News Brief
7. In a development that doesn’t shock many, a recent audit revealed that Greene County Sheriff Jonathan Benison mismanaged nearly $5 million from the county’s bingo operations. This includes around $4.97 million in undocumented payments and more than $5 million that appears to have been inappropriately allocated to employees and consultants.
6. Paul Feinbaum seems to have been sidelined by ESPN after he missed his usual spot on SportsCenter. He made a return while discussing the upcoming Alabama Senate election in 2026. ESPN, however, insisted his absence was related to their scheduling of SEC network programming.
5. President Trump is preparing for a significant deployment of 400 Texas State Guard members to Illinois, aimed at securing federal buildings following a surge in immigration-related arrests, which have reportedly hit 1,000. This comes after a controversy about 300 members becoming part of federal efforts, despite pushback from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and city Mayor Brandon Johnson.
4. Newly elected officials, including U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), are gearing up to examine the Trump investigations in 2023. Meanwhile, Jack Smith’s DOJ is strategizing around these probes, particularly with an eye on relations with China.
3. Montgomery City hosts a Facebook group called “Crime Clock,” led by Shannon Ferrari, boasting over 100,000 members. Recently, Ferrari criticized Mayor Stephen Reed for his leadership and urged him to step down, pointing out issues of accountability amid rising crime rates and stressed police resources.
2. Following a tragic shootout in Montgomery that left two dead and twelve injured, Mayor Stephen Reed addressed Alabama’s permit law, claiming it doesn’t adequately represent the issues faced by various cities. In response, Governor Kay Ivey is pushing for enhanced law enforcement in areas around the capital, instructing Alea Secretary Hal Taylor to extend patrol regions to cover additional downtown sectors.
1. Governor-Elect Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) criticized Senate Democrats, particularly Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), for apparently prioritizing healthcare for illegal immigrants and Obamacare funding. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) echoed these sentiments, highlighting Democratic interests in numerous foreign programs that some find questionable.
