Via Anna Barrett: Phillip Ensler is running for Alabama lieutenant governor in part because Doug Jones is running for Alabama governor. https://ow.ly/GoF050XMKYz

In a family of carpenters, crafters and bakers, we did a handmade White Elephant gift exchange this year. Came away with a beautiful table from my dad. It was quite the commodity among us young folks with half-furnished homes. Merry Christmas everybody!

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board Thursday approved an emergency, temporary rule regulating the sale of consumable hemp products, over the opposition of a state representative who sponsored the law leading to the regulation.

Via Anna Barrett: Ensler, a first-term state representative, flipped a Republican seat in 2022, the first Democrat to do so in the Alabama Legislature since 2010. He helped lead efforts to create a state ban on Glock switches in the Alabama House.

Via Anna Barrett: A board overseeing a program allowing taxpayers to make donations to support rural hospitals Wednesday discussed how two third-party entities would fit into the program.  https://ow.ly/52gl50XLbnj

Via Anna Barrett: About 130,000 Alabamians could lose health care coverage or pay significantly higher premiums at the start of 2026 after Congress failed to pass an extension on tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans last week. https://ow.ly/V0IL50XK2S8

Via Anna Barrett: Speaking to more than 1,000 supporters in Birmingham, former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones kicked off his gubernatorial campaign with pledges to protect health care and voting rights and attacks on likely GOP gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville.

More here: alabamareflector.com/2025/12/12/d...

Via Anna Barrett: The chair of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Thursday said the approval of three dispensary licenses will get the state closer to medical cannabis production, held up for years by litigation over the licensing process. https://ow.ly/lYrz50XHVjm

And the man of the hour is here.

Isbell started his set with, “I think if everybody who was running for this office was a good, honest person, I think Doug would still be a great candidate.” It got a good laugh from the crowd.

Isbell was introduced by some young volunteers on the Jones campaign. A freshman at UAB, a social work student at UA and James Fields IV.

Jason Isbell has taken the stage, starting with “Alabama Pines”

As DJ Slim Robb played “Sweet Home Alabama,” he led the crowd in a lyric change in the chorus: “Doug Jones for Alabama.”

Here at the Doug Jones gubernatorial kickoff event in Birmingham. DJ Slim Robb is getting the gathering crowd warmed up with “Bad to the Bone,” “Shake It Off,” and “The Cupid Shuffle.” Event starts soon. More to come.

Via Anna Barrett: A new report has found that Alabama has had fewer circuit judges than required by law over the last three years. https://ow.ly/Qz3p50XGCWB

Via Anna Barrett: A group of Alabama nonprofits and women’s health advocates are planning to launch a program Tuesday to improve maternal and infant mortality rates. https://ow.ly/h0CX50XFZll

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Amid ongoing federal and state attempts to limit access to vaccines or loosen vaccination requirements, data shows that Alabama has fallen below national averages for children being up to date on some vaccines.

Via Anna Barrett: The board overseeing health insurance for public education employees plans to seek additional funding from the Legislature to keep premiums down, but an Alabama lawmaker says the board will need to help. https://ow.ly/yKMJ50XAWRY

Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama lawmaker pre-filed a bill that would streamline the process for formerly incarcerated Alabamians to get their voting rights restored. https://ow.ly/9HT450XxPaP

Via Anna Barrett: A state board Monday approved a system of distributing private donations to rural hospitals, based on need. https://ow.ly/QYlM50XAp0H

Via Anna Barrett: A group of Alabama clergy gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Montgomery Monday to protest the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and to call on Alabama U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville to restore funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. https://ow.ly/3Z2350XxcW7

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones officially entered Alabama's 2026 gubernatorial race Monday, saying Alabamians "deserve a governor who is going to fight for them."

More on this: alabamareflector.com/2025/11/24/d...

Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama lawmaker has pre-filed a bill for the 2026 legislative sessionthat would require defendants of rape and incest to get a vasectomy or be castrated if the crime resulted in pregnancy. https://ow.ly/V2ER50XvSUs

And, my first real visit to Tuscaloosa was perfect with all the fall foliage! (We need more trees in Montgomery, please.)

Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama legislative commission is looking to for ways to connect first responders to resources to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reduce stigmas around finding help.

ICYMI, via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Kristin Nelson won the GOP nomination for House District 38 in Chambers and Lee counties on Tuesday. She will face Democratic nominee Hazel Floyd in a special election for the seat in February.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Kristin Nelson won the Republican nomination for House District 38 in Chambers and Lee counties on Tuesday. She will face Democratic nominee Hazel Floyd in an election on Feb. 3.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: A federal judge Monday ordered the implementation of a remedial map for two Montgomery-area state Senate districts to address Voting Rights Act violations.

Republican voters in Chambers and Lee counties go to the polls Tuesday to pick a nominee for next February's election in House District 38. Here's a guide to the candidates. https://alabamareflector.com/2025/11/18/a-voters-guide-to-the-house-district-38-special-gop-primary-runoff/

The Alabama Reflector is launching its end-of-year fundraiser today! We’re trying to raise $5,000 to support our independent, nonprofit journalism. Every donation is tax-deductible. If you like what you’ve seen from us in 2025, consider a small donation at the link below.

Via @andreadotweb.bsky.social: In a letter sent Monday to APT's governing board, prior to a scheduled Tuesday meeting on a proposal to drop PBS programming, Gov. Kay Ivey said the AETC should survey the public and prepare a plan before moving forward.

Via Anna Barrett: A physician specializing in obesity urged Alabama health insurers Thurday to cover comprehensive treatment of the condition, including medication like GLP-1s and lifestyle management.  https://ow.ly/T41J50Xs1Oc

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Alabama's infant mortality rate dropped from 7.8 deaths per 1,000 births in 2023 to 7.1 deaths per 1,000 births in 2024. But the overall rate remains higher than the nation's, and the Black infant mortality rate is more than double the white infant mortality rate.

Via Anna Barrett: Voters in east Alabama will choose between two Republican candidates in a special primary runoff election Tuesday in House District 38. https://ow.ly/eWzm50XrcGn

Via Anna Barrett: A state board Wednesday approved grants for 50 hospitals around the state, aimed at helping alleviate funding crisis for many rural health centers. The grants cannot address deeper funding issues with the hospitals. https://ow.ly/yw4250XqQew

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The leader of the Alabama Senate has pre-filed a bill that would allow special primary elections for changed districts amid ongoing litigation over Montgomery-area Senate seats.

Via Anna Barrett: Gov. Kay Ivey Monday appointed Will Parker, her longtime legal advisor, to the Alabama Supreme Court.

Via Anna Barrett: The Joint Legislative Contract Review Committee approved $21.7 million in contracts for the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) on Thursday afternoon. Two of the contracts aim to help ALSDE comply with the 2019 Literacy Act. https://ow.ly/ie0K50Xouuc

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Montgomery Police arrested a fifth suspect Thursday in connection with an October mass shooting that killed two and injured 12.

Via Anna Barrett: Alabamians could see major surges in the cost of Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans without enhanced tax credits for ACA premiums, which lie at the center of the federal government shutdown. https://ow.ly/IzP850XnvyG

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: The state is applying for grants meant to offset Medicaid cuts made by Congress in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The proposal includes funding for providers, IT and maternal health.

Via Anna Barrett: Auburn University apologized for accidentally sending three emergency alerts to students and employees about an active shooter, a tornado and a hazardous waste spill within the space of minutes early Thursday afternoon.

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will send $2 million in state emergency funds to eight state food banks amid federal suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Via Anna Barrett: Before the federal government suspended SNAP benefits, the Heart of Alabama Food Bank (HAFB) had about 500 emergency boxes on hand. Now, volunteers are working to get 6,000 boxes ready to address immediate needs in the state and 1,000 boxes in reserve. https://ow.ly/C5jn50XmJ4n

Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Alabama Democrats Monday said that Gov. Kay Ivey Monday should call a special session of the Alabama Legislature to help feed more than 726,000 Alabamians who lost food assistance Saturday.

Via Anna Barrett and Andrea Tinker: Alabama food banks Friday were bracing for an influx of people amid the likely suspension of SNAP benefits for food on Saturday. Meanwhile, Alabama Democrats called for a special session of the Legislature to provide aid to the 726,000 Alabamians on the program.

Via Anna Barrett: SB 21, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, would require candidates for most political offices in Alabama to be “natural born citizens.” The proposal could run afoul of the Fourteenth Amendment, guaranteeing due process to all citizens.  https://ow.ly/sFR750XkC6Z

Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama senator is reviving a bill for the 2026 legislative session that would require health insurance companies to cover prostate cancer screenings for all high-risk patients. https://ow.ly/nPW050XjWBP