Federal spending, American Idol, bald eagles: Down in Alabama
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How they voted
During the wee hours Saturday morning, the U.S. Senate avoided a possible government shutdown when it passed a $1.2 trillion spending package.
According to The Associated Press, the legislation passed 74-24 despite a number of proposed amendments that would’ve sent it back to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers had left for a recess after passing it.
Most Republicans are less than pleased with the price tag, and the vote split GOP members who felt either it was the best they could get or represented surrender to the Democrats.
According to the Congressional record, only Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell and Republican Sen. Katie Britt among Alabama’s delegation voted to pass the package.
RIP Bobby Timmons
The man who was the executive director of the Alabama Sheriffs Association from 1975 until he retired in 2022 has passed away, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.
Bobby Timmons, who was from Montgomery, served in the Alabama House of Representatives and as special assistant to former Jefferson County Sheriff Mel Bailey.
He traveled with Gov. George Wallace during his presidential campaign. And former Gov. Don Siegelman appointed him to the position of law enforcement liaison to the governor.
Bobby Timmons was 91 years old.
Alabama ‘Idols’
American Idol has made it through its audition phase, and seven Alabama singers are headed to the next round in Hollywood, reports AL.com’s Lawrence Specker.
We’ve mentioned 15-year-old Triston Harper of McIntosh here before. Along the way, Dawson Slade of Moulton and Justice Murphy of Alabama State University passed their auditions.
And then Sunday night, four more Alabama singers were added: Brant McCollough of Samson, Ty’esha Lashae of Monroeville, and sisters Jacy and Mia Matthews of Centre.
Mind the weather
Keep your eyes on the weather today. Or at least the weather forecast. Rain and maybe some storms are possibly coming into the state from the west this evening into tomorrow.
Quoting
“It would be nice to have the Mysticks back. It matched Mobile so well.”
By the Numbers
The estimated number of bald eagles that descended into a Madison County field Friday about 15 miles from Lake Guntersville and were photographed by Pat Stewart. He said that the Flint River had flooded the field and the eagles were feeding on stranded fish.
More Alabama news
Where’s the quiz?
We tapped the brakes on it this week, but plans are to have it back in this space next week.
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