Birmingham Council President Racks Up $18,000 in Cell Phone Fees

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/12/e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:425;s:4:"file";s:80:"2015/12/e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-336x223.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:223;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-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:78:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-600x425.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:425;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-468x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:468;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-399x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:399;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-600x425.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:425;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:80:"e036b2092cf31c3e81584d04ee44408be273e7d510b715429df0_640_smart-phone-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:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

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

)
1636090123 
1450942897

Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin has taken many trips to conventions and meetings on the taxpayers’ dime, but city coffers haven’t just paid for his hotel rooms.  Austin has racked up more than $18,000 in international roaming fees on his cell phone and other electronic devices.  Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about the situation.

 

 

States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence

Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.

When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?

Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.

When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline

The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.

How has the Electoral College survived, despite being perennially unpopular?

Despite its substantial-sounding name, the Electoral College isn’t a permanent body: It’s more of a process. For decades, a majority of Americans have wanted it to be changed.

Thousands of Pennsylvania voters have had their mail ballot applications challenged

Thousands of last-minute challenges to voters’ mail ballot applications, along with baseless claims by former President Donald Trump, are adding pressure on Pennsylvania county officials.

No more fluoride in the water? RFK Jr. wants that and Trump says it ‘sounds OK’

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s claims about fluoride in the drinking water are linked to Cold War conspiracy theories about the substance.

More Front Page Coverage