Greene County Democrat

Category: Politics

  • Newswire: 14 ICE detainees have died in custody; Mexican President and authorities question recent deaths

    Newswire: 14 ICE detainees have died in custody; Mexican President and authorities question recent deaths

    By Laura Strickler, Colleen Long and Daniella Silva, NBC News

    So far this year, 14 people have died in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, including a Mexican man who was found unresponsive last week at a facility outside Los Angeles, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security.

    As of mid-February, ICE was holding more than 68,000 immigrants, among the highest numbers ever, according to federal data. The figure fluctuates as immigrants get deported and others are taken into custody.

    In 2025, ICE reported 33 total in-custody deaths and in 2024 there were 11.

    As the Trump administration has sought to drastically increase space to detain immigrants as part of its mass deportation campaign, holding facilities have struggled with disease and overcrowding.

    Homeland Security recently changed contractors at its largest immigrant detention center at Fort Bliss outside El Paso, Texas, just seven months after it opened.

    The tented facility known as Camp East Montana has had a troubled history, starting with a fatal construction accident and three detainee deaths in less than six weeks, one of which was ruled a homicide. There have also been outbreaks of both tuberculosis and measles.

    The Trump administration has said it is shifting its deportation strategy to increase its focus on arresting and deporting immigrants who have criminal records, following the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers during deportation operations in Minnesota.

    On March 25, Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano, who was in federal custody in California after he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance and theft, was found by security to be unresponsive in his bunk. ICE said in a statement that staff performed CPR and other life-saving procedures, and he was taken to Victor Valley Global Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

    Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her daily press conference Monday that Mexico would take stronger measures to protest following the reported death, focusing particularly in the Los Angeles region.

    “There are several actions we are going to take to protest the death of another Mexican, one of our fellow citizens, in the United States.”

    Ex-FBI agents on Trump cases cite Todd Blanche’s remarks in suit over ‘illegal’ firings

    Ramos-Solano was arrested by ICE on Feb. 23 and sent to the Adelanto detention center. He received a physical evaluation during his intake screening and was found to have diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. ICE said he received routine medical care in custody, including daily medication for his conditions.

    Ramos-Solano’s cause of death was not immediately made public, and Homeland Security officials didn’t respond to questions about his cause of death.

    At the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles on Monday, members of Ramos-Solano’s family wept as they spoke out against his death and demanded answers.

    “What happened to my dad was very inhumane,” said Gloria Ramos, the daughter of Ramos-Solano. “I think my family and I deserve to know the truth of what happened to my dad.”

    The man’s son, Jorge Ramos, paused often as he spoke, becoming overcome with emotion.

    “He was a good dad. He was a good person. He was not a criminal. He was a hard worker,” he said.

    An official with Mexico’s foreign ministry attended the news conference and denounced the number of deaths in ICE custody this year.

    “Four Mexican nationals have died, apparently due to medical complications, highlighting a pattern of persistent structural deficiencies,” Vanessa Calva Ruiz, the director general of consular protection and strategic planning said. “The recurrence and frequency of these deaths are absolutely unacceptable.”

  • Newswire: ‘No Kings’ protests set to become largest in US History

    Newswire: ‘No Kings’ protests set to become largest in US History

    A new wave of nationwide demonstrations is set to take place this weekend, as organizers behind the “No Kings” movement prepare what they say could become the largest protest in American history. 

    In Alabama, there are over a dozen “No-Kings protests” for this Saturday, March 28, 2026. There is one set for Selma, at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge for 10:00 AM to Noon. There is one in Tuscaloosa at the Government Plaza from 4:00 to 6:00PM. Check the No Kings website for a map and other scheduled rallies.

    With thousands of events already planned across the country, No Kings’ mobilization reflects growing public concern over the current political climate and the direction of U.S. democracy. On Saturday, March 28, the organizers are set to host what might be the largest protest in this country’s history. 

    According to Fast Company, the upcoming protests include more than 3,000 community-led events spanning all 50 states and every congressional district. That number already surpasses previous “No Kings” demonstrations, including the October 2025 event, which drew an estimated 7 million participants nationwide. 

    Organizers say the rapid expansion signals a broad and diverse coalition of Americans who are unified around a central message. The official No Kings platform emphasizes that the demonstrations are rooted in the belief that power belongs to the people, not to any singular authority. As stated on their website, “In America, we have no kings,” a phrase that has become the rallying cry for participants across political and geographic lines.

    A wide network of advocacy groups, including Indivisible, the ACLU, and the American Federation of Teachers, is coordinating the protests. Leaders within the movement point to a range of concerns driving turnout, including economic instability, immigration enforcement practices, and ongoing military conflicts abroad.

    Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, told Fast Company that the scale of the upcoming March 28 demonstrations reflects a shared urgency among Americans.  “We will be in every single congressional district,” Levin said, emphasizing that participation is expected from both traditionally liberal and conservative regions.

    The movement’s momentum has been building throughout the past year. Earlier protests in June and October 2025 drew millions, signaling what many organizers describe as a sustained and expanding push for civic engagement. This latest action is positioned as a continuation of that energy, with even more events being added daily.

    Organizers also stress that the demonstrations are nonviolent and centered on democratic principles. The goal is to create space for collective expression while reinforcing the idea that civic participation remains a powerful tool for change.

    With another major action — including a planned May Day general strike already on the horizon — the March 28 protests mark a pivotal moment for the movement. As turnout expectations continue to grow, the question now is not just how many people will show up, but how their voices may shape the national conversation moving forward.

  • Newswire: Alabama governor commutes death sentence of man who didn’t kill anyone

    Newswire: Alabama governor commutes death sentence of man who didn’t kill anyone

    Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted on Tuesday, March 10, the death sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton to life without parole, saying his execution, which was set for Thursday, would be “unjust.”

    In 1991, Burton was one of six men involved in the robbery of an AutoZone store in Talladega that ended with the murder of a customer, Doug Battle; Burton did not pull the trigger in the killing.

    “Doug Battle was brutally murdered by Derrick DeBruce while shopping in an auto parts store. But DeBruce was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Charles Burton did not shoot the victim, did not direct the triggerman to shoot the victim and had already left the store by the time the shooting occurred. Yet Mr. Burton was set to be executed while DeBruce was allowed to live out his life in prison,” Ivey said in a statement.

    “I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” she said.

    Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed disappointment in a statement first to NBC News. “There has never been any doubt that Sonny Burton has Douglas Battle’s blood on his hands,” he said.

    “Burton does not deserve special treatment because he is old — he could have been executed a long time ago, but like many death-row inmates, he chose to drag out his case through endless frivolous appeals. I firmly believe that he should have faced the punishment imposed by a jury of his peers and upheld by numerous judges,” he said.

    Burton admits to entering the store armed with a gun. He said he stole cash from a safe in the back room, then fled outside to wait by a getaway car.

    Inside the store, one of his accomplices, Derrick DeBruce, shot Battle, 34, in the back, killing him. The state acknowledged this fact in its response to Burton’s application for a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Burton’s death sentence was possible because of a legal doctrine known as felony murder, which allows prosecutors to treat anyone involved in certain felonies, such as robbery or burglary, equally responsible for a killing that occurs during the crime, even if they did not commit the act themselves.

    In a phone interview earlier this month from William C. Holman Correctional Facility, the site of the state’s execution chamber, Burton told NBC News he had no idea Battle’s murder was going to happen.

    “I didn’t assist nobody. I didn’t aid nobody. I didn’t tell nobody to shoot nobody,” he said.

    Ivey had faced a growing chorus of voices asking for mercy for Burton, 75, including the victim’s daughter, who published an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser urging Ivey to spare his life.

    Burton expressed gratitude to NBC News for that show of support.

    “She forgave me, and I want to say how much I appreciated that,” he said. “She lifts a whole lot of guilt off me.”

    Burton’s family and legal team expressed their gratitude in a statement from federal defender Matt Schulz, who represented Burton for nearly two decades.

    “Governor Ivey’s decision is to be applauded, as it demonstrates measured, responsible, and respectable leadership. Though a ‘thank you’ indeed falls short of the level of gratitude the parties wish to express, Sonny Burton, his family, his friends, his legal team, and all those who have supported Sonny’s request for clemency thank you, Governor Ivey,” said Schulz.

    Schulz also shared a statement from Burton to Ivey. “Just saying thank you doesn’t seem like much. But it’s what I can give her. And I do thank her. Thank you, Governor,” said Burton.

    Burton would have been the ninth person to be executed by nitrogen gas — a method first carried out in Alabama in 2024. He is only the second person to have his death sentence commuted by Ivey. 

  • Newswire: Trump says mail-in voting is ‘corrupt.’ The president voted by mail just days ago.

    Newswire: Trump says mail-in voting is ‘corrupt.’ The president voted by mail just days ago.

    President Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced the practice
    of mail-in voting, calling it “corrupt” and a form of “cheating” in
    elections. As recently as Monday, the president characterized
    mail-in voting as “mail-in cheating.”
    However, a Washington Post report reveals that despite
    Trump’s pronouncements against mail-in voting, the president
    recently voted by mail in Tuesday’s special election in Palm
    Beach, Florida.
    The report cites voter records on the Palm Beach County
    Supervisor of Elections website that show Trump voted by mail
    in Palm Beach County, where he resides at his Mar-a-Lago
    estate and beach club outside of the White House. The
    Washington Post report also revealed that Trump has been
    registered to vote in Florida since 2019 and that he mailed his
    ballot at least one other time in 2020.
    The revelation that Trump voted by mail is a clear contradiction
    of his public statements and his big push for Congress to pass
    the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship
    to vote and restrict voting by mail. During a roundtable in
    Memphis on Monday, Trump also falsely claimed that the United
    States is the only country that allows mail-in voting. At least 34
    countries allow voters to mail in their ballots.
    “It’s not surprising that he’s utilizing something he’s waging war
    on. It’s the hypocrisy, but that is what he’s always done,”
    political commentator Reecie Colbert told theGrio.
    Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright said President Trump’s
    efforts to end mail-in voting are intended to sow doubt about its
    practice ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, in which his party
    is expected to suffer major losses.
    “It’s clear to me that the president is afraid of people voting, and
    he’s certainly afraid of people exercising their ability to cast a
    vote in disagreement with him, and we’ve seen unlimited
    flirtation and attempts to try to not only rearrange the
    conversation around voting and people participating, but also
    we’ve seen measures trying to go forth to prevent people from
    voting in elections to come,” Seawright told theGrio.
    On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for a
    consequential case on the future of mail-in voting, which could
    have repercussions for access to the ballot for Black and Brown
    voters in states where advocates say Republican leaders are
    trying to suppress their vote.
    “I think with Black people, we have to understand the
    assignment. And the known in the equation is that they’re going
    to cheat. The known in the equation is that they’re going to
    suppress our votes. And so what we have to do is we have to
    be the unknown in the equation, which is what we do has to
    exceed what they’re trying to do,” said Colbert.
    The host of Sirius XM’s “The Reecie Colbert Show” told theGrio
    that Republicans are making the “calculation” that their voters
    are higher propensity voters and therefore the “roadblocks”
    placed to deter Black and Brown voters will still result in
    Republicans “going to vote anyway.” She explained, “I don’t
    think that that’s necessarily a smart calculation, but that’s what
    they’re banking on.”
    Colbert added, “We know the table has been set. It’s incumbent
    upon us to make sure that our votes are not disenfranchised.
    And that’s not fair…but those are the cards that were dealt. So
    we have to make sure that we vote out of cheating distance of
    them.”
    Seawright, who advises many national Democratic campaigns,
    said President Trump and Republicans will turn to “unlimited
    measures and attempts to try to silence and suffocate the
    voices” of voters, whether Black or not.
    “At one point in time, some of us thought that it was just African-
    American voices that they wanted to silence and suffocate, and in some cases exterminate. Now, it’s pretty much anyone who may stand in disagreement with the extreme agenda that has come out of this modern-day Republican Party,” said Seawright.
    Colbert pointed out one other irony to the revelation that Trump
    voted by mail in a state that still restricts access to voting for
    convicted felons.
    “Florida has waged war on felons voting, and yet the felon, 34-
    time convicted felon president, still is voting in Florida elections,”
    she said.
  • Newswire: Student Loans will now be handled by the U.S. Treasury

    Newswire: Student Loans will now be handled by the U.S. Treasury

    Besides being anti-immigrant, anti-diversity and inherently anti-
    science, the Trump administration has shown time and time again that it is anti-education — because a populace that learns things
    leaves fewer of the “poorly educated” voter who President Donald
    Trump said he loves so much.

    So, the federal government is still in its process of defunding the
    Department of Education, and, on Thursday, the administration
    announced plans to shift the nearly $1.7 trillion student loan
    portfolio to the Treasury Department, claiming its mission is to
    improve the efficiency of the loan system, or what it described as
    “overdue financial discipline.”

    From the New York Times: About half of all undergraduate
    students receive federal aid each year, according to the
    Institute of Education Sciences. More than 40 million
    people currently have federal student loans, including 9.2
    million in default and 2.4 million in late-stage delinquency,
    according to the Education Department.

    “Treasury has the unique experience, the operational
    capability and the financial expertise to bring long
    overdue financial discipline to the program and be better
    stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

    Linda McMahon, the education secretary, said that
    student aid would be better managed at Treasury. A fact
    sheet from the administration promised students would
    receive “the high-quality service they have come to
    expect under the Trump administration.”

    The second McMahon — the education secretary who thinks
    Black history is DEI while being ignorant of even some of the
    most well-known Black history — spoke of “the high-quality
    service they have come to expect under the Trump
    administration,” you have to know we’re being sold a bill of goods.

    The Trump administration doesn’t provide “high-quality” anything
    — certainly, not education-related.

    Instead, Trump has railed about “returning education to the
    states,” as if it would improve the quality of education overall,
    which ignores the glaring fact that states and local governments
    already dictate the academic side of their educational systems,
    including the setting of curricula, teacher hiring, teacher licensing,
    and standardized testing.

    Under Trump’s DOE, far-right groups are overseeing programs to
    “educate” America with thoroughly whitewashed U.S. history
    propaganda disguised as “patriotic” civics lessons. HBCUs have
    lost millions in grant funding, and Black academic institutions and
    programs, in general, have been threatened.

    Any and every program aimed at bettering the quality of
    education for Black people and other marginalized groups has
    been derailed with anti-DEI investigations and threats to withhold federal funding. And, as far as student loans go, all the MAGA-fied DOE has done is attack loan forgiveness initiatives and garnish the wages of borrowers who struggle to pay them back,
    crippling their credit scores.

    “In the midst of a growing affordability crisis where American
    families are already struggling to make ends meet, this risks
    driving millions of borrowers further into financial hardship,” Aissa
    Canchola Bañez, the policy director for Protect Borrowers, a
    group that targets predatory lenders, told the Times. “Instead of
    providing relief to the millions of defaulted borrowers who have
    fallen behind, the department is moving a portfolio of our most
    vulnerable borrowers to an agency with little to no expertise in the
    rights and benefits afforded to borrowers under the Higher
    Education Act.”

    Education is being controlled by an administration that thrives on
    anti-intellectualism and the demonization of institutions of
    learning, and it shows with every new policy change.

  • Newswire: Civil Rights leaders and Congressional Black Caucus unite to challenge Trump Administration policies

    Newswire: Civil Rights leaders and Congressional Black Caucus unite to challenge Trump Administration policies

    During a recent gathering on Capitol Hill, lawmakers and advocacy leaders sharply criticized a series of policy decisions implemented since Trump’s return to the White House, as well as the president’s rhetoric and governing approach. While participants outlined broad areas of concern, they provided limited specifics regarding immediate tactical responses.

    Representative Yvette Clarke of New York, chair of the CBC, accused the administration of pursuing policies that undermine civil rights protections, restrict voting access, weaken social safety programs, and concentrate economic and political power among elite interests at the expense of marginalized communities.

    Throughout a series of strategy sessions, activists and legislators coordinated outreach plans and policy priorities spanning education, historical curriculum standards, healthcare access, immigration enforcement, and anti-discrimination protections. Participants described the discussions as both sobering and motivating, emphasizing the urgency of collective action ahead of upcoming elections.
    Several meetings focused on safeguarding voter access during the midterm elections, amid growing concerns among activists following a federal law enforcement raid at an elections facility in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Lawmakers also examined potential legislative and legal responses to an anticipated Supreme Court ruling that could weaken a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

    House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signaled that a wide range of responses remains under consideration, including public demonstrations, organized boycotts, and expanded legal challenges. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment, and every tool available to the leadership collectively has got to be deployed to get this thing turned around,” Jeffries said following a press conference.

    The renewed mobilization comes as the administration continues efforts to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, higher education institutions, and segments of the private sector. Early in his second term, Trump signed executive orders prohibiting what his administration described as “illegal DEI” programs within government entities and organizations receiving federal support, alongside threats to withhold funding from institutions that fail to comply.

    Administration officials have also advanced initiatives aimed at reshaping how American history and national culture are presented in schools, museums, and public institutions. Concurrently, federal agencies have increased scrutiny of civil rights complaints alleging discrimination against white individuals.
    In response, civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers have launched numerous lawsuits challenging anti-DEI measures. Recent legal developments included the administration’s decision to abandon an appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked attempts to deny funding to educational institutions over DEI-related policies.

    With Democrats currently lacking majority control in either chamber of Congress, oversight options remain limited, prompting advocacy groups to focus on litigation, state-level action, and grassroots organizing ahead of the midterm elections. Many leaders acknowledged that the rapid pace of policy changes over the past year has forced civil rights organizations into a period of strategic recalibration.

    Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, argued that the administration’s agenda repurposes legal frameworks originally designed to advance equality. “This is about how this administration is using the tools we built as a Black community to ensure that all of our people are protected,” she said.

    Parallel efforts are emerging at the state level, where a coalition of civil rights organizations and Democratic attorneys general from fourteen states and the District of Columbia has launched a legal initiative to defend DEI and accessibility policies. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the campaign aims to ensure that fundamental civil rights protections remain enforceable through coordinated legal action.

    The effort unfolds amid an evolving judicial landscape. Federal courts remain divided over race-conscious policies in hiring and workplace protections, while the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has already curtailed the use of race in college admissions and signaled skepticism toward race-based considerations in public policy.
    Despite acknowledging the scale of the challenge, civil rights leaders framed the moment as a defining political and legal struggle. Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, underscored the movement’s resolve, declaring: “We commit today to fight and fight and fight until hell freezes over, and then, I can assure you, we will fight on the ice.

  • Newswire: First 6 days of War on Iran cost US $11.3 Billion, Pentagon says, But we can’t afford SNAP, right?

    Newswire: First 6 days of War on Iran cost US $11.3 Billion, Pentagon says, But we can’t afford SNAP, right?

    “They got money for war, but can’t feed the poor.” – Tupac Shakur

    According to the Pentagon, the first week of the war against Iran that President Donald Trump involved the U.S. in voluntarily, not out of any discernible necessity, has cost the nation upwards of $11 billion.
    The New York Times reported that Pentagon officials revealed the estimated price tag for the first six days of this war of choice to lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, saying the cost of the war had already exceeded $11.3 billion.
    What’s worse is that the estimate doesn’t include all costs, and it’s much higher than previously projected.


    From the Times: The estimate did not include many of the costs associated with the operation, such as the buildup of military hardware and personnel ahead of the first strikes. For that reason, lawmakers expect the number to grow considerably as the Pentagon continues to calculate the costs that accumulated just in the first week.

    Still, it appeared to be the most comprehensive assessment Congress had received so far amid mounting questions about the objectives, scope, and time frame for the war. The New York Times and The Washington Post reported earlier that defense officials had said in recent congressional briefings that the military used up $5.6 billion of munitions in the first two days of the war.

    That is a far larger amount and munitions burn rate than had been publicly disclosed. The Center for Strategic and International Studies had estimated that the first 100 hours of the operation cost $3.7 billion, or $891.4 million each day.

    Not long ago, the U.S. government was shut down for roughly a month and a half, largely because one particular party thought we couldn’t afford to extend health care subsidies. MAGA Republicans are still trying to convince the nation that cutting SNAP benefits is an absolute necessity, lest they bankrupt the U.S. Trump has been telling U.S. citizens to cut back on their spending because his promise to bring down the price of goods turned out to be big, beautiful bullsh-t.

    But we can afford a war of choice that has cost a billion dollars nearly a dozen times over in the first week.

    Oh, well — at least our strikes on Iran aren’t killing innocent school children or anything like that.

    Meanwhile, the Trump administration just keeps boasting about how it is “DEVASTATING” Iran with constant missile strikes. The tweet below was posted by the White House on the same day it was revealed that a preliminary investigation showed the U.S. was likely responsible for a missile striking an Iranian elementary school, reportedly killing 175 people, the overwhelming majority of whom were children.

    “We won’t stop until the military objectives are met,” the White House tweeted.

    Apparently, the administration means what it says, no matter the cost, whether we’re talking about the cost of lives or additional billions in spending that we’ve been told the nation can’t afford to spend on education, food security, healthcare, or anything else that would actually put “America first.” (And that’s their slogan, not all ours.)


    Seriously, if there was any nation in need of an actual regime change, it’s currently the good, old U.S. of A.

  • Newswire: U. S. Senate passes most robust Affordable Housing Bill in decades

    Newswire: U. S. Senate passes most robust Affordable Housing Bill in decades

    Affordable housing has long been one of the biggest roadblocks to wealth generation for the average American. Home building has never truly recovered since the 2008 financial crisis, with housing demand far outpacing supply. In an effort to address the issue, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to dramatically increase the supply of affordable housing nationwide.

    According to NBC News, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, drafted by Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), passed in a 89 to 10 vote. “It’s Democrats. It’s Republicans. It’s pieces they built out together,” Warren told NPR. “That is the strength of this bill.”

    “It’s not a Republican issue or a Democrat Issue,” Scott said ahead of the vote. “It’s an issue about helping moms like the one who raised me, the amazing woman that she was, become homeowners.”

    It’s rare to see this level of bipartisanship in modern-day U.S. politics, but affordability is one of the top issues facing everyday Americans. With a growing number of voters feeling like the Trump administration, and by extension, the GOP, aren’t doing anything to address the issue, this bill gives both Democrats and Republicans a needed victory ahead of the midterms.

    The 303-page bill takes a two-pronged approach toward creating more affordable housing. It creates grants and pilot programs to encourage the building of more affordable housing, while also “cutting regulatory red tape, lowering costs and expanding housing supply while generating no new spending,” according to Scott.

    “If we want to bring down the cost of housing, we’ve got to build a lot more,” said Warren. “And what I love about this bill is that it has more than 40 different provisions in it, all of which aim in the same direction, which is to give a push toward building more housing.”

    The bill also targets the growing trend of private equity firms and hedge funds buying homes in a section called “Homes Are For People, Not Corporations,” which “prohibits large institutional investors from purchasing certain single-family homes, in an effort “to promote home ownership opportunities for American families, not corporations.” One of the key provisions in this section requires corporations to sell any single-family homes they may own after seven years.

    This section received the most push back from several congress members, including Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the lone Democrat who voted against the bill.

    “There’s literally no reason for this,” Schatz said on the floor. “Anyone who wants to build housing and then provide it for rent is going to be forced to sell after seven years. … A lot of these folks are not actually in a position to sell after seven years. They will not have made their money back.”

    It appears Schatz is missing the point of this provision, which seems to be discouraging the slow creep of private equity into the housing market.

    The House passed a similar, more limited version of the bill last month. Many of the provisions of the House bill were included in the Senate’s version, so hopefully, it won’t take long for the House to reconcile the two bills. Should the bill pass in the House, it’s unclear if President Donald Trump would sign it, as he recently said he would refuse to sign any legislation until the SAVE America Act passes. House Speaker Mike Johnson recently told his colleagues that Trump privately relayed his laser focus on the SAVE America Act and said, “no one gives a (bleep) about housing.”

    White House Spokesperson Davis Ingle told NBC News that Johnson’s account was “not accurate whatsoever” and that Trump “has been laser-focused on making housing more affordable.” You know, I have serious doubts about that.

    At a time when prices are going up for basically every essential good as a result of his misguided war in Iran, it would behoove Trump to give a damn about affordable housing.

  • Newswire: Advocates revitalize push for Medicaid Expansion in Alabama

    Newswire: Advocates revitalize push for Medicaid Expansion in Alabama

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. – More than 50 advocates with the Cover Alabama coalition came to the Alabama State House on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, to urge their lawmakers to expand Medicaid. The advocates highlighted a new analysis from Families USA, a nationwide nonprofit consumer health advocacy and policy organization.

    Alabama is losing $181.6 million in 2026 by covering millions in state health care spending that otherwise could be paid for by the federal government under Medicaid expansion, according to the new Families USA report. Medicaid expansion would generate $71.8 million in net savings for Alabama this year, the report estimated. And that amount would not include additional revenue from economic activity resulting from expansion.

    The report points to numerous potential funding sources that could help the state address our health care crisis. These include increasing the state cigarette tax and closing an income tax loophole that overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest households.

    “Alabama can’t afford not to expand Medicaid,” said Debbie Smith, Alabama Arise’s Cover Alabama campaign director. “The most costly option is doing nothing.”

    160,000+ Alabamians are in state’s health coverage gap

    Tens of thousands of Alabamians have seen soaring costs this year for Marketplace health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These price increases came after Congress failed to renew enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) that make plans more affordable. The increases also came on the heels of other significant federal cuts to health care in HR 1, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

    Many Alabamians have elected to drop health insurance altogether after losing the ePTCs. An estimated 161,000 adults statewide fall into the “coverage gap,” meaning they earn too much to qualify for Alabama Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance on their own. Expanding Medicaid could ensure coverage for more than 150,000 of these Alabamians. That is roughly equivalent to the combined capacities of Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

    “In states that have expanded Medicaid, we’ve seen a 6% to 9% increase in the workforce. Just because people can make choices to support themselves and their families,” said Mary-Beth Malcarney, Families USA’s senior adviser on Medicaid policy.

    Presenters at Tuesday’s event included Smith, Malcarney and Formeeca Tripp, Alabama Arise’s senior regional organizer. Many attendees also described their own health care experiences and explained why they support Medicaid expansion in Alabama.

    “No one should have to decide between rent or medicine,” one advocate shared.

    Cover Alabama is a nonpartisan alliance of more than 130 advocacy groups, businesses, community organizations, consumer groups, health care providers and religious congregations advocating for Alabama to provide quality, affordable health coverage to its residents and implement a sustainable health care system.

  • Joe N. Webb a candidate for Greene County Board of Education, District 5

    Joe N. Webb a candidate for Greene County Board of Education, District 5

    A man in a formal suit with a tie, standing against a light background.
    To the Citizens of
    District 5,
     
    My name is Joe N. Webb, and I am a candidate for the Greene County Board of Education representing District 5. I am seeking this position to bring fresh vision and innovative ideas that will inspire and motivate our students to reach their fullest potential.
     
    I am a proud 1982 graduate of Eutaw High School and earned my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Phoenix. My life and career have been dedicated to serving Greene County and investing in our children, families, and community.
     
    For 22 years, I worked for the Greene County School System in various roles. I began my career as the Transportation Supervisor, ensuring safe arrivals and departures for our students. I also worked as a Parent Involvement Facilitator, Substitute Teacher, Alternative School Instructor, Behavior Aide, Resource Officer/Security Guard, Maintenance Department, and Truancy Officer. These roles gave me firsthand experience with the academic, behavioral, and safety needs of our students.
     
    Currently, I am employed at the University of Alabama as a driver for HEAR-HERE Alabama, a program that brings healthcare to those with hearing loss in rural Alabama. I previously served as the Coordinator for COVID-19 Vaccine Education at the Rural Alabama Prevention Center for three years under a grant funded by the State of Alabama. In that role, I worked to educate and protect our community during a critical time.
     
    In addition to my professional experience, I am Pastor of New Generation Community Outreach Center and have served as  President of the PTA at Greene County High School and Carver Middle School. My community service also includes serving on the Children’s Policy Council Board, the Greene County Parks and Recreation Board, Greene County DHR Policy Council Board, and as both a member and president of several other local organizations throughout Greene County.
     
    My vision for our school system is to provide a successful and productive learning environment for our students. This can be achieved by:
     
        ▪    Housing students in safe and secure buildings
        ▪    Increasing parent and community involvement
        ▪    Giving teachers tools and resources to motivate students
     
    I will work diligently alongside the Superintendent and fellow Board members to ensure that both students and teachers have the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed.
     
    Strong schools build strong communities. I respectfully ask for your support and your vote on May 19, 2026, as we work together to strengthen the future of Greene County.
     
    Joe N. Webb
    Candidate, Greene County Board of Education – District 5