May 31, 2024

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Ike Morgan

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Donald Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his personal dalliances with a pornography actress drew outrage and claims of a fix from many Republicans, including some of Alabama's top elected officials.

A popular talking-point in the reactions was to compare the U.S. to nations that might be under the thumbs of tyrants. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt used the phrase "banana republic," which was a popular one with Trump supporters. Our other senator, Tommy Tuberville, compared us to Venezuela and China.

Obviously, one thing we do have in this country is an appellate court system. Republicans in Alabama also expressed a confidence that he will beat this in court.

Said Gov. Kay Ivey: "Despite this New York jury, as President Trump said, the real verdict will be by the people on Election Day November 5."

More electric school buses are coming to Alabama, reports AL.com's Dennis Pillion.

Federal grant money totaling $16.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 will pay for the buses, which according to the EPA will reduce emissions, save money and clean up the air that children breathe.

Funding is being distributed so as to bring 25 of the buses to the Huntsville City School System, five to Lanett City Schools, five to Selma City Schools, four to Fort Payne City Schools, three to Clay County Schools, three buses to Gulf Shores City Schools, and two buses each to Montgomery County Schools, Jasper City Schools, and the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School.

Last year $11.5 million was awarded to three school districts -- in Albertville, Fairfield and Tuscumbia -- to provide the first 29 electric buses.

The state of Alabama executed convicted murderer Jamie Ray Mills Thursday evening after the United States Supreme Court rejected Mills’ two appeals and a request to stay the execution, reports AL.com's Ivana Hrynkiw.

The execution was performed by the lethal-injection method, not the newer nitrogen hypoxia method, and nothing out of the ordinary was reported.

Mills has claimed that his wife lied when she testified against him, but a federal judge recently wrote that he hasn't offered any evidence to support that claim.

He was convicted, along with his wife, in the horrible June 2004 beating deaths of Floyd and Vera Hills, who were ages 87 and 72. They then stole cash and prescription drugs from the couple's home.

Jamie Ray Mills was 50 years old when he was executed.

The U.S. Department of Labor is going to court over alleged child labor used at Luverne's Hyundai plant and two other companies, reports AL.com's William Thornton.

The Labor Department filed a complaint that says a 13-year-old worked on an assembly line. The suit is asking that Hyundai, Smart Alabama, which hired the employee in question and provides parts to Hyundai, and Best Practice Service, which provided the worker to Smart Alabama, all surrender profits that are related to child labor.

SMART Alabama is one of two suppliers that have ended its relationships with third-party staffing agencies under claims that the agencies have falsely certified that they had screened and cleared children as eligible to work.

It's now time for the "Huntsville is awesome" update of the day. (Listeners in other parts of the state never tire of these. We could make it a daily thing.)

Readers of Newsweek picked Huntsville International Airport as the best small airport in the country, reports AL.com's William Thornton.

The publication pointed toward its ability to serve a million and a half passengers a year with little hassle and shorter lines, 14 destinations, three dining options and outdoor pet park.

As a matter of fact, the only downside we can figure is that being at the airport means you're having to leave Huntsville.

See how well you've been keeping up with your Alabama news by taking our quiz.

$25.7 million

That's how much Auburn’s anticipated videoboard upgrade to the north end zone at Jordan-Hare Stadium is expected to cost.

in 1981, former major league pitcher Jake Peavy of Mobile.

AL.com columnist John Archibald takes our quiz.

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