By Brian Lyman | Editor
“When you transition to the civilian world, you don’t put on a uniform, you don’t have anybody telling you what to do next, where to go, what time to be there, what to eat. Now you are left in a spot you are not trained for, and you don’t know what that mission set is. And a lot of times that can be overwhelming, especially if other life triggers come into play.” - Sandra Lucas, deputy commissioner, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs
ELECTIONS 2026
By Andrea Tinker
President Donald Trump’s plan to import 300,000 metric tons of beef priced under market value has drawn rare rebukes from organizations generally supportive of him. Trump says the imports will lower high beef prices, but industry groups and officials raised doubts about that and said it could discourage investments. U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, has introduced legislation that would attempt to stop the imports.
Supporters plant 150 flags in honor of veterans who died by suicide in 2024 at an event in Montgomery, Alabama on Sept. 9, 2026. (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)
HEALTHCARE
By Ralph Chapoco
Veterans have higher suicide rates than the general population, and advocates seeking to prevent it are turning to a 2025 Alabama law that allows gun owners who fear they may harm themselves to surrender their guns to a firearm retailer. A nonprofit has gotten 14 retailers to sign up for the program and is installing gun safes in those stores. About 73% of suicides in Alabama in 2024 involved a firearm, and 48% of firearm deaths were suicides.
Members of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees as seen on Aug. 12, 2026. (Andrea Tinker/Alabama Reflector)
EDUCATION
By Anna Barrett
Enrollment in Alabama’s community college was over 99,000 as of Tuesday, and Alabama Community College System officials told ACCS trustees Wednesday that they think it’s possible it will go over 100,000 as registration remains open. Overall enrollment in the state’s community colleges is up nearly 2% over last year, a slower increase than recent years which officials attributed to new identification software tied to federal financial aid.
ICYMI
Commentary: Tommy Tuberville’s data center plan: Some good ideas, a lot of fatal flaws | Brian Lyman, Alabama Reflector
Rhett Marques pledges business support in AL-02 race | Ralph Chapoco, Alabama Reflector
Commentary: Remembering Flight 93 through the lens of healing | Tim Lambert, Pennsylvania Capital-Star
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