Latest news with #KayIvey
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
4 executions are scheduled in 4 different states this week, amid an uptick nationwide
Four executions are expected to take place in the United States this week, with two scheduled Tuesday and one each on Thursday and Friday. The executions were ordered in Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma and South Carolina. If all of the procedures are carried out as planned, the inmates' deaths will bring the national total of executions to 24 so far this year. While four inmates being scheduled to die in the same week is not an anomaly in the U.S., their executions present an overall uptick in the use of capital punishment nationwide since January. They also come as the Trump administration seeks to resume death row executions at the federal level. Here's what to know about the executions that have been ordered this week. Gregory Hunt, Alabama Alabama inmate Gregory Hunt, 65, is scheduled to die by nitrogen hypoxia on Tuesday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced in May. Hunt received capital punishment after his conviction for the 1998 murder of Karen Lane, according to the state's Department of Corrections. The death warrant, signed by Ivey, established a 30-hour time frame for the execution to occur, starting at 12 a.m. local time Tuesday and ending on Wednesday, at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Hunt will be the fifth person in Alabama to die by nitrogen hypoxia — a controversial method in which the inmate is deprived of oxygen through inhalation of pure nitrogen. As states that still practice capital punishment faced difficulties obtaining drugs for lethal injections, nitrogen hypoxia was developed as a workaround to the primary method used around the country. Execution by nitrogen asphyxiation has been the subject of intense public scrutiny within the U.S. and overseas, with U.N. human rights advocates arguing that it "could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international human rights law." Alabama carried out the country's first known execution with method on Kenneth Smith in January 2024. Since then, Louisiana became the only other state to execute a death row inmate with nitrogen gas in March of this year. Anthony Wainwright, Florida Florida inmate Anthony Wainwright, 54, is scheduled to die by lethal injection potentially as soon as Tuesday. His death warrant, issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, set a weeklong window for the execution to take place at the Florida State Prison in Raiford. The window starts at 12 p.m. local time on Tuesday and closes at 12 p.m. the following Tuesday, June 17. Wainwright's execution will be the sixth in Florida in 2025. Wainwright was sentenced to death in 1995, after receiving multiple convictions related to a "crime spree" the previous year, which included the abduction and murder of Carmen Gayheart, according to court documents. He and an accomplice, Richard Hamilton, were found to have committed the crimes after escaping prison in North Carolina in 1994. John Fitzgerald Hanson, Oklahoma The execution of John Fitzgerald Hanson, also known as George John Hanson, 60, is scheduled for Thursday in Oklahoma, following his transfer from a Louisiana federal prison earlier this year. It will be the state's second execution this year. Hanson was convicted of capital murder in Oklahoma for the 1999 death of 77-year-old Mary Bowles in Tulsa, according to court records. In order to carry out Hanson's death sentence, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested his extradition back into the state from Louisiana, where the inmate had been incarcerated for decades while serving a separate life sentence for robbery. Stephen Stanko, South Carolina South Carolina is set to execute Stephen Stanko, 57, by lethal injection Friday for the 1997 murder of Laura Ling. It will be the state's fourth execution this year and its second using lethal drugs. The two death row inmates in South Carolina died by firing squad this year after the state legislature approved the method partly due to prison officials not being able to obtain drugs needed for lethal injections. Both of the inmates chose to die by bullets instead of lethal injection or the electric chair.
Politico
a day ago
- Business
- Politico
The state of labor laws halfway through 2025
QUICK FIX LABOR REPORT CARD: Even as federal labor legislation remains stalled, several states have raced to pass their own laws cracking down on child labor and supporting gig workers. As most legislatures wrap up business for the year, here's what state lawmakers have accomplished. Portable benefits: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that established portable benefits accounts for independent contractors, allowing workers to easily transfer their benefits between employers. Tennessee jumped on the bandwagon a day later when Gov. Bill Lee signed the Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act. Republicans have long touted the upside of portable benefits plans as a way to support independent contractors. Democrats, on the other hand, have maligned such plans, arguing that they don't offer the same security as traditional employee plans. Apprenticeships and youth labor laws: Multiple blue states have passed legislation aimed at protecting and developing pathways for young people. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed HB 1644, a bill that increases fines for employers that violate child labor laws and requires the state's labor board to conduct inspections before issuing new permits. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore expanded his state's registered apprenticeship program. The legislation aims to grow the state's economy as the region struggles with the fallout of the Trump administration's overhaul of the federal workforce. 'In partnership with the General Assembly, we are building pathways to work, wages, and wealth — even as the White House seeks to lay off thousands of employees,' Moore said in a statement shortly before signing the Registered Apprenticeship Investments for a Stronger Economy Act. Almost, but not quite: Workplace safety advocates suffered a setback when Illinois failed to join other Democratic-led states in passing its Warehouse Worker Protection Act. Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed the bill over technical disagreements with the state's Democratic legislature, arguing that it didn't clearly spell out how his administration would enforce penalties against employers who don't provide rest breaks or implement productivity requirements for workers. In case you forgot: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are still unveiling major labor legislation despite GOP control of Congress that may make it hard to advance. — PRO Act: Makes it easier for unions to organize and collectively bargain by strengthening the National Labor Relations Act. The bill was reintroduced by Reps. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) in the House, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) unveiled a companion bill the Senate. — Faster Labor Contracts Act: Prevents employers from slow-walking union negotiations by requiring talks to begin within 10 days after a union is recognized. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the bill in March. GOOD MORNING. It's Monday, June 9. Welcome back to Morning Shift, your go-to tipsheet on labor and employment-related immigration. Send feedback, tips and exclusives to nniedzwiadek@ lukenye@ rdugyala@ and gmott@ Follow us on X at @NickNiedz and @Lawrence_Ukenye. And Signal @nickniedz.94. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. IMMIGRATION SHIFTING STRATEGY: The Trump administration is accelerating immigration enforcement efforts in workplaces after initially targeting criminals and international students. 'Last week, at a student housing complex under construction in Tallahassee, Fla., masked immigration agents loaded dozens of migrants into buses headed to detention centers,' The New York Times' Lydia DePillis and Ernesto Londoño reported Saturday. 'In New Orleans, 15 people working on a flood control project were detained.' At least 500,000 more undocumented immigrants could be caught in the administration's growing raids after the Supreme Court ruled in May to revoke the Temporary Protected Status that allowed migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaurgua to work in the U.S. In the crosshairs: Trump's move to send the National Guard to quell unrest in Los Angeles this past weekend came after ICE raids that led to the arrest of David Huerta, president of SEIU California and SEIU-United Service Workers West. Huerta was released from the hospital after sustaining injuries during his arrest but remains in custody, according to SEIU leaders. 'The labor movement will not tolerate retaliation against those who speak out against injustice,' SEIU 503 leaders said in a statement. 'We demand Huerta's immediate release and an end to efforts to intimidate activists through fear. Defending immigrant families is not a crime—it is a moral duty.' More from California: "Escalating ICE raids pull California Democrats back into immigration fight,' from our Dustin Gardner. LOOK WHO'S BACK: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a metal worker deported earlier this year, is back in the U.S. to face federal human trafficking charges after the Supreme Court ruled in April that he was illegally removed from the country. 'The Trump administration had insisted that it had no power to compel El Salvador to return Abrego Garcia, but in recent weeks there were signs that officials had begun to engage with El Salvador and its president, Nayib Bukele, about bringing Abrego Garcia back to the United States,' our Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney wrote. Don't thank me: Trump said in an interview with NBC News that bringing Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. wasn't his decision and that the Justice Department 'decided to do it that way,' our Ben Johansen reported. Unions THE RELATIONSHIP THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: Teamsters President Sean O'Brien attacked Elon Musk on social media after the Tesla CEO's high-profile falling out with Trump over disagreement about provisions in Republicans' 'big beautiful bill.' 'Let's get one thing straight: @realDonaldTrump wasn't elected by Elon,' O'Brien wrote on X last week. 'He won because working people have had enough of ego-driven billionaires like @elonmusk who want to run away to Mars only after they eliminate every decent job in this country.' O'Brien went on to say that Musk would 'abandon America' and called out the former DOGE leader for Tesla's floundering stock price. The X posts are the latest public show of support from O'Brien toward Trump after he appeared at the Republican National Convention last year. No drama for now: Aides for Trump and Musk spoke last week and the two men have since dialed back their public attacks, our Dasha Burns and Julia Marsh reported. In the Workplace PENNIES FOR YOUR THOUGHTS: Right-wing influencers have enjoyed increased eyeballs on their content after Musk updated X's rules to allow more creators to earn money from their posts. For some, however, the new engagement isn't bringing huge financial gains. Dominick McGee, a creator on X with 1.5 million followers, has earned on average $55,000 a year — amounting to less than the minimum wage with the long hours he spends on the platform — despite receiving an invitation to a White House press briefing for new media and spending hours stoking online outrage. The New York Times' Stuart A. Thompson has more. IN THE STATES NOT A BIG FAN: The 15,000-member Professional Engineers in California Government union sued Gov. Gavin Newsom's office and the state's human resources office over a return-to-office policy that would require workers to be in the office four days a week beginning in July, The Sacramento Bee reported. The filing is the latest challenge to the order, which unions have argued violated labor law because the state failed to meet with labor groups before announcing the directive. A spokesperson for the state's Department of Human Resources declined to comment on pending litigation. More state news: 'Maryland launches new loan program for laid-off federal workers,' from Maryland Matters. WHAT WE'RE READING — Opinion: 'Why on Earth Should Air Traffic Controllers Be Pro-Trump?' from The New York Times. — 'More Federal Workers Are Flooding the Job Market, With Worsening Prospects,' from The New York Times. — Opinion: 'Baltimore must look out for its tipped workers,' from The Baltimore Sun. — 'The stealth Senate dealmaker who could deliver Trump's tax cuts,' from our Benjamin Guggenheim for Pro subscribers. THAT'S YOUR SHIFT!
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Kay Ivey names new Public Service Commission president
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has named Cynthia Lee Almond to serve as the next Public Service Commission President. The appointment fills the seat left vacant by Twinkle Cavanaugh, who has taken a role in the Trump Administration. As president, Almond will lead the board responsible for regulating utilities in Alabama. Almond is a seasoned attorney and currently works in the private practice of law. She also takes the helm at the Public Service Commission after serving as a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives for District 63. Previously, Almond served four terms on the Tuscaloosa City Council, where she was elected president pro tem by her colleagues. 'I am honored to have been asked by Governor Ivey to fill this important position. It is one I accept with great enthusiasm,' said Almond. 'I know how important this commission is to the people of Alabama and to the industry sectors it regulates. I believe my training as an attorney and legislator will prove to be helpful in performing this role.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks to future leaders during University of Alabama visit
Over 400 rising high school seniors gathered at the University of Alabama for the 83rd session of the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State program. Throughout the week of June 1-6, delegates gained hands-on experience in a model state government. Participants wrote bills, debated them on the House and Senate floor, participated in party caucuses and ran for office. They also heard from a variety of speakers including Gov. Kay Ivey, a former Girls State lieutenant governor, and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who was elected Girls State governor in 1999. The session was scheduled to culminate with a trip to Montgomery to visit with elected officials, hold lawmaking sessions at the State House and tour the Capitol, the Alabama Supreme Court and Governor's Mansion. Organizers say the Girls State program provides delegates with a better understanding of how government works and a sense of patriotism while building self-confidence and lasting friendships. More: Boys State at University of Alabama aims to create good citizens "Alabama Girls State is a fun-filled, hands-on learning opportunity in good citizenship training for some of the best and brightest young women in the State of Alabama. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Alabama Girls State is a premier youth leadership program which offers a one-of-a-kind experience to its delegates," said Lee Sellers, program director, in news release. This year featured the largest delegation of girls to have ever attended Alabama Girls State, with the more than 400 rising seniors representing high schools throughout Alabama. UA also hosted the Boys State program May 25-31. This year marks the first time UA has hosted Boys and Girls State since 2021. Ivey spoke to delegates June 5 at Moody Music Building on the University of Alabama campus. During her remarks, Ivey shared her personal experiences at Girls State and how the program has influenced her political career. "My time here at Girls State has allowed me to mentor and to be mentored by women across every corner of the state of Alabama, forming friendships that are not just good and strong, but long-lasting," Ivey said. After graduating from Auburn University in 1967, worked as a high school teacher and a bank officer. She served as reading clerk for the Alabama House of Representatives under then-Speaker Joseph C. McCorquodale and she served as assistant director at the Alabama Development Office In 2002, Ivey was elected to the first of two terms as Alabama's treasurer and in 2010, she was elected to the first of two terms as lieutenant governor. On April 10, 2017, Ivey was sworn in as Alabama's 54th governor after the resignation of Robert Bentley. She filled out the rest of Bentley's term before winning the gubernatorial election in 2018 and she was re-elected in 2022. She is the first Republican woman to serve as Alabama's governor but she's the second woman to hold the state's top executive office. Tuscaloosa County native Lurleen B. Wallace, a Democrat, became Alabama's first female governor in 1966. Ivey emphasized the importance of citizenship, the constitution and the military during her Girls State speech. Ivey said she doesn't let being a female in a male-dominated field discourage her and she encouraged delegates to pursue their goals. Ivey said she believes that success should be measured by a person's qualifications and not their gender. "I strongly believe that whoever is the most-qualified person should be the one to get the job. And as I like to say, sometimes the best man for a job is a woman," Ivey said. Ivey concluded her speech by inspiring the delegates to carry the values of Girls State into their future endeavors. More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the News app "Girls State is not just a week. It's a state of mind, an attitude and a way of thinking that has stuck with me my entire life," said Ivey, who grew up in the town of Camden in Wilcox County. ".... (You should) leave Girls State this week with an understanding of the beauty of our democracy is that all people, even a girl, from a little town in Wilcox County can make a difference if we try," she said. Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Gov. Kay Ivey says Girls State offers opportunity for future leaders
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
50+ Alabama groups urge Gov. Ivey, legislators to oppose cuts to Medicaid, ACA coverage
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — A slew of organizations are urging Gov. Kay Ivey and state lawmakers to oppose healthcare cuts in the U.S. House's budget reconciliation bill. In a letter initiated by the Cover Alabama Coalition, 52 organizations are asking state policymakers to contact members of Congress and express concerns about the bill's negative impact on Alabama's families and budgets. 'This legislation would undermine Alabama's ability to manage its Medicaid program, limit our future options and increase barriers to coverage for families across our state,' the letter reads. On May 22, the U.S. House approved a huge budget bill, 215-214. The groups contend the bill — which among its provisions extends and creates new tax cuts and creates new spending for a border wall and immigration enforcement — would also either drive the costs of healthcare up or make it inaccessible for millions of people. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'The bill … would allow the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to expire, making Marketplace plans less affordable for more than 400,000 Alabamians,' the letter reads. 'This would result in coverage losses and higher uninsured rates, especially among working families who don't qualify for Medicaid but can't afford full-price private plans.' Expiration of enhanced ACA tax credits would cost Alabama an estimated 10,000 jobs and $1.14 billion in GDP in 2026, the groups contend. The groups also say if the budget bill is given final approval it would cost Alabama $619 million in extra federal funding that would help cover the first two years of Medicaid expansion. The bill would also freeze provider taxes at current levels, which would limit the state's future options for funding Medicaid by forbidding legislators to increase fees on nursing homes, ambulance services and other providers. The groups say the bill would also would reduce the retroactive Medicaid coverage period from three months to just one. This change could leave many pregnant women and other Alabamians in greater medical and financial risk. It also would undermine a new law that the Legislature passed this year to remove red-tape barriers to Medicaid coverage for thousands of mothers who are expecting. The letter encourages state policymakers to reach out to Alabama's congressional delegation and urge them to oppose the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
