s “Thursday Night Football” stream.
- This will be the first time an all woman booth will call any major men’s sport team, not just football.
- This is a cool advancement for women broadcasters, who often get regulated to the field, and hopefully a sign of more change to come!
- You can read the interesting interview the NYT did with both of them here.
Man is freed from prison because of….golf
- Valentino Dixon was 21 when he was convicted of murder and 40 years to life in prison, but now at 48, he gets to walk away free.
- His process of becoming free all started because Golf Digest did a profile on him and these intricate golf course landscape pictures he was creating while in jail.
- The digest thought Dixon’s situation was odd since their was never any physical evidence linking him to the crime so they got a hold of a team of journalists and attorney’s to help him.
- Then through a series of appeals, the team eventually got Dixon freed of all past charges.
- It’s a wild story and interesting story about prison reform as well. You can read all about it here.
Headlines
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Schilleci elected to lead National Beer Wholesalers Association
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Wheeler and Toomey Vie for House District 47
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Alabama court denies rehearing request for ex house speaker
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – FBI contacts Kavanaugh Yale classmate in its investigation
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Administration easing offshore oil and gas drilling rules
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Illness outbreak reported at state prison, 1 inmate dead
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Complaint: Racial bias behind health woes in Alabama county.
MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – For some west Montgomerians, politics is seen as an exclusionary game.
MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER – Contributor J. C. Hallman: J. Marion Sims and the Civil War — a rollicking tale of deceit and spycraft.
OPELIKA-AUBURN NEWS – Lenzing halts plant expansion in southwest Alabama.
DOTHAN EAGLE – Walt Maddox brings gubernatorial campaign to Dothan.
DOTHAN EAGLE – Living in Alabama a source of both pride and shame.
DOTHAN EAGLE – Significant increase seen locally in suicide attempts.
AL.COM – Alabama Death Row case among first facing US Supreme Court this term.
AL.COM – Animal clinic warns pet owners about alligators following attack.
AL.COM: Contributor Guy Martin: Tarrant controversy shows few hold high ground in Superfund matter.
AL.COM – Contributor Steven Austad: Tattletale ancestors: Lessons from our DNA.
AL.COM – Columnist Cameron Smith: An immigrant’s story, the American dream, and a ride to the airport.
AL.COM – Contributor John Pfaff: Alabama’s prosecutors could be its biggest reformers.
AL.COM – Columnist Dana Hall McCain: Ain’t we tired, America?
AL.COM – Contributor Frances Coleman: To my children: I’m sorry we didn’t talk about sexuality.
AL.COM – Contributor Guy Martin: Tarrant controversy shows few hold high ground in Superfund matter.
THE NATION – The Heart-Wrenching Trauma of the Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh Hearings
DECATUR DAILY – Endangered species regulations could impact Mazda Toyota plant.
DECATUR DAILY – The Decatur Daily: Kavanaugh nomination should not go forward.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – UNA officials expecting record enrollment to go even higher.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY – Absentee voting has strong start.
ANNISTON STAR – The Anniston Star: Alabama’s high stakes for the 2020 census.
WASHINGTON POST – For two Nebraska women, the Kavanaugh hearings test their view of their country, of Trump and each other.
WASHINGTON POST – Contributor Danielle Allen: An FBI investigation is a chance to bring order out of chaos.
WASHINGTON POST – ‘It breeds resistance’: Even among conservatives, Trump’s use of presidential power causes alarm.
WASHINGTON POST – Trump’s antitrust chief questions whether there’s ‘credible evidence’ Big Tech is harming innovation.
NEW YORK TIMES – A Bitter Nominee, Questions of Neutrality, and a Damaged Supreme Court
NEW YORK TIMES – Hundreds of Migrant Children Quietly Moved to a Tent Camp on the Texas Border
NEW YORK TIMES – Kavanaugh Borrows From Trump’s Playbook on White Male Anger
Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize)
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