By Brian Lyman | Editor
Politics, healthcare and student achievement: Here are our top stories from the last week.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, speaks to reporters after voting in the GOP primary in Auburn, Alabama on May 19, 2026 (Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)
ELECTIONS 2026
By Anna Barrett
Plaintiffs challenging Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville’s eligibility to serve as Alabama’s governor appealed a lower court’s dismissal of their lawsuit on Tuesday. A Montgomery circuit court judge last week said she did not have jurisdiction to rule on the case but did not address the merits of the challenge. The Alabama Supreme Court had not set a briefing schedule as of Thursday afternoon.
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.
Alabama State Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey points at a board showing English Language Arts scores from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program during the Alabama State Board of Education Meeting on July 14, 2026. (Andrea Tinker/Alabama Reflector)
EDUCATION
By Andrea Tinker
Alabama students showed significant gains in science proficiency on this spring’s Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) tests. Fourth, sixth and eighth graders showed gains between 6% and 13%. Alabama Schools Superintendent Eric Mackey credited the adoption of a new science course of study and textbooks for the gains. Reading and math were more mixed, though second and eighth-graders showed improvements.
ICYMI
Commentary: Academic excellence suffers when Alabama college leaders shrink from fights | Brian Lyman, Alabama Reflector
Commentary: Poor CHOOSE Act standards mean squandered taxpayer dollars | Catherine Dorrough for Alabama Reflector
Alabama death row inmate who stopped gas execution wants to stop lethal injection execution | Ralph Chapoco, Alabama Reflector
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