Airport Authority Leader to Step Down after Three Decades

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/12/CliffBraneFlickr.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:823;s:6:"height";i:466;s:4:"file";s:28:"2017/12/CliffBraneFlickr.png";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-336x190.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:190;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-771x437.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:437;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-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:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-768x435.png";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:435;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"CliffBraneFlickr-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:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-600x466.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:466;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-549x311.png";s:5:"width";i:549;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-468x265.png";s:5:"width";i:468;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:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-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:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-600x466.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:466;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"CliffBraneFlickr-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] => Cliff Brane
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Courtesy of Flickr
        )

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

)
1654997234 
1513347325

After a 34-year career at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, president and CEO Alfonso Denson will step down in early 2018.

Denson was head of the airport authority for 17 years. He oversaw upgrades to the airport terminal and the addition of a federal customs inspection station for international travelers, the only one in the state.alfonsodensoncropped

According to a Birmingham Airport Authority statement, Denson led projects including increasing the length of a main runway from 10,000 to 12,000 feet, expanding the aircraft parking area to 400,000 square feet, and “acquiring nearly 800 properties through the noise and environmental land acquisition program,” which the statement says was made possible by Denson obtaining more federal funding.

Last year, Denson won a Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Airport Executives.

He has a base yearly salary of $398,549, which is higher than those in similar positions, even at much larger airports. The airport board plans to hire a consultant to help with its search for a new leader.

 

RFK Jr. names new slate of vaccine advisers after purging CDC panel

Two days after firing vaccine experts who help set the nation's immunization policies, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has picked eight successors for the CDC panel.

Leaders of ‘orgasmic meditation’ company were convicted of forced labor: What to know

OneTaste billed itself as a sexual wellness business centered on "orgasmic meditation." Prosecutors said former leaders subjected victims to sexual and emotional abuse.

LA braces for Marines as California sues to stop military involvement

With the federalized National Guard deployed against the state's wishes and the Marines on the way to L.A., there are growing concerns about the policing role of the military.

In Miami, deportations are raising concerns among Cuban-Americans

South Florida's Cuban-American community supports President Trump, but some members are uneasy with his immigration policies. "I'm not for deporting people without criminal records."

Performers and video game companies reach deal that ends nearly year-long strike

Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use A.I. in game development.

Trump’s EPA plans to repeal climate pollution limits on fossil fuel power plants

The Trump administration plans to get rid of all limits on climate-warming pollution from the nation's fossil fuel power plants. Fossil fuel interests hailed the proposal, which likely faces legal challenges from environmental groups.

More Front Page Coverage