Alabama

Alabama has a bit of a horse race going on in the race for Lieutenant Governor, but a new poll by Dem candidate James Fields has him pulling ahead of his competition, entrenched politico Kay Ivey.

What is the personhood movement? And when did this anti-abortion, anti-women and regressive political idea become such a force? A comprehensive timeline.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has posted an interactive map of the growing number of hate groups in the US, from neo-Nazis to the good ol' KKK. 22 have sprouted up in Alabama alone.

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions talks a good talk when it comes to veterans (He should! He voted to send them overseas to be shot at!), but when it comes to putting his money where his mouth is, Sessions is like most of his Republican counterparts: mendacious and obstructive.

Alabama's new TRAP (Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers) law was always a bad idea – bad for women who now can't find a clinic in the state, and bad for Alabama women's health overall. And it was almost a pleasure seeing Alabama's Solicitor General struggle to defend the indefensible in court against an expert witness.

Alabama State Representative Barry Moore was indicted for perjury and lying to investigators. He's the second legislator to face prosecution in recent memory, and some believe the corruption could lead all the way up to the speaker of the statehouse.

The Alabama state house passed a mostly symbolic – and needlessly hateful – gesture when they approved a resolution calling for Congress make same-sex marriage unconstitutional. The resolution explicitly broke a promise the House Speaker Mike Hubbard made to an openly gay legislator, Patricia Todd.

At one point, it seemed that Alabama Democrats wouldn't have a viable candidate to field in that state's gubernatorial race. Now, three have joined the primary – two with the actual charisma and experience to give Republicans pause.

Alabama citizens fight back as Canadian oil companies attempt to turn the Mobile area into a tar sands mecca. Pipelines, oil storage facilities, and special train cars all pose serious environmental risks to the area.

When the GOP campaigned on their "Handshake With Alabama" plan in 2010 they didn't mention that it came with one of those gag "hand buzzers." Remember that the first item on their list was "creating jobs and economic opportunities." The GOP neglected to tell voters that their "jobs plan" was limited.