Birmingham City Council President Maxine Parker Dies

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2013/11/MaxineParker.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:4:"file";s:24:"2013/11/MaxineParker.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-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:24:"MaxineParker-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"MaxineParker-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:24:"MaxineParker-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:24:"MaxineParker-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:24:"MaxineParker-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;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:24:"MaxineParker-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:24:"MaxineParker-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:24:"MaxineParker-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:237487;s:14:"optimized_size";i:151030;s:7:"percent";d:36.399999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:52813;s:14:"optimized_size";i:30432;s:7:"percent";d:42.380000000000003;}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:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-336x189.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14447;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10398;s:7:"percent";d:28.030000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-771x434.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:52163;s:14:"optimized_size";i:31399;s:7:"percent";d:39.810000000000002;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3279;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3203;s:7:"percent";d:2.3199999999999998;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:35703;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22819;s:7:"percent";d:36.090000000000003;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23064;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16834;s:7:"percent";d:27.010000000000002;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-553x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31396;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20027;s:7:"percent";d:36.210000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-470x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24622;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15918;s:7:"percent";d:35.350000000000001;}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
        )

)
1658094994 
1384214400

Birmingham City Council President Maxine Parker has died. She was 69. No word yet on the cause of death. The three-term councilwoman spent more than four decades working at Talladega College. She also served as president of the Collegeville Neighborhood Association in Birmingham. Vivian Starks succeeded Parker in that position. Starks tells WBHM’s Andrew Yeager like many she was shocked to hear the news of Maxine Parker’s death.

 

Birmingham Mayor William Bell issued the following statement:

“Councilor Maxine Herring Parker will be remembered as a strong advocate for her district. She worked tirelessly and faithfully for the people of District 4. I was with her family at the time of her passing and I want them to know that the City of Birmingham is with them as they grieve the loss of such an outstanding mother, Councilor and friend. This is a sad day for our city.”

The mayor has also ordered city flags be flown at half-staff in her memory. President pro-temp Jay Roberson will lead meetings until a new president is elected. The council will appoint a replacement for her seat, but no timeline for that decision has been announced.

 

~ Andrew Yeager, November 12, 2013

 

Greetings from New Delhi, India, where performing monkeys spark delight — and ambivalence

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

Israel strikes in Damascus as Syrian forces clash with Druze groups

The strike came as clashes continued in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed.

Even healthy brains decline with age. Here’s what you can do

Scientists are finding ways to minimize the effects of aging on the brain. Here are some ways to keep it healthy.

Exclusive: Trump team withholds $140 million budgeted for fentanyl fight

Threats to $140 million in funds for public health departments battling fentanyl overdoses comes as some experts see the addiction safety net unraveling

In praise of the humble recorder — a gateway instrument for millions of schoolchildren

The small plastic instrument has long been the go-to instrument in elementary schools. But it is capable of so much more than "Hot Cross Buns."

Do you want federal money for an EV or home solar? Time is running out — fast

Federal tax credits for rooftop solar, heat pumps and other energy-efficient technologies are going away at the end of the year. Here's what consumers should know.

More Government Coverage