Happy Friday. We have some state politics, but much more could be coming next week as the Legislative session begins to wind down. On the podcast today we welcome statewide high school sports editor Ben Thomas, who spoke with us about that Rush Propst non-firing in Pell City.

Below is a podcast player, and the newsletter follows.

Another front on abortion

Last week, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission expanded its definition of “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” to include abortions in the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The change, which the EEOC said is consistent with Title VII and court decisions, means that most employers of 15 or more people are required to provide “reasonable accommodation” for workers seeking an abortion.

The EEOC said it does not require employers or company health plans to cover costs. It also said while leave must be offered, it doesn’t have to be paid leave. The new rule is expected to go into effect on June 18.

AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz reports that Alabama and 16 other states have filed a lawsuit over the new rules. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and others argue that the EEOC can’t change the law that was passed by Congress, that providing accommodations for the health of pregnant women and babies was a bipartisan effort but facilitating abortions isn’t.

Alabama border states Tennessee, Florida and Georgia are also among the 17 states involved in the legal action.

Case of the missing heart

Brandon Clay Dotson’s heart was never found.

The 43-year-old man died at Ventress Correctional Facility in November, and an autopsy was performed on his body. The body was returned. Dotson’s family, aware of some of the horror stories that have been reported about Alabama’s prisons, hired a private pathologist to do a second autopsy, and that pathologist discovered his heart was missing.

So the family filed a lawsuit against Alabama’s prison system, the Department of Forensic Sciences and UAB Medical Center.

Without details, however, a U.S. District Judge has dismissed the case after the family and state “filed a joint stipulation of dismissal,” reports AL.com’s Ivana Hrynkiw.

Dotson’s isn’t the only body of an inmate that has reportedly turned up surprisingly with organs missing. So, on Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill that would make it a felony for a medical examiner to take organs without consent of next of kin, reports AL.com’s Mike Cason.

That’s already against the law. But the bill that passed the House adds a Class C felony penalty. That would make the crime punishable by one to 10 years in prison.

The bill, by Chris England, a Tuscaloosa Democrat, passed 89-1 and moves to the Senate.

Feeling the Draft

Four players who had starred inside the state of Alabama were drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, reports AL.com’s Mark Inabinett.

Quarterback Bo Nix played high school ball at Pinson Valley and played his first three college seasons at Auburn. He was taken at No. 12 by the Denver Broncos.

Before that, the Los Angeles Chargers picked Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Lathan with the seventh pick.

Two other Alabama players went in the first round: linebacker Dallas Turner to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 17 and cornerback Terrion Arnold to the Detroit Lions at No. 24.

The Lions are into Crimson Tide players, by the way. This is the third year is a row Detroit has traded up in the Draft and ended up using the pick to select an Alabama player. The Lions drafted wide receiver Jameson Williams in 2022 and running back Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023.

Quoting

“Jeff Sessions is the attorney general, and Donald Trump has him in his pocket.”

Former Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, according to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who was testifying in Trump’s hush-money trial this week. Pecker said it was Cohen’s response to Pecker’s concern over a letter he received from the Federal Election Commission.

By the Numbers

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That’s the 18-hole golf score carded by former Alabama golfer Frankie Capan III during the first round of the Veritex Bank Championship. The score is a record low for the developmental Korn Ferry Tour. Capan is ranked 30th in points this season; the top 30 golfers will earn a PGA Tour card for next season.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1916, former Detroit Tigers pitcher, the late Virgil Trucks of Birmingham.
In 1949, Wet Willie singer and harmonica player Jimmy Hall, born in Birmingham and grew up in Mobile.
In 1980, actor Channing Tatum, originally of Cullman.

The podcast

Abortion rule, missing organs, NFL Draft notes: Down in Alabama

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