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Good morning and Happy Friday! LOTS of news today.

Here's your Daily News for February 15.
1. Funded.
  • Congress voted overwhelmingly to pass the bi-partisan homeland security compromise legislation, which funds some border barrier construction and completes the appropriations process for this fiscal year. 
  • Alabama's delegation was split. Sens. Richard Shelby and Sen. Doug Jones voted in favor, and so did Reps. Martha Roby and Terri Sewell
  • Reps. Mo Brooks, Gary Palmer, Robert Aderholt, Mike Rogers, Bradley Byrne, voted no.
  • See the full Roll Call vote HERE
  • President Donald Trump speaking this morning from the Rose Garden, where he is expected to sign the bill and then immediately declare a national emergency to redirect about $8 billion of federal money to build more border barriers. 
  • Democrats are crying foul over the emergency declaration and vowing to take it to court. Some Republicans are also concerned about the precedent being set, though few argue the president doesn't have the authority to do it.
  • Read more about the situation HERE.

2. Dems' do-over.
  • The Alabama Democratic Party is going to have another leadership election.
  • That was the decision of the Democratic National Committee's credentials panel, which ordered a do-over for the contested re-election of Chairwoman Nancy Worley.
  • One challenge contended multiple rules were broken during the election to "stack the deck" in their favor. A separate challenge said the party did not follow Democratic Party diversity requirements.
  • So, after all that, the party will vote again. And a challenger to Worley has emerged.
  • It won't be Peck Fox, who came close to defeating Worley in the original vote and probably would have won barring the squirrels rules and vote shenanigans.
  • Former State Senator Myron Penn is considering a run, and he'll be supported by Fox and perhaps U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.
  • That story was a scoop by Inside Alabama Politics' Jeff Martin, who spoke to Fox and Penn.
  • Read more from Kim Chandler HERE.
  • Also read Brian Lyman, who has followed this issue pretty closely from the start.


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3. Regional road rumblings.
  • We're a little more than two weeks away from the start of the legislative session.
  • The biggest issue on the table will likely be a proposal to raise the state's gas tax to pay for improving infrastructure.
  • The plan hasn't been released yet, but already some lawmakers are starting to put down stakes on what they will and won't support.
  • Some from the coastal counties of Mobile and Baldwin say their area needs a greater share - and they haven't forgotten the BP settlement.
  • Some from the Huntsville area say North Alabama has been neglected in the past and it needs a greater share to keep up with growth.
  • ADN's Mary Sell parsed through all of this for her latest story, which you can read in full HERE.
  • Also, don't miss this nugget: Sen. Richard Shelby told me he's going on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in anticipation of Congress possibly passing a federal infrastructure plan in the next few years. That's interesting.


4. Student information system chosen.
  • Here's a scoop: the Alabama Department of Education has chosen a new Student Information System.
  • PowerSchool has been selected to manage the giant task of handling all the student records for schools statewide.
  • This is a big deal because the old student information system is literally expiring next year and all that student data could be lost or damaged.
  • Finding a new system to track grades, attendance records, and more has been a top priority for State Superintendent Eric Mackey.
  • “Handling student records securely and accurately is an incredibly important part of the Alabama State Department of Education’s responsibility to students, parents, and schools,” Mackey said.
  • “We believe PowerSchool will help Alabama upgrade its SIS to create a system that is safer, faster, and more efficient.” 
  • An added bonus: PowerSchool will execute the contract from Mobile, supporting 80 high-tech jobs there.
  • Expect an official announcement later today, but you read it here first.

5. Do you even podcast, bro?
  • Just a year into this start-up platform, we are blessed to have so many loyal readers every day. I can’t thank you enough for reading and engaging with me and the whole team at Alabama Daily News.
  • I get asked a lot, “when are you going to start a podcast?”
  • The answer is, now!
  • I’ve actually been interested in doing it for a while, so I’m excited to have it finally off the ground.
  • It’s called "In the Weeds" with Alabama Daily News.
  • That’s a common phrase among politicos and wonks, most times used to say we should avoid getting too carried away with detail. But details matter, and a podcast is a good platform to spend a little more time on them.
  • We’ll also have guests! Part of my goal is to pull back the curtain on Alabama politics a little to bring listeners in to get to know how our top public officials go about their jobs.
  • In this first episode, I sat down with Gov. Kay Ivey to talk about a range of topics, including how she goes about her job, the difference between assuming the governor's office and being elected to it, new Chief of Staff Jo Bonner coming on board, her vision for working with the Legislature, infrastructure, and more.
  • Also, not to spoil it, there's a new "first dog" and you really have to hear her talk about it.
  • Take a listen HERE.
  • Bear in mind I'm still new at this and, admittedly, not a great interviewer. So please forgive my verbose rambling as I try to get better.
  • And let me know what you think!


Headlines.
ALABAMA DAILY NEWS - Lawmakers argue for greater new gas tax spending in their districts

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS - In the Weeds: Previewing the session and Gov. Kay Ivey.

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS - DNC orders new elections for Alabama Democratic Party

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – New Member Profile: Rep. Chip Brown

ALABAMA DAILY NEWS – Toll planned for $2B bridge span crossing Mobile River, bay

AL.COM - TVA defies Trump, votes to close coal-fired power plants
AL.COM - Alabama man named chair of TVA board of directors
AL.COM - Birmingham asks judge to let Confederate monument ruling stand
AL.COM - EPA ‘moving forward’ to limit PFAS chemicals found in Alabama tap water
AL.COM - Congressman Mo Brooks blasts Congress in call for wall
AL.COM - One year after Parkland, Alabama lawmakers could revive debate over arming teachers
AL.COM - Montgomery airport passenger traffic up 11 percent
AL.COM - Business Executives Reported Education and Workforce Training as the Top Issue in Alabama for Third Year in a Row
AL.COM - 12-month course offered to fill construction engineer vacancies
AL.COM - Airbus continues to ramp up, and to hire, in Mobile
AL.COM - Contributor Kyle Campbell: The immorality of Alabama’s stance on Medicaid

Montgomery Advertiser - Two charged with beating, robbing, abducting 2 men at Montgomery hotel

Montgomery Advertiser - Congress passes spending bill to avoid shutdown, sends it to Trump for his signature

Montgomery Advertiser - DNC orders new Alabama Democratic Party leadership election

Montgomery Advertiser - Hillary Clinton to appear at Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee.

YellowHammer News - Jones backs challenge resulting in increased DNC ‘supervision’ of Alabama Democratic Party

YellowHammer News - Byrne: ‘Anti-semitic’ Dem Rep. Omar ‘should not be allowed to continue serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’

YellowHammer News - Mo Brooks: Dems prioritizing illegal immigrants ‘the worst betrayal of America in history,’ ‘9/11 deaths pale in comparison’

Dothan Eagle - Geneva County Sheriff: ‘We have no reason to believe the suspect out of Holmes County is still in our area’

Dothan Eagle - Dothan man accused of trying to choke child’s mother

Dothan Eagle - Today In History, Feb. 15: Sabena Airlines Crash

Tuscaloosa News - Judge sets bond in Hale County murder cases

Tuscaloosa News - Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Moundville case

Decatur Daily - Love at first chat: Hartselle High principal, wife connected years after attending same school

Decatur Daily - Giles County sheriff must stop jailing some poor offenders

Decatur Daily - Moulton man charged after police chase

Times Daily - Northwest-Shoals kicks off new training program

Times Daily - Police canvas neighborhood near shooting for witnesses

Times Daily - Music-related talks are Saturday

Gadsden Times - EBA Mission Center hit by vandals again

Gadsden Times - Pancake Day works on move to The Venue

Gadsden Times - DeKalb Co. police departments get equipment grants

Anniston Star - Georgia Calhoun honored for her devotion to community

Anniston Star - Georgia Calhoun honored for her devotion to community

Anniston Star - New director hired for Calhoun County animal control facility

Troy Messenger - DAR honors 2019 Good Citizens

Troy Messenger - $200K grant to make Pike County schools safer

Troy Messenger - Police identify man fatally shot while hunting Saturday

Andalusia Star News - First loves Andalusia

Andalusia Star News - Shelby, Jones vote for funding package

Andalusia Star News - Schools focus on dating violence awareness

Opelika-Auburn News - Auburn police charge 15-year-old for bringing gun to school

Opelika-Auburn News - East Alabama man charged with drug trafficking after 120 plants found

Opelika-Auburn News - Our View: Opelika’s ‘state of the city’ continues trek on solid ground

Daily Mountain Eagle - Leach begins role as chief deputy

Daily Mountain Eagle - Bishop reviews problems with purchase orders

Trussville Tribune - VIDEO: Birmingham police handed out tickets and caught motorists by surprise

Trussville Tribune - Breaking: Police arrest suspect in shooting death of Birmingham PD Sgt. Wytasha Carter

Athens News Courier - Grand jury indicts 83 in Limestone

Athens News Courier - KALB seeks volunteers for cleanup initiative

Sand Mountain Reporter - MCSO arrests woman with $100,000 worth of meth

WSFA Montgomery - Highway 169 south of Opelika closed due to crash

WSFA Montgomery - Authorities led on high speed chase involving stolen U-Haul

Fox 6 Birmingham - United Methodist Church delegates will debate, vote on church’s stance on homosexuality

Fox 6 Birmingham - B’ham lawmaker reacts to DNC decision ordering new election for state chair, vice chair

Fox 6 Birmingham - Extension coming to Lakeshore Trail

WAFF Huntsville - Scattered showers this morning with mostly cloudy skies, flood potential next week

WAFF Huntsville - ‘Dollar General Baby’ turns 1, visits store where she was born

WKRG Mobile - News 5 Investigates CBD oil health claims

WKRG Mobile - Toll coming to Wallace Tunnel and Bayway

WTVY Dothan - Realtors warn public about local property scammers

WTVY Dothan - Parkland families, survivors still mobilizing movement one year after tragedy

WTVY Dothan - Dothan chef advances on Top Chef

WASHINGTON POST - ‘Off the rails’: Inside Trump’s attempt to claim victory in his border wall defeat
WASHINGTON POST - Congress approves border deal to avert shutdown; Trump to sign it and seek wall money elsewhere
WASHINGTON POST - An emergency declaration by Trump will lead to lawsuits. Lots of them
WASHINGTON POST – Contributor Mark Zaid: Cliff Sims worked for the White House. Now Trump wants to silence him
WASHINGTON POST - IRS says average tax refund is down nearly 9 percent so far this year.
NEW YORK TIMES - Trump Will Declare a National Emergency. What Happens Next?
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