Government
Woodfin Highlights “Moral Obligations” of Proposed 2020 Budget
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says his proposed FY 2020 operating budget represents a “fundamental shift” in how the city thinks about spending, with an increased focus on fulfilling his administration’s “moral obligations” — prioritizing city employees and neighborhood revitalization.
Abortion Bill Vote Delayed After Commotion on Senate Floor
An abortion bill delayed, a medical marijuana measure advances and a switch-out of a lottery bill ... Alabama Public Television has a look back at this week's action in the Alabama legislature.
Former Jefferson County Commissioner Chris McNair Dies
For most of her life, WBHM reporter Sherrell Stewart has had a close up view of McNair's triumphs and heartbreaks. She shares this remembrance, including what they discussed just days before his death.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Lawmakers Advance Abortion Ban, Education Budget
House members passed one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation this week. And the Alabama Senate passed a hefty education spending plan.
Alabama House Approves Near Total Abortion Ban
The Alabama House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to outlaw almost all abortions in the state as conservatives took aim at the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
County Officials Field Questions About Sewer Rates From Hundreds of Jefferson County Residents
The Jefferson County Commission held a town hall-style meeting Monday to discuss the county’s 2011 bankruptcy and its long-term effects.
Jones and Byrne Have Stacked Up Millions to Lead Fundraising in the US Senate Race
Incumbent Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Bradley Byrne already have millions of dollars in their campaign accounts as the field begins to form for Alabama’s 2020 U.S. Senate race.
Birmingham Looks at Limiting Dollar Stores, Easing Restrictions on Other Food Vendors as Way to Battle Food Deserts
A new ordinance proposed by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin looks to combat the city’s food deserts by loosening regulations on mobile grocers and farmers markets, while simultaneously limiting the spread of dollar stores in low-income neighborhoods.
Crime Wave Highlights Barriers Between Police and Hispanic Community
Recently there’s been a surge in crimes targeting the Hispanic community in and around Birmingham. Police want victims to feel comfortable reporting the incidents, but that means overcoming some roadblocks.
Alabama Senate Approves Lottery Bill
Alabama Senators voted 21-12 to approve a lottery bill. The measure would limit a lottery to paper tickets. It now goes to the House of Representatives.
Momentum Shifts on Bill to Repeal Common Core
State Sen. Del Marsh wants to repeal the nationwide academic standards known as Common Core this legislative session. But the proposal seems to have lost some momentum.
Referendum on Renewing Property Tax for Birmingham Schools Possible, Up for Discussion Next Week
Next week, Birmingham’s election commission will meet to discuss a potential citywide vote to renew a soon-to-expire ad valorem tax that provides Birmingham City Schools with approximately $27 million in yearly revenue.
Alabama Abortion Bill Designed to Provoke Court Challenge
Lawmakers in states across the U.S. have recently introduced measures to significantly restrict access to abortion as a way to challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. An Alabama bill goes farther than other proposals. It would ban abortion in almost all cases.
Alabama Committee Advances Bill to Outlaw Abortion
Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday advanced one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation, a measure that would make performing an abortion a felony with almost no exceptions.
State Lawmakers Consider Eliminating Marriage Licenses
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling allowing same-sex marriage was a hard pill to swallow for some Alabama probate judges. Some still refuse to issue marriage licenses in their counties. But a proposed bill could force them to comply with federal law.
Trash Talk: Abandoned Cars Dot Area Roadsides
Ever wonder where all these abandoned cars on the side of the road come from? Here's your answer.
Bill that Changes Ethics Law Stalls
A bill that makes changes to state ethics law stalled this week. But a bill that would block local governments from banning plastic bags and the General Fund budget both advanced. We have an update from Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey.
PARCA Survey Says Alabamians Want Fewer Non-Violent Criminals in Prison, More Money for Education
The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama in a new survey said Alabamians favor supervising non-violent criminals in the community and giving them more rehabilitation opportunities rather than sending them to prison.
Birmingham Launches A Citizen’s Experience to Connect Residents to City Hall
Applications are now open for A Citizen’s Experience, a new initiative from the city of Birmingham designed to promote civic engagement. The free, seven-week program is slated to begin in June and is open only to Birmingham residents who are 18 years old or older.
SPLC Proposes ‘Collaborative Process’ to Address Prison Crisis
The Southern Poverty Law Center sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Kay Ivey and state Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn proposing its own plan to address the state's prison crisis.
Fed’s Report Condemning Alabama Prisons: State Vows Action
Alabama authorities vowed Thursday to begin the monumental task of fixing their troubling prison problems, responding to a U.S. Department of Justice report that condemned excessive violence, inmate deaths and a critical staffing shortage in the state correctional system.
Alabama Legislature Considers an Abortion Ban and Prison Reforms
This week Alabama lawmakers considered a bill that would make abortions a felony unless the mother's health is at risk. And it wrestled with a solution to the state's prisons crisis.
Birmingham Iron’s Season Ends Early, as Alliance of American Football Suspends Operations
Even quicker than it came to life, the Alliance of American Football — and with it, the Birmingham Iron — has gone on life support.
DOJ Alleges Alabama Prisons Violate the Constitution
The Department of Justice released a report Wednesday alleging that violence and other dangerous conditions in the state’s male prisons violate the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
Restoration Work Begins on Historic A.G. Gaston Motel
Work has begun to restore the motel that was a headquarters for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.
Birmingham PD Adds High-Tech Tools To Its Crime-Fighting Arsenal
The Birmingham Police Department will soon have two new high-tech crime-fighting tools at its disposal.
The Big Picture: Woodfin’s Team Updates Residents About Progress on Public Safety, Economic Opportunities and Other Initiatives
A black-and-white photo of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin — shot in profile, eyes fixed in an expression of steely determination — hovered over the stage of the Alabama School of Fine Arts’ Dorothy Jemison Day Theater on Thursday night.
Lawmakers Consider a Lottery, Medical Marijuana, and Common Core Repeal
Medical marijuana, a repeal of the Common Core, and a lottery bill were all on the legislative agenda this past week. We take a look at these and other measures lawmakers considered.
Lawmakers Tackle Alabama’s Persistent Prison Problems
Alabama’s prisons are overcrowded, understaffed, and plagued by violence. Mental health care for inmates is inadequate. There have been suicides and homicides within prison walls. Alabama Sen. Cam Ward explains how lawmakers are approaching the problems.
Gas Tax Increase a Political Win for Ivey
It’s been a great week for Gov. Kay Ivey. Her proposed 10-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax increase passed overwhelmingly. The money will go toward infrastructure improvements.
175 Down; 3,701 to Go. Jefferson County Starts Chipping Away at Rape Kit Testing Backlog
With the help of a federal grant program, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office has begun to chip away at the county’s massive backlog of untested sexual assault kits.
Hoover School Officials, Lawyers Seek Feedback on Discrimination for Ongoing Case
Tonight, Hoover school officials and lawyers representing black students in the system want to get community feedback on plans that would show various school policies and practices are not discriminatory. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Trace Crossings Elementary.
