Consent Decree Lifted

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2007/01/dhr.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1253;s:4:"file";s:15:"2007/01/dhr.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-336x219.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:219;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-771x503.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:503;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-768x501.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:501;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"dhr-1536x1002.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1002;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:13:"dhr-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-477x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:477;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-406x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:406;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1470285;s:14:"optimized_size";i:481960;s:7:"percent";d:67.219999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:43:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1178396;s:14:"optimized_size";i:268450;s:7:"percent";d:77.219999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-336x219.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24218;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17789;s:7:"percent";d:26.550000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-771x503.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:99532;s:14:"optimized_size";i:72321;s:7:"percent";d:27.34;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3402;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3358;s:7:"percent";d:1.29;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:60035;s:14:"optimized_size";i:43572;s:7:"percent";d:27.420000000000002;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:27272;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19940;s:7:"percent";d:26.879999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-476x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:43879;s:14:"optimized_size";i:31956;s:7:"percent";d:27.170000000000002;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-406x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:33551;s:14:"optimized_size";i:24574;s:7:"percent";d:26.760000000000002;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1664556725 
1168992000
For almost twenty years the Alabama Department of Human Resource’s child welfare system has been under the close watch of the federal government. The oversight came about because of a lawsuit filed on behalf of a child known only as R.C. In 1988 the 16-year-old boy, who had behavioral problems, sued the state over his treatment while in DHR’s care — saying he was never provided the services he needed while in foster homes. The suit was eventually settled and what became known as the “R.C. Consent Decree” was signed; the state agreeing to allow a federal monitor in to make sure Alabama fixed its broken child welfare system.

Since the consent decree’s signing in 1991 Alabama has become a national model for reforming children’s services. When Page Walley took over as commissioner in 2004 getting the state out from under R.C. was one of his primary goals and he’s done it. Walley announced to his staff on January 16 that a federal judge had agreed to lift R.C. WBHM’s Rosemary Pennington talked with Walley about the decision.

 

 

‘Like ice melting’: Journalists warn press freedom is in decline across Asia

China's jailing of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan highlights a deeper press freedom crisis across Asia.

Scientists create human eggs in the lab, using skin cells

Scientists created the eggs using DNA from adult skin cells, a step that could someday potentially lead to new ways to treat infertility and enable gay couples to have genetically related children.

Second detainee dies after shooting at Dallas ICE facility

Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, 32, had been on life support after what authorities called a targeted act of violence toward federal immigration agents. He leaves behind four kids and his wife, pregnant with their fifth.

Energy Dept. tells employees not to use words including ‘climate change’ and ‘green’

The banned words list applies to all work done at the largest federal funder of clean energy technology.

Birmingham’s Bengali community breaks barriers with annual Durga Puja

Durga Puja is a Bengali celebration during the 9-day long Hindu festival of Navratri, which celebrates divine feminine energy in all forms. Across India, celebrations vary in scale, focus and tradition. 

The UN mission appeals to the Taliban to restore internet access in Afghanistan

The outage was the first nationwide shutdown since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021 and was part of their professed crackdown on immorality.

More News Coverage