Former Mayor, Birmingham Officials on City’s Power Struggle

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/03/city-hall.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:460;s:6:"height";i:306;s:4:"file";s:21:"2016/03/city-hall.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:5:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"city-hall-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"city-hall-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:19:"city-hall-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:21:"city-hall-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"city-hall-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:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Nick Patterson
        )

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

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

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

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:106755;s:14:"optimized_size";i:78198;s:7:"percent";d:26.75;}s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/city-hall.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:37390;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27323;s:7:"percent";d:26.920000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/city-hall-336x224.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20235;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14874;s:7:"percent";d:26.489999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/city-hall-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22434;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16432;s:7:"percent";d:26.75;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/city-hall-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26696;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19569;s:7:"percent";d:26.699999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";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] => success
        )

)
1651839706 
1458220246

Tensions between the Birmingham City Council and Mayor William Bell have escalated over the past several months. There’s now a bill in the legislature designed to change Birmingham’s Mayor-Council Act of 1955, which has determined the devision of power in the city for decades. A few weeks ago, draft legislation circulated that would transfer some powers from the city council to the mayor. Thursday evening at 6 pm, the Birmingham City Council holds an open meeting about these possible changes. We talk with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD, about what former Birmingham officials think of the current battle in Birmingham government. Patterson also discusses the growth of small business in the Magic City, and what help entrepreneurs want from the city.

 

Twenty years later, the REAL ID deadline is here. Here’s why it took so long

REAL ID will be enforced in U.S. airports starting May 7. Implementing the law involved years of negotiations between federal and state officials.

Meet the Florida group chipping away at public benefits one state at a time

The Trump administration's "Make America Healthy Again" platform has boosted the agenda of a conservative think tank that's been working for more than a decade to reshape the nation's public assistance programs.

Trump has said Canada should be the 51st state. Today, he meets its prime minister

Prime Minister Mark Carney won the Canadian election vowing to take on President Trump. Tuesday, they meet for the first time in the Oval Office.

Trump expands military use at the southern border. Are there legal limits?

The Posse Comitatus Act restricts using federal troops in civilian law enforcement. Exceptions exist, but Trump's crackdown on immigration is shaping up to be a major test for the law.

Critics warn DOJ is being politicized despite vows to end its purported weaponization

Critics warn that despite President Trump's call to end the purported weaponization of the Justice Department, it has become more politicized in the president's first three months back in office.

South Korea halted its adoption fraud investigation. Adoptees still demand the truth

The suspension of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission raises questions about future efforts to investigate the country's foreign adoption program.

More Front Page Coverage