SUMMARY: Passenger Joe Bean traveled over 700 miles from Indiana to visit the SS United States, America’s last surviving ocean liner, now immobile and set to become the world’s largest artificial reef off Northwest Florida. Bean, who sailed on the iconic ship in 1958, cherishes the memories of his family’s journey, describing it as more than just a ship but a profound adventure. He holds onto memorabilia from that trip, offering a glimpse into the past. Upon visiting the SS United States in Mobile, he felt a rush of nostalgia, stating, “Once you’ve been on the ship, your heart and soul remains with it.”

Over 700 miles — that’s how far Joe Beaman of Indiana was willing to travel to visit the SS United States in the Port City.
FULL STORY: https://trib.al/TDuvhR7

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Alabama Senate committee OKs bill expanding religious exemptions from vaccinations

by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
March 5, 2025

An Alabama Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that allows parents to claim a religious exemption from vaccination without providing an explanation or allowing a public body to evaluate the claim. 

SB 85, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, also explicitly allows students at colleges and universities to declare themselves religiously exempt from vaccinations. 

“The experience has been many times in these offices, the mom or dad or whoever has taken the child, gets asked about their religious beliefs,” Orr said.

The legislation also removes language that suspended religious exemptions in the presence of an epidemic “or immediate threat thereof.” Apriell Hartsfield, a policy analyst with Voices for Alabama Children, the lone speaker at the public hearing, opposed the legislation. 

“We fear that this bill will needlessly impact many vulnerable children whose health is already at risk and they are not able to get vaccinations,” she said.

In Texas, one child died from measles on Feb. 25, a previously dormant disease, due to an outbreak that infected mostly unvaccinated children. According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 159 measles cases so far with five of the infected being vaccinated with at least one dose.

Alabama public health officials have voiced fears about dropping vaccination rates in the state. The state’s measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination rate fell below 94% in 2022-23. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 95% of the population needs to be immunized to achieve herd immunity. 

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, said unvaccinated children should be kept at home. 

“If you don’t want your child to get the vaccine, then they need to be at home with Zoom,” he said.

Orr said unvaccinated children should not be a threat to public schools and vaccinated children.

“That’s the point of vaccines. If you’re vaccinated, what’s your worry?” Orr said. 

Orr said Alabama should respect a parent’s decision to not vaccinate their child.

“Fundamentally, if you do have a religious objection, I think that this state and our constitution wants to respect that and not subject parents to being subjected to an inquisition,” Orr said.

The bill received a favorable report, with Smitherman and Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, abstaining. It now goes to the full Senate. 

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

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Federal judge hears arguments in lawsuit over Alabama AG’s threats to prosecute abortion aid

by Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
March 5, 2025

A federal judge on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a lawsuit seeking to stop Alabama officials from prosecuting groups and individuals who help residents travel out of state to obtain abortions.

The lawsuit, filed by Yellowhammer Fund, West Alabama Women’s Center and others, cites comments made by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall in 2023 suggesting that organizations aiding out-of-state abortions could face criminal conspiracy charges. The plaintiffs argue that such threats violate their constitutional rights to free speech, association and interstate travel.

During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson pressed both sides on the scope of the state’s authority to enforce Alabama’s abortion ban beyond its borders and constitutional protections for organizations that support abortion access.

Jamila Johnson, representing Yellowhammer Fund, said the organization’s activities — including providing financial assistance, arranging transportation and accompanying patients — are forms of protected speech and association.

“That would include … accompanying someone to their appointment, making sure that someone has the ability to get to an appointment, providing them oral support and upholding their dignity to make their own decisions, and the funding of the abortion itself for those who are unable to afford to do so,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that the organization also asserts its own First Amendment rights, not just those of its clients, but the organization itself.

“Yellowhammer, as a nonprofit, has the ability to assert a right to travel claim,” she said. “One of the issues we have always had is that when we put specific staff members [forward], we end up targeting them in some manner, which we try to avoid doing when possible.”

Attorneys for the state argued that logistical support like funding and transportation is not inherently expressive conduct and falls outside First Amendment protection.

Alabama Attorney General doubles down on threats to prosecute out-of-state abortion care

“We certainly don’t dispute the intent to convey a message,” said Dylan Baldwin, an attorney with the Alabama Attorney General’s office, adding that those actions alone aren’t speech, and without explanation, people wouldn’t see them as a clear message

Baldwin said that other entities, such as insurance companies or individuals, provide funds for abortions without that act itself being considered expressive.

“The messages become apparent only by them explaining that it’s about a message of love and solidarity and support,” he said.

Johnson pushed back, saying the conduct must be considered within its full context.

“The First Amendment has never said that speech has to go to 10 people or 20 people. You have a First Amendment right to speak to one person if you needed to,” she said.

Thompson also questioned the state about its position on whether Alabama could prosecute individuals who help loved ones obtain out-of-state abortions.

“Would a husband who drove his wife to Georgia to get an abortion… could [he] be prosecuted under this?” Thompson asked lawyers for the state.

Charles McKay, an attorney with the attorney general’s office, said that the scenario is different because of three reasons: Alabama doesn’t have a strong interest in prosecuting loved ones; the act is done in private versus in public and its scale.

“I think this case is quite different, because we do have organizations that are holding themselves up publicly as providing a whole manner of support for abortion,” McKay said.

Thompson indicated he aims to issue a ruling soon and questioned whether, if he rules for the plaintiffs, a declaratory judgment would be sufficient or whether a permanent injunction is necessary.

“We think that a permanent injunction is appropriate in this case in addition to a declaration,” said Megan Burrows, an attorney representing WAWC, formerly known as the West Alabama Women’s Center, adding that this case isn’t about challenging the text of an Alabama law itself but specific threats from the attorney general to apply Alabama’s criminal laws in ways they were not intended.

Thompson asked both parties to submit additional filings on the question of remedies within the next two days.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

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