August 14 Morning Newscast

| August 14, 2012 

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August 14, 2012, Morning Newscast

The Birmingham school board must accept the authority of state officials who took over the system in June. That includes a directive NOT to fire superintendent, Craig Witherspoon. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown (photo above) ruled yesterday that school board President Edward Maddox and his allies must stop interfering in a state takeover of the school system and keep Craig Witherspoon as city superintendent during that time. The Birmingham News reports that in his ruling, Judge Brown wrote that Maddox’s micromanagement has put the district’s accreditation in peril and could have led to a funding loss that would have shut down the school system if the state had not intervened. Brown ruled the June 26 state takeover was valid under the Alabama Constitution and state law and that the Birmingham board’s vote on July 17 to fire Witherspoon after a 60-day leave violated board policy, the superintendent’s contract and a state directive.
Brown also ruled that Maddox and his supporters “failed to cooperate and collaborate in good faith” with state intervention officials..

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Democratic Party will hold a hearing Friday in Birmingham on disqualifying Harry Lyon as the party’s nominee for chief justice.
Lyon says Party Chairman Mark Kennedy ordered the hearing for him to show why he shouldn’t be disqualified. Kennedy’s order says Lyon has violated party bylaws, including one that says people are entitled to honest and ethical government. Lyon said he expects to be kicked off the November ballot because party officials want to name someone else to take on the Republican nominee, Roy Moore. He said the party never expected Moore to win the Republican nomination against two opponents, and now the party wants to change candidates. Friday’s hearing does not involve a complaint from a Huntsville voter about Lyon not filing campaign finance reports on time.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A prominent business group, the Business Council of Alabama, has voted to support approval of a proposed constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot Sept. 18. The amendment would permit the removal of nearly $146 million a year for three years from a state trust fund for use in balancing the state General Fund budget. BCA President William Canary said Alabama is in a “predicament because of a sustained, ongoing failure of leadership,” but imminent hardship will occur if the constitutional amendment is not approved. Canary said BCA would like to see the Legislature pass a bill requiring the money to be repaid in the future to the Alabama Trust Fund.

 

54% of support comes from members

 

Jefferson County health providers ‘well equipped’ for The World Games

Officials plan to treat as many people as possible at on site medical tents. They say the biggest concern is heat-related illness.

Birmingham City Council passes Woodfin’s budget untouched

Police, public works and youth programs were the biggest winners in the $517 million budget, the largest ever for the city.

Woodfin says people without homes won’t be moved from public spaces for The World Games

World Games officials clarified that anyone will be able to walk through and access public areas around venues like Railroad Park, Linn Park, Protective Stadium and the new City Walk, despite those sites being behind security parameters.

Groups oppose $725 million Alabama bond sale for building prisons

The state is expected to go to the bond market on Tuesday, to provide financing for the construction plan. That money will be added to $135 million in state funds and $400 million in pandemic relief dollars that the state already agreed to put toward the construction project.

“Expect us,” reproductive rights supporters rally across Alabama after federal abortion ruling

Alabamians took to the streets this weekend after elective abortions became a felony in the state on Friday.

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, Republican lawmakers applaud, others say they will sue, and some take to the streets

The ACLU of Alabama say it will continue its lawsuit to reinstate access to abortion.

More Government Coverage