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We have our own ideas about what the most important stories were that we covered this year, but the data doesn’t lie: these are the Top 10 stories that drew the most interest from readers this year.
ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann
Meteorologist James Spann faces fury for debunking wild hurricane conspiracy theories
The single most-viewed story of the year detailed James Spann, the state’s most well-known meteorologist, facing backlash for debunking conspiracy theories and misinformation spreading in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The conspiracy theories ranged from the assertion that “the moon has disappeared and was nuked by the government” to the idea that hurricanes were being steered by “chemtrails.” Spann posted a link from FEMA combatting the misinformation only to be met by ridicule and threats.
Alabama House votes to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday — with a twist
There has long been a push for the State of Alabama to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, especially since the U.S. Congress made it a federal holiday in 2021. Those efforts have failed, although Gov. Kay Ivey has declared the day a state holiday on a year-by-year basis since then. The Alabama House of Representatives finally took action in April to enshrine Juneteenth as a state holiday, but amended House Bill 4 from Black lawmaker Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, to reflect another bill introduced by white lawmaker Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville. The change still would make Juneteenth a state holiday, but state offices would not close for the holiday; instead, employees could choose whether to take a paid day off on Juneteenth or on Jefferson Davis day, the state holiday recognizing the first and only president of the Confederacy. The racial juxtaposition calls to mind Alabama’s combination of two state holidays on the same day, celebrating both Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Robert E. Lee’s birthday on the third Monday in January.
Alabama’s new “Porn ID Law” raises privacy and rights concerns
Gov. Kay Ivey in April signed into law House Bill 164 by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauge, requiring online purveyors of pornography to require age verification measures to access content. Similar bills passed in red states across the country had led major porn outlets such as Pornhub to block access to those states, citing privacy concerns with the information the state were requiring to collect. Pornhub and some others have followed through on that same action in Alabama based on this law. Proponents of the bill argued the law is necessary to protect children from exposure to porn.
Bill to arrest librarians filed for 2025 session
Readers were very interested to learn more about a bill filed in July that creates a process to charge librarians with misdemeanors for shelving controversial books. House Bill 4 by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, was one of the first filed for the upcoming 2025 legislative session after Mooney’s previous version of the bill fell just short in the 2024 session. The law would allow citizens to file a complaint about a book they feel violates Alabama’s law regarding obscenity and content “harmful to minors.” If the librarian refuses to move or remove the book, they could then move forward with misdemeanor charges if the book is “harmful to minors” or even a felony if it falls under the definition of obscenity.
House committee approves $10.64 prescription tax, stirring major concerns
House Bill 238 by Rep. Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, sought to charge Pharmacy Benefit Managers $10.64 for every prescription filled, which critics worried could be passed on directly to consumers at the point of purchase or baked in to premium prices. The bill sailed through the Insurance Committee in the House, but never made it to the House floor for consideration.
Terminated APPL employees Lacie Sutherland (left) and Tatyana Nelsen (right) share a tearful embrace after being fired for refusing to open the library following the termination of Director Andrew Foster. (Caryl Lawson/Submitted)
Four Prattville library employees fired after closing library to stand with fired director
Months of controversy surrounding the Autauga-Prattville Public Library came to a head in March when the board terminated director Andrew Foster, claiming that his response to a public records request from APR released confidential information. When library employees locked the doors in protest and refused to open them unless Foster was reinstated, four more employees lost their jobs. Most of the library staff eventually were fired or resigned, and the board later settled a lawsuit with Foster for $20,000 after he sued the board for violating the Alabama Open Meetings Act during the meeting where it voted to fire him.
Sen. Katie Britt, left, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, right.
After student protest at U of A, Alabama Senators support new legislation
Just a week after student protesters criticized U.S. support of Israel in the Israel-Hamas war, U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville signed on to co-sponsor the “No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act.” The bill would prevent anyone convicted of a federal or state-level offense committed at a protest at a university or college from having their student loans forgiven. The protestors had called on the University of Alabama to break connections with defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
Three babies left in Alabama’s Safe Haven Baby Boxes
Alabama introduced its first “Safe Haven baby box” in Madison County in January. By May, three babies had been left in the baby box, which allows parents to drop off newborns at their local fire department or hospital anonymously. The baby boxes immediately notify personnel that a baby has been left in the box so it can receive the necessary medical attention before being placed in Child Protective Services. More baby boxes are popping up around the state.
Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are children, cites the Bible in opinion
Lawmakers did not have IVF on its radar heading into the 2024 session, but a ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court created chaos in the chambers of the Statehouse as legislators raced to ensure IVF providers could continue to exist and offer services to Alabamians. The opinion was issued in a case involving the accidental destruction of several embryos at a Mobile fertility clinic when a wandering patient entered the area where they were stored and dropped several containers. Chief Justice Tom Parker cited the Bible and multiple theological texts in a concurring opinion to argue that life begins at conception.
Juandalynn Givan, president of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, speaks during a rally in support of Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Gov. Ivey clarifies: no plans to deploy National Guard in Birmingham
After a shooting at Five Points South in Birmingham left four people dead and 24 injured in September, State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, made the comment that the city was “one step away from having to call in the National Guard.” The comment came as Givan and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin sparred over the city’s response, and Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola clarified on X that the governor had no plans to deploy the National Guard in response to gun violence in the city.
Lee Greenwood often joined Donald Trump on the campaign trail (Lee Greenwood/Instagram)
Bonus: Biden removes Lee Greenwood from National Endowment for the Arts
Unlike every other entry on this list, this article is from way back in 2021. Despite being three years old, this story had a resurgence in 2024 and actually ranks as the eighth-most-viewed story of 2024. In 2021, President Joe Biden chose not to reappoint Lee Greenwood, singer of God Bless the U.S.A., to the National Endowment for the Arts. Greenwood, who has toured with Donald Trump on the campaign trail, portrayed the snub as politically motivated.
