Robert J. Lee Sr. (Rob), local attorney and life-time Eutaw resident, has officially qualified as a candidate for Greene County District Judge. With 28 years of legal experience he has built a reputation for fairness, integrity and respect for the rule of law. Rob has a wealth of experience in criminal, domestic, juvenile, and civil law providing a balanced and thoughtful approach to justice. “I am committed to applying the law fairly, treating every individual with dignity, and ensuring our courts remain impartial and accessible”, stated Rob.
Rob humbly asks for your support and vote in the Democratic Primary Election to be held May 19, 2026.
After a second interview with the top two candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools, the Greene County Board of Education selected Dr. Timothy Thurman for the position. After a lengthy discussion, the Board made the selection of Thurman a unanimous decision of the five board members to show unity and support for the selection of Dr. Thurman to be the next leader of the educational system in Greene County. In a separate motion, the Board designated a committee of the Board Chair (Leo Branch), Vice Chair (Robert Davis) and Legal Counsel (Attorney Hank Sanders) to negotiate a contract with Dr. Thurman, setting his compensation, benefits and other requirements, which will be reviewed and approved by the Board at its next meeting. Dr. Timothy Thurman comes to Greene County after serving as the Superintendent of the City of Linden School System in Marengo, County. Thurman’s experience also included serving as Assistant Superintendent Linden City Schools; Principal Linden High School; Teacher and Coach Perry County Schools; Director Perry County Alternative School. Education: Doctorate Educational Leadership; Master’s Education Administration; Bachelor’s Elementary Education. He also serves as the pastor of two Baptist churches in Marengo County.
The Linden City School system is the smallest in the state with 400 to 500 students and is about half the size of Greene County’s school population. They have three schools – primary, middle and high school – like Greene County.
In the interview, when asked about whether Greene County was robbing Linden by offering him the Superintendent’s position, Thurman responded by saying that he was leaving the system in “good shape” and that all his goals for the system had been met over the decade that he had been Superintendent. “I have done what I wanted to do in Linden,” he said.
At the start of the interview, Dr. Thurman distributed a written plan to the Board on how he would tackle his first 90 days as Superintendent. The plan includes meeting with the Board to clarify goals and then meeting with staff to listen to their concerns, build relationships and develop a very specific implementation plan to reach the system goals. He said based on his experience; he could move “relatively fast to improve the conditions in under-performing schools.”
When asked what it would take to improve parent and teacher morale in the schools, he said regular communications with Board, schools and the community, as well as a winning football team. He said, “ In Linden, we were a 1A school, but no-one wanted to challenge us in football, which really helped people in the community and the schools to appreciate what Linden was doing within its school system.
Dr. Thurman said he was ready to go to work, as soon as the Board agreed on a contract and wanted him to start.
Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest full-time National Park Service ranger, at a news conference announcing her retirement at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in April 2
By Victoria Meza, NBC Bay Area
Betty Reid Soskin, an iconic former National Park Service ranger, died Sunday, according to her family. She was 104. Soskin’s family said she died peacefully at her home in Richmond on Sunday morning. “This morning on the Winter Solstice, our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Betty Reid Soskin, passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, CA at 104 years old. She was attended by family. She led a fully packed life and was ready to leave,” the family wrote. Soskin was the nation’s oldest park ranger. She became a permanent NPS employee in 2011. She worked on a park service grant to tell yet untold stories of Black Americans who worked in the U.S. during the war, leading to a temporary job with the park service when she was 84 years old. She retired in 2022 and was a long-time docent at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park Museum.
Average household electricity bills in 2025 are running 9.6 percent higher than in 2024, rising faster than wages and overall inflation.
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Americans across nearly every region of the country are paying more to keep the lights on and the heat running, according to a new nationwide analysis that shows electric and natural gas rate increases spreading deeper into households from coast to coast. “There are several reasons why utilities are raising rates so rapidly, including the need to modernize the aging electric grid, which has been burdened by extreme weather events made more frequent and costly due to climate change and growing energy demand due to artificial intelligence data centers,” Center for American Progress (CAP) researchers declared. “At the same time, higher natural gas costs and a policy assault on new clean energy generation from the Trump administration are driving energy costs even higher.”
An updated utility rate tracker released by the CAP in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council shows that roughly two out of every three electric customers and more than six in ten natural gas customers are now facing higher bills. The increases affect more than 108 million electricity customers and nearly 49 million natural gas customers across 49 states and Washington, D.C., with total added costs approaching $85.8 billion by 2028.
Federal data shows that the financial pressure is already being felt. Average household electricity bills in 2025 are running 9.6 percent higher than in 2024, rising faster than wages and overall inflation. The analysis identifies at least 222 electric and natural gas utilities that have already implemented rate hikes, received approval for increases, or are seeking new increases through 2027. The impact varies sharply by state. In Missouri, some households are seeing monthly electricity increases exceeding $45, while parts of Massachusetts and Arkansas face projected increases of more than $30 a month. In Texas, customers served by multiple utilities are absorbing monthly increases ranging from single digits to more than $20, depending on provider and region. Florida electric customers in some service areas are seeing increases above $30 per month, while households in Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio are facing steady upward adjustments tied to both electric and natural gas service. The report points to several drivers behind the rising costs. Utilities across the country are investing billions to upgrade aging infrastructure, much of it stressed by extreme weather and rising demand. At the same time, growing electricity consumption from artificial intelligence data centers is placing additional strain on regional grids. The analysis also links higher costs to federal policy decisions that have slowed the expansion of new clean energy generation, limiting supply options and increasing long-term system expenses. Natural gas customers are experiencing parallel pressures. Higher fuel costs and infrastructure spending are pushing bills upward in states such as Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, and Maryland, where monthly gas increases now exceed $10 in some service territories. The report warns that winter heating demands combined with higher rates increase the risk of missed payments and service shutoffs, particularly for low-income households. The tracker is based on filings with state public utility commissions, utility company disclosures, and federal energy data. Researchers note that the list is not exhaustive and will continue to grow as additional rate cases move through regulatory approval. The latest analysis shows that rate increases already approved or proposed will raise electricity customer bills by $67.7 billion and natural gas customer bills by $18.1 billion nationwide by the end of the decade, affecting households in nearly every state.
In a surprising turn, the Supreme Court has blocked President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard to Chicago. According to The New York Times, the unsigned ruling cited an 1878 law that bans the use of the military for domestic policing as the reason they refused to grant Trump broad authority to deploy the military on American soil. The court found that the Trump administration didn’t successfully argue that the statute “permits the president to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois.” The Supreme Court has sided chiefly with Trump in his unprecedented efforts to expand the scope of presidential power. The preliminary injunction was issued in a 6-3 ruling, with justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., and Neil M. Gorsuch dissenting. In a lengthy dissent, Justice Alito wrote that “the protection of federal officers from potentially lethal attacks should not be thwarted.” Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, cosigned with Alito’s dissent, saying in a statement, “He activated the National Guard to protect federal law enforcement officers and to ensure rioters did not destroy federal buildings and property. Nothing in today’s ruling detracts from that core agenda.” You know, I’m pretty sure federal law enforcement has been regularly doing its job without the assistance of the National Guard for at least the 33 years I’ve been alive. Maybe if the federal government properly vetted and trained Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, there wouldn’t be so much concern about their ability to protect themselves. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker released a statement celebrating the ruling. “This is an important step in curbing the Trump administration’s consistent abuse of power and slowing Trump’s march toward authoritarianism,” Pritzker’s statement read. “The brave men and women of our National Guard should never be used for political theater and deserve to be with their families and communities, especially during the holidays.” Trump’s efforts to deploy the National Guard across American cities with Democrat leadership have continually faced legal pushback throughout the year. A federal judge blocked Trump from deploying the National Guard in Memphis and Portland, with federal judges also ruling that Trump must withdraw the National Guard from California and Washington, D.C. The deployments have sapped morale among Guardsmen, with some forming a group chat where they’ve openly questioned the point of the deployments in the first place. Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, the consistent legal pushback, and the consistent drop in morale within the National Guard, The Guardian reports that Trump approved the deployment of 350 National Guardsmen to New Orleans ahead of the new year. Federal law enforcement already has a presence in New Orleans, with Border Patrol launching an immigration crackdown earlier this month. It remains to be seen if this deployment will face any legal pushback. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is a staunch Republican and a Trump loyalist who has been supportive of efforts to deploy the National Guard in New Orleans. “It’s going to help us further crack down on the violence here in the city of New Orleans and elsewhere around Louisiana,” Landry said in an appearance on The Will Cain Show on Fox News. “And so a big shoutout to both of them.” New Orleans Mayor-elect Democrat Helena Moreno issued a statement in support of the National Guard deployment. “Like in past years, including last year, we appreciate the support provided by our federal and state public safety partners to increase the visibility of security assets during major events such as Carnival, New Year’s, and the Sugar Bowl,” Moreno said in a statement provided to USA Today. “I have been assured that the added support of the Louisiana National Guard to help secure these large events comes at no cost to the city and plays an important role in strengthening public safety.” So while the New Orleans deployment looks like it will proceed without any legal pushback, the Supreme Court’s ruling may make it harder for Trump to continue deploying the National Guard in the new year.
By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
As questions mounted over the heavily redacted release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and new material placing President Donald Trump closer to the late sex trafficker than previously acknowledged, the White House shifted abruptly to a familiar tactic. The president turned outward, announcing U.S. military strikes in Nigeria and framing the action as a defense of Christianity, while critics said the move functioned as a political diversion that again placed Black people and Black nations in the crosshairs. Trump claimed the United States carried out “powerful and deadly” strikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, accusing them of “slaughtering” Christians. The announcement arrived as Trump faced renewed scrutiny over Epstein records that include photographs, internal Justice Department emails, and flight data that raise questions about the administration’s handling of disclosures mandated by Congress. “The United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding a Christmas message that included, “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.” The Pentagon released video showing at least one projectile launched from a U.S. warship, though officials did not specify the precise target. U.S. Africa Command later said the strikes were conducted “in coordination with Nigerian authorities” in Sokoto State. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation, even as Trump publicly criticized Nigerian leaders. Nigerian officials rejected the religious framing. Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the strike was a joint operation against terrorists and “has nothing to do with a particular religion.” Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated that position in a Christmas Eve post, writing that Nigeria remains committed to protecting Christians, Muslims, and all citizens and opposing religious persecution. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with roughly 240 million people, has faced years of violence from extremist groups, criminal gangs, and insurgents that have killed people across religious lines. Just days before Trump’s statement, a blast at a mosque in northeastern Nigeria killed five people and injured dozens. Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom mocked the Justice Department’s release with a video highlighting extensive redactions and past footage of Trump with Epstein. The clip included a headline noting the DOJ’s defense of removing a Trump photograph from the records. Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia said the administration failed to comply with the law governing the release. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the disclosure incomplete and misleading, pointing to pages entirely blacked out. Rep. Ro Khanna, who co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said the release failed both the spirit and letter of the law, while Rep. Thomas Massie said it “grossly fails to comply.” The documents do not place former President Barack Obama in the Epstein files and contain no evidence tying him to Epstein. They also do not reveal wrongdoing by Hillary Clinton. Former President Bill Clinton appears in social photographs, though reporting notes no indication of misconduct and Clinton has denied any. By contrast, the release includes material that places Trump in closer proximity to Epstein than the administration has publicly acknowledged, including a photograph of Epstein holding a novelty check bearing Trump’s signature and internal emails referencing Trump’s travel on Epstein’s jet. The Justice Department has offered no explanation for why those materials were released while others remain obscured. Critics argue the timing of the Nigeria strikes fits a long-established pattern. For decades, Trump has faced allegations of racial discrimination, from the 1973 Justice Department lawsuit over housing practices to his 1989 newspaper ads calling for the death penalty during the Central Park Five case, a stance he revived during the 2024 presidential debate. In recent months, Trump has attacked diversity initiatives, defended Confederate symbols, and advanced policies that disproportionately affected Black communities, including mass deportations and federal workforce cuts that heavily impacted Black women. Commentators have noted the administration’s willingness to portray itself as a defender of Christianity and Western identity while stoking grievance politics at home. As Nigeria faces new travel restrictions and renewed placement on U.S. religious freedom watchlists, Nigerian leaders continue to reject Trump’s depiction of their country. Tinubu said earlier this fall that labeling Nigeria as religiously intolerant “does not reflect our national reality.” “I stand committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence,” Tinubu wrote.
The Eutaw City Council met for its regular meeting on the fourth Tuesday, December 23, 2025, to deal with routine business matters. The mayor and all council members, with the exception of Jonathan Woodruff, District 2, were present.
Mayor Corey Cockrell in his Mayor’s comments announced that he would be scheduling meetings in all districts for residents to come and voice their concerns about city issues and problems. In the meetings, Mayor Cockrell said that in addition to addressing community concerns, that he would be talking about problems of littering and late payment of water bills as well as the city’s plans for 2026 and the following years.
The first meeting will be held at the Branch Heights Community Center on January 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM. On January 21, 2026, there will be a meeting at the Eutaw Activity Center at the same time for the same purpose. A third meeting will be held on January 28, 2026, at the Eutaw City Hall for those who missed prior meetings and want to attend.
Commission Chair Garria Spencer was present at the meeting and explained that he was there to support the work of the Greene County Ambulance Service. “The GEMS – Greene County Ambulance Service is very needed in a rural county like ours, with many aging and isolated people, who may have a medical emergency at any time. The County Commission advanced the GEMS – $88,000 to cover back bills and expenses, at its last meeting. We advanced this money to keep the ambulance service in operation, with the understanding that other entities inn the county would help the Commission to bear this expense,” said Spencer.
Commissioner Spencer reported that the Town of Union had authorized $15,000 and that Sheriff Joe Benison had agreed to contribute $10,000 from Bingo proceeds. Spencer urged other county entities and municipalities to come forward and support the ambulance service. He said that agencies could call Ms. Vickie Colson, Chair of the Greene County Ambulance Service for more information.
In other business, the Eutaw City Council:
•Approved holding a Work Session on the third Tuesday, January 20, 2026; and may hold future work sessions on the third Tuesdays at 5:00 PM.
• Tabled action on extending a lease with Ferrellgas for a facility in the city, to seek more information.
• Approved renewal of a contract with Pitney Bowles for a postage meter.
• Approved registration, travel, and per diem for the Mayor, Council members and clerks to attend Alabama League of Municipalities convention, April n28- May 1, 2026, in Montgomery.
• Approved the payment of bills.
The Greene County Board of Education met on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, to consider the four candidates interviewed for Superintendent in a month to meeting on December 15th. All five School Board members were present and expressed their views on the four candidates. Mr. Leo Branch, Chair of the School Board suggested that the Board reach a consensus on who to employ. The Board agreed that the top two candidates, Mr. Timothy Thurman and Ms. Taurus Brown-Smith be invited back for a second interview on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM. One will be interviewed from 3:00 to 3:50 PM and the other from 4:00 to 4:50 PM. After which the Board hopes to select one to be the next Superintendent of Greene County Schools. The second interview will be open to the public, however only the board members will be able to ask questions. Mr. Branch was instructed to thank for their time and inform the other two candidates – Dr. Jessica Constant and Mr. Demond Mullins – that they were no longer in contention for the position. Dr. Timothy Thurman currently Superintendent Linden City Schools. His experiences include Assistant Superintendent Linden City Schools; Principal Linden High School; Teacher and Coach Perry County Schools; Director Perry County Alternative School. Education: Doctorate Educational Leadership; Master’s Education Administration; Bachelor’s Elementary Education.
Ms. Taurus Brown Smith currently Education Administrator Alabama Department of Education. Her experiences include Principal Payne Elementary, Selma City Schools, Teacher, Selma City Schools. Education – National Board Certification, Early Childhood Generalist; Master’s Elementary Education; Master’s Education Administration; Bachelor’s Elementary Education.
The Board also extended the contract of Darryl Aikerson as Interim Superintendent for an additional month until January 31, 2026. Aikerson has been serving as a volunteer at no pay in this position.
The Greene County Democratic Executive Committee qualifying dates for the 2026 Primary Election will begin January 5, 2026 and end January 23, 2026. Candidates seeking a county spot on the Democratic Primary ballot must qualify with County Chairman Lorenzo French. At the Greene County Courthouse 9 a.m- 4 p.m. The County ballot positions include Sheriff, Coroner, Revenue Commissioner, County Commissioner and School Board member for District Three, Four and Five. Candidates seeking a county spot on the Democratic Executive Committee also qualify locally. To qualify…. “ a person’s domicile is that place in which his habitation is fixed, without any present intention of removing, and it embraces (1) the fact of residence and (2) the intention to remain. As a general proposition, a person can have but one domicile, [which] once acquired is presumed to continue until a new one is gained…”
Incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will be sworn into office in January by state Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., his fellow democratic socialist. Sanders will oversee the mayor-elect’s ceremonial swearing-in at a New Year’s Day block party, while James will formally swear in Mamdani at midnight when his term officially begins. In a news release announcing the events, the transition noted that Sanders’ “unapologetic progressive values inspired Zohran to run for office in the first place.” “It is an honor to be sworn in by two leaders I have admired for years: Attorney General Tish James and Senator Bernie Sanders. Attorney General James has taken on powerful interests in her defense of New Yorkers and embodied the principle of equal justice before the law,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Senator Bernie Sanders laid the foundations for our movement with his steadfast commitment to the dignity of working people and his belief in a government that serves the many, not just the few. I can think of no better leaders to help usher in a new era for New York City,” Mamdani said. Mamdani, who beat former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in last month’s election, is set to become mayor of the country’s largest city on Jan. 1 (and its first Muslim mayor). Mamdani campaigned with Sanders, as he electrified the same progressive electorate locally that the senator from Vermont activated in his two presidential bids. James was one of Mamdani’s most prominent endorsements from a state where many major Democrats tried to keep their distance from the progressive candidate. As the Democratic primary was conducted by ranked choice, which allowed voters to rank up to five candidates (in order of preference), James announced she was ranking Mamdani third on her ballot. In October, James spoke at a rally with Mamdani shortly after she was indicted on fraud charges tied to a mortgage loan (a federal judge later tossed that indictment). “He is a leader fighting for a better future for this city, and he, like me, knows what it’s like to be attacked, to be called names, to be threatened, to be harassed,” James said at the time.
