By Brian Lyman | Editor
“Ask the new elected people. Ask the ones that don’t even have opposition. Do you support pensions and do you support healthcare? If the answer is no, get ready for a rough ride, and it’ll be a rough ride.” - David Bronner, CEO, Retirement Systems of Alabama
Stephanie Azar, CEO of the State Employees Insurance Board, speaking to the board at its quarterly meeting on July 15, 2026, in Montgomery, Alabama. (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
HEALTHCARE
By Anna Barrett
The CEO of the board overseeing state workers’ health insurance said Wednesday the board could consider changes to benefits for state workers at its September meeting. CEO Stephanie Azar said rising health care costs around the nation were leading to “difficult choices.” Health insurance plans for state workers and public education employees in Alabama have seen benefit changes in recent years amid financial uncertainty.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer’s badge and weapon are seen during a vehicle checkpoint on Georgia Ave. in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 30, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
DC BUREAU
By Ariana Figueroa
President Donald Trump Wednesday reversed a one-day pause on traffic stops by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following the killings of two men in Texas and Maine. Trump said “Radical Left Democrats” wanted to see the change in policy. The killings sparked outrage in the communities where they took place and drew condemnation from the leaders of Mexico and Colombia.
A classroom at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in South Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 12, 2024. (Spenser Heaps/Utah News Dispatch)
COMMENTARY
By Catherine Dorrough
Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this month announced that more than 34,000 Alabama students had received money through the CHOOSE Act, which provides families with up to $7,000 per child for non-public school expenses, including private school tuition. In this commentary, Catherine Dorrough writes that light regulation of private schools and questionable accreditation standards mean Alabama taxpayers could be footing the cost for teaching they may object to.
ICYMI
US senators grill Blanche over ‘slush fund’ deal as he seeks attorney general confirmation | Ashley Murray, DC Bureau
CDC nominee on shaky ground following Senate confirmation hearing | Jennifer Shutt, DC Bureau
New York governor orders first statewide data center moratorium | Alex Brown, Stateline
Thanks for reading First Look. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.