Commissioners Question Decision on County Attorney Jeff Sewell
Several Jefferson County commissioners say they still don’t know why commission president David Carrington decided to place county attorney Jeff Sewell on paid administrative leave. Carrington announced on Monday that he was placing Sewell on leave “pending a complete review of multiple issues on multiple fronts.” But al.com/Birmingham News quotes several commissioners who say they are shocked by the move and still don’t know what precipitated it. In a written statement released late Monday Sewell said
It is a lawyer’s duty to advise a client to obey the law. I have done that. Mr. Carrington’s attempt to silence that message signals a step backwards for Jefferson County.
On Friday, al.com/Birmingham News reported that Sewell sent commissioners a memo warning them about compliance with the county manager law.
Last fall, Sewell threatened to quit if the county did not raise his $375,000 salary. The commission gave in and offered him a $18,750 raise. An investigation by WBHM in 2010 revealed that Sewell is one of the highest paid county attorneys in the country.
Court rules Alabama violated Voting Rights Act in drawing congressional lines
A three-judge panel permanently blocked Alabama from using a state-drawn map that they said flouted their directive to draw a plan that was fair to Black voters. The decision was not a surprise because the panel ruled against the state twice previously and put a new map in place for last year’s elections.
Who is the new Pope Leo XIV and what are his views?
Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago. He is of French, Italian and Spanish descent. He spent years working as a missionary in Peru.
India and Pakistan trade attacks amid risk of war between nuclear states
The escalation began after India accused Pakistan of being behind an attack where gunmen killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in India-administered Kashmir on April 22. Pakistan denies it.
FEMA’s acting administrator is replaced a day after congressional testimony
The abrupt change came the day after Cameron Hamilton testified on Capitol Hill that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle an organization that helps plan for natural disasters and distributes financial assistance.
RFK Jr. says autism database will use Medicare and Medicaid info
The National Institutes of Health will partner with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to create a database of Americans with autism, using insurance claims, medical records and smartwatch data.
World Central Kitchen closes soup kitchens across Gaza due to dwindling supplies
Israel's ongoing blockade of aid for Gaza forced the humanitarian group to shut its soup kitchens as it faced empty warehouses and no replenishment of supplies in the war-battered enclave.
