A Republican Reversal on Ethics Oversight and Birmingham Festivals find they now owe the City

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:596;s:6:"height";i:300;s:4:"file";s:32:"2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"archibald-thumbnail2-336x169.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-thumbnail2-140x140.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-thumbnail2-80x80.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-thumbnail2-470x237.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-thumbnail2-125x125.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2-140x140.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2-336x169.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2-80x80.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2-300x300.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2-470x237.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/2015/03/archibald-thumbnail2-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4174;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3102;s:7:"percent";d:25.68;}}}
        )

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

)
1673454880 
1429775221

Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard faces trial on ethics charges this fall.  The Republican representative is accused of using his political office for personal gain.  Hubbard’s defenders contend his prosecution is politically motivated. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says that refrain is familiar.  Democrats used to say the same thing when they faced corruption scandals.  He talks about this and how Birmingham festivals will now have to pay for city services that used to be provided for free.

 

Venezuela’s exiles in Chile caught between hope and uncertainty

Initial joy among Venezuela's diaspora in Chile has given way to caution, as questions grow over what Maduro's capture means for the country — and for those who fled it.

Inside a Gaza medical clinic at risk of shutting down after an Israeli ban

A recent Israeli decision to bar Doctors Without Borders and other aid groups means international staff and aid can no longer enter Gaza or the West Bank. Local staff must rely on dwindling supplies and no international expertise.

Iran warns US troops and Israel will be targets if America strikes over protests as death toll rises

Iran's parliament speaker warned the U.S. military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America strikes the Islamic Republic, as threatened by President Donald Trump.

Nationwide anti-ICE protests call for accountability after Renee Good’s death

Activist organizations are planning at least 1,000 protests and vigils this weekend. Officials in major cities cast Saturday's demonstrations as largely peaceful.

Veteran actor T.K. Carter, known for ‘The Thing’ and ‘Punky Brewster,’ dies at 69

T.K. Carter gained fame as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, "The Thing."

Who is Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince encouraging demonstrations across Iran?

In exile for nearly 50 years, Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has issued calls urging Iranians to join protests sweeping the country. But support for him may not be clear cut.

More Government Coverage