Sep 27, 2023

There's been a lot of news come down lately, so don't overlook the "More Alabama News" today (there was a state House election last night as well as approval for a new State House. First), more on those proposed Congressional district maps that are drawing fire from both sides ...

Ike Morgan

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The first two days of this week certainly seemed like a win for Democrats in Alabama and Congress.

We saw court-appointed mapmakers release new Congressional district maps that include one majority-Black district and another that would be at least 48-percent, all but handing the party two U.S. Representatives after the '24 elections. Then we saw the U.S. Supreme Court turn down the state's request that it reverse a federal-court decision to toss a much more GOP-friendly map that was drawn up earlier this year.

The Alabama Democratic Party acknowledged on the Site Formerly Known As Twitter that now the maps mean an opportunity to elect a second Democrat and help the national party get back into power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

However, Joe Reed, the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference -- that's the Black caucus -- said the group will be filing an objection to the maps, which he called unconstitutional because they don't go far enough.

While District 2 in the proposed maps have voting-age populations that are 48-50 percent Black, the plan endorsed by the Alabama Democratic Conference has a District 2 that is 54-percent Black.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall called the new proposals "racially gerrymandered."

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the city's working on an outdoor music festival that will bring the old Big Spring Jam experience back, only bigger, reports AL.com's Paul Gattis.

Battle called it "Huntsville’s first large-scale music festival.” A deal needs to be approved by the city council, but Battle said C3 Presents is expected to promote the festival. That's the promo group behind Bonnaroo and Lollaplooza.

The venue will be John Hunt Park. If you're from elsewhere in the state you might know the area as the location of Joe Davis Stadium and where they hold the state high school soccer championships.

There aren't a lot of details yet, not even a proposed name for the festival. Battle said the contract should go before the city council next month.

As suspected, the cost of the Alabama prison being built in Elmore county has surpassed a billion dollars, reports AL.com's Mike Cason.

In October 2021, the plan legislators approved was to spend $1.3 billion on two prisons -- the one currently under construction in Elmore County and another in Escambia County.

State Rep. Rex Reynolds, a Huntsville Republican, said there is $1.235 billion that can be used for the Elmore prison, including $400 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. He said the second prison is going to require more borrowing.

What is the worst job for someone to perform while under the influence?

Airline pilot? Brain surgeon? It's a tough call.

But in Madison County, a schoolbus driver transporting Sparkman High students was charged with driving under the influence after colliding with another vehicle, reports AL.com's William Thornton.

Madison County Schools Superintendent Ken Kubik said the driver failed at least one part of a field sobriety test.

No student was injured, and parents were called to come pick them up.

“I just believe district representation for the Black Belt has been lacking."

Bobby Singleton, Alabama Senate minority leader from Greensboro, while saying he is forming an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Congress in District 7. He would face incumbent Terri Sewell in the Democratic primary.

In 1927, blues harmonica player "Earring" George Mayweather of Montgomery.

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