Op-Ed: The time has come for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to fulfill its promise
Published without edits
The time has come for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) to fulfill its promise and deliver medical cannabis to the patients in Alabama who have been waiting far too long. This delay is not just an administrative failure but a critical...
Op-Ed: To the single mother on Mother’s Day
I write this as a man who was raised by a single mother during the most transformative years of my life. It's hard to express in words the depth of my gratitude for all the trials she faced to enable me to pursue the...
Op-Ed: ‘You’ll miss this’… will we, though?
Around each turn in a local grocery store or shopping center, you can almost certainly hear some variation of the phrase, “Enjoy this while it lasts,” or “You’ll miss this one day.” These phrases, just like so many others, are often uttered sweetly and fondly by well-meaning passersby, usually aimed...
Op-Ed: Bones and Barrels is a vibe – you should run this race
Bones and Barrels is one of the most underrated trail races you will find. Zombie Trail Races, a local running company, hosts seven of these races annually. The Bones and Barrels Endurance Beer Mile 5K took place at Palomino RV Resort in Cullman on March...
Op-Ed: Cullman Tribune Debate Series picks back up with county superintendent race and who’ll snag the open judge’s seat
Since wonderful Covid locked us down for a while before excessive safety measures were put in place, The Tribune debates have been an event we look forward to as it allows hopeful candidates to actually debate and exchange ideas without being coached or given...
Op-Ed: Unions want to target one of Alabama’s crown jewel industries, automotive manufacturing, but I’m standing up for Alabamians and protecting our jobs
Sept. 30, 1993, marked a watershed moment in Alabama history. That is the day Mercedes-Benz went against the grain and chose our state to be the home of their first U.S. manufacturing facility. It was a decision that changed the future of our state...
Op-Ed: Alabama should proceed with caution on ‘school choice’
With another legislative session in Alabama right around the corner, along with a presidential election, “school choice” is quickly becoming a hot topic across the state. The phrase could mean anything from voucher systems to statewide open enrollment, depending on who is defining it.As...
Op-Ed: Alabama’s Turnaround Schools Initiative will give some of our most struggling public school students a chance to achieve their dreams
As 2023 comes to a close, it naturally offers an opportunity to look back at all we have done over the last year. In Alabama, I believe we have, once again, made progress. When I was sworn in for my second term as governor...
Op-Ed: Fear of the known
Work. It's something most of us have to do at least five days each week. However, for some the work week turns into a work month, which morphs into working nearly every day.
I'm not complaining as the profession that chose me suits all aspects...
Op-Ed: A parent’s practical guide to the pumpkin patch
Picture it: a verdant green field, speckled with hay, dotted with pumpkins of every shade. The air has a certain crispness to it. Faint music in the distance, interluded by the laughter of children as they ooh and ahh over which pumpkin to take...
Op-Ed: Active participation over passive complaints
In an era where social media platforms amplify voices, it is imperative to exercise discernment between constructive dialog and counterproductive complaining. As evidenced by the recently concluded Oktoberfest in Cullman, which witnessed unprecedented attendance, the potent synergy of organizations such as Cullman Parks, Recreation...
Op-Ed: Alabama’s historic grocery tax cut goes into effect, but more work remains to finish the job
Alabamians are feeling a bit of relief at the grocery store checkout lines as a result of the tax cut on food that a coalition of conservative lawmakers and I pushed through the Legislature during the 2023 regular session.
Beginning on Sept. 1, the state’s...
Op-Ed: The quiet legacy of a quilter
As a sewist and quilter with over 15 years of experience, I have been called several times to adopt another quilter's "stash". A stash in the quilter community is a collection of material, trims, patterns, findings, even equipment and furniture, collected over a sewing...
Op-Ed: To eliminate ‘help wanted’ signs, we must shift our focus to labor force participation. The Ivey Administration is doing that
To gather the fullest employment picture in Alabama – and across the nation for that matter – we must shift our focus to labor force participation.
Alabama’s current unemployment rate is at an impressive and historic low of 2.2%. In fact, almost all of the...
Op-Ed: Rock the South through the eyes of a first-timer
As a Cullman local who lived in the county and worked at a local watering hole, Rock the South had always been synonymous for me with heavy traffic, rowdy bar guests and a vibrato of whatever headliner they snagged pounding through your temples as...
Op-Ed: Alabama’s historic grocery tax cut shows we must always attempt to accomplish what others say can’t be done
Alabamians may have felt their wallets bulge a bit last month when the Legislature approved our bill that slices the sales tax on groceries in half and implements the single largest tax cut in state history.
Alabama was one of only three states that taxed...
Op-Ed: Father’s Day
Father's Day is the day that we come together to honor and appreciate the extraordinary fathers in our lives. From the moment we take our first breath, fathers assume a pivotal role in shaping our lives. They become our protectors, mentors and providers. Whether...
Op-Ed: It’s time to teach our students that the difference between happiness and regret is the ability to manage money
Despite rising salaries, a robust economy and a highly competitive job market that is forcing some employers to entice new workers with signing bonuses, many Alabamians continue to struggle financially and find themselves living from paycheck to paycheck.
A national study conducted just last month...
Op-Ed: The perfect opportunity to repeal the grocery tax is before us, but we must take action now
For all of my adult life, politicians in Montgomery have talked about the need to remove the state sales tax from groceries, but they always find excuse after excuse that prevents them from actually doing it.
The potential loss of budget revenue, the false claims...
Op-Ed: It’s time to put fentanyl dealers behind bars
I’m certain that many of you have heard about the drug fentanyl in the news these last few years, the powerful opioid similar to morphine or oxycodone but 100 times more powerful than both of those drugs and much more addictive and deadly.
Fentanyl’s original...
Op-Ed: Remembering 3:16
Do you remember where you were, and what you were doing three years ago, on March 16, 2020? I do. I remember that day clearly.
That was the day we received word that everything was shutting down for two weeks in hopes of slowing the...
Op-Ed: Top 10 romantic movies to watch on Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than with a romantic movie? From heartwarming love stories to steamy romances, here are the top 10 Valentine's Day movies that are sure to set the mood for a romantic night in.
“The Notebook”...
Op-Ed: Alabama’s community colleges are aligned with the needs of business and industry to better serve our students and our state
In the five years since I became Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, nothing has been a higher priority than making sure we provide world-class, affordable education and training so our students have the skills to succeed in a constantly evolving economy. During...
Op-Ed ‘President Biden should make up his mind’
Last week, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law S.B. 202, a piece of reform legislation that will enhance the security and integrity of elections in our neighbor state.
While the bill makes numerous changes to the voting process in Georgia, the bill requires proof...
ADMH calls for entries for 2021 Capitol Showcase
Alabama Department of Mental Health
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Since 2005, the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) has hosted the Capitol Showcase, a consumer art show. Individuals with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders or co-occurring disorders graciously offer their works of art to...
Cullman Farm-City promotes National Agriculture Day
CULLMAN, Ala. - National Agriculture Day, commonly referred to as National “Ag” Day, is coming up on March 24, and Cullman County’s Farm-City folks are gearing up for a series of events around the day and through the season to celebrate farmers and agriculture...
Cullman Regional receives emergency CON approval for expansion project
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Health Care Authority of Cullman County/ Cullman Regional Board of Directors this week announced that they have received Emergency Alabama Certificate of Need (CON) approval to add an additional 30 beds to the hospital, including 13 additional critical care beds.
During...
