# @aldotcom on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=1FYe0tjPslU
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/59575726-aldotcom-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a987d6c90b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-13T23:00:03.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** AL.com (@aldotcom) — https://gondola.cc/aldotcom

## Caption

Here's what you missed in Alabama news: March 7th - 13th

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall criticized filmmaker Andrew Jarecki for comments made on "The Tonight Show," where Jarecki invited Marshall and Gov. Kay Ivey to the Oscars, claiming they were avoiding the prison issue. Jarecki's film, “The Alabama Solution,” documents severe conditions in Alabama's prisons using inmate footage. Marshall argues the film neglects to showcase the perspectives of victims' families affected by crime. In a Facebook video, Marshall dismissed Jarecki’s invitation as a publicity stunt and emphasized his commitment to public safety over Hollywood criticism. We'll see if the Alabama Solution takes home the Oscar on Sunday.

Heads up to the fans out there but the Better Business Bureau gave Buc-ee’s an F rating. According to the BBB, they’ve racked up 88 complaints over the last three years and are sitting at an average one‑star rating from 43 reviews. As for Alabama locations, Athens did slightly better with a C‑minus, which is actually the highest score there. Auburn and Robertsdale both maintained Fs. And for the Leeds and Loxley locations, we're not clear on what they got as that information wasn’t disclosed.

The City of Arab says it was hit by a phishing scam and lost more than $430,000. Scammers posed as officials from FITE Construction and sent a fake invoice tied to the new Recreation Center project. The city ended up sending $432,739 to the wrong account. The good news? The city says no personal or private data was stolen. Now, the FBI, Homeland Security, and other agencies are investigating, and the city is working with banks to try to get the money back while locking down its systems.

Lawmakers need to come up with $75 million this year to start paying for the new $400 million statehouse, which is supposed to open in 2027. So what’s the plan? They’re talking about redirecting money that was meant to help cover teacher health insurance costs instead. Right now, lawmakers approved $180 million for PEEHIP, which is the insurance program for education employees. But that’s less than the $210 million that Governor Kay Ivey originally asked for. The issue? PEEHIP is already facing a $380 million shortfall because health care costs keep going up. But the budget process isn’t done yet, so all of this could still change.

A bill that would limit new solar projects just cleared committee and is now headed to a Senate vote. This comes after pushback from folks in South Alabama, especially over the planned solar farm in Stockton and Meta’s new data center in Montgomery. The bill would pause new solar developments for one year, but projects that are already underway wouldn’t be affected. At the same time, Alabama already has slow solar growth — partly because Alabama Power charges a fee to customers who want solar panels. That fee has even been challenged in federal court. Bottom line: the solar debate in Alabama is far from over.

In other legislative news, lawmakers are debating a bill that would change how primary voting works in Alabama. Right now, Alabama is one of only eight states with open primaries, meaning you don’t have to be registered with a political party to vote in that party’s primary. There is one rule though — you can’t vote in one party’s primary and then switch parties for the runoff. That’s called crossover voting, and it’s already not allowed. Supporters of this bill say only registered party members should vote in primaries, so candidates actually represent their party’s voters. But opponents — especially unaffiliated voters — say this would shut people out who don’t want to pick a party, and that it limits participation. Some critics even say nonpartisan primaries would be a better option overall. The committee is set to vote on this bill March 17th.

Be sure to check out AL.com for more on these stories and others.
See you next week.

#localnews #alabama #whatyoumissed #news #updates

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news, localnews, whatyoumissed, alabama, updates

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