Alabama
Alabama senator plans to file to consolidate occupational boards • Alabama Reflector
An Alabama senator is planning to file a bill that would change the oversight structure of occupational boards in the state.
The draft legislation, to be filed by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would create an Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Department of Labor. The executive director of the office would oversee some of the administrative work that is done by occupational boards currently.
“The goal is to streamline the administrative functions of the board,” Elliott said Monday. “So I’m not changing a board. I’m not changing the makeup of the board. And I’m not trying to change any of the regulations or rules promulgated by the board.”
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According to a chart provided by Elliott, boards would be moved into different phases for the consolidation. Some boards are being moved under different departments, such as the Sickle Cell Oversight & Regulatory Commission to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Elliott provided the Reflector with a transition chart and a breakdown of which boards are in which phase. Some Phase I boards include the Board of Examiners of Assisted Living Administrators; the Alabama Athletic Commission and the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy, which would be tied to the executive director by Oct. 1, 2025.
Elliott said the bill came from his experience on the Contract Review Committee and with sunset bills, or legislation to extend the life of state boards and agencies after a certain period of time. Elliott said he had concerns about some of the for-profit entities that work with some of the boards.
“I saw some some very concerning ways in which these these boards are operated and administered up to and including a lot of for-profit entities out there that are administering these boards and watching the financials of those gave me some concern, and so we thought we would try to start consolidating some of those, and that has ballooned really into what we have now before us,” he said.
He said worked with the legal team in Gov. Kay Ivey’s office on the bill, as well as with the Legislative Services Agency in the State House. A message was left with a spokesperson for the governor’s office Monday.
Elliott said this differs from current sunset law because sunset is more of a review of legal compliance. He said review in this process is more looking at the need for a particular board.
The Alabama Legislature is on spring break, as of Friday. Elliott said he plans to have the bill in committee the week it returns.
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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