Economy
NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index increased 1.6 points in June to 91.0 but remains lower than average.
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Alabama Political Reporter
- Elections
Wes Allen leads lieutenant governor race in June fundraising for second month
Candidates for 2026 attorney general race file June campaign finance reports
Gudger reports record $1.8M raised for FORGE PAC to back Senate GOP efforts
Minor candidates struggle to raise money in races for governor and lieutenant governor
Jay Mitchell’s attorney general campaign raises over $1.25 million
- Governor
Opinion | Reappointing Gwathney would be a grave mistake for Alabama justice
Gov. Ivey praises results of Montgomery Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit
Gov. Ivey announces $23.2 million in SEEDS grants to boost Alabama’s economic growth
Gov. Ivey taps Grace Jeter as Covington County circuit judge
Gov. Ivey encourages summer reading for Alabama students
- Legislature
New bill would give citizens avenue to directly petition for laws
State Senator re-files bill to make removing Confederate monuments prohibitively expensive
Prefiled bill would require ignition interlock devices for first-time DUI offenders
Hemp retailers sue Ivey, Marshall over law they call unconstitutional ban
Opinion | Alabama lawmakers picked winners and losers, and hundreds of hemp businesses lost everything
- Economy
Ivey celebrates “Made in the USA” Day with praise for Alabama manufacturers
NFIB: 36 percent of small businesses report unfilled jobs in June survey
Sloss Tech Pitch Competition winner awarded $50K to grow innovative startup
Gov. Ivey announces $23.2 million in SEEDS grants to boost Alabama’s economic growth
SNAP cuts threaten 800,000 Alabamians as state faces $300 million burden
- National
Alabama’s Volunteer Lawyers Programs fill gaps in civil justice
House passes Trump-backed budget slashing aid, boosting wealthy, say critics
Senate passes reconciliation bill including child care reforms touted by Britt
Judge denies request to halt law making smokable hemp products illegal
Alabama officials praise Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship injunctions
- Education
Alabama’s CHOOSE Act education savings accounts funded for 2025 school year
Bill to bolster abstinence-only sex education reintroduced for 2026
Opinion | The CHOOSE Act puts parents in the driver’s seat
Opinion | Alabama education policy needs improvements
Opinion | Giving our young people a second chance
- Health
Prefiled bill would overhaul Alabama’s new hemp regulation law
Medicaid cuts could exacerbate healthcare disparities in Alabama’s Black Belt
The Renewal Project announces statewide launch
EPA data shows 165M people exposed to ‘forever chemicals’ in U.S. drinking water
Alabama Medical Association thanks Trump for prioritizing doctor visa applications
- Opinion
Opinion | Wins for West Alabama: 2025 session highlights from HD 16
Opinion | A republic, if we can keep it—and the time for choosing is now
Opinion | Why don’t your kids deserve a better education?
Opinion | The Ledbetter/Livingston 4th of July Breakfast is now a must-go political event
Opinion | When do things get great for you?
National Federation of Independent Business stories
Economy
A net 22 percent of owners plan to raise compensation in the next three months.
Economy
Labor quality was the top business problem at 24 percent, with inflation in second place at 23 percent.
Legislature
The Guardian of Small Business Award is the most prestigious the National Federation of Independent Business bestows on legislators.
Economy
Inflation and labor quality are the leading small business operating problems.
Economy
Forty-five percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill, up four points from December.
Economy
The percentage of owners reporting labor quality as their top business operating problem remains elevated at 24 percent.
Economy
Inflation remains the single most important business problem with 32 percent of owners reporting it as their top problem.
Economy
The NFIB Research Center’s latest COVID-19 survey assesses the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on small businesses.
Economy
Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months improved three points.