Before the judges

The re-drawing of the re-drawn Alabama Congressional district map goes before federal judges today, reports AL.com’s Mike Cason.

These are the same judges who last year said the original efforts to redraw the districts likely violated the Voting Rights Act.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld that ruling.

So the Alabama state legislature went back to the drawing room. The resulting new draft did not include a second majority-Black district, and the question now is whether the latest version goes far enough in giving Black voters a fair voice in the U.S. House elections.

Obviously here is that the Democratic party is hoping to pick up a second Alabama seat in Congress, while the Republicans, who control the state legislature, are hoping they’ve satisfied the court without risking such a thing.

Road wars?

The Alabama governor hasn’t shown any weakening in her support of a West Alabama corridor along Highway 43, reports AL.com’s Paul Gattis.

Former President Donald Trump picked up on a separate proposed road project — the widening of Interstate 65 — in a recent speech in Montgomery. That’s a proposal that has become a favorite of some lawmakers, notably Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth.

Ainsworth’s push has even involved suggestions of moving money from the Highway 43 project to the I-65 project.

Gov. Kay Ivey gave a speech late last week reaffirming her commitment to Highway 43 without mentioning I-65. She said, “This is a vital road project to open up economic development along Alabama’s western border while also improving the lives of many thousands of Black Belt residents.”

Play it cool

Folks in the northern part of Alabama might be in for a cooldown early this week, reports AL.com weather reporter Leigh Morgan.

Now, I’m definitely not talking to Lower Alabama here. The closer you go south, the more likely that it’ll continue being miserably hot this week.

But a cold front is expected to push down into the state by Tuesday, possibly bringing 80-degree highs into central Alabama. Some of the northernmost reaches might struggle to get to 80.

If it applies to you, enjoy. It’ll be awful again by the weekend.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

• In 1958, pro wrestler Bobby Eaton of Huntsville
• In 1977, baseball player Juan Pierre of Mobile

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