Government
Redevelopment Of Southtown As Mixed-Use Property To Begin In June
The redevelopment plans have been several years in the making.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Medical Marijuana, Yoga Bills Gain Traction
The push to legalize medical marijuana is gaining momentum in the Alabama Legislature. The bill would allow people with certain conditions to buy medical marijuana with a doctor’s approval. We have more in our weekly legislative wrap-up.
Birmingham Getting $5 Million To Battle Homelessness
The funding will come through HUD’s Home Investment Partnerships Program and is intended to help cities create affordable and supportive housing and services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Secretary of State John Merrill Won’t Run For Office Next Year, Acknowledges Affair
Merrill was expected to announce a run for U.S. Senate in 2022.
Gov. Kay Ivey Announces ‘Safer Apart’ Order As Mask Mandate Ends
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday issued a proclamation transitioning the state from an amended Safer at Home Order to a new Safer Apart Order.
Alabama Expands COVID Vaccine Eligibility To Those 16 And Older
That means a total of about four million Alabamians will be eligible starting Monday.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Bills on Habitual Offenders, Trans Athletes, Public Records Advance
Alabama's prisons are severely overcrowded. Some state lawmakers say repealing a law that stiffens punishment for repeat offenders would help alleviate that.
Bill Would Cut Pensions For Future Birmingham Employees, Raise Employee Contributions
A bill proposed this session would require the city of Birmingham to fully fund its pension obligation and increase employee contributions to the pension fund by half a percent. But opponents of the bill say, if passed, it would disproportionately affect lower-earning city employees.
JeffCo Commission Moves Toward Buying Land Next To Shady Grove Fire Station, Selling Old West End Health Center
Jefferson County wants to buy property from the state of Alabama. The land is located next to the Shady Grove Fire Department.
Mo Brooks Sets Up U.S. Senate Campaign Committee
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks is expected to make an announcement tonight that he plans to run for U.S. Senate.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Transgender Sports, Abortion, Riot Bills Advance
Alabama is one of several states considering bills restricting transgender minors. The sports bill is the second one related to transgender youth introduced this session.
Biden Administration Pushes To Vaccinate All Americans Against COVID-19
The White House said officials are working through issues of access and vaccine hesitancy.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Gambling Fails, Medical Marijuana, Anti-Riot Bills Face Hurdles
A bill that would have added a lottery and casinos was defeated in the Senate. In the aftermath, some lawmakers said a lottery-only bill would have stood a better chance.
A Year Like No Other: COVID-19 In The Gulf States
In a special broadcast one year after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, reporters from public radio stations in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana reflect on the toll it’s taken on the region.
New Report Outlines Voter Suppression In 2020 Election
A new report says Alabama did not do enough during the 2020 election to make voting easier for residents. But the Sec. of State disagrees.
As Alabama Seeks To Build New Prisons, Mississippi Sets Sights On Reform
Alabama's governor recently signed leases on two new private prisons with a goal of improving conditions for inmates. But reform advocates in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are urging a different approach.
JeffCo’s County Manager Plans Retirement After 10 Years Helping To Navigate Rough Waters
Jefferson County’s one and only county manager says he plans to retire this year.
Alabama Would Lose Seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas Under Federal Proposal
There's a proposal that would reduce the number of Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Alabama from 12 to five. Public comment on the proposal is being accepted through March 19.
Derelict Banks High School Building Set To Be Demolished
The Birmingham City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the one-year extension of a loan agreement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to tear down the building.
Environmental Groups Say Water Board Isn’t Effectively Protecting Drinking Water Supply
A new lawsuit against the Birmingham Water Works Board claims it failed to comply with a 2001 consent decree that protects land around the Cahaba River watershed, a major source of Birmingham’s drinking water.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Lighter Marijuana Penalties, Transgender Youth Therapies, Confederate Monuments
The week's highlights: A bill to ban therapies for transgender minors passed in the Alabama Senate. Lawmakers rejected a measure that would have given cities and towns more flexibility to move unwanted Confederate monuments elsewhere.
Ivey Extends Face Mask Order But Not For Long
Gov. Ivey leaves face mask order alone for now, but says it will end April 9.
Birmingham Divvies Up $500K In Bold Funding For Nonprofits
Nine Birmingham nonprofits will receive funding from the city’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development grant initiative this year, despite an overall reduction in funding for the program.
Field Of Candidates For Birmingham Mayor Continues To Grow
Currently, there are six people in the race for mayor of Birmingham. The filing deadline is July 10.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Gambling, Medical Marijuana, No-Excuse Absentee Voting
One of the measures that passed with very little debate in the Alabama Senate this week would authorize the use of medical marijuana. But the measure could face bigger challenges in the House.
Jeffco Commission Gets Clean Bill Of Health After State Review Of Its Accounts
The Jefferson County Commission is conducting its duties in accordance with state law, says a report from the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts.
Birmingham Mayor, Council Pushing Two Separate Wish Lists In Legislature
The city of Birmingham is sending two sets of lobbyists to Montgomery — one from Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office and one from the City Council.
Federal COVID-19 Rent and Utilities Assistance Set For Birmingham Residents
The City of Birmingham has received nearly $6.3 million in federal funding to assist residents who are unable to pay rent and utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alabama Senate Committee Passes Gambling Bill Before Break
Sweeping gambling legislation cleared a hurdle in the Alabama Legislature this week.
Jefferson County Commission OK’s More Cleanup Help In Fultondale
"Somebody has to get those big trees out of that creek or it’s going to back up and start flooding and start blocking roads and flooding these houses that are damaged," said Commissioner Joe Knight.
Jefferson County Commission May Hire More Road Clean-Up Help
Jefferson County Commissioners are considering whether to hire temporary workers to clean up litter along county roads.
Candidates Lining Up To Run For Birmingham City Council
Several incumbents plan to seek re-election and some challengers have emerged.
