Jefferson County Reopening Courthouses Friday, With Some Restrictions
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
The new normal begins Friday in Jefferson County as the County Commission reopens its courthouses and county facilities. The commission’s order to close county facilities to the public expires Thursday.
“You’ll see some changes when you come in the courthouse,” county manager Tony Petelos said. “We’re doing everything that we possibly can to protect our employees and to protect the public.”
An emergency commission meeting was to have been held Wednesday, but that was canceled in a press release announcing the reopening, which comes with some changes.
“General Services for the last two weeks has been building Plexiglass panels in front of all the counters so that our employees are behind the Plexiglass panel,” Petelos said. “We’re still asking our employees to work remotely when possible. Also, we’re going to ask the public to do as much business with the county online without having to come to the courthouse.”
All visitors to county facilities are required to wear protective face masks or some type of facial covering. Staffers will wear masks and gloves.
The county’s judicial branch is unaffected by the reopening of county facilities as judges have not decided when cases will be heard.
The canceled emergency meeting likely would have been a platform for commissioners to discuss the county’s share of the $2 trillion stimulus bill, the Cares Act. Jefferson County’s share, $115 million, was given to blunt the impact of an economic downturn set in motion by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Petelos said he had taken part in a conference call with the National Association of Counties about those funds. “We’re looking now to see what the rules of engagement are on those before we can do anything with that,” he said. “It can’t supplement lost budgets or revenues.”
Bessemer data center developer to request rezoning for additional 900 acres
The city’s attorney informed council members of the request on Tuesday, warning that there may be media scrutiny.
Is RFK Jr.’s Administration for a Healthy America — AHA — in the works or not?
The Administration for a Healthy America is RFK Jr.'s plan to tackle chronic disease, addiction and other persistent problems. But so far it's not being set up like previous new agencies.
Trump is threatening to cut funding from sanctuary cities. Here’s what to know
President Trump says he's cutting federal money to sanctuary cities. But courts have blocked similar moves, ruling that the federal government can't use funding to coerce state and local governments.
They quit their day jobs to bet on current events. A look inside the prediction market mania
Prediction market apps are thriving in Trump's second term, with traders betting on migrant deportations to election outcomes. A community of young, mostly male and very online traders are driving the industry's bonanza.
Major plumbing headache haunts $13 billion U.S. carrier off the coast of Venezuela
The crew of USS Ford is struggling to handle sewage problems on board the Navy's newest carrier.
Events in Minneapolis show how immigration enforcement has changed. What’s the impact?
Minneapolis is at the center of sweeping, evolving federal immigration push. It demonstrates how different immigration enforcement is under Trump's second administration - and raises questions about the lingering effects on local communities and law enforcement.
