Innovate Birmingham Aims for a Generational Economic Boost
The list of Birmingham’s economic assets in its city center is well documented. They include UAB, Innovation Depot, and a growing cultural and entertainment scene. But there’s a feeling Birmingham is in a unique moment that, if seized, will reap benefits for years to come. So over the last two years, some members of the business community have been working on a new initiative they believe will set Birmingham on a path to that prosperity. We talk about Innovate Birmingham in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Lawsuit challenges USDA demand for food stamp data as some states prepare to comply
The suit claims that efforts to get sensitive information about food aid recipients from states violates federal privacy laws.
Proposed Muslim development in Texas brings inquiries by DOJ and state officials
The project, known as EPIC City, has yet to break ground, but members of this Muslim community feel stereotyped.
Voice of America’s prospects appear grim after appeals court order
A federal appeals court said it would not intervene — at least for now — to thwart the Trump administration's plans for the near-total dismantlement of Voice of America.
Hate groups in the US decline but their influence grows, report shows
In its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, released Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center said it counted 1,371 hate and extremist groups, a 5% decline. The nonprofit group attributes this to a lesser sense of urgency to organize because their beliefs have infiltrated politics, education and society in general.
The U.K. hands Chagos Islands over to Mauritius but says it will secure a U.S. base
The Chagos Islands are in the middle of the Indian Ocean and home to a strategic military base on Diego Garcia.
White House agrees to keep migrants in Djibouti for now, blasts federal judge’s ruling
The judge says the administration "unquestionably" violated his earlier order, which stated migrants cannot be deported to a country other than their own without having adequate notice and a chance to object.
