Good afternoon!
A blessed Memorial Day to you and yours.
I hope you'll take some time today to remember and honor those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of this great nation. I sometimes turn to the words of Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address, a shot speech that echos through the ages.
"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here, have, thus far, so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Here's your Daily News for Monday, May 31.
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1. Biden commemorates war dead at Arlington National Cemetery |
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- President Joe Biden honored Americaâs war dead at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the hallowed burial ground and extolling the sacrifices of the fallen for the pursuit of democracy.
- âThis nation was built on an idea," Biden said in an address at Arlington. âWe were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. Weâve never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider.â
- He focused much of his speech on the importance of democracy, saying that it thrives when citizens can vote, when there is a free press and when there are equal rights for all.
- âGeneration after generation of American heroes are signed up to be part of the fight because they understand the truth that lives in every American heart: that liberation, opportunity, justice are far more likely to come to pass in a democracy than in an autocracy," Biden said.
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Read more HERE.
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2. New prison education initiative takes effect, but not all inmates eligible |
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- Alabama lawmakers have approved a program that would allow some state inmates to receive up to a year off their sentence by completing vocational or other training, although most prisoners will not be allowed to participate.
- An estimated 2,500 inmates out of state prison population of about 20,000 will be eligible to participate in the new program called the Alabama Education Incentive Time Act. It will allow inmates to earn up to 12 months off their sentence by completing vocational, apprenticeship or other educational programs.
- Supporters acknowledged that a relatively few number of inmates would qualify for the program, but called it a start that the state could build upon in the future.
- Sen. Clyde Chambliss, who sponsored the legislation, said research shows that inmates who complete quality education programs are much less likely to return to prison.
- âIf they can get a job when they get out, then they have a fighting chance,â Chambliss, R-Prattville, said.
- Chambliss said state numbers showed an estimated 2,500 inmates would currently be eligible to participate. As of March, there were 16,907 inmates housed in state prisons, work release and community work centers, and about 8,000 more in the jurisdictional custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections.
- Chambliss called the bill a compromise. He said an earlier version would have let about 1,500 more inmates qualify.
- Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, said qualifying inmates will get considered for parole earlier, although the release decision will be up the state parole board.
- âIt is a small number. But if it works than you can build upon it going forward,â Ward said. âItâs a great idea.â
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Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.
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3. Orr not running for Congress, seeks to stay in State House
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- State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, will seek a fifth term in the Alabama Legislature next year. The Morgan County native had considered a run for Congress in Alabamaâs Fifth District, the north Alabama seat Mo Brooks is leaving to run for the U.S. Senate.
- Orr said he had potential donors and supporters discuss a congressional bid with him.
- âI think with the current field of candidates, the race is wide open, but the Lord is just not calling me to do that at this time in my life,â Orr, 57, said. âIt was an easy decision.â
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Read more from Mary Sell HERE.
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4. Supreme Court rejects Mobile County claims over opioid crisis |
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- The Alabama Supreme Court sided with Abbott Laboratories on Friday and threw out a lawsuit filed by Mobile County against the company over the opioid epidemic.
- In an 8-0 opinion in which one justice recused himself, the court agreed to Abbott's request to end the case, in which the county and its health agencies sued Abbott over the marketing of the powerful painkiller OxyContin, made by Purdue Pharma.
- The court agreed with arguments by Abbott Laboratories that county officials waited too long to sue over claims that a marketing campaign wrongly played down the addictive power of the drug, leading to a dramatic rise in hospitalizations for overdoses and deaths.
- Mobile Health filed suit against Abbott Laboratories and multiple other companies in 2019 making claims that dated back to 2006 and earlier, the court said. The justices agreed with the company, which argued that the legal time limit for such allegations had expired at least 11 years earlier.
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Read more HERE.
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5. White House: one more week for infrastructure talks
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, indicating that President Joe Biden will look to act without Republican support if there is no consensus when Congress returns from its Memorial Day break.
- âBy the time that they return, which is June 7, just a week from tomorrow, we need a clear direction,â Buttigieg said. âThe president keeps saying inaction is not an option. And time is not unlimited here." He said the American people âexpect us to do something.â
- Biden plans to meet with lead Republican negotiator, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, this coming week and says he remains open to hearing from other GOP senators who are working on different proposals. But Biden has been eying the dwindling timeline for a deal, with an early June hearing scheduled on a House transportation bill that is widely seen as a building block for the big package he favors.
- Democratic senators also plan on moving forward on a sweeping infrastructure package âwith or without the support of Republican senators,â Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to Democrats on Friday. Biden had originally set a Memorial Day deadline for reaching a deal before he let that deadline slip back.
- The two sides remain far apart. Republican senators last week outlined a $928 billion infrastructure proposal as a counteroffer to Bidenâs $1.7 trillion proposal, and they said they would not go along with his plans to raise the corporate tax from 21% to 28% to pay for new spending.
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Read more HERE.
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AL.COM - First American woman killed in line of duty in World War II died in Alabama
AL.COM - For Alabama conservatives, toll opposition creates strange political alliances and disputes
AL.COM - New Alabama law increases use of saliva tests to catch drug-impaired drivers
AL.COM - Columnist Roy Johnson: Opioid overdose deaths rise among Blacks; one Birmingham mother an inspiring model for recovery
AL.COM - These were Alabamaâs most educated counties in 2019
AL.COM - Birmingham Coalition for Student Mental Health: Now is the Time for Strong Student Mental Health Support
Montgomery Advertiser - Gwen Shamblin Lara, other leaders of controversial church presumed dead after plane crash
Decatur Daily - Area schools plan changes in masking, remote learning
Decatur Daily - Officials interested in growing the Farmers Market
Decatur Daily - 44th Alabama Jubilee offers variety of activities after balloon race canceled
Times Daily - Some local garbage schedules impacted by Memorial Day holiday
Times Daily - River Heritage Splash Pad opens today in Florence
Anniston Star - Cool breeze welcomes shoppers at outdoor Oxford market Saturday
Anniston Star - New Facebook page tells stories of local veterans who died in war
Tuscaloosa News - Gwen Shamblin Lara, other leaders of controversial church presumed dead after plane crash
Tuscaloosa News - Man shot and killed at Snow Hinton Park, Tuscaloosa police say
Tuscaloosa News - Tuscaloosa police investigate fatal shooting outside apartment complex
YellowHammer News - State Health Officer Scott Harris: âWeâre looking at waysâ to encourage vaccinations with lotteries, college scholarships using federal funding
YellowHammer News - U.S. Rep. Barry Moore: âA closed border is a compassionate borderâ
Gadsden Times - Despite boating safety bill's failure, Shaver plans to continue push for improved law
Gadsden Times - Gwen Shamblin Lara, other leaders of controversial church presumed dead after plane crash
Dothan Eagle - Australian softball squad flies to Japan for Olympic camp
Dothan Eagle - Dems walk, stop Texas GOP's sweeping voting restrictions
Dothan Eagle - Asia Today: Vietnam to test all 9M residents in largest city
WSFA Montgomery - ADPH: More than 543K COVID-19 cases as vaccination distribution expands
WSFA Montgomery - Most inmates excluded from new sentence reduction incentive
WAFF Huntsville - Memorial walk in remembrance of Army veteran Crystal Ragland
WAFF Huntsville - Traveling from âTuskegee to Tulsa:â Alabamians visiting site of the Tulsa Race Massacre
WAFF Huntsville - Memorial walk in remembrance of Army veteran Crystal Ragland
WKRG Mobile - Vietnam to test all 9M residents in largest city
WKRG Mobile - Most Alabama inmates excluded from new sentence reduction incentive
WTVY Dothan - Slocomb Fire & Rescue collecting money through annual âbootâ drive
WASHINGTON POST - Texas Democrats block restrictive voting bill by walking off the floor to deny GOP-majority House a quorum
WASHINGTON POST - Israelâs Netanyahu fights to block opposition parties from taking power
WASHINGTON POST - A ski company built a power plant fueled by methane. Itâs a success, but can it be replicated?
NEW YORK TIMES - Israel Moves Toward Coalition Deal That Could Sideline Netanyahu
NEW YORK TIMES - China Says It Will Allow Couples to Have 3 Children, Up From 2
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Front Pages (images link to newspaper websites, which you should visit and patronize)
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