Collins & Carns: Occupational Tax
Jefferson County officials are still waiting to hear whether they’ll be allowed to spend occupational tax money while the legal battle against the tax winds its way through the courts. Earlier, a judge ruled the tax illegal. The county has appealed, saying if it loses the $75 million a year, the county will be financially devastated. WBHM’s Tanya Ott asked County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins how the occupational tax became such a big chunk of the general fund budget.
Collins has asked county department chiefs to prepare for 33-percent budget cuts, on top of 10 percent cuts they already took. Some critics, including County Commissioner Jim Carns, question whether across-the-board cuts make sense.
Bettye Fine Collins talks about how this situation is one of the most compelling arguments for reforming Alabama’s constitution.
Smartphones and computers are now spared from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs
The exemption comes amid worries of how President Trump's steep new tariffs will affect American tech companies that rely on supply chains in China, like Apple.
Federal judge orders USDA to unfreeze funds to Maine
The funds had been initially withheld following President Trump's clash with Maine Gov. Janet Mills over the issue of transgender athletes.
Ukraine’s DIY drone makers are helping fighters on the front lines
The war in Ukraine is now largely being fought with drones. Ukraine made 2 million last year. Drone makers churn them out in factories and mom-and-pop operations like one in a Kyiv basement apartment.
‘The lawn giveth and the lawn taketh away’: Photos from the 41st Annapolis Cup
The yearly competition between the small liberal arts college lauded for its "great books" curriculum and the famed school for naval officer training began in the early 1980s. Several attendees recounted the legend that a discussion between a St. John's College student and the Commandant of the Naval Academy led to the latter's challenge that his midshipmen could beat Johnnies at any sport.
Ecuador’s next president faces rampant drug violence and few resources to combat it
Ecuador's runoff vote pits Trump ally and incumbent Daniel Noboa against leftist challenger Luisa González, in an election dominated by the issue of security in a highly polarized political landscape.
A crow’s math skills include geometry
Crows in a lab were able to distinguish shapes that exhibited right angles, parallel lines, and symmetry, suggesting that, like humans, they have a special ability to perceive geometric regularity.
