Ralph Chapoco

Ralph Chapoco

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Ralph Chapoco is a senior reporter for the Alabama Reflector. Prior to that, he was the political watchdog reporter for Florida Today, covering local politicians and the impact their policies have on the community. He began as an education reporter for a year and half for the Rio Grande Sun in New Mexico and the North Platte Telegraph in North Platte, Nebraska. Afterward, he spent more than three years at the Washington County Daily News as the local political journalist.

In potentially competitive Huntsville seats, housing and infrastructure loom large
Alabama

In potentially competitive Huntsville seats, housing and infrastructure loom large

Oct 02, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Key Points Northern Alabama’s population has grown dramatically due to public and private sector jobs. Both Republican and Democratic candidates expressed concerns that the population boom has strained the region’s infrastructure. Republican legislative candidates highlighted the need for additional funding...
New center aims to train Alabamians on parole or probation for manufacturing jobs
Alabama

New center aims to train Alabamians on parole or probation for manufacturing jobs

Sep 29, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
A new facility at a Perry County education center for people on parole and probation aims to train more people for manufacturing jobs and help them understand the situations they will find with employers. The facility at the Perry County...
TikTok to pay Alabama $116 million in lawsuit settlement
Alabama

TikTok to pay Alabama $116 million in lawsuit settlement

Sep 25, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office and TikTok Friday reached a settlement over a state lawsuit that alleged the social media platform addicted children and lied about the safety of its platform. The settlement, coming about a month after the social...
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Everett Wess campaigns against long odds
Alabama

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Everett Wess campaigns against long odds

Sep 25, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Everett Wess has a very difficult road to being Alabama’s next U.S. senator. The Democratic nominee is trying to become the first person in his party to be elected to the Senate from Alabama in a general election since 1992...
Alabama commission approves compensation increases for violent crime victims
Alabama

Alabama commission approves compensation increases for violent crime victims

Sep 24, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission Thursday voted to increase the payouts on some claims from victims of violent crimes. Under the administrative code change approved by members at a special meeting, payouts will go up for financial losses, lost...
Alabama’s attorney general can intervene in power rate hearings. Will AG candidates do so?
Alabama

Alabama’s attorney general can intervene in power rate hearings. Will AG candidates do so?

Sep 24, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
With Alabamians paying some of the highest residential power prices in the South, the question of intervention is weighing on the Alabama attorney general’s race. Under Alabama law, the attorney general can intervene in rate cases before the Alabama Public...
Alabama task force finalizes recidivism definition for future vote
Alabama

Alabama task force finalizes recidivism definition for future vote

Sep 23, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
A group seeking a formal definition for recidivism told the Alabama’s Joint Re-Entry Task Force Tuesday that they would stick with the same recommendation they made to the task force in June. That defines recidivism as returning to the custody...
Alabama Republicans fear GOP apathy could give Democrats boost
Alabama

Alabama Republicans fear GOP apathy could give Democrats boost

Sep 21, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Key Points Several Republican candidates expressed concerns that continued lower voter turnout could have a negative impact on their chances for getting elected to office. Turnout among Republicans has been relatively stable compared to the previous midterm elections, but Democratic...
Alabama executes Jeffery Lee by lethal injection
Alabama

Alabama executes Jeffery Lee by lethal injection

Sep 17, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The state of Alabama executed Jeffery Lee, 49, Thursday for the murders of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson during a pawn shop robbery in Orrville in 1998. Lee was executed by lethal injection just over two months after a federal...
Alabama inmate who stopped nitrogen execution scheduled to die by lethal injection
Alabama

Alabama inmate who stopped nitrogen execution scheduled to die by lethal injection

Sep 17, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The state of Alabama Thursday plans to execute a death row inmate amid clemency efforts by death penalty opponents, who cite a jury’s initial recommendation that he be sentenced to life without parole, a recommendation later overruled by a judge...
Alabama grocery tax repeal, once on the margins, becomes bipartisan campaign issue
Alabama

Alabama grocery tax repeal, once on the margins, becomes bipartisan campaign issue

Sep 14, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Key Points Several candidates campaigning for statewide office pledged to support repealing the grocery tax in Alabama. This includes both the Democratic and Republican candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Lawmakers in the past three years passed legislation to reduce...
Rhett Marques pledges business support in AL-02 race
Alabama

Rhett Marques pledges business support in AL-02 race

Sep 11, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The Republican nominee for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District pledged Thursday to reduce taxes and regulations for businesses shortly after he secured the endorsement of a business group. Speaking at an Enterprise tire store he once owned, Republican Rep. Rhett Marques...