Via Amanda Watford and Stateline: A growing number of states are reexamining how the criminal legal system treats pregnant and postpartum women behind bars. https://ow.ly/mQYp50YXRib

ICYMI: Our story from last night on the U.S. Supreme Court opening the door to Alabama redistricting. Much more to come today.

An Alabama House district race in the Jacksonville area has drawn an unusual number of candidates. Incumbent Rep. Chad Robertson faces three challengers in the GOP primary and a Democratic opponent in the fall. https://ow.ly/q17H50YXQqc

Via Jennifer Shutt: President Donald Trump on Monday nominated Cameron Hamilton to run the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a former acting chief who was fired in 2025 shortly after he told a congressional panel FEMA should continue to exist. https://ow.ly/ceWZ50YXUEW

State lawmakers have proposed hundreds of new measures that would limit law enforcement and immigration activities to push back against the White House. But Democratic states have had the most success in the courts, where dozens of federal policies have been challenged. https://ow.ly/lCGY50YXLJX

BREAKING via Ralph Chapoco: The U.S. Supreme Court Monday vacated a 2023 ruling blocking use of a congressional map the courts ruled as racially discriminatory, which could open the way for Alabama to use new district lines this year.

Via Ralph Chapoco: The Alabama Attorney General’s Office Monday subpoenaed the Southern Poverty Law Center a couple of weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against the organization.

Via Ralph Chapoco: The Alabama Attorney General’s Office Monday subpoenaed the Southern Poverty Law Center a couple of weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against the organization.

Via Jonathan Shorman: Six months before the November midterm elections, the Trump administration’s quest to exercise authority over the contests and impose sweeping restrictions on voters has proved largely unsuccessful. https://ow.ly/wSul50YXBV2

My column this week. Last week's special session of the Alabama Legislature got Republicans the primary bills they wanted. But it increasingly looks like a tactical mistake, because the GOP also gave Alabama Democrats two things they desperately needed: a platform, and a cause.

There was never any doubt that Alabama Republicans would get special election primary bills through last week's special session. But Editor Brian Lyman writes that the GOP gave Alabama Democrats two things they needed this year: A platform, and a unifying message. https://ow.ly/TbIG50YWNwr

Via Andrea Tinker: Opponents of last week’s special session are counting on a 2022 constitutional amendment to provide a legal challenge to the special primary election bills passed by the Alabama Legislature should Alabama be allowed to redistrict. https://ow.ly/fkmG50YWNtx

Alabama Reflector staffers covered last week's special session gavel to gavel. Here are some photos from a tumultuous five days.

Via Anna Barrett: Republican voters in a rural east Alabama Senate district will decide next week whether to nominate their current state senator or the previous one. https://ow.ly/vQgc50YWMNp

Any student of US civil rights history knows the story of Jim Reeb, the Unitarian pastor who was attacked in Selma and died from his injuries. Rev. Gordon Gibson was his friend and writes about the cost of the Voting Rights Act.

Via Stateline: The U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s annual one-night count of those experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness is projected to show a decline after a record-high surge in 2024, according to a new report. https://ow.ly/z4u350YWN3n

This week's special session of the Alabama Legislature featured heated debate and constant protest. Here are photos from a tumultuous five days.

My column from Monday. I’m sorry to say that this is how the Alabama special session played out, reflecting the worst of our state’s history. But we will see the best of it, too: The resolve and courage of Alabamians against the forces of authoritarianism, and a defiant hope that will not surrender.

A bleg: Trying to add one or two dozen subscribers to @alabamareflector.com’s daily newsletter as we near a milestone. It’s free; it has the top-of-the-shelf reporting of our staff and @statesnewsroom.com, and we don’t share your email address with anyone.

And speaking of our staff: @annabjournalist.bsky.social @rchapoco.bsky.social and @andreadotweb.bsky.social did damn good work this week amid tensions, hectic schedules and the waters rushing into the Statehouse. Proud of these folks.

The federal student loan system is set to see a dramatic overhaul beginning this summer, and critics warn it likely will make loans more expensive and difficult to obtain for borrowers — driving them to private lenders or altering their plans for higher education. https://ow.ly/XpKT50YWMVL

Via Ralph Chapoco: The Alabama Attorney General’s Office Friday filed motions in three separate cases seeking to lift a federal injunction against the state changing congressional lines before 2030. A district court Friday dismissed the state's request to stay an injunction of an earlier map.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social and @rchapoco.bsky.social: “My aunt bludgeoned on the Edmund Pettus Bridge . . . trampled over for the right to vote not a long time ago,” said Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma. “We didn’t even have the Voting Rights Act intact for 50 years. That is a sin and a shame.”

Via Anna Barrett and Ralph Chapoco: The Alabama Legislature Friday passed bills allowing new primaries if federal courts allow the state to use maps once ruled discriminatory against Black voters. The approvals came amid protests and emotional debates invoking Alabama's history of voter suppression.

Alabama House votes 75-29 (on party lines) to allow new primary elections if the courts allow the use of congressional and legislative maps previously ruled discriminatory. Protestors leaving the gallery chant “Vote Them Out” and sing “Ain’t Nobody Going To Turn Me Around.”

Via Ralph Chapoco: The Alabama House of Representatives Friday briefly stopped debate over a bill to allow new primaries if courts allow Alabama to revert to congressional and legislative maps previously declared racially discriminatory as protests erupted in the gallery.

Alabama House recessed debate over the primary bill after protestors in the gallery began chanting. One protestor was taken out despite efforts by Reps. Juandalynn Givan and Mary Moore, both D-Birmingham, to intervene on her behalf.

Via Andrea Tinker: U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, said at a Montgomery town hall Thursday evening that he did not expect the U.S. Supreme Court to lift an injunction barring Alabama from changing district lines before 2030. https://ow.ly/Ew6l50YWnS4

Via Ralph Chapoco: A Montgomery-based civil rights group Thursday pleaded not guilty to federal charges of fraud and money-laundering and accused the U.S. Department of Justice of attacking it for political reasons. https://ow.ly/9LFo50YWlqP

Via Anna Barrett and Andrea Tinker: Protests erupted in Alabama House and Senate committees Thursday as lawmakers approved two bills setting new primary elections should federal courts allow the use of congressional and legislative maps once deemed discriminatory against Black Alabamians.

And readers can continue to follow the @statesnewsroom.com coverage on the ground on redistricting, from states including @tennesseelookout.com @lailluminator.com @alabamareflector.com @georgiarecorder.com @virginiamercury.com & more www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tenn...

Via Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Sofia Resnick and Stateline: Advocates and opponents of abortion access say they’re wondering what happens next in a critical telehealth medication case that created chaos and confusion over the past week. https://ow.ly/7Pa950YWkVT

Via Ashley Murray: The U.S. Court of International Trade handed a win to two small businesses and the state of Washington after they challenged President Donald Trump's 10% global tariffs, imposed after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his previous emergency tariff regime.

Via Jennifer Shutt: State governments should shoulder more of the cost and responsibility for natural disaster recovery, according to a report released Thursday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency review council.

Via Jennifer Shutt: Attorneys for the Trump administration argued before a federal appeals court Thursday the Pentagon should be able to reprimand Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly for reminding members of the military they can refuse illegal orders, and for criticizing the Defense Department.

Via Anna Barrett and Andrea Tinker: Two bills that could change primary elections in Alabama — should federal courts allow the use of congressional and legislative maps previously ruled discriminatory – moved closer to passage Thursday as major protests erupted in legislative committees.

Via Ralph Chapoco: Plaintiffs in a case over state Senate districts said in a filing with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday that the state should use the redrawn map for the affected districts and not revert to the one that was approved by the Legislature in 2021. https://ow.ly/9uf450YVRWW

Via Anna Claire Vollers and Stateline: A group of GOP-led states is pushing forward with a lawsuit that could weaken a key federal disability rights protection under a part of law known as Section 504, even after the original dispute over gender dysphoria was resolved. https://ow.ly/kFLh50YVIxZ

Via Anna Barrett and Andrea Tinker: The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday passed legislation that could set new primary dates for the state amid protests within the Statehouse and flooding that led the Alabama Senate to quickly pass its bill before a mass evacuation of the building.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social and @andreadotweb.bsky.social: The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday passed legislation that could set new primary dates for the state amid heated debates, protests outside legislative chambers and flooding that forced an evacuation of the Statehouse.

Via Andrea Tinker: The bill passed 75-29 after nearly five hours of sometimes heated debate, in which House Democrats — nearly all of whom spoke on Wednesday — accused majority Republicans of denying Black Alabamians representation in Congress.

Via Medill News Service: Dozens of people gathered on a sandy lot in front of the White House construction zone Tuesday evening, carrying posters peppered with monarch butterflies and unfurling massive banners reading “Set kids free.”

Via Jennifer Shutt: Voters, including those within the Make America Healthy Again movement, say the rising cost of healthcare is a significant concern that will impact whom they support in November’s midterm elections, according to a poll released Wednesday by KFF. https://ow.ly/K0zZ50YVGXx

Via Ralph Chapoco: U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco gave plaintiffs in Allen v. Milligan a Thursday afternoon deadline to respond to the Alabama attorney general's office motion. The AG's office had sought a Wednesday deadline.

Via Ralph Chapoco: As Alabama lawmakers Tuesday pushed forward bills that could reduce the number of Black members of the state’s congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, organized a protest at the Statehouse Tuesday with Democratic state senators and representatives.

Via Ralph Chapoco: Three Democratic candidates for the Alabama Public Service Commission presented similar ideas to address the spiraling cost of utility prices at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Alabama on Tuesday.

Big news: States Newsroom is launching Daybreak, a new morning newsletter written by Madyson Fitzgerald featuring news from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Daybreak will replace Stateline Daily starting tomorrow morning. Sign up here: https://www.newsfromthestates.com/newsletter/daybreak

Via @andreadotweb.bsky.social & @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The Alabama Legislature Wednesday will take its first votes on bills that could set new primary dates if federal courts allow the use of maps previously held discriminatory against Black Alabamians.

Via Jennifer Shutt: A proposed immigration bill released by Senate Republicans includes $1 billion “to support enhancements by the United States Secret Service relating to the East Wing Modernization Project, including above-ground and below-ground security features.” https://ow.ly/hCRs50YVmSC

Via Amanda Watford: State and local officials are looking for ways to expand access to mental health resources and to test new approaches aimed at reducing stigma and improving access to care for 911 dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs. https://ow.ly/jcxO50YV2SZ