On The Line: Jefferson County Budget Crisis
Jefferson County will put more than a thousand county employees on unpaid administrative leave next month under a plan to deal with the county’s budget crisis. Officials say without the move the county will be broke by August 7th. Governor Bob Riley has urged state lawmakers who represent Jefferson County to quickly back a $1 billion bailout plan. He wants to call a special session of the full legislature, which failed to find a solution during the regular session. How likely is a compromise, and will it be a long-term solution or a bandaid?
This Friday, July 24, 2009, WBHM wants to hear your thoughts on the topic during our special call in program, On The Line: Jeffco Budget Crisis. The show will air live from 12PM – 1PM.
Join the conversation by calling 1-800-444-9246 during the program or emailing your comment or question to [email protected].
AL State Senator (Rep) James T. “Jabo” Waggoner represents Jefferson and Shelby counties’ 16th district. His political career began in the Alabama House of Representatives where he served for 17 years (1966-1983). He is the longest serving member of the Jefferson County legislative delegation. Waggoner is an alumnus of Ensley High School, Auburn University and Birmingham Southern College. He earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from Birmingham School of Law.
AL State Representative (Dem) Patricia Todd has socially and professionally advocated for public policies relevant to social justice, HIV/AIDS, healthcare and a wide range of issues affecting the Birmingham community for the past twenty years. After a contentious serious of political races in 2006 that garnered state and national attention, Todd was as State Representative for House District 54, making her the first elected public official who is openly gay in the history of Alabama. Todd is the Associate Director of AIDS Alabama. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and her Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Homewood votes this month to change its form of government. Why is the issue so controversial?
A move by Homewood to change to a council-manager form of government began with little fanfare. But as the September 24th vote has grown closer, the relatively quiet, special election has spun into a controversial issue.
The first general election ballots are going in the mail as the presidential contest nears
While the ballot milestone is relatively quiet and comes in a state that is not a political battleground, it is a sign of how quickly Election Day is approaching after this summer's party conventions and Tuesday's first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump.
Jefferson County released from sewer consent decree
A federal judge on Thursday released Jefferson County from a decades-long consent decree ordering rehabilitation of its sewer system. As part of the agreement, the county committed to completing several additional capital improvement projects by early 2027 that are planned and funded to further reduce sewer overflows.
Deceptive drug tests ensnare new parents and babies
Imagine giving birth and then testing positive for a drug. Except you didn't take any drugs. Still the state Department of Human Resources opens an investigation based on that erroneous test.
Bill Greason, the oldest-living Negro Leaguer, takes another trip around the bases at 100
Greason, a former pitcher for the Birmingham Black Barons, was honored for his contributions to baseball, his community and his country at a recent celebration.
‘A dream come true’: Alabama ‘grandfamilies’ are set to receive opioid settlement funds
The new state program— the first of its kind in the U.S. — will give $280,000 from opioid settlement funding to grandparents raising their grandchildren.
