7. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is blocking the promotion of Lt. Gen. Ronald Clark, accusing him of failing to notify President Biden when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized earlier this year. Tuberville argues that Clark’s decision to withhold this information poses a national security risk, while the Pentagon maintains that Clark is highly qualified for the role.
6. Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling learned you can not negotiate with those who “terrorized his grandchildren” and has stated he will complete his five-year term. This announcement comes despite earlier reports suggesting he offered to resign in January if protests over the police shooting of Steve Perkins ceased. Bowling claims the audio of his offer was leaked to the media, leading him to retract the offer and commit to serving until the end of his term, citing ongoing city projects.
5. The irrelevant Southern Poverty Law Center, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, is harassing an Etowah County teacher for posting Bible verses on TikTok and accused the Glencoe High School teacher of “misusing her position” by displaying Bible verses in the classroom, prompting a letter to the school district’s superintendent. The FFRF argues that posting religious messages in a public school violates the Constitution (it does not) and alienates students who do not share the teacher’s beliefs, urging the district to end the practice and provide training on constitutional obligations.
4. A 24/7 LGBTQ bar in Birmingham, The Quest Club, just had its business license revoked by the Birmingham City Council following concerns over safety after a double homicide in May and numerous police calls. Despite arguments from the bar’s attorneys about its historical significance and economic contributions, council members cited inadequate security measures and a failure to ensure patron safety as reasons for the decision.
3. A petition calling for the resignation of Athens City Councilman Chris Seibert is gaining momentum after citizens accused him of corruption and profiting from recent Haitian immigration. Still, the facts on these accusations are lacking. The petition alleges Seibert’s involvement in multiple LLCs without proper business licenses with the city. It claims he has used his political position for personal gain, while Seibert denies receiving any subsidies from immigrant tenants.
2. The issues with Haitian immigration are still roiling the Sylacauga City Council, which held a special follow-up meeting to address resident concerns about Haitian immigration after an earlier meeting ended abruptly due to rising tensions and an out-of-control city council president. Council members acknowledged limited information from state and federal officials regarding the influx of Haitian immigrants, while residents expressed concerns about the impact on local services, housing, and crime, with calls for funding for language interpreters, which the police are trying to handle with Google translate and calls to consulates in Atlanta. The meeting also exposed City Council President Tiffany Nix, who was duped into asking, “Who is John Galt?” from Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” which could be read by citizens as a threat to leave the city if she could understand it.
