Alabama
Alabama mayors and municipal officials attend conference in Washington – Yellowhammer News
The Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM) sent a large delegation of mayors, city council members, and local officials to Washington D.C. this week for the National League of Cities’ Congressional City Conference.
More than 170 Alabama municipal officials attended the Conference in Washington from March 9 through 13. Over 2,500 elected and appointed city, town and village leaders from across the United States were there to focus on federal policy issues important to local governments. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the nonpartisan organization, whose mission is helping municipal leaders build better communities.
Birmingham City Councilman Darrell O’Quinn was re-elected in November to serve on NLC’s national board of directors. This week he played a special role with contributing to important discussions and attending various meetings.
“In addition to the invaluable conversations and intensive meetings regarding municipal government practices, the National League of Cities’ conference allows us the opportunity to interface with our congressional leadership to discuss the priorities that will help Birmingham and ALM continue to move forward,” O’Quinn said.
“Perhaps the most important topic that we discussed this year was the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act. This bill has the potential to protect and benefit every single American living near a rail line by increasing regulations and appropriating federal funds to install more safety features in places like Birmingham. I feel as though collectively we were able to make a lot of progress on this issue, especially considering the overwhelming support this bill has from local elected officials from all over the country.”
Over 100,000 Americans a year are dying from drug overdoses and more than 74 percent of them are dying from opioids. The cities, and their local first responders, have been on the frontlines of this unprecedented crisis – much of which can be traced to big pharmaceutical companies encouraging doctors to prescribe their products in hitherto unprecedented quantities. At one point a few years ago Alabama had more prescriptions for opioids than people.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall spoke on stage Monday in a panel discussion with Zanesville, Ohio Mayor Donald Mason, and the executive director of the Arkansas Municipal League Mark Hayes.
Their discussion focused on litigation settlements with major opioid pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturing companies. Marshall said that his office has been helping Alabama cities and towns take advantage of the over $800 million in opioid settlements.
“Alabama’s first-in-the-nation approach to individually taking legal action against opioid distributors and manufacturers allowed the state to directly address the devastating impacts of the epidemic in our own backyard,” Marshall said.
“As a result, the state of Alabama’s settlement amounts have been markedly higher than those states involved in the national settlement agreement. These funds present a historic opportunity to alleviate the damage that opioid abuse caused in our communities.”
Municipal leaders are able to learn from federal leaders, policy experts, and fellow local government leaders at the Congressional City Conference. Topics addressed include: infrastructure, climate resilience and sustainability, workforce development, affordable housing, public safety, railroad safety and nutrition.
Hartselle Mayor Randy Garrison is the President of ALM. This is his third time to attend the conference.
“The sessions were great this year, especially the opioid panel, and the excitement that they shared about growth and improving the areas we live in,” Garrison said.
“I am able to glean from others about new ideas and programs that work for their cities and towns that we may have not put into our processes or plans. I believe NLC works to unite cities and towns, and I am grateful that they advocate on the federal level for all our members.”
Several members of Alabama’s congressional delegation met with members on Monday night, including Congressmembers Robert Aderholt, Jerry Carl, Barry Moore, Mike Rogers and Terri Sewell. Both of Alabama’s U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt addressed the attendees at a breakfast on Tuesday.
ALM’s members participated in NLC’s Hill Day program on Wednesday to meet with members of Congress directly at their offices on Capitol Hill.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jacob Crews scored 20, and Anthony Robinson II added 19 in Missouri’s 85-77 win over Alabama State on Thursday night.
Crews shot 7 of 9 from the field, including 6 of 8 from the 3-point arc. Mark Mitchell added 15 points for Missouri (9-2), and Sebastian Mack added 10.
The Tigers had a 15-0 run in the first half, heading into the locker room up 52-39. Alabama State was held scoreless over a 4:19 drought in the middle of the second half to open a 9-0 run for the Tigers. The Hornets (3-8) responded with their own 10-0 run to bring the game within eight, 74-62. The Tigers regained control, though, to keep their eight-point lead the rest of the game, handing Alabama State their fourth loss in a row.
The Tigers shot 65% (33 of 51). Both teams shot 50% from the free-throw line.
Alabama State outscored Missouri in the final period, 38-33. Asjon Anderscon scored 23 for the Hornets, leading all players in scoring.
Up next
Missouri hosts Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 14.
Alabama State travels to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats on Dec. 17.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Let’s crank up a Thursday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” with Mason Woods and Katie Windham as we start getting ready for next week’s College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Oklahoma. Windham detailed how the Crimson Tide can improve over the next few weeks, we discuss the team’s health and look back at our last road trip to Norman. The show then discusses the Heisman Trophy finalists before addressing a Kalen DeBoer coaching rumor.
The program opens by power ranking the holidays before discussing Windham’s three areas the Crimson Tide can improve over the next week. Our trio picks the easiest area the team can improve and how Alabama must perform in Norman. Windham details our last trip to Oklahoma as we go down memory lane to the Sooners’ 24-3 victory last season.
The show continues on by getting Windham’s thoughts on Alabama’a College Football Playoff selection and if the Crimson Tide actually deserved its place in the field. She brings up a unique aspect of Alabama’s blowout loss in the SEC Championship and how it played into the program’s inclusion in the College Football Playoffs.
We move from next week’s game into a small discussion on Notre Dame’s reaction of being left out of the field and how it relates to Alabama’s future home-and-home dates with the Fighting Irish. Will the two esteemed programs still face off in a few years?
The show heads into the only college football action of the weekend by highlighting the strong Heisman Trophy finalist field. Who brings home the bronze statue?
Lastly, we spend the final bit of the show talking about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore and the reports of the Wolverines considering persuing Kalen DeBeor for their next head coach. Will DeBoer leave Tuscaloosa for Ann Arbor?
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Call (205) 462-7340 Extension 800 to leave your thoughts in a voicemail, and you’ll be featured on the show. You can also join us live in the comment sections Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. CT.
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – As holiday deliveries ramp up, a new Alabama law aims to deter package theft by raising penalties for so-called “porch piracy.” The law, which went into effect on October 1, 2025, makes repeated package theft a felony and can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years in the most serious cases.
What changed
Previously, many package thefts in Alabama were charged as misdemeanor theft because the value of individual stolen packages often fell below felony thresholds. Under the new law however, lawmakers established penalties that focus on the number of homes targeted rather than the dollar value of items stolen:
- Stealing from 1 to 9 homes: most serious misdemeanor
- Stealing from 10 to 29 homes: felony
- Stealing from 30 or more homes: can result in up to 10 years in prison
The law also increases penalties if stolen packages are used to commit identity theft or fraud. In addition, anyone who knowingly receives packages stolen by a porch pirate can be charged under the new rules.
Lawmakers weigh in
Senator April Weaver, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the change was meant to protect Alabama families during the holidays.
“It was really important to protect the people not only in my district but throughout the state of Alabama and to make sure their hard-earned money is going to their children’s Christmas,” she said.
On camera, Senator Weaver added with holiday humor, “It means the Grinch may have stolen Christmas in Whoville, but if he does it in Alabama, he’ll have plenty of time in state prison for his heart to grow three sizes.”
What police recommend if your package is stolen
If you discover a stolen package, law enforcement recommends:
- Report the theft to police immediately.
- Preserve any doorbell or surveillance footage that may show the theft.
- Contact the delivery company right away to report the missing item.
- Consider requiring a signature on delivery to reduce the risk of theft.
The law went into effect on October 1, 2025; this December marks the first holiday season it is in effect. Alabama is now one of more than a dozen states that have passed laws specifically targeting package theft. Supporters say the law sends a stronger message that porch piracy will no longer be treated as a minor offense.
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