NAACP Suspends Birmingham President Hezekiah Jackson
The national office of the NAACP has suspended the organization’s local Birmingham President Hezekiah Jackson IV.
The NAACP issued a statement Wednesday evening saying it is investigating whether Jackson advised residents not to have their soil tested for potentially damaging toxins and if he received payment for those activities.
Jackson, who has been president of the NAACP, Metro Birmingham Branch for about 20 years, says he has done nothing wrong and will be exonerated by the investigation.
Testimony, emails and invoices presented in a recent corruption trial connected Jackson to a scheme to discourage residents in North Birmingham and surrounding communities to be potentially included in an EPA cleanup site.
A coal company executive and a lawyer were convicted in that trial. In connection with the case, former state legislator Oliver Robinson pleaded guilty to bribery, fraud and tax evasion. Robinson, is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
With talks teetering, climate negotiators struck a controversial $300 billion deal
Representatives of developing countries and climate activists were furious over the outcome, saying $300 billion annually from industrialized countries is far short of what vulnerable nations need to better protect themselves from climate change.
Alcohol poisoning deaths in Laos renew concerns about methanol. Here’s what to know
The U.S., Australia and U.K. have issued warnings for travelers in Vang Vieng after several tourists died in a suspected methanol poisoning outbreak.
Trump taps Brooke Rollins of America First Policy Institute for agriculture secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Brooke Rollins, head of the America First Policy Institute, to oversee the Department of Agriculture. She has a long history in conservative politics.
Winter storms sweep across the U.S. while a new system is expected for Thanksgiving
A major storm dropped more snow and record rain in California, while on the opposite side of the country blizzard or winter storm warnings were in effect Saturday.
Infant dies and 10 others sick in latest listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat meat
The cases appeared in California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York between July 31 and Oct. 24, the CDC said. Nine out of the 11 infected individuals were hospitalized.
NATO head and Trump meet in Florida for talks on global security
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and the head of NATO, Mark Rutte, met on Friday in Palm Beach for talks on global security, the military alliance said Saturday.
