Jeff Sessions Announces Alabama Senate Run on Tucker Carlson’s Show
Former attorney general Jeff Sessions officially announced Thursday night during an appearance on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight that he is running for Senate in Alabama. The former Alabama senator, who left his seat to join the Trump administration, also unveiled a new campaign ad that shows him appealing to Trump voters by saying he never attacked the president or wrote “a tell-all book” after stepping down as AG. — The Daily Beast
Michael Bloomberg planning to file paperwork to run in Alabama’s 2020 Democratic primary
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is making a late entrance into the 2020 Democratic primary field and plans to file paperwork for the Alabama primary at the end of this week, The New York Times reported. — Business Insider
Trial Begins Monday in Challenge to Congressional District Map
A federal judge on Monday will begin a trial in a lawsuit that contends Alabama should have a second majority-Black district and that the current map violates a section of the Voting Rights Act by depriving Black voters of an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice to the U.S. House of Representatives. The state is disputing those claims and argues it would require gerrymandering to carve another district. — AP
Louisiana’s pitch for more offshore energy revenue meets mixed reaction in Senate hearing
Louisiana’s pitch for a larger share of offshore oil and gas revenues for coastal projects, including efforts to protect Louisiana’s receding coastline, was met with a mixed reaction during a U.S. Senate hearing Thursday. The proposal would take away revenue from Alabama and Mississippi. — Baton Rouge Advocate
$14.4 million grant awarded to Gulf Shores for Highway 59 improvement project
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award the City of Gulf Shores, Alabama, a federal highway infrastructure improvement grant in the amount of $14,404,831 for a project to increase the capacity of State Highway 59 in Baldwin County. The grant is made available as part of the DOT Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program, which focuses on economic development and infrastructure upgrades. — WPMI
2019 Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence Winners Announced
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa was named the nation’s Best City Center Historic Hotel in the annual awards presentation of the Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. — Valdosta Daily News
