Alabama
Congress Will Reportedly Block Space Command Funding If Its Headquarters Isn’t Moved to Alabama
Members of Congress are reportedly seeking to block funding for the current headquarters of the Space Command in Colorado and force the space military branch to move to Alabama.
Members of Congress in Alabama submitted a draft bill last week that would discontinue funding directed towards the development of the Space Command’s temporary headquarters in Colorado, restricting the command from spending any more money on the construction of its facilities, NBC News reported based on official documents reviewed by reporters. The bill is an attempt by the Alabama Congress to force the White House to announce the permanent location of the Space Command’s headquarters.
The debate over the relocation of the Space Command headquarters has been dragging on for months. President Joe Biden’s administration is reportedly trying to reverse a decision to relocate the Space Command’s headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama, largely due to concerns regarding the state’s strict anti-abortion law that was put into effect last summer.
Biden’s attempt to halt the relocation of the Space Command headquarters came just months after Alabama criminalized abortion in most cases, including rape and incest. In December 2022, the Biden administration directed the U.S. Air Force to conduct a review of a decision made by former President Donald Trump to move the headquarters to Alabama. Later in March, the Washington Post’s national columnist David Ignatius wrote a report suggesting that the White House will soon reverse the decision. Alabama lawmakers were angered by the report, stating that the decision should be up to the Air Force.
The Space Command, not to be confused with the U.S. Space Force, is basically like having an army for space, a combatant command of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct “operations in, from, and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the joint/combined force, and defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners,” according to the DOD.
The command provides satellite operations for the military and is on the lookout for foreign threats beyond the horizon, but it’s still not fully operational. The military’s newest combatant command is on track to reach full operations by the end of the year, according to U.S. officials. Senior military leaders have told investigators that relocating the Space Command headquarters could disrupt its operations and that staying in Colorado would allow it to reach full operational capacity sooner, SpaceNews reported in March.
Alabama officials, however, are really eager to see the command make a home out of their state. Just this week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey released a statement expressing Alabama’s commitment to the space race. “Let me repeat what everyone already knows: Alabama is the only rightful home for Space Command Headquarters, and supporting this mission is critical to the advancement of our national security,” the statement read.
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama State University is mourning the loss of one of their own.
The university announced Saturday evening that Assistant Band Director Charles Goodwin III has died.
In a statement to WSFA 12 News, the University said, “Mr. Goodwin was a dedicated educator, musician and mentor whose passion and commitment left an indelible mark on the ASU community.”
“His legacy will continue to resonate through the music, spirit, and excellence he helped inspire,” The university added.
ASU has not released any information regarding the circumstances of Goodwin’s death.
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The following is a news release and photos from Ball Ventures.
IDAHO FALLS – Dust off your boots for an unforgettable evening of country fun at The Waterfront Round Up.
It’s happening Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to kick off summer, with music, dancing, and a special guest appearance from Jay Woods, star of “Farmer Wants a Wife.”
Woods, a cattle and hay farmer from Florence, Alabama, will be teaching roping skills and meeting fans throughout the night. Known for promoting the Western lifestyle and connecting with communities across the country, Woods shared his excitement.
“I’m honored to be part of the Waterfront Round Up. I’ve heard great things about Idaho Falls, and I can’t wait to connect with the community and celebrate the Western way of life.”
The evening will feature:
- Line dancing and music with a live DJ
- $10 Mechanical bull rides with a prize for the longest ride
- $ 5 Roping lessons with Jay Woods
- $ 3 Hover ball archery
- Corn hole, vendor booths, and family activities
- Delicious eats from local food trucks including CalaKas Tacos & Miches and Roadhouse Saloon, with drinks available for purchase (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
Local vendors, such as Bejeweled Creations, Wild One Clothing Co., and JC Beauty Co., will also be on-site, offering Western-inspired goods.
Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned rancher or just love a good time under the stars, this is one summer event you won’t want to miss!
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The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Alabama’s Attorney General’s Office in its push to execute an intellectually disabled man, according to an order released early on Friday.
Joseph Clifton Smith, now 54, was sentenced to death for a decades-old murder — a decision that continues to be challenged in court.
In 1997, Smith beat Durk Van Dam to death with a hammer and a saw in Mobile County to steal his boots, tools and $140, Reuters reported. Van Dam’s body was found in his truck in an isolated wooded area.
Lower federal courts found Smith is intellectually disabled and can’t be executed. People who are intellectually disabled are protected from the death penalty following a Supreme Court ruling from 2002.
But this fall, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about what to do in cases when IQ scores are slightly above the widely accepted 70-point marker to determine if someone is intellectually disabled.
When a federal appeals court ruled in May 2023 that Smith could not be executed due to his intellectual disability, it detailed how he struggled in school from an early age.
Since first grade, Smith struggled in school, and when he underwent an intellectual evaluation he received an IQ score of 75, CNN reported at the time, citing the appeals court.
In fourth grade, Smith was placed in a learning-disability class.
“After that placement, Smith developed an unpredictable temper and often fought with classmates. His behavior became so troublesome that his school placed him in an ‘emotionally conflicted classroom,”’ the appeals court wrote in its ruling.
Smith dropped out of school after failing seventh and eighth grade and then spent “much of the next 15 years in prison” for crimes of burglary and receiving stolen property, according to the ruling.
The appeals court said Smith confessed to killing Van Dam and that he “offered two conflicting versions of the crime.”
Smith first said he watched Van Dam be killed, and then he said he took part in his murder but didn’t mean to kill him, according to the appeals court.
The Alabama Attorney General’s office decried the appeals court’s ruling, saying at the time, according to CNN, “Smith’s IQ scores have consistently placed his IQ above that of someone who is intellectually disabled. The Attorney General thinks his death sentence was both just and constitutional.”
The Supreme Court will now consider making it harder for convicted murderers to show their lives should be spared because they are intellectually disabled.
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