What We Heard at WBHM’s Issues and Ales

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/06/IAprisonphoto.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:827;s:6:"height";i:552;s:4:"file";s:25:"2014/06/IAprisonphoto.png";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-336x224.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-771x515.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:515;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-768x513.png";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:513;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"IAprisonphoto-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-800x450.png";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-600x552.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:552;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-466x311.png";s:5:"width";i:466;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-397x265.png";s:5:"width";i:397;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-600x400.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-600x552.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:552;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"IAprisonphoto-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}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:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Tamika Moore
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1700545;s:14:"optimized_size";i:657256;s:7:"percent";d:61.350000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto.png";s:13:"original_size";i:445132;s:14:"optimized_size";i:174544;s:7:"percent";d:60.789999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-140x140.png";s:13:"original_size";i:31112;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12630;s:7:"percent";d:59.399999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-336x224.png";s:13:"original_size";i:98898;s:14:"optimized_size";i:37496;s:7:"percent";d:62.090000000000003;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-771x515.png";s:13:"original_size";i:414026;s:14:"optimized_size";i:160150;s:7:"percent";d:61.32;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-80x80.png";s:13:"original_size";i:11640;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5378;s:7:"percent";d:53.799999999999997;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-600x338.png";s:13:"original_size";i:247142;s:14:"optimized_size";i:94351;s:7:"percent";d:61.82;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-300x300.png";s:13:"original_size";i:117728;s:14:"optimized_size";i:45964;s:7:"percent";d:60.960000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-466x311.png";s:13:"original_size";i:176555;s:14:"optimized_size";i:66561;s:7:"percent";d:62.299999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-397x265.png";s:13:"original_size";i:132703;s:14:"optimized_size";i:49761;s:7:"percent";d:62.5;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/06/IAprisonphoto-125x125.png";s:13:"original_size";i:25609;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10421;s:7:"percent";d:59.310000000000002;}}}
        )

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

)
1619937349 
1403136000

Seated on the panel, from left, Cam Ward, an Alabama state senator; Kelsey Stein, Alabama Media Group and AL.com courts and crime reporter; Shay Golden, a former inmate and attorney; and Kim Thomas, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections. WBHM's education reporter Dan Carsen, at right, moderates the panel.

Tamika Moore

On Tuesday, June 17, WBHM hosted an Issues and Ales panel discussion focusing on the Alabama prison system. Over three panels, speakers covered the system’s current problems with overcrowding, along with how to best rehabilitate offenders and what Alabama could do to improve the prison system. Panelists included Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas, State Senator Cam Ward, former inmates, and people who provide services to ex-offenders.

WBHM’s education reporter, Dan Carsen, and news director, Rachel Osier Lindley, moderated the discussion. They sat down after the event to discuss some of the highlights.

The event was hosted in collaboration with the Alabama Media Group.

 

New pilot program will offer housing, resources to people leaving prison

The Birmingham Reentry Alliance will provide wrap around services to dozens of men and women adjusting to life after prison.

A New Orleans garden paid hundreds of dollars in fees for a sewer that doesn’t exist

Galvez Garden owner Lissie Stewart has been fighting the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board over inaccurate billing for years.

Alabama coal mine keeps digging after hundreds of fines and a fatal explosion

Following the death of a grandfather, Crimson Oak Grove Resources has left a community afraid for their homes and lives. An expert warns one resident may need to evacuate her home while she still can.

Florida’s 6-week abortion ban will have a ‘snowball effect’ on residents across the South

Abortion rights advocates say the ban will likely force many to travel farther for abortion care and endure pregnancy and childbirth against their will.

Attitudes among Alabama lawmakers softening on Medicaid expansion

Alabama is one of ten states which has not expanded Medicaid. Republican leaders have pushed back against the idea for years.

Birmingham is 3rd worst in the Southeast for ozone pollution, new report says

The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report shows some metro areas in the Gulf States continue to have poor air quality.

More Government Coverage