Sep 18, 2024

Check out today's podcast for a little on the history of ... people eating dirt.

Today's report follows. Thanks for reading,

Ike

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Today you might be hearing Republicans and Democrats alike say that their opponents are against in vitro fertilization. And everyone who's speaking up on the topic say they are not against in vitro fertilization.

This is continued fallout, of course, from the Alabama Supreme Court decision that, for a couple weeks, put IVF clinics in our state into legal limbo. Democrats have used that moment to argue that abortion-related laws could be used to deny IVF access.

On Tuesday, AL.com's Howard Koplowitz reports, U.S. Senator from Alabama Katie Britt joined Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in bringing a bill that would incentivize states to protect IVF by withholding Medicaid funding from states that ban IVF. Democrats killed it.

Later in the day, Democrats brought to the floor their "Right to IVF" bill that would also expand requirements for some insurers to cover treatments. Republicans killed it.

So you see how both measures went far enough beyond preserving IVF's legality that neither had much of a chance.

We have 48 days remaining until Nov. 5.

The pine beetle epidemic hasn't slowed down in Alabama, where officials say the beetle has more active hotspots than it has in 23 years.

It's bad enough that the U.S. Forest Service is cautioning hunters and hikers to watch for falling trees. (Trees falling in the woods do make a sound, so if you hear a loud crack you might want to look around.)

The USDA suggests that you look up so that you might identify dead trees or places where the tree canopy is brown, yellow or red.

Of course, don't just wander around looking upward, either, or you might trip over something, such as a tree that's already fallen.

Officials also suggest that, if the wind is blowing, you'll want to move your tent to an open space.

Additionally, while it's always important to be careful with your fire and make sure you fully put it out, there is added risk for wildfires when you have dead lumber laying around and more possibly coming down soon.

Federal officials are warning folks to get their STAR ID as early as they're able to or they could be stuck waiting, reports AL.com's John R. Roby.

Tara Corse of the Transportation Security Administration said there could be a rush of people trying to get their STAR IDs come spring.

The STAR ID is Alabama's program under the federal REAL ID Act, which makes your driver license or state ID a stronger identification by verifying your social security number and legal status.

It was passed in 2005 and was supposed to be mandatory for boarding aircraft by 2008. Six extensions later, May 7 is the deadline. So if you don't have your STAR ID, you may miss that May 8 flight to Bora Bora.

According to the TSA, only about 56 percent of licenses or IDs nationwide are REAL ID-compliant.

In order to get your STAR ID you'll need to provide several documents. There is a STAR ID Document List on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's website.

“The main thing is, I want to know why Sylacauga. Why here? We already have a housing crisis. We don’t have a lot of availability in jobs. So many uncertainties.”

Sylacauga City council member Laura Barlow Heath, to Fox News.

In 1893, writer William March of Mobile.

In 1954, former Auburn football coach and current U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Camden, Arkansas.

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Amanda Khorramabadi will tell us about geophagy -- or the eating of white dirt -- in Alabama.

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