By Brian Lyman | Editor
“Transgender people exist in Alabama, and many are born here. We just want to be free to participate in society like everyone else.” - Alabama Trans Rights Action Coalition, on renewed attacks on transgender individuals
Left: U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, speaks to the Alabama House of Representatives on April 17, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. Right: U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, greets an audience at a fundraiser for the Alabama Republican Party on August 4, 2023 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Britt photo: Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector; Tuberville photo: Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)
By Andrea Tinker
Amid a difficult electoral landscape for their party, Alabama’s two U.S. senators this week relaunched attacks on transgender Americans. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville demanded the arrests of doctors providing gender-affirming care and that transgender Americans be placed in “mental institutions;” U.S. Sen. Katie Britt participated in a panel hearing on transgender athletes, of which there are very few in high school or college athletics. We fact-checked both senators’ statements.
The entrance to the Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission as seen on Sept. 24, 2026. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
By Ralph Chapoco
The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission Thursday voted to increase payouts to crime victims for financial losses, lost wages and funeral and medical expenses. The changes, which go into effect next week, will increase compensation for lost wages from $500 a week to $600 a week, up to $15,000; increase medical compensation from 30% to 50% and increase payout for funeral expenses from $5,000 to $7,000.
Attorney Everett Wess, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is in an uphill battle against Republican nominee Barry Moore. (Courtesy Everett Wess)
ELECTIONS 2026
By Ralph Chapoco
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Everett Wess, a Birmingham attorney, faces an uphill battle if he wants to win. Republican nominee Barry Moore has far more cash on hand and is the odds-on favorite to succeed U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in a general election since 1992. Wess says he wants to capitalize on the favorable national environment for Democrats and emphasize affordability issues.
ICYMI
Democrats gain 4 in US Senate GOP on Iran war resolution, but vote falls short | Ashley Murray, DC Bureau
Millions of dollars of waste found in Trump administration push for immigration detention | Ariana Figueroa, DC Bureau
FDA nominee faces skepticism on vaccines from Republican senators at confirmation hearing | Jennifer Shutt, DC Bureau
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