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7 Things: Loud federal employees still mad at a buyout offer; Alabama schools worried about immigration raids; and more … – Yellowhammer News

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7 Things: Loud federal employees still mad at a buyout offer; Alabama schools worried about immigration raids; and more … – Yellowhammer News


7. Costco is bucking the trend of companies dumping Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and 18 other attorneys general have sent a letter to Costco demanding the company abandon its DEI policies, calling them unlawful and detrimental to the American ideal of individualism. The letter argues that DEI initiatives promote discrimination rather than equality, citing Supreme Court precedent and aligning with President Trump’s executive order against such policies. Costco, which has remained committed to DEI despite other corporations scaling back, has been given 30 days to repeal its policies or explain its stance.

6. President Donald Trump has signed his first piece of legislation, the Laken Riley Act sponsored by Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) which requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants guilty of theft, burglary, or violent crimes, while also granting states the ability to take legal action against federal officials who neglect immigration enforcement. The law, named after a Georgia woman murdered by an undocumented immigrant, was praised as a bipartisan effort to enhance public safety and prevent future tragedies. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the Biden administration’s previous migrant policies are being reversed, with Guantanamo Bay set to house up to 30,000 criminal migrants temporarily as they await repatriation

5. The wokeness of the U.S. military is undoubtedly under attack and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) hailed President Trump’s executive actions eliminating DEI programs and restricting service for individuals with gender dysphoria, stating that these changes will refocus the military on national defense. Trump’s orders emphasize merit-based advancement, troop cohesion, and eliminating policies seen as politically motivated distractions. Rogers and other Alabama Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), argue that these moves restore the military’s “true mission” of readiness, lethality, and national security.

4. While gambling is expected to be an issues this legislative session, the Alabama Policy Institute is pushing back with their bettinghurtsbama.com website, where they argue against gambling expansion in Alabama, citing risks to free markets, government overreach, and family well-being. API argues that legalizing gambling would lead to increased government control, addiction-related social issues, and economic favoritism through selective licensing of operators. The website provides research, data, and testimonials to illustrate gambling’s negative impacts, with ongoing updates to inform the public and policymakers.

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3. The Left’s domination of public schools and radical gender/sex/race curriculum is the target of multiple of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting curricula which indoctrinates students with “anti-American” ideology. His orders direct the Department of Education to provide guidance on how states can use federal funds for alternatives like private and religious schools, as well as allow military and Native American families more flexibility in school selection. Missing the point, as always, the critics argue that these moves threaten public education, limit historical discourse on race, and could redirect up to $40 billion in federal grants toward conservative education priorities, the last point is the only accurate point they are making.

2. Immigration enforcement is real and it is happening in Alabama with Gov. Kay Ivey’s full support. ICE agents reportedly made arrests across the state, and the media is scaremongering by saying they are doing this “without warrants,” which are not required. Because disinformation has made schools something people believe are off-limits, State Superintendent Eric Mackey reassured schools that no enforcement actions have occurred on campuses and urged educators to maintain normal operations while verifying law enforcement identities. Although some Alabama teachers have encouraged undocumented families to keep children home, for which they should be fired for spreading fear, Mackey stressed the importance of attendance, warning that fear-driven absences could negatively impact students’ education.

1. The Trump administration has sent an email to 3 million federal employees, encouraging them to take a “deferred resignation” or risk layoffs, a move critics say echoes Elon Musk’s past corporate strategies and is legally dubious, but these same entities defended President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates under the premise that he is the chief executive, a fight they won and then lost after it was relevant and executed. The offer excludes postal workers, military personnel, and immigration/national security positions, but unions and advocates warn that it threatens government stability and essential services. While some fear losing pensions and job security, others say the email has strengthened their resolve to stay, with lawmakers like Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) cautioning workers not to trust Trump’s severance promises.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast on WVNN at 10 p.m.

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Alabama

Alabama softball sends Florida home from SEC Tournament: What we learned

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Alabama softball sends Florida home from SEC Tournament: What we learned


Alabama softball dominated all the way in its win to advance to its first SEC Tournament championship in five years.

The No. 2-seeded Crimson Tide (49-6) didn’t trail once in its 9-1 run-rule win over No. 3 seed Florida (48-10) on Friday, May 8. Alabama first opened tournament play with a 7-1 win over No. 7 Arkansas (42-11, 15-10) on Thursday.

Here are our three biggest takeaways from the Crimson Tide’s win over the Gators.

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Alabama softball offense is starting to click at the right time

Alabama did not have to wait until the middle innings to find its offense this time.

Freshman Ambrey Taylor opened the scoring with a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was Taylor’s 11th home run of the season and her second in as many days after also going deep against Arkansas in the quarterfinals.

Alabama continued to build from there. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second, Ana Roman singled to right field to bring in another run. Marlie Giles followed with a two-run single, pushing Alabama ahead 4-0 before the inning ended.

Jena Young doubled to drive in two more runs, with one coming across on a fielding error, at the bottom of the third. Alexis Pupillo followed with an RBI single to stretch Alabama’s lead to 6-1 by the end of the inning.

Pupillo shot an RBI-double off the wall and Audrey Vandagriff doubled to score another, extending Alabama’s lead to 8-1, threatening run-rule territory with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, securing the run rule with an RBI single by Taylor.

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After needing a later-than-preferred power surge to pull away from Arkansas, Alabama’s lineup looked more comfortable early against Florida. The Crimson Tide finished with nine runs on 13 hits.

Vic Moten handles early pressure in first SEC Tournament appearance

Vic Moten’s first SEC Tournament appearance did not start easily, but the freshman pitcher kept Florida from taking advantage of the new kid on the block.

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Moten walked two batters in the first inning but answered by striking out three straight Gators to keep the game scoreless heading into the bottom half.

Her pitch count climbed quickly. Moten threw more than 30 pitches in each of the first two innings and more than 20 in the third, reaching 87 pitches after just three. But after battling through traffic early, she settled in with a seven-pitch 1-2-3 fourth inning.

Alabama’s lead gave Moten margin for error, but Florida’s offense still had enough firepower to threaten a comeback. Moten ended the complete-game effort striking out four and one run on three hits with seven walks. Not bad for the freshman’s first postseason appearance.

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Alabama moves one win away from SEC Tournament history

Alabama’s win over Florida moved the Crimson Tide one step closer to separating itself in SEC Softball Tournament history.

Both No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Florida entered Friday tied with six SEC Softball Tournament championships apiece. With the semifinal win, Alabama will now have a chance to become the first program in conference history to win a seventh SEC Tournament title.

The Crimson Tide had won only two of its last seven meetings against the Gators entering Friday, including a loss to Florida in the 2024 Women’s College World Series. This was the first postseason meeting between the two programs since then.

Alabama had not reached the SEC Tournament championship game since 2021, when it won the tournament title.

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When does Alabama softball play again?

After beating No. 7 Arkansas and No. 3 Florida on back-to-back days, the Crimson Tide will face the winner of No. 4 Texas vs. No. 9 Georgia in the SEC Softball Tournament championship game at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 9.

Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.



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Rabies warning issued after fox attacks person in Alabama

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Rabies warning issued after fox attacks person in Alabama


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State health officials are urging people to keep their pets vaccinated for rabies after a fox in Elmore County and a raccoon in Lee County tested positive for the virus.

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On May 1, the raccoon was spotted acting strangely near Auburn, and the fox emerged from a wooded area and attacked a person in Tallassee, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The person has sought medical treatment.

“Rabies is not seasonal, and we continue to see cases year-round, but late spring is a time when activity peaks, particularly in wildlife,” said Dr. Dee Jones, state veterinarian for the ADPH, “The primary risk of rabies from wildlife is our pets, and keeping them up to date on rabies vaccine is critical.”

Alabama state law requires that dogs, cats and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older be current with rabies vaccination. In addition to vaccination, area residents are advised to take the following precautions to avoid possible exposure to rabies:

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  • Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.
  • Do not allow pets to run loose; confine them within a fenced-in area or with a leash.
  • Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.
  • Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.
  • Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.



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Robert Aderholt says Alabama could hand Republicans the U.S. House majority in November

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Robert Aderholt says Alabama could hand Republicans the U.S. House majority in November


U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) says Alabama is on the cusp of delivering a sixth Republican congressional seat, and with it, potentially the U.S. House majority itself.

“Getting one seat in November, this November, we don’t have to wait two years, could decide the majority for the Republicans,” Aderholt said today on “The Rightside” in partnership with Yellowhammer News, hosted by Allison Sinclair and Amie Beth Shaver.

“So that’s very appealing,” he added.

Aderholt predicted a return to the congressional map drawn and approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2023, before the federal courts stepped in and forced a redraw.

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If the U.S. Supreme Court lifts the injunction barring Alabama from altering its congressional map before 2030, the state would go back to the one approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor that year.

The 2023 map essentially creates six Republican districts and one Democratic district.

The Alabama Legislature passed both chambers’ redistricting bills Wednesday as the special session continues in Montgomery.

Aderholt referenced the “Livingston map,” the Legislature’s 2023-approved plan in namesake of State Sen. Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro), arguing it was consistent with the Supreme Court’s recent direction that race cannot be the predominant factor in drawing district lines.

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“It would not put a second minority district, per se, but it would give opportunities for everybody in the state of Alabama to have equal opportunity to be elected to Congress, whether they’re black or whether white,” Aderholt said.

Some have called for state lawmakers to a map that would make all seven districts Republican-leaning, but Aderholt explained the issues with going down that route.

“There are some proposals out there to try to do a what is called a true 7-0 map where there’s no chance that a Democrat could be elected in any of the congressional districts…and there is some down there that are afraid that if you do away with that one, in addition to doing away with the new district that was drawn where Shomari Figures is that, that would be an overreach, and the court would put everything on hold, and we couldn’t do we couldn’t even get the additional seat until the court order, a different court order came through, and who knows when that would be.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee





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