GOP debates, Regions fine, Aldean support: Down in Alabama

GOP debate here?

One Republican presidential primary took place last night (at least for most candidates). There are going to be two more.

The next will be at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. The third hasn’t been announced, although candidate Nikki Haley reportedly has said that it would be in Alabama.

That’s not confirmed, and Haley’s level of certainty is anybody’s guess. And the Alabama Republican Party isn’t clearing anything up yet.

State party chair John Wahl told WHNT, quote, “Unfortunately, I have to say ‘no comment’ at this time.”

Fed fine

Birmingham-based Regions Bank just got hit with what’s purported to be the largest fine ever of its kind, reports AL.com’s William Thornton.

The Federal Reserve Board fined Regions around $2.95 million over — according to the Fed’s statement — “failure to effectively monitor a portfolio of home equity loans for compliance with flood insurance regulations due to changes in loan servicing platforms and third-party service providers.”

Regions said it’s an issue it recognized and fixed years ago.

Mayor backs Aldean

With country-music star Jason Aldean scheduled to play The Wharf in Orange Beach this weekend, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon is showing support for the sentiments in Aldean’s controversial song “Try That in a Small Town,” reports AL.com’s Lawrence Specker.

The song, for anyone who hasn’t heard yet, seems to support a version of small-town values where residents don’t tolerate violent crime or non-patriotic displays such as flag-burning. Critics argue the song is promoting violence and raised a big fuss about the video, which included clips of violence at Black Lives Matters demonstrations and had scenes in front of a courthouse where a lynching took place nearly a century ago.

Mayor Kennon released the image of a painting of a Colt .45 with “Granddad’s gun” written on the grip — referencing a pro-Second Amendment line in the song — and a key to the city painted on the pistol’s cylinder. The background is an American flag with “Try That in a Small Town” on it.

Kennon said there were no definitive plans to present the painting to Aldean, so it may hang in City Hall.

Quoting

“I’d appreciate it if you keep my name out of your mouth.”

— Former Alabama and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at a press conference, a day after ESPN analyst Ryan Clark questioned Tua’s offseason conditioning and said he is “built like the girls that work at Onyx in Atlanta right now on the bottom.” (Without our having visited Onyx, we are left to assume Clark intended the stripper comparison as uncomplimentary.)

What did you watch?

What was the highlight of your TV viewing last night? If we get a significant number of responses we’ll put the results in Friday’s newsletter.

• GOP presidential primary debate
• Donald Trump interview with Tucker Carlson
• Braves vs. Mets with Glavine/Smoltz/Chipper/Frenchy broadcast team
• Something else
• I didn’t watch TV

Click here to take the poll

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