ALGOP rejects amendment replacing elected school board; Prison Building inching closer; Trump not backing down on tariffs; Bells to mark 'Day of Healing'
The Alabama Republican Party voted to formally oppose a constitutional amendment that would replace the state Board of Education with a commission appointed by the governor.
The measure was approved by the 461-member executive committee by a margin of 64 percent to 36 percent during their summer meeting in Auburn.
The legislature approved the amendment earlier this year and it has support from Gov. Kay Ivey and Senate President Pro-Tem Del Marsh.
One reason for the opposition is concern that the state would continue using Common Core standards. Actually, the amendment would require the new commission to replace Common Core standards.
Another point of tension at the meeting was whether to allow the executive committee pick the delegates for presidential candidate or keep them on the primary ballot.
The proposal fell short of the two-thirds support need for approval.
You can read more about the tension over the delegates from Will Whatley HERE and more about the whole meeting from Mike Cason HERE.
2. Prison Building getting closer
Friday was the deadline for companies wanting to build new prisons in Alabama to submit their statement of qualifications.
Gov. Ivey announced in February a plan to build three new prisons in order to tackle the overcrowding issues facing Alabama prisons.
The first step is to gather proposals from companies and then decide how to proceed.
A spokesperson for Ivey said the names of the companies sending in statements of qualifications would be released on Monday.
The new prisons are meant to house more than 3,000 male inmates and the Alabama Department of Corrections estimates that the prisons will cost about $900 million total and the lease payments will be up to $78 million a year.
Ivey told reporters Friday that they are evaluating the process, but said that approach appears to be a âwin-win.â
Read the full report HERE and read Mike Casonâs write up on it HERE.
3. Trump not backing down on tariffs
President Donald Trump on Sunday acknowledged having second thoughts about escalating a trade war with China, but the White House later reversed, saying the president was misinterpreted and that his only regret in hiking tariffs is that he didnât raise them higher.
Trump faced a tense reception from his counterparts as they gathered in a French beach resort for the Group of Seven summit.
He suggested during a breakfast meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he harbored qualms about the spiraling conflict. âYeah. For sure,â he told reporters when asked if he had any second thoughts about ramping up tariffs on China after Beijing imposed new tariffs to retaliate against earlier tariff moves by the U.S.
Then hours later, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham issued a statement saying the news media had âgreatly misinterpretedâ Trumpâs response. Grisham said the president only responded âin the affirmative â because he regrets not raising the tariffs higher.â
Bells are scheduled to ring out across the nation today to mark the âDay of Healingâ recognizing the 400 years since the arrival of slaves to colonial Jamestown, Virginia.
The Alabama Historical Commission said the bells at the Alabama State Capitol will ring at 2 p.m., along with other bells across the nation at that time.
Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission, Lisa D. Jones said, âWe are proud participate in the national commemoration and Day of Healing event, honoring ancestors and descendants of those who were enslaved in this country. This is an important day of reverence and remembrance.â
Other events will be held in Alabama to mark the anniversary, like in Africatown on the coast, where during an event at the Mobile County Training School there will be a drum call, performances and a butterfly release.
You can read more about the other events across the country marking the anniversary from the National Park Service HERE.
5. Week in Good News
Breweries team up to help protect Alabama coasts
Some south Alabama breweries are working on a new beer to benefit a nonprofit environmental group that works to protect the state's coast.
Six breweries in Mobile and Baldwin County are teaming up to produce an ale called "Friends in Low Places IPA" as a fundraiser for the Alabama Coastal Foundation.
The New England-style India pale ale will be available in the coastal region beginning next month, and it will go statewide after that.
Participating breweries include Braided River, Iron Hand, Old Majestic and Serda in Mobile, plus Fairhope Brewing and Big Beach Brewing in Baldwin County.
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS - White House reverses Trump on China âsecond thoughtsâ
AL.COM - Alabamaâs top 25 middle and elementary schools.
AL.COM - DNC denies seats to Alabama party leaders.
AL.COM - Alabama AT&T workers among 20,000 on strike.
AL.COM - Sen. Doug Jones: Teacher shortage is âvery complicatedâ.
AL.COM - Columnist Kyle Whitmire: Is there hope in hell for Alabama Democrats?
AL.COM - Alabama GOP opposes replacing elected state Board of Education.
AL.COM - States increasingly challenge Trump in court.
AL.COM - megabus.com looking to expand into Alabama.
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS - ALGOP passes resolution calling for Ilhan Omarâs expulsion from Congress- âLet Alabama be first and letâs see how many other states followâ.
YELLOWHAMMER NEWS - Alabama native bringing VR production to Sidewalk, looking to make feature film in the state.
FLORENCE TIMES DAILY - Gas taxes go up Sept. 1, but officials say roads will be better.
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