Government
President’s Proposed Budget Cut: Eliminate Help to Keep Power on for Poor Families
Erica Dunning is proud of her tidy house, built by Habitat for Humanity in a quiet Chalkville neighborhood, and her job working for Jefferson County. But she’s not too proud to admit that, once upon a time, she needed help to make ends meet.
As Alabama Goes to the Polls, Worries Emerge That Some Are Denied Voting Rights
Since last year, Lorenzo French says he’s helped about 50 people in rural Greene County regain their ability to vote. Many of them were improperly removed from voter rolls because they had a felony conviction, though not the type that should have banned them from voting, French said. Others didn’t have photo identification, a requirement to vote in Alabama since 2014.
Computer Outage at DMVs Presented Obstacles for Some Voters
A statewide DMV computer outage Thursday morning prohibited some residents from updating their driver’s licenses just days ahead of Monday’s voter registration deadline. But it’s unclear how many were affected.
Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits Set off Alarm Bells in DA’s Office
So far, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative in Jefferson County has generated more questions than answers. The biggest question: How did 3,876 sexual assault kits not get submitted to the Department of Forensic Sciences for testing?
The Year of Firsts: Freshman Candidates Find the Campaign Trail Grueling, Expensive and Rewarding
Just before the deadline closed, Cara McClure and Kari Powell submitted the paperwork to run for the Public Service Commission. They didn’t know one another beforehand, but they ended up on a phone call just after the midnight deadline talking about their similar platforms and how, despite having never run for political office, they would each need to hit the ground running.
“It’s Just Plum Sad:” Ivey Disputes Reports of Health Issues, Chastises Maddox Campaign
Gov. Kay Ivey is again disputing that her health is an issue in her re-election campaign and called out her Democratic challenger for trying to make it one.
Ivey’s Campaign Still Leads Maddox in Contributions With Three Weeks to Go in the Campaign
Gov. Kay Ivey continued to build her campaign warchest in early October, raising almost twice as much as Democratic challenger Walt Maddox, according to reports filed Monday with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.
Jefferson County Commission Pursues Healthcare Authority Plan
Jefferson County is moving closer to establishing a healthcare authority to manage indigent healthcare in the county.
Postal Workers Rally to Oppose Privatization
The White House has proposed privatizing the U.S. Postal Service in a move to cut costs. Postal workers rallied in opposition in cities across the country, including Birmingham.
Birmingham Mayor Releases Strategic Plan Setting New Goals for His First Term
Exactly one year after his election, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has released a strategic plan providing an update on his administration’s progress and setting new goals for the remainder of his first term.
Is CBD Oil Legal in Alabama? It’s Complicated.
People seeking an alternative to pain medications or anti-anxiety drugs are increasingly turning to CBD oil. Some athletes even claim it helps with post-workout recovery. Studies have shown it curbs severe epilepsy. Those array of claims have made it easier to find CBD products in Alabama. But there’s just one problem: CBD is derived from marijuana.
Judge Bob Vance Makes Second Run for State’s Top Judicial Seat
Judge Bob Vance has been on the bench in Jefferson County since 2002. This year he’s trying for a second time to become the head of Alabama’s court system. Vance is the Democratic nominee for Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
Despite Immigration Law, 40 Percent of New Hires Are Not Checked Through E-Verify
Many Alabama employees aren’t being screened to confirm their legal status to work in the United States, despite a 2011 state law requiring businesses to use the federal E-Verity system.
Birmingham Pursues Two Federal Agencies to Fill Downtown Building
The City of Birmingham hopes the federal government will move two agriculture agencies to Birmingham and fill downtown office space that's been vacant since 2010.
Former State Rep. Oliver Robinson To Be Sentenced in Bribery Scheme
Former State Rep. Oliver Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in federal court. Federal prosecutors asked the judge in a filing earlier this week to give Robinson a lighter sentence because he pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility for his actions and cooperated with investigators.
Birmingham Council Approves Cameras to Help Fight Crime
Birmingham police will soon have extra eyes to spot crime. The City Council today approved an agreement with Alabama Power to install 100 cameras around the city.
Can Cooperation Combat Crime? Birmingham-Area Agencies Teaming up on Problem
Despite the city’s rising homicide rate and a recent rash of highly publicized violent crimes, Birmingham-area law enforcement officials say they are optimistic about the city’s long-term crime-fighting prospects, due in part to an array of government agencies working together.
Sessions Speaks in Hoover as Rosenstein News Erupts
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions drew sustained applause speaking at the Hyatt Regency in Hoover on Monday. Sessions’ remarks at a meeting of prosecutors and law enforcement came just as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosentein was set to meet with White House officials, presumably about his future in the US Department of Justice.
Alabama ACLU Proposes Plan to Cut Mass Incarceration
Earlier this month the American Civil Liberties Union announced a goal of releasing 50 percent of Alabama prisoners by the year 2025 through a report aimed at tackling mass incarceration.
SPLC Calls on Court to Hold Alabama Prison System in Contempt
The Southern Poverty Law Center wants the state prison system held in contempt for failing to fill mental health positions. Contempt hearings began Tuesday in U.S. District Court involving the Alabama Department of Corrections and lawyers representing inmates.
NAACP Suspends Birmingham President Hezekiah Jackson
The national office of the NAACP has suspended the organization’s local Birmingham President Hezekiah Jackson IV. The NAACP issued a statement Wednesday evening saying it is investigating whether Jackson advised residents not to have their soil tested for potentially damaging toxins and if he received payment for those activities.
The List Is In: 13 Apply to Fill Roberson’s Seat on the Birmingham Council
Thirteen people have applied to fill the seat of former Birmingham City Councilor Jay Roberson, who announced his resignation last month.
Development Planned for Blighted Sites North of Downtown
Change may be on the way for two sites in north Birmingham. Corporate Realty is preparing to redevelop the former Carraway Hospital site. Another group is planning lofts at the old Kirby School and a former armory site in Norwood.
A Deadly Week: September Homicides Could Foreshadow Record Year in Birmingham
Six homicides happened in Birmingham during the first week of September, putting the city firmly on track for its most violent year in more than two decades and pressuring city leaders to improve their strategies for responding to such incidents and to focus on preventing them.
Health Department Gives More Time for North Birmingham Residents to Weigh in on Air Quality
The Jefferson County Department of Health extended the deadline for comments on the proposed renewal of an air emissions permit for ABC Coke. The move comes at the request of residents and environmental groups. Two public hearings are set for November at the Department of Health at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Residents may also submit comments online.
Alabama ACLU Proposes Plan to Cut Mass Incarceration
Earlier this month the American Civil Liberties Union announced an ambitious goal of releasing 50% of Alabama prisoners by the year 2025 through a report aimed at tackling mass incarceration.
Roy Moore Seeks Millions in Damages Over Showtime Prank
Conservative Judge Roy Moore says he was duped into an interview and maliciously defamed on a show called Who is America, hosted by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. He is seeking $95 million in damages.
Legal Services Alabama Serves Thousands In State. Program, a Partisan Battleground, on President Trump’s Budget-Cut List
Army veteran Ronald Whitson gives credit to Legal Services Alabama for keeping his family home in Birmingham. However, the program that Whitson praises has been controversial, the frequent target of partisan political battles since its start in the mid-1970s, with roots in the nation’s War on Poverty. Now the Alabama program’s federal parent, Legal Services Corporation, once again faces defunding, this time in President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal.
Officials Want More Contamination Testing In North Birmingham
More than 500 properties in North Birmingham have not been tested for contamination, Congresswoman Terri Sewell said Wednesday while touring Collegeville with city, state and EPA officials. She wants people who have rejected soil testing to allow the EPA to check for contaminants.
Tariffs Imposed By U.S., Trading Partners Hit Home In Alabama
President Donald Trump is battling with countries he says are unfairly hurting America’s foreign trade, but some of his moves may adversely affect industries in Alabama in the process.
Filling in the Blanks: Birmingham Council Fine-Tuning Process to Find Replacements for Three Councilors
With this week’s resignation of President Pro Tem Jay Roberson, the Birmingham City Council faces the unusual task of appointing three new members by the end of the year.
Groups Ask Ivey to Push for New State Environmental Leaders
Environmental groups have asked Gov. Kay Ivey to take steps to remove from office state environmental officials who were implicated during the recent bribery trial over a plan to block the expansion of a Superfund toxic waste site in Tarrant and Inglenook.
