John Archibald: Court Fines and the Wonders of Birmingham

| August 28, 2014 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:596;s:6:"height";i:300;s:4:"file";s:32:"2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"archibald-thumbnail3-336x169.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:32:"archibald-thumbnail3-140x140.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:30:"archibald-thumbnail3-80x80.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:32:"archibald-thumbnail3-470x237.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:32:"archibald-thumbnail3-125x125.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:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3.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:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3-140x140.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:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3-336x169.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:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3-80x80.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:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3-300x300.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:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3-470x237.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:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/08/archibald-thumbnail3-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4174;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3102;s:7:"percent";d:25.68;}}}
        )

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

)
1672136835 
1409184000

The flashpoint for protests in Ferguson, Missouri, these last few weeks is the shooting death of 18-year old, African American Michael Brown by a white police officer. But those protests rest on kindling of distrust between the town’s black majority and the white leadership. Part of that distrust could be due to court fines that have become increasingly part of Ferguson’s revenue and it sounds similar to a phenomenon in Alabama. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about that and offers his seven wonders of the Birmingham world.

 

Judge to hold hearing on whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia is being vindictively prosecuted

A federal judge this week canceled the trial of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and scheduled a hearing on whether the prosecution is being vindictive in pursuing a human smuggling case against him.

Thailand and Cambodia sign new ceasefire agreement to end border fighting

In addition to ending fighting, the agreement calls for no further military movements by either side and no violations of either side's airspace for military purposes.

Top Instagram reels from Goats and Soda in 2025: Plumpy’Nut, aid cuts, soccer grannies

Our most-viewed Instagram videos include reports from a Rhode Island factory that makes special food for malnourished children and from a tournament for soccer-playing "grannies."

Should the U.S. model its vaccine policy on Denmark’s? Experts say we’re nothing alike

The Trump administration wants to revamp U.S. childhood vaccination recommendations to align with some other peer nations, including one tiny country in northern Europe.

Marijuana rescheduling would bring some immediate changes, but others will take time

President Trump set the process in motion to ease federal restrictions on marijuana. But his order doesn't automatically revoke laws targeting marijuana, which remains illegal to transport over state lines.

Why do airline computer systems fail? What the industry can learn from meltdowns

Alaska Airlines is the latest airline to ground its planes because of an IT meltdown. We talked to industry leaders about why these systems fail, and what airlines can learn from past disruptions.

More Government Coverage