WBHM Politics: When Retailers Close, Taxes Go Too
When you buy something at a store, that sticker price is not all you pay. There’s sales tax added on top. In Alabama, a portion goes to the state and a portion goes to local governments. For a small town with a big retailer, that can be major source of revenue. But when stores close, it can mean a hit to city coffers. It’s what happened in Fairfield when a Walmart closed in 2016. Irondale faces a similar situation after Sam’s Club announced in January it would shutter a store there.
We discuss how smaller cities and towns cope when a significant source of tax dollars disappears with Fairfield City Councilman Eddie Penny, Irondale Mayor Charles Moore and research analyst Megan Randall with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute.
Listen here or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or NPR One.
Don Lemon and Georgia Fort vow to continue reporting following arrests tied to anti-ICE protest
The two independent journalists face federal charges related to the interruption of a church service in Minnesota earlier this month. Lemon and Fort say they were there to cover a protest.
‘Sanford and Son’ co-star Demond Wilson dies at 79
The actor was best known for playing Lamont Sanford, opposite Redd Foxx's Fred Sanford in the hit 1970s sitcom. Wilson died Friday from complications related to cancer, his publicist said.
Milan protesters call for U.S. ICE agents to leave Italy as Winter Games approach
An ICE unit from the US Department of Homeland Security is playing a role providing security at the Winter Games. At past Olympics, their involvement would have been unremarkable. But after the violence in Minneapolis, many Italians protesting in Milan say ICE agents are no longer welcome.
Judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge as a lawsuit proceeds
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the ruling on social media, calling it "another HUGE" legal win for the Justice Department.
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina defeats No. 1 Aryana Sabalenka to win Australian Open
Saturday's win marks the second Grand Slam title for Rybakina, who took Wimbledon in 2022.
The U.S. will likely lose its measles elimination status. Here’s what that means
The South Carolina measles outbreak is now bigger than last year's Texas outbreak and is happening as the U.S. is poised to lose its measles elimination status.
