Government

Ivey Signs Contracts To Build Two Mega Prisons

Alabama moves one step closer to replacing most existing male prisons with three privately-built mega prisons.

What To Expect During The 2021 Alabama Legislative Session

Lawmakers will debate perennial issues from the budgets to prisons, but the coronavirus pandemic remains ever present.

Woodfin Kicks Off Mayoral Reelection Campaign, Says He’ll Ramp Up Work On Neighborhoods, Education Priorities

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced this weekend that he is running for another term.

Jones Starts His Post-Senate Life As CNN Contributor

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones is taking on a new role as a political commentator at CNN.

City Council Approves Bid For Birmingham Real-Time Crime Center

The city of Birmingham's 'real-time crime center' is coming to life thanks to the city council's approval of a nearly $1 million construction bid.

Settlement Reached To Address ABC Coke Pollution

The Drummond Company will now be required to follow a leak detection and repair program for the rest of the plant’s existence.

Birmingham Police Stations Offer Safe Place To Exchange Online Purchases

The comments from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin comes after a UAB student was shot and killed during a transaction arranged online.

Park Board Approves Making Legion Field A 24/7 Vaccination Site

Legion Field has been operating as a testing site for COVID-19. Now officials want to expand the operation to include coronavirus vaccinations.

JeffCo Commission Picks Up Where Feds Left Off, Will Pay For COVID Time Off

The Jefferson County Commission unanimously approved funding this week that will help pay county employees for time off related to COVID-19.

Birmingham Council Hires Its Own Lobbyist And Lawyer, Saying The Mayor Doesn’t Share Information

The Birmingham City Council decided this week to hire its own lobbyist and legal consultant.

Alabama Young Voters On Capitol Attacks: ‘We Can’t Unsee Those Images’

Young voters of both parties look toward the future as a new administration takes over.

Woodfin Looks Toward A Better 2021 In State Of The Community Address

The mayor discussed continued neighborhood revitalization, the rise in homicides, and encouraging economic development projects on the horizon.

Scales Announces Bid For Mayor

The county commissioner would be the first elected female mayor of the city.

Justice Department Knew 2018 Border Policy Would Separate Children From Families

Alabama’s Jeff Sessions is facing criticism for his role as former U.S. Attorney General in a new report by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General.

Huntsville Picked For Headquarters Of New U.S. Space Command

The Air Force said Huntsville is the “preferred and reasonable’’ site pending a required environmental impact study.

Alabama Man Faces 17 Indictments After Riots At The U.S. Capitol

An Alabama man who was arrested last week following riots at the U.S. Capitol now faces additional federal weapons charges.

Democrats Gearing Up for Effort to Oust Mo Brooks in 2022

U.S. Representative Mo Brooks is facing backlash after his comments last week surrounding the pro-Trump riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Birmingham Pastor Calls For A State Of Emergency Over Murder Rate

The number of homicides rose in the city in 2020. Birmingham started 2021 with three murders over three days.

Alabama Republicans Condemn Pro-Trump Mob As Many Vow To Continue The Fight

Alabama lawmakers in Congress ranged in their reactions to Wednesday's Capitol breach by a mob of Trump supporters.

Birmingham Council Goes Virtual, Mayor Still Hospitalized

Jefferson County's recent spike in COVID-19 cases — along with Mayor Randall Woodfin’s recent COVID diagnosis and hospitalization — finally pushed the city council's weekly meeting fully online.

Woodfin Hospitalized With COVID

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was hospitalized Monday for symptoms related to COVID-19.

Birmingham Council OKs Incentives For Project At Old Carraway Hospital

The Birmingham City Council approved an economic incentives package this week for the long-awaited redevelopment of the former Carraway Hospital property.

Two Birmingham Water Board Leaders Reappointed, Two New Members Named

The Birmingham City Council approved four appointments to the Birmingham Water Works Board on Tuesday.

Jefferson County Emerges From Consent Decree After 45 Years

After 45 years, Jefferson County has been released from its consent decree.

Birmingham Revenue Appears Stable, Council Extends Funding For Rickwood, McWane And Ruffner

The city of Birmingham has approved contracts with three area nonprofits — Friends of Rickwood Field, McWane Science Center and Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. These nonprofits previously had their funding cut by the city because of the pandemic.

Bus Rapid Transit Line Coming To Birmingham

Construction on the Birmingham Xpress will start in January and is scheduled to finish in time for the World Games in 2022.

DOJ Lawsuit Could Lead To Federal Oversight Of Alabama Prisons

More than a year after finding unconstitutional conditions in Alabama's male prisons, federal officials are taking legal action against the state.

Birmingham Will Apply For Grant To Revitalize Smithfield Court

With the grant month, the city plans to improve the area around Smithfield Court, including infrastructure improvements such as street paving, sidewalks, lighting and parks as well as beautification and anti-blight efforts.

Spend It All: JeffCo Commission Makes Sure to Leave No Cares Act Money On The Table

The county commissioners sought to tie up any loose ends for Cares Act money at its meeting on Tuesday.

Predictable Prejudice: Predictive Policing Software Promises Unbiased Crime-Fighting, But Can It Deliver?

Predictive policing software programs such as PredPol was adopted by the Homewood Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in 2016 and Birmingham Police Department in 2019.

Birmingham Officials Reject Defunding, But Plan Police Reforms With Civilian Oversight

The city of Birmingham’s Public Safety Task Force released a report Thursday morning that outlines four areas that the city can improve on.

DOJ Sues Alabama Over Violence In Prisons

The lawsuit is an attempt by federal officials to force the state to remedy a prison system long riddled with violence.