Birmingham City Council President Maxine Parker Dies

| November 12, 2013 

 ========= 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
        )

)
1664566751 
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

 

Pasta meals from Trader Joe’s and Walmart may be linked to a deadly listeria outbreak

The USDA says the precooked pasta products, sold at Trader Joe's and Walmart, could be connected to a nationwide listeria outbreak that has killed four people and sickened at least 20 others.

Spotify’s Daniel Ek announces that he’ll step aside as CEO

The founder of the world's biggest music streaming service says he'll remain at the company as Executive Chairman, and will be replaced by two co-CEOs.

With ‘drug boat’ strikes, Trump leans into war on terror tactic against cartels

The administration's approach to drug cartels relies — at least in part — on a blueprint for military strikes that mirror those waged during the global war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Poll: Republicans get more of the blame than Democrats for a potential shutdown

As a government shutdown becomes more likely, a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows even though President Trump has a low approval rating, just 1 in 4 approve of how Democrats in Congress are doing.

‘Like ice melting’: Journalists warn press freedom is in decline across Asia

China's jailing of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan highlights a deeper press freedom crisis across Asia.

Scientists create human eggs in the lab, using skin cells

Scientists created the eggs using DNA from adult skin cells, a step that could someday potentially lead to new ways to treat infertility and enable gay couples to have genetically related children.

More Government Coverage