Government
Birmingham Council OKs Al Fresco Dining as ‘Hail Mary’ for Restaurants
Birmingham officials approved outdoor seating for restaurants in hopes of giving them an economic boost during the pandemic.
BCRI Gets Emergency Funding From City Of Birmingham
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has been closed since March because of the pandemic causing a lack of revenue. Now it's receiving $250,000 in emergency funding from the city of Birmingham.
Gov. Ivey Requires Face Masks In Schools, Extends Statewide Ordinance
Face masks will be required in schools and colleges for anyone in second grade and above. The requirement, along with the statewide mask ordinance and Safer at Home order, are now set to expire August 31 at 5 p.m.
DOJ Finds Excessive Use of Force In Alabama’s Male Prisons
In one case, a lieutenant slammed a handcuffed prisoner on a concrete floor several times, knocking him unconscious and leaving him unable to breathe. He required hospitalization.
Alabama Secretary Of State: There Will Be No Delay In Reporting November Election Results
Demand for absentee ballots is expected to surge because of the pandemic. Secretary of State John Merrill is confident election officials can handle the increase.
Birmingham Council OKs Partial Transit Funding Under Protest From Hoyt
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to fund the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority through the end of 2020.
Investigation Finds Most Judges Who Break Laws Or Ethics Rules Don’t Lose Their Jobs
A recent investigation by Reuters also finds Alabama's system for tackling judicial misconduct makes it harder to discipline judges than in most other states.
Jones Starts Last Leg Of Campaign With Almost 16 Times As Much Money As Tuberville
Democrat U.S. Sen. Doug Jones is heading into the November election with more cash on hand than competitor Tommy Tuberville, according to reports the candidates filed Wednesday with the Federal Elections Commission.
Jones Expects Competitive Senate Race With Tuberville
The race for U.S. Senate is set between incumbent Democrat Doug Jones and Republican challenger Tommy Tuberville. Jones believes he can win despite Alabama's conservative leanings.
Gov. Ivey Issues Statewide Mask Order
Beginning Thursday, face coverings will be required in public spaces throughout Alabama. Gov. Kay Ivey issued the order Wednesday, citing recent spikes in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
Analysis: Trump’s Endorsement Helped Tuberville Win Amid Low Turnout
Tommy Tuberville defeated Jeff Sessions to win the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Tuesday's runoff election. Here's a recap of the race and a look at what to expect in the months ahead.
Tuberville Beats Sessions, Wins Alabama Senate GOP Primary
Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions lost the Republican nomination for his old Senate seat in Alabama to former college football coach Tommy Tuberville.
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.
