Government
First Police Review Finds BPD Is “Doing Pretty Good,” Woodfin Says, Ends With Explicit Ban On Chokeholds
Mayor Randall Woodfin says there is still room for improvement in the Birmingham Police Department. This comes after a 30 day internal review.
Alabama’s Budgets In Good Shape Despite Economic Hit From The Pandemic
Unemployment skyrocketed in Alabama and the economy sputtered after shutdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Still Alabama’s two budgets are on reasonably good footing.
Report: Complicated Alabama Voting Rules Restrict Access To The Polls
A new report details barriers and inconsistencies around voting that significantly limit access to the ballot box for Alabama's poor, rural, and minority voters.
Jay Town Resigns As U.S. Attorney Of The Northern District Of Alabama
U.S. Attorney Jay Town is resigning from his position with the U.S. Department of Justice after nearly three years on the job.
2020 Primary Runoff Voter Guide: Your Source Of Information For The July 14 Election
Alabama's Senate primary runoff is July 14. Check out these candidate profiles and what's on the ballot.
Supreme Court Blocks Curbside Voting, Loosening Of ID Requirements For Absentee Ballots
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday halted plans to provide curbside voting in the July 14 primary runoff and to ease ID requirements to vote by absentee ballot.
Ivey Extends COVID-19 Health Order Through July
Gov. Ivey extended a public health order aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. It would have expired Friday.
Sessions Calls On Birmingham To Reinstate Agreements With Church Of The Highlands
U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Sessions says the Birmingham Board of Education and Birmingham Housing Authority's decision to end agreements with the church is unconstitutional.
Avondale Added As The City’s Newest Entertainment District On July 1
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to approve the creation of the “Avondale Entertainment District."
Gov. Ivey Has Been Quiet On COVID-19. Does It Matter?
Unlike some other governors, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has kept a very low profile during the coronavirus pandemic, only rarely acknowledging it. But what difference does that make?
Removed Birmingham Confederate Monument ‘A Weight Lifted Off Of This City’
Sparked by protests calling for racial justice, a growing number of cities across the country are taking down Confederate monuments. What's next for these structures and the communities who remove them?
Former Governor Turns Attention to Criminal Justice System Following Release From Prison
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman maintains he is innocent despite a federal bribery conviction. In a new book he says changes are needed to how prosecutors operate.
County Officials Hope New State Intake Procedures For Inmates Relieves Pandemic Pressure
Inmate transfers from county jails to the state prison system have been reduced because of the pandemic. Local officials say that needs to change or county jails will be in crisis.
Polling Officials Say Alabama’s July 14 Election Won’t Mirror Georgia’s Snafus
Alabama is prepared for the July 14 primary runoffs, according to Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.
Birmingham Conducting Review Of Police Department Procedures, Could Make Changes To Operate In Post-George Floyd World
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says his office will conduct a comprehensive internal review of the city’s police department.
Jefferson County Curfew Is Over, Commission Says
The Jefferson County Commission voted Tuesday not to extend the order establishing a county wide curfew.
State Lawmaker Calls For New Leadership Of Troubled Prison System
The Alabama Department of Corrections faces a Friday deadline to outline a plan to meet court-ordered staffing goals. State Rep. Chris England says the prison system needs new leadership.
Protesters Ask Birmingham Council To ‘Defund The Police’
Protesters are asking the Birmingham City Council to defund the city's police department by reallocating $150,000 from the department's ammunition budget.
PSC Gives Thumbs-Up For Alabama Power To Increase Fossil Fuel Use, Delays Solar Request
The Alabama Public Service Commission voted this week to approve most of Alabama Power’s $1.1 billion energy expansion plan. The state's largest utility will build a new natural gas plant and buy gas from existing plants.
Mayor Lifts Birmingham’s Curfew And Protest Ban At Midnight
Birmingham’s public safety curfew and state of emergency will expire Monday night.
Crews Remove 115-Year-Old Birmingham Confederate Monument
Workers removed most of a Confederate monument that became the center of Birmingham protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
Birmingham Mayor Issues Citywide Curfew Due To ‘Civil Unrest’
Birmingham city residents are under a new nightly curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the order and declared a state of emergency Monday morning in response to violence that erupted Sunday evening.
Birmingham’s Civil Rights History Front And Center At Rally For George Floyd
Speakers at a rally in downtown Birmingham referenced the city's history of nonviolent protest as they responded to the death of George Floyd, who died after being arrested by police in Minneapolis Monday.
Two More Weeks Of Face Coverings Required, Birmingham Council Says
The Birmingham City Council has extended the city’s face covering ordinance for two more weeks.
Birmingham City Council To Consider Extending Face Covering Requirement
The Birmingham City Council will vote Friday on whether to extend the city's face covering ordinance.
Alabama’s Absentee Ballot Rules Draw Increased Scrutiny Amid Pandemic
Criticisms of Alabama’s absentee ballot requirements are intensifying. Legal challenges to the law call for greater accessibility, especially to the state's most vulnerable populations -- black residents, the elderly and those with disabilities.
Birmingham Will Allow Mask Rule To Expire Friday
Birmingham will allow its face covering ordinance to expire Friday, May 29.
Jefferson County Commission Considers Higher Rent For Polling Places
Polling places in Jefferson County could be in line to receive more money to host elections, according to a new report.
Alabama Reopening Continues Amid Shaky Coronavirus Progress
Alabama's safer-at-home order was extended Thursday until early July. This comes as the state's coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Families & Advocates Want More Data On COVID19 In Alabama Nursing Homes
More than half of Alabama's nursing homes have reported coronavirus cases. But families and advocates say they don’t have a clear picture of what’s happening inside these places because state health officials don’t disclose information on individual facilities.
Jefferson County Commission Considers More COVID-19 Relief For Businesses
The Jefferson County Commission is considering a resolution that would seek up to $1.15 million in supplemental funds for the county’s revolving loan fund grant from the state’s Economic Development Administration.
Birmingham Extends Face-Covering Requirement Through May 29
The Birmingham City Council issued another extension to its face covering ordinance. It's now set to expire on May 29.
