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After Ivey fired Alabama Veterans Affairs commissioner lawmakers may give her control of department

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After Ivey fired Alabama Veterans Affairs commissioner lawmakers may give her control of department


State lawmakers are considering a bill to put the governor in charge of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, taking that authority from an appointed state board made up of members of veterans’ organizations.

Under current law, the State Board of Veterans Affairs oversees the ADVA and hires the commissioner to run the agency.

A bill pending in the House and Senate would reduce the board to an advisory role and would make the commissioner an appointee of the governor and member of the governor’s cabinet, serving at the pleasure of the governor.

The bill comes a few months after Gov. Kay Ivey overruled the State Board of Veterans Affairs and fired ADVA Commissioner Kent Davis in a dispute that played out publicly over a couple of months.

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Ivey supports the bill and mentioned it during her State of the State address Tuesday night.

“The goal is to have a Board that is a team player within the executive branch and can fiercely and effectively advocate for the unique needs of veterans of every generation – and their families,” Ivey said.

Davis said the bill is in retaliation for the dispute with the governor and the State Board’s refusal to fire him at her request. Davis said veterans’ organizations have not had a say on the bill and said it would be an abrupt change to how the ADVA has operated since 1945.

“I think it’s a terrible idea,” said Davis, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral who lead the ADVA from 2019 until he was removed by the governor in October.

“That’s a pretty darn drastic change from an 80-year tradition, all of a sudden. And the timing is really interesting.”

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Read more: Why did Kay Ivey fire Kent Davis? $7 million grant dispute, leaked ethics complaint led to executive order

Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, who is the sponsor of the legislation in the House, said the bill is not retaliatory but is intended to improve the ADVA and services for veterans.

“Everybody has made this about personalities and a fight with the governor,” said Oliver, who was a helicopter pilot in the Army and served from 1979 to 2010.

“And that’s just so unfortunate. Because the people that are involved with this project are all trying to do their very best to create a first-rate, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs that is more responsive and offers better and more services for veterans.”

Oliver said he is a member of the American Legion and two other veterans organizations, but said less than 20% of the 400,000 veterans in Alabama belong to veterans organizations.

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Oliver said the changes in the bill would make the agency more streamlined and more accountable to taxpayers.

The State Board of Veterans Affairs currently has 12 members. The governor serves as chair by virtue of office. The other 11 members are nominated by veterans service organizations and appointed by the governor.

Under Oliver’s bill, the board would have nine members, with seven appointed by the governor, one by the House speaker, and one by the president pro tem of the Senate.

The bill says board appointees will include veterans from various branches of the armed forces, members and non-members of veterans organizations, and representatives of other entities that serve veterans and their families.

Oliver’s bill will be discussed in a public hearing Wednesday in the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

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Davis said he has heard from veterans organizations who oppose the bill.

Robert “Frank” Burrow, an Army veteran who is president of the South Alabama Veterans Council, posted a letter on the council’s website saying that putting the SDVA under the governor’s control would be a mistake.

“The independence of the Commissioner and the board allows for continuity in policies and programs, preventing the disruption of services that can occur when leadership changes due to political appointments,” Barrow wrote.

“If the board is heavily influenced by political interests, there is a risk that veterans’ needs may become secondary to partisan agendas and/or budgetary considerations. Decisions should be based on expertise, data, and the lived experiences of veterans rather than shifting political priorities.”

Oliver said the ADVA, as a taxpayer funded agency, cannot be independent of politics and oversight by elected officials.

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As for changing the longstanding governance structure of the ADVA, Oliver said the agency is now much larger than it was decades ago, with responsibility for five state veterans homes and veterans service offices across the state.

“It’s a big job,” Oliver said. “It deserves to be elevated to a cabinet-level position. Frankly I don’t understand why people distrust the people that are outside the veteran community so much.”

Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, is sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, which has won committee approval.

Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, said there is a good chance the Senate will consider the bill next week.

On Thursday, the Senate passed another bill by Jones that would create the Alabama Veterans Resource Center to help veterans and their families with accessing federal and state benefits, career counseling and job placement, mental health and wellness programs, and education and training opportunities.

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The center would be a public corporation that could work with the private sector to provide the services.

Oliver, who is also sponsoring that bill in the House, said the idea is to create a one-stop shop to direct veterans where they can get help.

The Senate passed the Alabama Veterans Resource Center bill by a vote of 31-0 on Thursday. Republican and Democratic senators are co-sponsors.

A special guest of Ivey during her State of the State address was Jae Barclay of Huntsville, who was badly burned from a land mine explosion while serving with the Army in Afghanistan.

The injuries came on Barclay’s first wedding anniversary and seven days before the birth of his daughter. The governor said Barclay had overcome unimaginable obstacles.

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“It is because of brave veterans like Jae that we can all live the American dream,” Ivey said during the speech.

On Friday, Gina Maiola, communications director for Ivey, declined to respond to Davis’ comments about the bill that makes the commissioner an appointee of the governor.

Maiola said the governor’s office has heard from many veterans supporting the change.

“Governor Ivey believes that we must continue working to do all we can for our veterans, and elevating the agency to the Governor’s Cabinet is certainly a positive step forward,“ Maiola said. “The Board – with this legislation – would also better represent Alabama’s veterans of all eras, generations and branches.”



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Alabama NAACP Releases 2026 Selma Jubilee Weekend Schedule

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Alabama NAACP Releases 2026 Selma Jubilee Weekend Schedule


The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP has announced its official schedule for the 2026 NAACP-sponsored Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing Weekend, set for March 6–8 in Montgomery and Selma.

Held under the theme “A Time for Standing,” the annual commemoration honors the Foot Soldiers of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches and recognizes the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson for their roles in advancing civil rights and voting access.

The three-day event will bring together national, state and local leaders, along with youth and college chapters, faith partners and community members for activities focused on reflection, education and civic engagement.

Scheduled events include a civic discussion titled “The New Civic Path” on March 6 at the Montgomery Interpretive Center at Alabama State University, followed by a Jubilee Gala that evening at Embassy Suites in Montgomery. On March 7, the Birmingham Metro Branch will host a bus trip to Selma, while a statewide civic engagement training will take place in Montgomery.

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SEE ALSO: Bridge Crossing Jubilee to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy in Selma
SEE ALSO: 16th Street Baptist Church: Keeping a Legacy Alive 63 Years Later

On March 8, participants will take part in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade, voter activation efforts, worship services at Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, and the traditional bridge crossing at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Organizers say the weekend will emphasize continued civic participation and community engagement across Alabama.

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March 6 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Gala 5:30PM Embassy Suites by Hilton, 300 Tallapoosa St, Montgomery, AL 36104

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March 7 — NAACP Birmingham Metro Branch Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Broad Street and Water Avenue in Selma Alabama

March 7 — Alabama State NAACP Statewide Civic Engagement Training 8–4:15PM Homewood Suites, 7800 EastChase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117

March 8 — Alabama State NAACP in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade 8AM–10AM Begins at 1722 Broad St and concludes at the National Voting Rights Museum

March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Alabama State University, Untenese and Mobile Branch and University of Alabama, Oakwood University, Broad Street and Water Avenue, Selma

March 8 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Participation in Worship Services 10AM–2PM Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma

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March 8 — Alabama NAACP Youth and College Civic Engagement Voter Activation 8AM–2PM Broad Street and Water Ave, Selma

March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing 11:15PM – Line up Alabama NAACP Tent on Waters Ave or at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma



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3 Alabama players who helped their draft stock at 2026 NFL combine

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3 Alabama players who helped their draft stock at 2026 NFL combine



Each player had a pivotal role on the Crimson Tide in 2025.

Alabama had a multitude of former players who performed at an elite level at the NFL combine this past weekend.

Former Alabama star quarterback Ty Simpson was among those who put his talents on full display in Indianapolis, as Simpson continues to emerge as a top quarterback prospect available in April’s draft.

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Numerous Crimson Tide stars on both sides of the football were able to have an excellent showing at the combine as well, with each playmaker a vital component to the Tide’s success in 2025.

Here are three Alabama players who helped their draft stock rise at the NFL combine.

Ty Simpson, Quarterback

Simpson is widely regarded as the best quarterback prospect available outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. The talented redshirt junior put on an absolute show at the NFL combine, as Simpson delivered multiple perfect throws and put his talents on full display throughout Saturday’s events.

The former Alabama star is a candidate to potentially shine day one in his campaign in the NFL, as Simpson’s draft stock continues to rise prior to April.

Jam Miller, Running Back

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Miller is an extremely fast and athletic running back, despite struggling in the Tide’s backfield last season. The star running back recorded an impressive 4.43u 40-yard dash time, as Miller could very easily shine in the NFL next season with consistent playing time.

Miller was nothing short of elite throughout his entire performance at the combine in Indianapolis, as the former Tide running back continues to rise in a multitude of draft rankings around the football world.

Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle

Proctor played a crucial role on Alabama’s offensive line last season. The star lineman reportedly slimmed down prior to the NFL combine, as Proctor displayed elite speed and athleticism throughout Sunday’s combine in Indianapolis.

Proctor is widely expected to be a mid-to-late first round selection in April, as the talented lineman’s efforts during the combine could quickly begin to work in Proctor’s favor during next month’s draft.

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The 2026 NFL draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania starting on April 23, as each Crimson Tide star will look to shine throughout their rookie campaign in the NFL.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.





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Husband, 19, fatally shot wife, 24, himself at Alabama hospital moments after welcoming their first child

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Husband, 19, fatally shot wife, 24, himself at Alabama hospital moments after welcoming their first child


A husband fatally shot his wife before turning the gun on himself at an Alabama hospital just moments after they welcomed their first child on Sunday.

Kynath Terry Jr., 19, gunned down 24-year-old Precious Johnson before fatally shooting himself inside the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, WTVM 13 reported.

Johnson delivered a healthy baby just before she was murdered. It’s not immediately clear if the baby was present during the shooting, but police said that Terry and Johnson were the only ones injured.

Kynath Terry Jr., 19, shot 24-year-old Precious Johnson at an Alabama hospital after she gave birth to their child. WVTM

Terry’s mother told the outlet that the couple were having some marital issues leading up to Johnson’s due date, but nothing that made her fear her son would become violent.

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She told the outlet that Terry completed Army National Guard training before tying the knot with Johnson.

She noted that Johnson didn’t want Terry’s side of the family at the hospital for her child’s birth, but it’s unclear if anyone from the mother-to-be’s own family was there.

The hospital was plunged into a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” while police investigated reports of a shooting. It wasn’t lifted until hours later when they determined there was “no active threat to patients, team members or the public,” the outlet reported.

The Homewood Police Department described the tragedy as “an apparent murder-suicide and is domestic in nature.”

Terry completed Army National Guard training before marrying Johnson. WVTM
The shooting sent Brookwood Baptist Medical Center into an hours-long lockdown. Google Maps

Danne Howard, the president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told the outlet that the chilling attack “was an isolated incident” unlike anything she’d encountered during her three decades working in the state.

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Howard said, in the wake of the tragedy, the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital would undergo a security overhaul implementing “lessons learned” from a mandated after-action report.

Just three months ago, in a town six miles outside of Homewood, a beloved sports reporter was fatally shot by her husband before taking his own life. Their 3-year-old son, who was unharmed, led his grandfather to his parents’ bodies.



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