A Senate committee Wednesday approved a barrage of bills lawmakers say will crack down on illegal immigration in Alabama, but the committee chamber was packed with opponents who insisted the proposals were against Biblical principles.
Some of the measures approved to go to the Senate include:
SB53 makes it a crime if someone conceals, harbors, shields from detection, or transports into Alabama someone “they know or should know” is an undocumented immigrant
SB55 would make Alabama not recognize out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to people who did not prove their legal status at the time of issuance
SB63 requires law enforcement to fingerprint and obtain DNA from undocumented immigrants in custody and turn them over to state law enforcement
SB66 expands forgery laws to make it a Class D felony to knowingly present forged documents to government agencies and officials
SB77 tacks on extra fees for wire transfers out of the country; taxpayers would get fees back in the form of tax credit
The bills were sponsored by legislators who visited the country’s southern border last year.
Lawmakers defended SB77 by saying people were sending money they didn’t pay taxes for. The bill was created to capture tax revenue from those working for cash and not paying state income taxes who are wiring money to family in other countries.
Supporters insist all the bills would strengthen law enforcement. Furthermore, legislators have identified illegal immigration to be a top issue for 2025’s session.
At public hearings, opponents of the bills said the measures were anti-Christian, unnecessary, and cruel.
One attendee quoted Leviticus 19:33-34, which reads, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
Opponents of SB53 said the bill criminalizes good Samaritans who may simply give someone walking on hot or rainy days a ride; one attorney for the Sothern Poverty Law Center said the bill would make a teacher taking a class on a field trip could be penalized for the trip if any of the students or accompanying parents are undocumented.
But the immigration bills were approved after the public hearing, the proposals now put in line to be considered by the Senate.
Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe shared progress and goals for their respective governments Thursday morning at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dothan
Saliba described a brief history of Dothan, which started with a vision for the future and the community to support that vision — and he said neither notion had gone anywhere.
“What we need to be doing now is put it into context and learn from the things that have happened, especially when it comes to finances,” he said.
He said one of Dothan’s duties was fiscal responsibility.
When it comes to spending, he shared that Dothan spends the largest chunk of its money on public safety — just under 30% of its spending — which goes not only to law enforcement but also to other emergency response efforts.
Although public safety doesn’t generate revenue, Saliba said it was a worthwhile expenditure.
While Dothan has what may seem like a significant amount of debt, he said the city had never even come close to the debt limit set by the state.
“The city of Dothan has never come close to within 100 million of (the debt limit),” he said. “We are NOT in any kind of trouble with debt… the city’s over a hundred years old, and we got a plan for the next 50 years.”
Saliba lauded the city’s opening of new fire stations, renovations of Rip Hewes Stadium, and Water World’s consistent revenue earnings after its renovations.
He said spending the money on quality of life projects was well worth it, noting the successes of Wiregrass park fields, the Grandview flag football field, BMX renovations, the Forever Wild dog park and the Doug Tew Therapeutic Rec Center.
Moving forward into “Tomorrowland,” he said millions of dollars in investments were going to allow the upcoming successes of the Opera House, events plaza, and Wiregrass Innovation Center. Plus, the city didn’t have to entirely foot the bill for the structures.
The Opera House and events plaza are expected to be completed this summer.
Dothan is also planning a new city hall project, but it will require the Dothan Eagle building to be torn down. Saliba said it would have cost much more to renovate the building rather than start from scratch.
Over $56 million was invested in the Dothan community in 2024 and over 400 jobs were created.
Furthermore, with incoming industrial projects, Saliba said the significant industry gains could change the scope of the city in the coming decade.
Saliba insisted the City of Dothan was thriving as the municipal government focused on infrastructure, entrepreneurship, innovation, agricultural emphasis, healthcare and education.
But he was adamant that Dothan’s community is integral to all its developments, a trend since the city was founded.
Houston County
Shoupe started by saying one of his favorite parts of his job is meeting new people. When he meets new residents from outside the area, he always asks what the biggest culture shock is for moving to the area; he said the most common culture shock for transplants is the kindness and welcoming attitude of the Wiregrass.
He said the Houston County Farm Center was in the forefront of the county’s priorities, and his goal was for it to be completed next year.
Shoupe also thanked the community for approving the lodging tax, highlighting at least ten recreational developments the county was planning around the area.
The county and the city are on the same page when it comes to quality of life improvements.
‘We’re going to have to elevate our game county-wide,” he said.
The investments in industrial parks was also a hot topic for Shoupe, highlighting upcoming industrial projects and the County Distribution Park’s addition of water access.
A large portion of the county’s budget goes to law enforcement as well. The county plans to raise the salaries for the sheriff and coroner.
He said the county’s debt is expected to go up this year for recreation projects and a much-needed expansion of the county jail. The county jail’s capacity has risen significantly since Covid.
He said the county also supports the Stepping Up initiative, a national move to reduce overincarceration of people with mental illness and provide better support for those with mental illness.
“The mental health issue has not gone away — the mental health issue is in our county jail,” he said.
The county also plans to support Rep. Paul Lee’s All Health measure to expand healthcare access and improve rural healthcare, without having to spend a penny of taxpayer money for 20 years.
Some areas especially in the eastern part of Houston County see a lack of health insurance and EMS access.
He praised the 17 volunteer fire stations around the county, but he said volunteer firefighting is underfunded and understaffed — not because of a lack of desire to volunteer, but because of the lack of ability to volunteer due to family and work obligations.
Some stations also have immediate needs for new pumper trucks and improvements to stations, some of which don’t even have restrooms.
Shoupe said he doesn’t think increasing funding for the current system or passing a large tax is ideal, but he does support a modest increase of financial resources to an independent body and strategically staffing departments. The county is working with local experts to design a system taxpayers would be willing to fund.
“We are going to have to raise some money,” he said.
Shoupe suggested an extra tax on vapes and adjustments of fire fees.
He said development around the county was increasing, particularly in Rehobeth. His goals were to increase infrastructure around the county to allow for that growth.
“The towns in Houston County are the growth engines of opportunity,” he said. “We have to invest in those. When (the towns) grow, we grow as well.”
The County Conversations event scheduled for tonight at Walton Park is postponed until a later date — a new date hasn’t yet been set, but the reschedule will be announced as soon as it’s decided.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against two Dothan Police officers who briefly detained an independent journalist for filming inside a state building.
George Metz II filed suit in 2021, saying Officers D. Bridges and J. Dodson violated his rights and illegally detained him after he was filming inside the lobby of the Department of Human Resources in Dothan.
Metz claimed his rights were violated when the officers demanded his ID, handcuffed him and searched him.
Court documents revealed Metz had been asked to leave the building multiple times. He and another person with him were detained for about an hour but not arrested or charged with any crimes.
The officers believed Metz was trespassing, according to court documents.
Alabama is also a “stop and identify” state, meaning police are allowed to stop and request information from people in public places whom officers reasonably suspect of committing a crime.
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama originally ruled the officers could be held personally liable for their actions, but that motion was reversed by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chief United States District Judge Emily Marks ruled in favor of the officers and the City of Dothan, also named in the lawsuit, thus closing the case.
REHOBETH: Allegations against a ROTC Instructor have surfaced at Rehobeth High School.
The ROTC Instructor has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the investigation.
The School and Houston County School Superintendent, Brandy White, cannot speak about personnel matters. There are legal steps which must be taken. The first is placing the faculty member on Administrative Leave pending the investigation when serious allegations are made. Following the investigation the Superintendent may take action which could include termination. Once the action is taken the employee has 15 days to request a hearing, and the hearing is normally held within 30 days.
RSN has learned the allegations are serious. These are independent allegations we have learned, not from “official sources.” The first allegation is the ROTC Instructor encouraged a female student to seek emancipation from her father in order for the ROTC Instructor to adopt the female student.
When a employee is placed on Administrative Leave they are not to have any contact with any students. RSN has learned there are allegations the ROTC Instructor has continued to attempt to contact the female student. In addition, RSN has been told the ROTC Instructor has alleged to have contacted or attempted to contact other students, apparently soliciting their support if the Superintendent recommends termination from Houston County Schools.
The Superintendent and school officials were very firm they cannot discuss personnel matters. In fact, we have learned over time the School Board acts as a jury when a decision is appealed. Therefore, the investigation and decision are up to the Superintendent and presented to the Board when appealed.
Again, we have described allegations made to RSN concerning this particular ROTC Instructor. These are very serious allegations and if they are in fact true, the consequences could be serious.
While the school officials cannot confirm, RSN has researched the matter and felt these were serious. And if in fact the allegations are true, this ROTC Instructor has continued to contact other students, RSN would encourage parents to talk to their children, and if contact has been made, the Superintendent or Sheriff’s School Resource Deputy should be notified. (Not saying law enforcement is involved at this point).
It appears once these allegations surfaced, Houston County Schools Superintendent Brandy White wasted no time in placing the ROTC Instructor on Administrative Leave and launching an investigation.
ATLANTA: The World’s Busiest Airport – Hartfield – Jackson Atlanta Airport, a inside look.
The airport sits on 5,000 acres, employees 63,000 people, 2 million passengers a week, 2,700 flights landing/taling off a day. The Atlanta airport moves 14.9 million bags a year, has 23 miles of underground jet fuel pipes across the airport to keep the jets fueled. The Atlanmta airport moves 104 million passengers a day.
A complete underground baggage system to make sure luggages go with the flights. Air traffic controllers controlllinh 5 landing / departure strips. The Atlanta airport is home to Delta Airlines.
This video is one hour and six minutes long. But it takes an indepth look into a organized machine, the airport, how they operate to move people and flights on time.
