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.

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...
To prevent veterans’ suicides, advocates seek to expand safe storage with gun retailers
Alabama

To prevent veterans’ suicides, advocates seek to expand safe storage with gun retailers

Sep 10, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Alabama veteran suicide prevention advocates are recruiting firearm retailers to a program that allows veterans who feel at risk of taking their lives to safely store their guns with a gun shop. Statewide, 14 gun retailers in 10 counties have...
Alabama Department of Corrections: Staffing efforts show concern with prison violence
Alabama

Alabama Department of Corrections: Staffing efforts show concern with prison violence

Sep 09, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Attorneys for the Alabama Department of Corrections and the state last week filed a motion for summary judgment in a long-running federal lawsuit over violence in Alabama’s correctional facilities, around the same time as the U.S. Department of Justice. Bill...
Alabama representative criticizes ongoing prison mental health litigation
Alabama

Alabama representative criticizes ongoing prison mental health litigation

Sep 08, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
An Alabama lawmaker and outspoken critic of the Alabama Department of Corrections said Thursday the Alabama Attorney General’s Office should have settled an ongoing lawsuit over mental health care in state prisons instead of continuing with litigation. Rep. Chris England...
Federal government seeks summary judgment against Alabama Department of Corrections
Alabama

Federal government seeks summary judgment against Alabama Department of Corrections

Sep 03, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Federal prosecutors Wednesday filed a heavily redacted motion for summary judgment ahead of a scheduled November trial over whether violence in Alabama’s prisons violate inmates’ Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The 260-page motion from the U.S. Attorney’s...
Civil rights group urges Alabama ban on criminal arrests for unpaid trash bills
Alabama

Civil rights group urges Alabama ban on criminal arrests for unpaid trash bills

Sep 03, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
A civil rights group is continuing to bring legal challenges against municipalities and counties that file criminal charges against residents with unpaid garbage bills, but wants state lawmakers to ban the practice. Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, introduced HB 512, during...
Alabama Public Service Commission lowers rate of return for energy company
Alabama

Alabama Public Service Commission lowers rate of return for energy company

Sep 01, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The state commission regulating investor-owned utilities Tuesday reduced the rate of return that a St.Louis-based energy company can earn. The Alabama Public Service Commission voted to authorize Spire Alabama to receive a return on equity of 9.4% for the next...
Alabama commission recommends simplifying, standardizing court fees
Alabama

Alabama commission recommends simplifying, standardizing court fees

Sep 01, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
A state commission late last month recommended the Alabama Legislature simplify and standardize court fees that local governments rely on but which can vary significantly from place to place. The suggestions in the report from the Joint Interim Study Commission...
Gov. Kay Ivey schedules November execution for Michael Taylor
Alabama

Gov. Kay Ivey schedules November execution for Michael Taylor

Aug 31, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
Gov. Kay Ivey set a November execution date for a death row inmate convicted of murdering a Gadsden couple in 1991. Michael Shannon Taylor, 54, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Nov. 5 for his role in...
Alabama state library board creates sample policies to implement controversial rule changes
Alabama

Alabama state library board creates sample policies to implement controversial rule changes

Aug 31, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
The Alabama Public Library Service unveiled a set of sample policies earlier this summer that they say will allow local libraries to remain in compliance with controversial administrative code changes adopted in the past two years. The set includes three...
Judge denies new trial for Alabama inmate who cited defense attorney’s ties to KKK
Alabama

Judge denies new trial for Alabama inmate who cited defense attorney’s ties to KKK

Aug 28, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
A Morgan County judge Friday denied a new trial for a former Alabama death row inmate who cited evidence that his attorney at his first trial had ties to the Ku Klux Klan. Morgan County Circuit Court Judge Charles Elliott...
Alabama to borrow $200 million to build new Escambia prison
Alabama

Alabama to borrow $200 million to build new Escambia prison

Aug 28, 2026
Ralph Chapoco
A state board Thursday agreed to borrow almost $200 million to build a new 4,000 bed prison in Escambia County. The decision by the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority increases the budget for the Escambia construction project from $700 million...