Alabama

Alabama Senate approves bill providing due process for public school students • Alabama Reflector

Published

2 years ago

April 26, 2024

Alabama Senate approves bill providing due process for public school students • Alabama Reflector

The Alabama Senate Thursday approved legislation creating a uniform suspension and expulsion process for public K-12 students.

HB 188, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, extends due process to children in the school disciplinary system. The bill passed 32-0.

“They are the only body that did not have due process,” said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, after the Senate adjourned. “You and I are grown people. We have due process all the way through the legal system.”

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Smitherman said that some places had their own due process, but this creates an “equalizing baseline system.”

The Senate was originally supposed to take up Smitherman’s version of the bill, but he said that Collins’ bill reflects the concerns of interested parties.

Smitherman filed a version of the bill last year, but it failed on the Senate floor. Collins also filed a version of the bill last year, but representatives and speakers at a public hearing shared concerns about demographics and anonymity.

The bill was altered throughout the 2024 session.

“We finally got there,” said Smitherman after the Senate adjourned. “It’s just sometimes it takes a while. You know how the cake sometimes don’t want to rise up? But we were able to put enough yeast in this cake, to get it up to where it was supposed to be. And now I think it’s going to be something that people are going to enjoy all around the board.”

Under the legislation, the principal or the principal’s designee would be able to consider the age of the student, disciplinary history of the student, seriousness of violation or behavior or whether a lesser intervention would suffice in considering punishment. .

Before a recommendation for long-term alternative school placement, long-term suspension or expulsion, a local board would need to provide a disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary hearing would be held within ten days after the initial suspension, if the parent or guardian responds, unless there is good cause or agreement between the parties.

The student could be represented by legal counsel or another advocate of the student’s choice at the student’s expense. The student, representative and parent or guardian would be able to review any evidence five days prior to the hearing. Representatives of the school will present evidence at the hearing.

The student, parent/ guardian or representation may present a defense, question present adverse witnesses offering testimony, offer testimony from witnesses (excluding students under 14), offer written statements and present other documentary, audio or video evidence. Witness anonymity is protected, and witnesses cannot be compelled to testify.

The legislation also requires a “reasonable written notice” to the student and parent or guardian with a statement of a time, place and nature of the hearing, as well as a short statement outlining the alleged violation, with the provision of state law or student conduct violated and recommended disciplinary action.

It would also need to include a statement outlining the rights of the student at the hearing and an optional hearing waiver indicating that the parent or guardian assents to the alleged violation and any recommended action. If a parent or guardian did not respond to the notice, the hearing would be waived.

The local board of education will provide an electronic or written record of the hearing to each party in the hearing, upon request.

The student and his or her parent or guardian would be notified of the decision within five days of the hearing with a written record and instructions on the appeal process.

The bill passed with little discussion on Thursday with only Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, asking about language for “per incident.”

Jerome Dees, Alabama policy director of the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, said in a statement Thursday that the law was an acknowledgment that student rights “do not stop at the school door.”

“While there is still more work to be done to address the “school-to-prison” pipeline in Alabama, especially for Black and Brown students, this is a major step in the right direction,” Dees wrote.

The bill will go back to the House of Representatives for concurrence in Senate changes or a conference committee.

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Alabama

Alabama high school football predictions: Experts pick the state semifinals

Published

4 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Alabama high school football predictions: Experts pick the state semifinals

Thompson and Opelika are already in next week’s Super 7 championships at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.

The other 12 finalists will be decided Friday night in the Class 1A-6A semifinals.

Breaking down the semifinals

Round 4 news, notes, schedule

Thirteen teams are still undefeated heading into Round 4. The most surprising semifinalist is Scottsboro in Class 5A. The Wildcats are the only unranked team remaining. They host Moody with a chance to reach the finals.

Here is how the AL.com experts pick this week’s semifinal games:

CLASS 6A

Benjamin Russell (12-1) at Saraland (12-0)

Ben Thomas: Saraland 35-28

Dennis Victory: Saraland 42-28

Randy Kennedy: Saraland 35-33

John Vella: Saraland 36-24

Gerhard Mathangani: Saraland 31-28

Simone Eli: Saraland 34-20

Thomas Ashworth: Saraland 41-39

Clay-Chalkville (13-0) at Muscle Shoals (12-0)

Ben Thomas: Clay-Chalkville 21-14

Dennis Victory: Clay-Chalkville 31-30

Randy Kennedy: Clay-Chalkville 17-14

John Vella: Clay-Chalkville 32-30

Gerhard Mathangani: Clay-Chalkville 35-28

Simone Eli: Clay-Chalkville 27-17

Thomas Ashworth: Muscle Shoals 24-23

CLASS 5A

Vigor (11-2) at Williamson (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Williamson 20-12

Dennis Victory: Williamson 19-18

Randy Kennedy: Williamson 22-21

John Vella: Williamson 27-18

Gerhard Mathangani: Williamson 24-23

Simone Eli: Vigor 23-17

Thomas Ashworth: Vigor 24-23

Moody (11-2) at Scottsboro (9-4)

Ben Thomas: Moody 42-21

Dennis Victory: Moody 38-21

Randy Kennedy: Moody 41-24

John Vella: Moody 31-28

Gerhard Mathangani: Moody 38-31

Simone Eli: Moody 30-16

Thomas Ashworth: Moody 37-28

CLASS 4A

Jackson (11-2) at St. Michael (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Jackson 41-34

Dennis Victory: Jackson 51-50

Randy Kennedy: Jackson 43-42

John Vella: Jackson 40-33

Gerhard Mathangani: St. Michael 28-27

Simone Eli: St. Michael 38-35

Thomas Ashworth: Jackson 38-37

Anniston (13-0) at Plainview (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Anniston 28-17

Dennis Victory: Anniston 22-21

Randy Kennedy: Anniston 30-20

John Vella: Plainview 24-16

Gerhard Mathangani: Plainview 27-24

Simone Eli: Anniston 28-20

Thomas Ashworth: Anniston 34-23

CLASS 3A

Southside-Selma (13-0) at Bayside Academy (12-1)

Ben Thomas: Bayside Academy 31-23

Dennis Victory: Bayside Academy 24-22

Randy Kennedy: Bayside Academy 31-27

John Vella: Bayside Academy 30-28

Gerhard Mathangani: Bayside Academy 21-17

Simone Eli: Bayside Academy 24-23

Thomas Ashworth: Bayside Academy 34-31

Piedmont (13-0) at Mars Hill (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Mars Hill 38-30

Dennis Victory: Mars Hill 28-21

Randy Kennedy: Mars Hill 34-33

John Vella: Mars Hill 36-32

Gerhard Mathangani: Mars Hill 28-27

Simone Eli: Mars Hill 31-28

Thomas Ashworth: Mars Hill 37-35

CLASS 2A

Reeltown (10-3) at Lanett (11-2)

Ben Thomas: Reeltown 21-16

Dennis Victory: Reeltown 28-27

Randy Kennedy: Reeltown 20-19

John Vella: Reeltown 27-21

Gerhard Mathangani: Lanett 21-18

Simone Eli: Reeltown 34-27

Thomas Ashworth: Reeltown 31-27

Coosa Christian (11-2) at Pisgah (11-2)

Ben Thomas: Coosa Christian 33-17

Dennis Victory: Coosa Christian 35-28

Randy Kennedy: Coosa Christian 37-30

John Vella: Coosa Christian 39-28

Gerhard Mathangani: Coosa Christian 27-24

Simone Eli: Coosa Christian 42-21

Thomas Ashworth: Coosa Christian 20-16

CLASS 1A

Leroy (13-0) at Maplesville (13-0)

Ben Thomas: Maplesville 35-27

Dennis Victory: Maplesville 28-14

Randy Kennedy: Maplesville 20-10

John Vella: Maplesville 35-24

Gerhard Mathangani: Maplesville 14-7

Simone Eli: Maplesville 21-14

Thomas Ashworth: Maplesville 24-6

Wadley (12-0) at Addison (12-1)

Ben Thomas: Wadley 41-28

Dennis Victory: Wadley 38-28

Randy Kennedy: Wadley 35-15

John Vella: Wadley 45-30

Gerhard Mathangani: Wadley 21-18

Simone Eli: Wadley 38-17

Thomas Ashworth: Wadley 38-24

STANDINGS

Last week, overall

Ben Thomas 16-4, 212-68

Dennis Victory 15-5, 211-69

Randy Kennedy 14-6, 210-70

John Vella 15-5, 207-73

Gerhard Mathangani 13-7, 202-78

Simone Eli 16-4, 200-80

Thomas Ashworth 17-3, 198-82

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Alabama

Alabama Crimson Tide Demolish The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels At The Players Era Festival

Published

23 hours ago

November 26, 2025

Press Room

Alabama Crimson Tide Demolish The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels At The Players Era Festival

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball team got crushed on Tuesday night by the No. 8-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. They lost by a final score of 115 – 76. This one was never really all that competitive. UNLV was down 15 at halftime and then allowed the Crimson Tide to shoot 63.6% from the field and 50% from three in the second half. The Rebs drop to 3 – 4 after the loss, while Alabama climbs to 4 – 2. Rebels’ head coach Josh Pastner spoke with the media about the loss after the game.

“Alabama is really good,” Pastner said. “As limited as we are and as small as we are right now, without our front-court guys, it was going to be an uphill battle from the start. They made some great shots, and we struggled to score. We just don’t have an inside presence right now. Tyrin (Jones) is a freshman playing our five spot, and he’s really a three/four. Doing that against an SEC team, one of the best teams in the country, makes it tough. We need to get healthy. We will put this behind us and get ready for a very good Rutgers team on Thursday.”

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn was the Rebels’ best player in this game. The junior guard led the team with 25 points, shooting 9 – 19 from the floor and 3 – 8 from beyond the three-point arc. He also chipped in with four rebounds, one assist, and three steals. Behind him in scoring was Issac Williamson, who put in 18 points of his own in the loss to the Crimson Tide.

Tyrin Jones led the team with six assists and had one of the Rebels’ two blocks. Kimani Hamilton was the team’s top rebounder with five, and he also chipped in with 13 points and four assists.

Alabama had six players in double figures, with junior guard Aden Holloway leading the team with 26 points. He made 9 – 14 from the field, 5 – 6 from three, and went 3 – 3 from the free-throw line. Holloway also chipped in with four rebounds and four assists. Aiden Sherrell led the Crimson Tide with eight rebounds, while Amari Allen led the team with six assists and two blocks.

The Runnin’ Rebels will be back in action on Thanksgiving when they take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

More UNLV Rebels On SI News

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Alabama

Alabama’s spot in latest CFP rankings revealed before Iron Bowl

Published

2 days ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Alabama’s spot in latest CFP rankings revealed before Iron Bowl

Alabama football remained No. 10 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings revealed Tuesday ahead of the Iron Bowl.

One more Tuesday rankings show remains before the rankings that actually decide the 12-team field are revealed Sunday, Dec. 7.

Alabama’s resume now includes wins over No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt and No. 19 Tennessee but losses to No. 8 Oklahoma and Florida State. Missouri is no longer ranked in the CFP top 25.

The Crimson Tide remains ranked behind No. 9 Notre Dame.

In the current rankings, Alabama would travel to face No. 7 seed Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi in the first round of the playoffs.

Alabama essentially finds itself in a playoff already, needing to beat Auburn on Saturday (6:30 p.m., ABC) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the Iron Bowl to stay alive for a CFP spot. Lose, and Alabama has a 2% chance to make the field, per ESPN’s playoff predictor.

If Alabama wins the Iron Bowl, it will earn a spot in the SEC Championship Game. Win that game, and the Crimson Tide will lock up one of the automatic bids for the CFP. Lose the conference title game, though, and things are far from certain. ESPN’s playoff predictor gives the Crimson Tide a 59% chance to make the playoff in that scenario.