John Archibald: What the Birmingham Election Results Mean

| August 29, 2013 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2013/08/archibald-thumbnail.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:596;s:6:"height";i:300;s:4:"file";s:31:"2013/08/archibald-thumbnail.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"archibald-thumbnail-336x169.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:169;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"archibald-thumbnail-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"archibald-thumbnail-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"archibald-thumbnail-470x237.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:237;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"archibald-thumbnail-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:75860;s:14:"optimized_size";i:43497;s:7:"percent";d:42.659999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24243;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12519;s:7:"percent";d:48.359999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4873;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3266;s:7:"percent";d:32.979999999999997;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail-336x169.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:8933;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5370;s:7:"percent";d:39.890000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:2397;s:14:"optimized_size";i:1746;s:7:"percent";d:27.16;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16180;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9781;s:7:"percent";d:39.549999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail-470x237.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:15060;s:14:"optimized_size";i:7713;s:7:"percent";d:48.780000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/08/archibald-thumbnail-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4174;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3102;s:7:"percent";d:25.68;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1672350384 
1377734400

Birmingham voters had their say this week as they went to the polls to select a mayor, city council and school board members. Many incumbents returned to office, with the exception of the Birmingham Board of Education, which will see a wave of new blood. We take a look at the post-election political scene with Al.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald.

 

How George Wallace and Bull Connor set the stage for Alabama’s sky-high electric rates

After his notorious stand in the schoolhouse door, Wallace needed a new target. He found it in Alabama Power.

FIFA president defends World Cup ticket prices, saying demand is hitting records

The FIFA President addressed outrage over ticket prices for the World Cup by pointing to record demand and reiterating that most of the proceeds will help support soccer around the world.

From chess to a medical mystery: Great global reads from 2025 you may have missed

We published hundreds of stories on global health and development each year. Some are ... alas ... a bit underappreciated by readers. We've asked our staff for their favorite overlooked posts of 2025.

The U.S. offers Ukraine a 15-year security guarantee for now, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday the United States is offering his country security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan.

A ‘very aesthetic person,’ President Trump says being a builder is his second job

President Trump was a builder before he took office, but he has continued it as a hobby in the White House.

Teens are having disturbing interactions with chatbots. Here’s how to lower the risks

Teen use of AI chat bots is growing, and psychologists worry it's affecting their social development and mental health. Here's what parents should know to help kids use the technology safely.

More Government Coverage