Scales Opens the Windows of the County’s Committee Meeting Room
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Citizens of Jefferson County could only imagine the discussion and debate that happened when commissioners assembled for their committee meetings.
The five representatives meet in a board room around the corner from their offices with their respective staffs, the county attorney, the county manager and his staff and perhaps a few others.
But Tuesday’s commission committee meeting ushered in a new age for Jefferson County citizens, who were given a peek inside the proceedings courtesy of Commissioner Lashunda Scales.
The commission president pro tem brought livestreaming to the business of Jefferson County as a member of her staff broadcast the committee meeting via the internet. She promises to continue to practice with internet broadcasts of future committee meetings and full commission meetings.
The meetings can be seen via Scales’ website – www.LashundaScales.com – and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/lashundascalessheworks.
“It is long overdue for Jefferson County to take advantage of innovative technology,” Scales says. “While educating the general public on the county’s governmental process, which in turn creates a greater level of transparency and trust among our citizenry.”
Terri Sharpley Reynolds is the director of public affairs for the Association of County Commissions of Alabama. She did not know how many commissions broadcast their meetings but said it is a practice that is spreading.
“I can tell you that many of them do or are considering doing it,” she says. “There’s really no statutory obligation for them to do it. But it’s something that several counties have opted to do as a way to ensure the public has even more access to the meetings and the business of county government.”
With her interest piqued, Reynolds said ACCA may survey the state’s 67 counties to see how many broadcast their meetings.
“A lot of counties are and if they’re not already doing this, they’re kind of considering the pros and cons of doing it and the logistics of doing,” she says.
This is the second time Scales has opened the windows of government to give citizens a look inside. As a member of the Birmingham City Council in 2015, she sponsored a resolution to provide access to live, unedited city meetings via social media.
Author Sophie Kinsella, who penned the ‘Shopaholic’ books, has died at 55
The author, whose real name was Madeleine Sophie Wickham, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in late 2022.
The fight to beat neglected tropical diseases was going well. 2025 could change that
The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone.
Greetings from Andhra Pradesh, India, where a fragrant food stand feeds working women
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
Machado’s daughter accepts Nobel Peace Prize in Venezuelan opposition leader’s absence
Machado — who has been in hiding for nearly a year — was still expected in Oslo later in the day.
Trump’s SAVE tool is looking for noncitizen voters. But it’s flagging U.S. citizens too
Anthony Nel, of Texas, became a U.S. citizen as a teen. But a flaw in a Trump administration citizenship tool flagged him as a potential noncitizen, which led to his voter registration being canceled.
Useful tips from NPR’s most popular self-help stories of the year
A roundup of good advice from Life Kit's 10 most read stories of 2025. Find out which foods support better sleep, how to be happier and how to graciously accept compliments.
