Maddox Arrested, Resigns
Birmingham, Ala. —
Tuesday morning, Birmingham School Board President Edward Maddox was booked into jail and released a half-hour later on a thousand dollars bail. Tuesday evening, his attorney told reporters Maddox would resign and plead guilty to misdemeanor charges. He’s accused of using his position as president of the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association to funnel city money to a charity he founded, Woodlawn Missions and More, and of casting an illegal school-board vote to raise his daughter’s salary. His daughter, Melody Alston, is a technology specialist for the district.
The plea to misdemeanor charges means Maddox admits he unwittingly broke the law. The Birmingham News reports a hearing will be held today, Oct. 17, in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
The troubled school system is under a state takeover after an investigation began in April. Maddox was a leader in the slim board majority that fought the state takeover and fired popular superintendent Craig Witherspoon, only to have a judge reinstate him.
Ukraine destroys more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia
The attack was disclosed on the same day as Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday.
The women of No Sex for Fish are survivors — but their survival is precarious
A group of women in Kenya rebelled against trading sex for a fisherman's catch to sell. They got their own boats, had success — but in past years have faced floods and now fears about HIV medications.
Two dead and hundreds arrested in France after PSG win soccer Champions League
Hundreds of people were arrested in the celebrations, which were largely peaceful but degenerated into violence in some areas.
At least seven dead after two Russian bridges collapse
Russia's Investigative Committee, the country's top criminal investigation agency, said in a statement that explosions had caused the two bridges to collapse, but did not give further details.
North Carolina had a housing crisis before Hurricane Helene; now it’s even worse
Hurricanes have gotten larger and wetter because of climate change and inland communities are at greater risk from heavy flooding. That's what Hurricane Helene did to western North Carolina last year.
The White House is deporting people to countries they’re not from. Why?
The administration argues the men's home countries won't take them — but lawyers say getting sent to a country like South Sudan could lead to more persecution.