Ralph Chapoco - reporter

02/17/2026

Read all about it: Alabama Power officially neutral, but a recorded phone conversation reveals they would prefer that the Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates the company, have members that are appointed by the Governor instead of through elections.

The lobbyist said that the company could not publicly support the legislation but that it had elements that would be beneficial.

02/13/2026

Read all about it: Alabama House of Representatives approves bill that further penalizes people for driving under the influence.

https://alabamareflector.com/briefs/alabama-house-approves-harsher-punishments-for-driving-under-the-influence/

Thanks to Zephyr with The Alabama Channel for helping me find the video.

https://alabamachannel.ompnetwork.org/embed/sessions/335063/alabama-house

02/13/2026

Read all about it: Bill to appoint commissioners to the Alabama Public Service Commission stalls in the House of Representatives because of lack of support in the Senate.

https://alabamareflector.com/2026/02/12/alabama-house-pulls-bill-ending-public-service-commission-elections-prior-to-vote/

See it on The Alabama Channel.

https://alabamachannel.ompnetwork.org/embed/sessions/335063/alabama-house

02/13/2026

Read all about it: Alabama Legislature tries to implement criminal justice reforms for pregnant women who are either incarcerated or about to be incarcerated.

https://alabamareflector.com/2026/02/12/alabama-house-bill-would-allow-probation-for-incarcerated-pregnant-women/

See it with the The Alabama Channel.

https://alabamachannel.ompnetwork.org/embed/sessions/335014/alabama-house-judiciary-committee

02/11/2026

Read all about it: Legislation that changes the process for selecting the board that regulates public utilities one step closer to becoming reality.

Watch it on the The Alabama Channel.

https://alabamachannel.ompnetwork.org/embed/sessions/334733/alabama-house-transportation-utilities-and-infrastructure-committee

Read about it on the Alabama Reflector:

https://alabamareflector.com/2026/02/10/house-committee-approves-bill-that-would-end-elections-of-public-service-commission-members/

The bill would the Governor's Office to appoint people from a list submitted by the Speaker of the House and Senate pro tem.

02/05/2026

Read all about it at the Alabama Reflector: https://alabamareflector.com/2026/02/05/alabama-parole-board-would-have-to-consider-applicants-attainments-under-house-bill/

After trying to enact changes with the parole board, Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, manages to convince his fellow lawmakers on the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee to go along with incremental modifications to the standard.

See the meeting below courtesy of the The Alabama Channel:

https://www.thealabamachannel.org/legislative-session-meetings

The bill would require the parole board to consider people's employment, education and the risk profile of people while in prison.

09/12/2023

A story that I have worked on for months. Please take a read.

Fines and fines are unreliable, fall heaviest on the poor and don't always provide adequate funding. Why does Alabama depend on them?

05/09/2023

Read all about it: People with a criminal history have a hard time getting their voting rights back.

Alabama is one of 11 states that keeps voting restrictions in place even after a person completes a sentence.

04/19/2023

People, if given a true chance, can turn their lives around!

Coseen Smith walked into the day reporting center sharply dressed, wearing a striped blue dress shirt with a gray formal jacket and black slacks, displaying self-ease and a quiet confidence. It gave no sign of his tumultuous past. Smith, 43, has spent much of his adult life cycling in and out of the...

04/19/2023

Read all about it: You can be thought of being in a gang just by the clothes that you wear.

The bill would allow parents or informants to identify people as gang members, and increase penalties for gang-related activity.

04/19/2023

Read all about it: One of the more important stories I have written in quite some time.

Coseen Smith walked into the day reporting center sharply dressed, wearing a striped blue dress shirt with a gray formal jacket and black slacks, displaying self-ease and a quiet confidence. It gave no sign of his tumultuous past. Smith, 43, has spent much of his adult life cycling in and out of the...

04/17/2023

Read all about it: Gathering to support inmate on death row draws more than 400 people.

Attorneys for Johnson, convicted of the 1995 murder of a deputy, say prosecutors withheld evidence that could have impeached a key witness.