Diamond White, Kaden Roberts, Brianna Jackson, Kayla Nickson and La’Dasia Hutton are among the seniors who registered to vote at GCHS.
Greene County High School students who will be 18 in time for the 2024 election are registering to vote in Mr. Burnette’s American Government class, or in the library with the assistance of Ms. Drenda Morton. Nine seniors have registered at the school, in addition to two others who registered elsewhere.
Seniors who are now registered voters: Brianna Jackson, Diamond White, Kaden Roberts, Kayla Nickson, La’Daisa Hutton, Sanaa Braxton, Destiny Bryant, Zo’Torria Petty, Terrianna Benison, Devin Woods and Aniya McMillian Seniors are also preparing for the Alabama Civics Test, required for graduation, which will be given at GCHS on October 10-11.
Greene County Schools celebrated Homecoming with the crowning of kings and queens at their annual coronations. The Homecoming parade included two bands: Greene County High and Stillman College Marching Band, numerous brightly decorated floats, majorettes, football players and horse riders. Cleveland Austin served as 2024-25 Homecoming Grand Marshall. A large number turned out to enjoy the parade and the game.
RBT9NR Medical debt with billing statement with clipboard.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has intensified its efforts to combat abusive medical debt collection practices, seeking to protect over 100 million Americans burdened by $220 billion in medical debt. Vice President Kamala Harris said she’s supporting the action, which targets pervasive problems like inflated prices, double billing, and attempts to collect on fictitious or unverified debts.
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra highlighted the rampant problems in medical billing and collection, including the illegal pursuit of undocumented debts and breaches of collection limits. The agency’s new guidance seeks to curb such practices and ensure that debt collectors follow the law when pursuing outstanding medical bills.
States are also stepping up their efforts to shield consumers from the detrimental effects of medical debt. Minnesota recently introduced new debt collection regulations, prohibiting healthcare providers from denying essential services due to unpaid bills. Beginning next year, a law in California signed by Governor Gavin Newsom will shield consumers’ credit reports from the majority of medical debt. Similar legislation has been enacted in New York and Connecticut, marking a growing trend of state-led protections.
“With this new law, California is stepping up to protect consumers,” said state Senator Monique Limón, who authored the legislation that prevents medical debt from damaging credit reports. Limón, backed by Attorney General Rob Bonta, noted that medical debt should not be treated like other forms of debt, as people often incur it through circumstances beyond their control.
In addition to state actions, the Biden-Harris administration has prioritized reducing the burden of medical debt nationwide. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has underscored how medical debt can block access to critical economic opportunities, from homeownership to business ventures. In June, she announced a CFPB rule to remove medical debt from the credit reports of over 15 million Americans.
“No one should be denied economic opportunity because they got sick or experienced a medical emergency,” Harris said. “That is why I have worked to cancel hundreds of millions in medical debt to date – part of our Administration’s overall plan to forgive $7 billion by 2026.”
The White House said the CFPB’s actions and state initiatives should reshape how medical debt is collected and reported, providing much-needed relief to millions of Americans struggling with healthcare costs.
Port of Mobile facilities for moving shipping containers
By Alex Jobin, Alabama Political Reporters
According to the Associated Press, the International Longshoremen’s Association has agreed to suspend their strike just days after dockworkers across the East and Gulf Coasts began their work stoppage. ILA members will return to work immediately, with the union extending the timeframe for contract negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group.
Now, the two parties have until Jan. 15 to finalize a new 6-year contract. Per AP’s reporting, the ILA and USMX have already tentatively agreed on wage increases, which had been a major sticking point for the union. However, it is unclear whether or not the parties have made any progress on concerns over automation.
In June, workers in Mobile, AL and other ports accused the employer of automating tasks intended to be performed by ILA members. The ILA has been vocal about its desire to secure guarantees against such automation going forward.
Analysts had initially projected that the stoppage could cost the American economy as much as $5 billion a day. French shipping group CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipper, had also announced that it would consider charging additional shipping fees for vessels that might have been delayed by the strike. However, it appears that the economic consequences of the strike will ultimately be minimal with the 36 ports closed by the strike on Tuesday now already set to reopen.
The Biden administration will also be relieved of some political pressure by the suspension. Some companies and political leaders had been calling on the President to help put an end to the strike, but the union-friendly administration was reluctant to intervene. Now, it appears that no such intervention will be necessary.
The news is also sure to please manufacturers across the Southeast. In Alabama, auto and airplane manufacturers like Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Airbus heavily rely on Alabama’s Port of Mobile. The port has become a major thoroughfare for auto parts as the industry has boomed in Alabama in recent years. The port’s recent $60 million terminal addition includes a vehicle processing center, and last year, Alabama shipped more than $11 billion in passenger vehicles, ranking it highest of any state in car exports.
A key Airbus facility in Mobile is also responsible for the manufacture of A320, A321, and A220 airplanes, with the plant receiving parts through the city’s port. The port’s 170 workers are now set to return to work alongside the 45,000 other ILA members who had been on strike as of Tuesday, and any major disruptions which a prolonged closure may have posed to manufacturers’ supply chains will be largely avoided.
President Joe Biden meets with a family a surveys the damage of their home after Hurricane Helene, Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the Keaton Beach neighborhood in Perry, Florida.(Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith)
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
As the Biden-Harris Administration mobilizes an all-encompassing federal response to Hurricane Helene, it’s also tackling a growing wave of misinformation being spread by political adversaries, including former President Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans. The White House has labeled this misinformation as “dangerous,” and it poses a threat to mislead hurricane survivors about their access to essential resources and federal assistance.
President Biden recently reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to those suffering from Hurricane Helene. “Days before this storm hit, I directed my administration to pre-position federal personnel, critical supplies, and more near the storm’s path,” he said. “We’re moving heaven and Earth to make sure that everyone affected by this storm gets what they need. To all those affected, my administration and the nation have your back—and we will continue to have your back for as long as it takes.”
Under Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, over 6,400 federal personnel are on the ground, delivering more than $110 million in federal assistance, with additional aid forthcoming. The large-scale operation, outlined in a White House Fact Sheet, reflects a “whole-of-government” approach, which began with extensive pre-landfall preparations and continues with immediate deployment of resources for recovery and rebuilding.
However, disinformation is hampering the efforts. Among the falsehoods spreading online is the claim that disaster relief funds are being used to support undocumented immigrants. The administration was quick to debunk this. “No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. None,” clarified a White House official. FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which finances the agency’s response efforts, is strictly allocated for disaster-related expenses and remains untouched by other initiatives.
Another widely circulated falsehood alleges that FEMA is confiscating the property of hurricane survivors whose land is deemed unlivable. The administration rebuffed this as categorically false, emphasizing that “FEMA cannot seize your property or land.” They added that applying for disaster assistance does not grant the federal government any claim or control over personal property.
A further claim—that FEMA will provide only $750 in recovery assistance—was also exposed as misleading. FEMA officials clarified that $750 is an initial Serious Needs Assistance payment to cover essentials like food, water, and emergency supplies. It is one of many available support forms, including significant additional funds to repair storm damage, secure temporary housing, and replace lost agricultural assets.
In another attempt to stoke fear and confusion, misinformation has circulated claiming that FEMA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are restricting airspace in North Carolina, thereby preventing private relief efforts. White House officials refuted this, noting that North Carolina has no airspace restrictions. Pilots need only to coordinate with local airports in Asheville or Rutherford for landing permissions, ensuring safe access for all parties involved in relief efforts.
The White House said it’s actively working to counter these lies through official digital channels, emphasizing X, a platform owned by Elon Musk, an avowed Trump and MAGA supporter. The administration has partnered with online publishers and influencers to spread factual information about the federal response. For example, MeidasTouch recently collaborated with FEMA to produce a video debunking the misinformation, which received substantial engagement across social media and traditional media platforms.
The administration is also leveraging SMS messaging, a resilient communication tool, to reach individuals in affected areas where internet connectivity remains unreliable. The opt-in service delivers essential updates directly to residents, ensuring access to accurate information during the ongoing recovery process.
“Unfortunately, as our response and recovery efforts continue, we have seen a large increase in false information circulating online,” a senior White House official stated. “Scam artists and bad-faith actors are promoting disinformation about the recovery effort, which is wrong and dangerous and must stop immediately.”
The Biden-Harris Administration vowed to keep its commitment to providing accurate information to the public and will continue to combat harmful narratives that jeopardize recovery efforts. “We will be there every step of the way,” Biden pledged.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
This week marks 45 months since the devastating January 6 attack, where over 140 police officers were assaulted as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, delaying the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
Officials said the attack caused over $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol in a report by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia while outlining the nearly four-year aftermath of the insurrection. Since then, the Department of Justice said it has launched one of the most extensive investigations in US history. Approximately 1,532 individuals have been charged in federal court for their roles in the attack.
The charges are extensive and include 571 counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers. Of these, 164 individuals allegedly wielded deadly or dangerous weapons, including firearms, chemical sprays, tasers, and makeshift weapons fashioned from objects like flagpoles and office furniture. Additionally, 171 defendants are accused of entering restricted areas with deadly weapons, while 87 face charges for destruction of government property.
Among the most severe charges, 18 defendants face accusations of seditious conspiracy, with prosecutors alleging an organized attempt to overthrow the government by force. Charges related to the theft of government property have been brought against 66 individuals. Nearly all defendants face some form of trespassing or disorderly conduct charges, as the DOJ said it continues to seek comprehensive accountability.
The expansive prosecution effort has led to approximately 943 guilty pleas, with 304 felony admissions. Of these, 161 pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement, 122 admitted to obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder, and 67 admitted to assault with a deadly weapon. Nearly 1,000 cases have reached sentencing, with over 600 individuals receiving prison terms and 141 allowed to serve their sentences in home detention.
The DOJ’s pursuit of justice has been impacted in 259 cases by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Fischer v. United States about the proper use of the felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding. So far, prosecutors have dismissed these charges in 73 cases, while evaluating others. Despite the ruling, the DOJ said it remains firm, with all affected defendants still facing other charges related to their involvement in the Capitol attack that eventually led to the deaths of several police officers. The man who carried out a pepper-spray attack on a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died the day after the riot received an 80-month sentence.
Julian Khater, 32, who admitted in a guilty plea he had used the pepper spray against Officer Brian Sicknick and at least two other officers, told U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan the rash actions he took that day were not in his nature. He said he wished he could take them back. Sicknick, 42, died of a stroke a day later.
In a 165-page court filing released earlier this month, Special Counsel Jack Smith outlined new allegations against the twice-impeached and 34 times convicted former President Donald Trump, accusing him of engaging in “increasingly desperate” actions to cling to power after his election loss. The filing detailed Trump’s alleged strategy to incite his supporters, pushing them toward violence on January 6. “When the defendant lost the 2020 presidential election, he resorted to crimes to try to stay in office,” the filing states.
The filing also described Trump’s public statements as calculated moves to provoke anger among his supporters, even as his advisers discredited his claims of voter fraud. According to prosecutors, Trump privately dismissed his lawyer Sidney Powell’s fraud claims as “crazy,” while continuing to use similar rhetoric in public. Prosecutors allege that Trump “laid the groundwork for his crimes well before” Election Day, including by promoting doubt in the electoral process and planning to declare victory immediately.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has overseen the case, recently addressed Trump’s defense team’s claims of partisan bias. “Defendant’s opposition brief repeatedly accuses the government of bad-faith partisan bias,” Chutkan wrote. “These accusations, for which Defendant provides no support, continue a pattern of defense filings focusing on political rhetoric rather than addressing the legal issues at hand.”
Meanwhile, the DOJ has vowed to continue prosecuting fugitives, and the FBI recently released videos of suspects involved in assaults on law enforcement, seeking public assistance in identifying individuals who remain at large. The Bureau is also pursuing fugitives like Evan Neumann, Adam Villarreal, and Paul Belosic and is encouraging anyone with information to contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, left, and 2nd Congressional District Democratic nominee Shomari Figures, right.
By: Jacob Holmes, Alabama Political Reporter
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, endorsed Democratic nominee Shomari Figures on Monday in the race for Alabama’s Second Congressional District.
Daniels and Figures faced each other in the runoff for the nomination but said Monday that there has never been a question of support for whoever had won the role.
Calling the upcoming election the “most consequential in American history,” Daniels said Democrats can’t afford to be apathetic just because they live in a red state. “If your vote doesn’t matter, why are they focusing so hard on taking it away from you,” Daniels said.
Daniels led the charge in the House to create a more representative district, stymied by Republicans who drew the district to minimize Black voting power. Plaintiffs fought long and hard against two versions of the district put forward by Republicans and prevailed in court, resulting in the district as constituted today with a Black voting age population of more than 48 percent.
“It would be a shame to win the case and lose the race,” Figures said. “That is a call to action for everybody because winning the case was one thing—that took litigation. But winning this race is something that will take the collective effort of everybody involved.”
Meanwhile, Republican nominee Caroleene Dobson picked up an endorsement from Gov. Kay Ivey in an ad that began airing Friday, in the ad, Ivey can be seen writing a letter to Dobson while Ivey narrates.
“Caroleene, running for office takes courage,” Ivey says. “You’re standing tall for the issues that matter most to families and fighting to make their lives better. I know you’ll work in Congress to bring better days ahead for all Alabamians. I’ll be so very proud to vote for you.”
Dobson is fighting an uphill battle in a district that has been dubbed likely to vote Democrat by pundits, but Figures said Monday that voters have to fight the urge to be complacent. “I am always concerned about complacency, because we know that what the history of this district tells us,” Figures said. “Yes, President Biden would have carried this district, but it also tells us that Kay Ivey would have carried this district as well.
The battle between Figures and Dobson represents a rare competitive race in the state where gerrymandering has led most districts to comfortable margins for the locally prevailing party.
On Saturday, September 28, 2024, the Freedom Caravan of a dozen cars and trucks with signs toured Montgomery Alabama Black neighborhoods and public housing projects to encourage residents to turnout to vote for the November 5th General Election.
The caravan was sponsored by Save Ourselves Movement for Justice and Democracy (SOS), Alabama New South Coalition and Black Voters Matter.
The purpose was to alert residents of the City of Montgomery, which is part of the new Congressional District 2, to register and plan to vote in the current November General Election for President, Vice President, Congress member, state Supreme Court, State BOE and many local positions on the ballot.
Former State Senator Hank Sanders pointed out that the turnout was only 21.12% in the March 5 Primary Election. This means, 4 out of 5 voters stayed home and didn’t vote. “We must increase voter turnout to make sure we continue our democracy. Every issue – housing, healthcare, criminal justice, climate change, inflation, abortion – is a voting issue. We are supporting this Freedom Caravan to encourage people to plan their vote and turnout in this election.”
Cars in the Freedom Caravan came from around the state with signs urging people to vote. The last day to register is October 21, 2024, for this coming election.
Anyone who needs assistance with voting may contact ANSC at 334-262-0932.
At a special called meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, the Greene County Commission approved a budget for the coming 2024-25 fiscal year which begins on October 1, 2024. A quorum of three members were present: Garria Spencer, Allen Turner and Roshanda Summerville to vote on the budget.
The total budget includes $14,069,394 in revenues and $13,224,811in expenditures, with a surplus of $844,583. Most of the surplus is in the General Fund Bingo account reserved for emergencies, budget overruns and unanticipated capital expenditures.
There is a note that the budget includes a 3% pay increase for all employees including elected officials. Mac Underwood, CFO said “We stretched our income and expenses to allow the commission to make a 3% salary increase for all employees. This was not easy to do, and we wished we could give more to our employees.”
The General Fund, which covers most basic county services, activities and programs, other than road and bridge construction and maintenance, projects revenues of $4,301,095 with expenses of the same amount, leaving a zero-fund balance to carry over into the next fiscal year.
The next largest fund, the Gasoline Fund had revenues of $3,824,300 and expenses of the same amount. There are several other funds: Roads and Bridges ($797,000), Highway and Traffic ($41,204), RRR Gas Tax ($863,968) and Capital Improvement ($235,500) which are for improvement and maintenance of roads, bridges and other county facilities. All these accounts are budgeted to spend all their revenues, leaving no surplus.
The Gasoline Fund Budget contains the sale of 3 dump trucks at $195,000 each, 4 tractors at $42,000 and other excess equipment for $104,000. This income is offset by the purchase of three new dump trucks at $215,000 each, 3 tractors at $82,000, 1 tractor at $89,000 and computer hardware and software for $16,500. The County negotiated this agreement to trade its one year old dump trucks and tractors for new equipment to reduce expense for repairs and down-time.
The Commission also approved an agreement with the Board of Education and the Sheriff’s Department to allow for the employment of six School Resource Officers, who provide safety in the schools for $238,040.
The Greene County Board of Education pays for nine months of the SRO contract, during the regular school year, and the Sheriff pays for three months, out of bingo funds that he administers.
The called meeting took about thirty minutes since all the details had been discussed at previous Commission budget hearings, working sessions and regular meetings.
A view of the damaged area at Asheville along with the western part of North-Carolina is devastated by the heavy rains and flooding after Hurricane Helene in Asheville on September 30, 2024 / Credit: Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images
By: Li Cohen, CBS News
Hurricane Helene has proved to be disastrous for Appalachia, as massive amounts of precipitation from the storm caused rampant flooding that has devastated several towns and killed dozens of people. On Monday, the North Carolina State Climate Office provided a picture of how the “monster storm” was nearly a “worst-case scenario for western North Carolina.”
“Torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene capped off three days of extreme, unrelenting precipitation, which left catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage in our Mountains and southern Foothills,” a post from the office says. “… the full extent of this event will take years to document – not to mention, to recover from.”
A historic and deadly storm
CBS News has confirmed that at least 131 people across several states were killed by Helene. Buncombe County alone has reported at least 40 deaths, including a 7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents.
While hundreds of people were able to be rescued, there have been even more requests for welfare checks. And given the severity of the damage, the climate office said that suggests “the death toll is likely to climb as hard-hit areas are finally accessed in the coming days.”
“Sadly, our state’s long-running benchmark for deaths during a tropical event – approximately 80 during the mountain region’s July 1916 flood – could be in jeopardy from this storm that has already broken plenty of other records,” the climate office said, adding that the 1916 event was the area’s flood of record for more than a century — a title that “now belongs to Helene instead.”
Several rivers surpassed their highest-ever crests by several feet, including the Swannanoa River, which saw “the worst flood along the river since North Carolina became a state,” the office said.
Here’s how the climatologists said it happened.
North Carolina was saturated with rain before Helene hit
As Helene became a Category 1 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico — more than 500 miles and 30 hours away from where it would eventually make landfall in Florida — western North Carolina was already seeing rain. The climate office says that Helene’s outskirts were feeding tropical moisture to slow-moving storms that had formed along a stalled cold front.
By midnight on Thursday — roughly an hour after Helene’s landfall 10 miles north of Steinhatchee, Florida — Asheville Airport in North Carolina had already seen more than 4 inches of rain. That downpour continued before Helene’s outer bands even moved in. By Thursday night, Yancey County, which sits just south of Erwin, Tennessee, where floodwaters became so bad that people were trapped on the roof of a hospital, had seen more than 9 inches of rain.
Water was already beginning to inundate cities, “all while the heaviest rain from Helene was just beginning to fall,” the climate office said. The more than 300 miles of tropical storm-force winds Helene produced only amplified the situation, pushing more moisture up mountains. “The storm’s impacts were especially long-lasting because of its massive size. It developed in a high-humidity environment over the warm Gulf of Mexico, which let it grow and strengthen unimpeded,” the office said. “…From the start of the precursor frontal showers on Wednesday evening to the heart of Helene moving through on Friday morning, it was one of the most incredible and impactful weather events our state has ever seen.” Record rain brings reports of “biblical devastation”
From Wednesday to Friday, the office said that there were more than 8 inches of rain across the western North Carolina mountains, with some areas seeing a foot or more. The highest rainfall total was in Busick, with a three-day total of 31.33 inches — more than 2.5 feet.
At least a dozen weather stations recorded their wettest three-day periods on record, the office said. Asheville Regional Airport lost communications on Friday morning after Helene’s landfall, but had already reported just under 14 inches of rain. That amount, the office said, was “nearly three months’ worth of precipitation … in less than three days.”
All of that rain caused rivers to flood, landslides and mudslides, leading to rescues across several counties.
In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole told the Citizen-Times that “catastrophic devastation” didn’t accurately describe the impact the deluge had.
“It would go a little bit further and say we have biblical devastation through the county,” Cole said. “We’ve had biblical flooding here and it has been extremely significant.” The newspaper quoted county manager Avril Pinder as saying, “this is looking to be Buncombe County’s own Hurricane Katrina.”
.The winds, which surpassed hurricane speeds in some places, contributed to widespread power outages. Millions were left without power across several states because of Helene, and as of Tuesday morning, hundreds of thousands remain without electricity in North Carolina alone.
“The rapid intensification of Helene over the Gulf, the amount of moisture available in its surrounding environment, and its manifestation as locally heavy – and in some cases, historically unheard of – rainfall amounts are all known side effects of a warmer atmosphere,” the office said.
Last year was already the warmest humans had ever recorded and 2024 has seen countless heat records. The continued use of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that are trapping heat within the atmosphere, increasing average temperatures that fuel extreme weather events like Helene.
