Latest news with #AlabamaConstitution
23-05-2025
- Politics
GOP US Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce run for Alabama governor, associates say
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who entered politics after retiring as a college football coach, plans to run for governor of Alabama in 2026, according to people familiar with his plans. Two people who have spoken with Tuberville about his plans said Thursday they expect him to announce a gubernatorial bid. They spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to talk about a campaign. Tuberville did not confirm the plans Thursday but told The Associated Press he intends to announce a decision on Tuesday. 'It was a hard decision,' Tuberville said. Tuberville aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump both in his 2020 Senate campaign and during his Senate term. 'God sent us Donald Trump,' Tuberville said during his campaign. Tuberville harnessed fame from his college coaching days and benefited from a Trump endorsement, casting himself as a political outsider, to win election. In the 2020 Republican primary, he defeated former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who held the Senate seat for two decades before resigning to become Trump's attorney general in 2017. Months later, Tuberville defeated incumbent Doug Jones, who had been the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in decades. Tuberville is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor's race. Two-term Republican Gov. Kay Ivey cannot run again because of term limits. Club for Growth PAC this week endorsed Tuberville in the governor's race 'should he announce his candidacy.' 'Coach Tuberville has been a steadfast leader for commonsense policy reforms in the United States Senate, and would champion fiscal responsibility, school freedom, and tax cuts in Montgomery,' said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. During his time in the Senate, Tuberville has continued to align himself closely with Trump. In 2023, he maintained a monthslong blockade on military promotions over his opposition to a Pentagon policy that provided travel funds and support for troops and their dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where they are now illegal. A native of Arkansas, Tuberville was the head football coach at Auburn from 1999 to 2008. He retired from coaching in 2016 after leaving the University of Cincinnati. He is sometimes referred to as 'Coach' instead of 'senator' by those that work with him. Tuberville faced questions about his residency in the 2020 Senate race, where his political opponents referred to him as a 'Florida man' or a 'tourist in Alabama" as they questioned if he lived in the state. The Alabama Constitution requires that governors must have been 'resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.' Property tax records show he owns a $270,000 home in Auburn, where he claims a homestead exemption, and a $4 million beach home in Walton County, Florida. Voting records show that Tuberville and his wife last voted in Florida on Nov. 6, 2018. He switched his voter registration to Alabama in 2019.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
GOP US Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce run for Alabama governor, associates say
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who entered politics after retiring as a college football coach, plans to run for governor of Alabama in 2026, according to people familiar with his plans. Two people who have spoken with Tuberville about his plans said Thursday they expect him to announce a gubernatorial bid. They spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to talk about a campaign. Tuberville did not confirm the plans Thursday but told The Associated Press he intends to announce a decision on Tuesday. 'It was a hard decision,' Tuberville said. Tuberville aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump both in his 2000 Senate campaign and during his Senate term. 'God sent us Donald Trump,' Tuberville said during his campaign. Tuberville harnessed fame from his college coaching days and benefited from a Trump endorsement, casting himself as a political outsider, to win election. In the 2020 Republican primary, he defeated former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who held the Senate seat for two decades before resigning to become Trump's attorney general in 2017. Months later, Tuberville d efeated incumbent Doug Jones, who had been the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in decades. Tuberville is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor's race. Two-term Republican Gov. Kay Ivey cannot run again because of term limits. Club for Growth PAC this week endorsed Tuberville in the governor's race 'should he announce his candidacy.' 'Coach Tuberville has been a steadfast leader for commonsense policy reforms in the United States Senate, and would champion fiscal responsibility, school freedom, and tax cuts in Montgomery,' said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. During his time in the Senate, Tuberville has continued to align himself closely with Trump. In 2023, he maintained a monthslong blockade on military promotions over his opposition to a Pentagon policy that provided travel funds and support for troops and their dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where they are now illegal. A native of Arkansas, Tuberville was the head football coach at Auburn from 1999 to 2008. He retired from coaching in 2016 after leaving the University of Cincinnati. He is sometimes referred to as 'Coach' instead of 'senator' by those that work with him. Tuberville faced questions about his residency in the 2020 Senate race, where his political opponents referred to him as a 'Florida man' or a 'tourist in Alabama' as they questioned if he lived in the state. The Alabama Constitution requires that governors must have been 'resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.' Property tax records show he owns a $270,000 home in Auburn, where he claims a homestead exemption, and a $4 million beach home in Walton County, Florida. Voting records show that Tuberville and his wife last voted in Florida on Nov. 6, 2018. He switched his voter registration to Alabama in 2019. —- Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP US Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce run for Alabama governor, associates say
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who entered politics after retiring as a college football coach, plans to run for governor of Alabama in 2026, according to people familiar with his plans. Two people who have spoken with Tuberville about his plans said Thursday they expect him to announce a gubernatorial bid. They spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to talk about a campaign. Tuberville did not confirm the plans Thursday but told The Associated Press he intends to announce a decision on Tuesday. 'It was a hard decision,' Tuberville said. Tuberville aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump both in his 2000 Senate campaign and during his Senate term. 'God sent us Donald Trump,' Tuberville said during his campaign. Tuberville harnessed fame from his college coaching days and benefited from a Trump endorsement, casting himself as a political outsider, to win election. In the 2020 Republican primary, he defeated former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who held the Senate seat for two decades before resigning to become Trump's attorney general in 2017. Months later, Tuberville d efeated incumbent Doug Jones, who had been the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in decades. Tuberville is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor's race. Two-term Republican Gov. Kay Ivey cannot run again because of term limits. Club for Growth PAC this week endorsed Tuberville in the governor's race 'should he announce his candidacy.' 'Coach Tuberville has been a steadfast leader for commonsense policy reforms in the United States Senate, and would champion fiscal responsibility, school freedom, and tax cuts in Montgomery,' said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh. During his time in the Senate, Tuberville has continued to align himself closely with Trump. In 2023, he maintained a monthslong blockade on military promotions over his opposition to a Pentagon policy that provided travel funds and support for troops and their dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where they are now illegal. A native of Arkansas, Tuberville was the head football coach at Auburn from 1999 to 2008. He retired from coaching in 2016 after leaving the University of Cincinnati. He is sometimes referred to as 'Coach' instead of 'senator' by those that work with him. Tuberville faced questions about his residency in the 2020 Senate race, where his political opponents referred to him as a 'Florida man' or a 'tourist in Alabama" as they questioned if he lived in the state. The Alabama Constitution requires that governors must have been 'resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.' Property tax records show he owns a $270,000 home in Auburn, where he claims a homestead exemption, and a $4 million beach home in Walton County, Florida. Voting records show that Tuberville and his wife last voted in Florida on Nov. 6, 2018. He switched his voter registration to Alabama in 2019. —- Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 Alabama land owners file lawsuit challenging ‘warrantless' searches by game wardens
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Three landowners in Lauderdale County have filed a lawsuit against five employees of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on claims of warrantless searches of land. Lauderdale County court records show that on May 20, Dalton Boley, Regina Williams and Dale Liles filed a lawsuit against five people listed as employed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, saying their private properties were searched without a warrant or consent. The five defendants are listed as: Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of DCNR Charles Sykes, Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries within DCNR Chad Howell, game warden within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division of DCNR Jarrod Poole, game warden within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division of DCNR Unknown officer, game warden within the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division of DCNR The three teamed up with the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit, public interest law firm, to file the lawsuit in Lauderdale County. The document says the case seeks to 'vindicate' the three defendants to be free from unreasonable searches of their land. 'Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) officers, relying on a statute, see Ala. Code § 9-2-65(a)(6), have repeatedly entered Plaintiffs' land without consent or a warrant,' the lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, Williams owns roughly 10 acres of land immediately behind her house, which she has lived on her entire life, and she has granted Boley, her next-door neighbor, a license in 2021 to use it for recreational and family purposes. It says the surrounding properties are fenced and all entrances to Williams' land have 'no tresspassing' signs. However, the document says on multiple occasions, DCNR officers went onto Williams' land without her consent or a warrant and looked around for 'potential wildlife violations.' During one of the unwarranted searches, the lawsuit says a DCNR officer tampered with a camera that Boley put on a tree by turning it around to avoid videoing the officer. Liles has owned roughly 86 acres of rural land in Muscle Shoals since 2014, according to the lawsuit. It says he primarily uses it to hunt with his grandchildren and the document says it is 'clearly not open to the public: There are only two entrances—one by the main road, and the other blocked by a locked gate accessible only through a neighbor's private property—and both entrances are marked with 'no trespassing' signs.' The lawsuit says the defendants believe their intrusions are justified under Ala. Code § 9-2-65(a)(6), which provides that '[g]ame and fish wardens shall have power . . . [t]o enter upon any land or water in the performance of their duty.' However, the lawsuit says Article 1, Section 5 of the Alabama Constitution forbids ''unreasonable… searches' (warrantless and similar discretionary searches) of 'possessions' (including private land).' The lawsuit says Blankenship, as Commissioner, 'may exercise [a]ll functions and duties of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' personally or through DCNR's divisions or employees. Id. § 9-2-6. He has, through DCNR officers, executed DCNR's policy of conducting warrantless entries and searches of Plaintiffs' (and others') private lands.' Sykes' role, as Director of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, 'serves directly under Defendant Blankenship and he supervises DCNR's game wardens. Id. § 9-2-65(b). Through those game wardens, Sykes has executed DCNR's policy of conducting warrantless entries onto and searches of Plaintiffs' (and others') private land,' the lawsuit says. As a game warden, the document says Howell, Poole and the unknown officer are charged with ''enforc[ing] all laws of this state relating to birds, animals and fish.' Ala. Code § 9-2-65(a)(1). He may 'enter upon any land or water in the performance of [his] duty.' Id. § 9-2-65(a)(6).' Below are points listed about the landowners' use and ownership of their land in the lawsuit: Her land is composed of three contiguous parcels, all located within a residential subdivision in Killen. Williams' family bought the land in 1959, she is currently the sole owner, and she has lived there her entire life. There is no way to enter Regina's land that does not involve crossing a fence or a 'no trespassing' sign. There are only two ways to enter Regina's land that do not involve crossing a neighbor's fenced property or largely impassable woods: (1) the main entrance, which consists of a private gravel path that meets a public road, and (2) a small, wooded creek that meets a public road. Williams does not hunt on her land, nor has she ever hunted there. She has never received any citation for violating wildlife laws. In December 2021, Williams granted Boley a license to use her land for family and recreational purposes—including, but not limited to, walking, biking, camping, hunting, playing, meditating, and enjoying privacy—in exchange for Boley maintaining a walking and biking trail on the land, maintaining 'no trespassing' signs around the land, and excluding intruders. Consistent with his duties under the license, Dalton posted 'no trespassing' signs along Regina's property lines (in addition to signs that were already on the property) at all entrances where there is no fence, to ensure that nobody could come upon the property without seeing that it is a private place and that intruders are not welcome. Further, to monitor for intruders, Dalton put up five motion-sensor trail cameras that were active when the DCNR officer intrusions described below occurred. Boley has a valid hunting license. Boley has never received a citation for violating any wildlife law or regulation. Neither Boley's residential property nor the land he leases from Williams is open to the public. Below is a map listed in the lawsuit of Williams' land & Boley's property. Alabama-Open-Fields-Filed-Complaint-pg-12Download Liles is the current president of his local chapter of Ducks Unlimited, an organization dedicated to promoting responsible hunting and conservation. In 2014, Liles acquired about 86 acres of contiguous hunting land (some of it owned, some of it leased) near his home in Muscle Shoals. The land is almost entirely surrounded by private residential or commercial properties that nobody could mistake for public land—they have visible homes and development. Due to thick brush and wetlands surrounding Dale's land, there are only two ways to enter: (1) the main entrance, which consists of a private gravel path that meets a public road, and (2) a path through a neighbor's property. 'No Tresspassing' signs are visible on trees and wooden posts on the property line. There is 'no way' to enter Dale's property that does not involve (1) crossing private property through thick brush and wetlands, (2) driving onto a private path and passing 'no trespassing' signs, or (3) crossing private residential property with a locked gate, then passing 'no trespassing' signs. Below is a map of Liles' property, as listed in the lawsuit. Alabama-Open-Fields-Filed-Complaint-pg-15Download The lawsuit states that in Feb. 2024, Poole entered and searched Williams' property (where Boley holds a license) without a warrant or without consent. During this listed offense, Poole reportedly tampered with Boley's trail camera so nothing could be seen. Again in Nov. 2024, the lawsuit says Williams was awoken by Poole and the unknown officer who 'demanded' to know who was using the land behind her house. When she said Boley uses it with her permission, the officers then went to Boley's door. When they arrived, the document says Boley accused Poole of tresspassing onto the land earlier that year and tampering with his camera. 'Neither Poole nor Unknown Officer denied Dalton's accusations,' the lawsuit says. Instead, the document says Poole and the unknown officer said they had been on the land 'several times before,' justifying their actions by referencing the 'open fields doctrine.' The officers then accused Boley of baiting a deer, according to the lawsuit. 'Poole's and the Unknown Officer's warrantless entries and searches have had further spillover effects: Dalton feels less secure in his own residential backyard and Regina feels less secure in her own home, knowing that armed government officials could be out roaming the land or spying on them at any time,' the document says. For Liles, the lawsuit says that in August 2018, Howell entered and searched Liles' property without consent or a warrant. On this day, the document says Liles was on the land at the time, but was never notified that anyone else was there. The reason Liles knew someone was there was because he spotted Howell's truck parked near the entrance. The lawsuit says that when Howell spotted Liles, he reportedly 'quickly drove away, speeding out of the property along the private gravel trail that meets the public road.' Following a warning not to return to the property by Liles, Howell returned to the property in Nov. 2024. Liles received a photo from a neighbor of Howell's vehicle parked on the property line. Following this incident, the lawsuit says Liles installed motion-activated cameras at the entrances to his land. 'In January 2025, Dale's camera recorded a video of a DCNR officer attempting to enter Dale's land, and, once he approached the camera, he turned around so not to be caught further on camera,' the document says. The landowners are seeking compensation in the amount of $1 from the game wardens to Boley, Williams and Liles for each trespass committed. You can read the full lawsuit below. Alabama-Open-Fields-Filed-ComplaintDownload 'The Alabama Constitution makes it clear that if the government wants to come searching on your property, they need a warrant based on probable cause, and game wardens are not exempt from the Constitution,' IJ Attorney Suranjan Sen said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moody Council approves incentive deal for $100 million retail development
The following article is by Nathan Prewett for the Trussville Tribune: MOODY, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) — The Moody City Council approved a reimbursement agreement with Moody LP to construct a retail space on a property along the city's thoroughfare on Highway 411 during its meeting on Monday. City Attorney Kyle Barrentine gave an overview of the agreement during the public hearing, citing Amendment 772 of the Alabama Constitution that allows a municipal body to provide public funds as incentives for economic growth. Moody LP seeks to build 200,000 to 250,000 square feet of Class A commercial retail space. The property exists before a section of the Little Cahaba River and stretches from the 7 Brew Coffee location to Joey Atkins Drive. 'It's an area and section of town that the city has been trying to get redeveloped for a number of years and it can have some challenges there,' Barrentine said. 'This agreement holds out the promise for that to happen.' The challenge, he said, is in clearing the land, grading, and construction. The cost of the development is expected to be an estimated $100 million. As a result, the developer asked to be provided with incentives to get the project started, including abatement, sales and property taxes, fees, and permits. Barrentine added that it is expected to create a 'substantial' amount of jobs upon completion, as well as have establishments not currently in the city. Tax revenue that the space is expected to generate will also be 'substantial'. Among the terms of the agreement is that the first $50,000 made per year will be received by the city before sales or other tax abatement that are eligible to be rebated. The developer will have five years to begin the incentive process after it invests a minimum of $10 million. The abatement percentage would be up to $65.1 million during the course of 35-40 years, Barrentine said or whenever the sum is paid. The abatement percentage is that for the first five years after the incentive is activated 100% of the derived revenue will be 100% for the developer. But at the 61st month, 85% of the revenue will go to the developer with 15% going to the city. At the 180th month, 75% of the revenue will go to the developer while the city receives the remaining 25% until the agreement's termination by payment of the sum of $65.1 million or the 35 to 40 year timeframe runs out. Barrentine said that the city published a legal notice as legally required in the St. Clair Times advertising the agreement and the meeting with its public hearing. Mood LP's owner, Stan Pate, was present and said that as part of the project the existing buildings on the property will be demolished but that he will work with the small business owners there to relocate. Margaret Goodwin brought up concerns about the river, particularly with potential flooding. Pate said that among the first actions is to have engineers assess the area and form a soil erosion plan. 'We recognize the importance of the river,' Pate said. Alabama nonprofit art studio that celebrates the autism community hit by Trump cuts to NEA Michael Ray, who owns a tattoo parlor on the property, also voiced concerns about the river, saying that the endangered aquatic life may be at risk with the construction there. Later in the meeting Karen Bareford with the Cahaba River Society spoke briefly and said that she would be willing to work with Pate to ensure protection of the river's wildlife. Ray and another resident, Craig Martin, brought up potential traffic issues, with Martin urging that additional red lights be put at a section of the road by the property near a Starbucks location said to be heavy with traffic. Pate agreed with him and said that a traffic study would be done. Ray also pointed out that he and other business owners that pay leases month by month to operate there would be forced to leave and did not desire to do so. Pate reiterated that the leases would be honored and that he would work to help relocate all of the owners. 'We're not–I'm not about to be unfair with any of the businesses located there,' Ray said. He also criticized the city's advertisement for the hearing, saying that it should have been published in other outlets and posted on social media as well. Val Bagley said that the project will affect the families of the business owners and their employees. 'Moody's a small town,' Bagley said. 'And I love the people here. They've always wanted to keep it a small town. We all understand that you have to have growth at some point in time. We get that.' 'The businesses that are going to be demolished – it's going to affect the families. Not only that, it doesn't matter what our lease says, the people that are leasing, yeah, we will be affected. But our employees, as soon as they find out that this is happening, they're out. They're going to be looking for somewhere else to go.' She added that when they look elsewhere for a place to rent the rent would be increasing 'substantially.' After discussion, the council voted unanimously to approve the agreement. 'I think it's a positive thing for the city of Moody,' commented Mayor Joe Lee. 'It's property that is a challenge to develop and we've shown it to many developers and we feel that Stan Pate is the right person to develop this property.' Moody City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave. Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
