Municipal Judges Disciplined for Modern-Day Debtors’ Prisons

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:768;s:4:"file";s:41:"2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-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:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-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:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;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:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-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:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-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:701383;s:14:"optimized_size";i:426175;s:7:"percent";d:39.240000000000002;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:69:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:438638;s:14:"optimized_size";i:241952;s:7:"percent";d:44.840000000000003;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:6962;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5137;s:7:"percent";d:26.210000000000001;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-336x252.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23336;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17358;s:7:"percent";d:25.620000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-771x578.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:99626;s:14:"optimized_size";i:63779;s:7:"percent";d:35.979999999999997;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:48554;s:14:"optimized_size";i:35568;s:7:"percent";d:26.75;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24680;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18296;s:7:"percent";d:25.870000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-415x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:33643;s:14:"optimized_size";i:24876;s:7:"percent";d:26.059999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:77:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/3293465641_b6c5081e87_b_gavel-353x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25944;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19209;s:7:"percent";d:25.960000000000001;}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
        )

)
1656103408 
1484210839

At the forefront in Alabama the last few years are municipal fines and the private companies that often collect them. Here’s the issue: a resident gets a parking ticket. But if he or she is poor and can’t scrape up enough money to pay it, fines or penalties increase. It’s even led to jail time in some cases. But disciplinary action against judges suggest the judicial system in Alabama is moving away from these tactics. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about the issue.

 

As Sean Combs’ prosecutors rest, here is the case they’ve made

The meandering trial of the hip-hop mogul can be difficult to parse. Here's a broad overview of the charges and the case the government has presented to the jury.

What to know about ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ Florida migrant detention center in progress

Florida's attorney general says the facility is on track to open in early July, at a little-used airfield in the Everglades. Environmental activists hope they can repeat history and stop the project.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell says tariff uncertainty warrants caution on rate cuts

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, under continued attack from President Trump, says the impact of tariffs on inflation should become clearer in the coming months.

Alabama environmental groups secure rare win in fight to update water toxicity standards

The new standards will reduce amounts of 12 toxic or cancer-linked pollutants in Alabama waterways, according to clean water advocacy groups that petitioned for the changes.

Breaking another presidential norm, Trump drops the f-bomb on camera

Presidents have been known to use salty language behind closed doors. But President Trump may be the first to very deliberately drop an f-bomb on camera.

Fired Justice Department lawyer accuses agency of planning to defy court orders

The accusations from a veteran government lawyer add to broader concern about the Trump administration's repeated clashes with the judiciary.

More Front Page Coverage