Government
Big Push to Make AL Civil Rights Monuments National Parks
A big push is underway to designate several Alabama civil rights locations as national parks. National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, Congresswoman Terri Sewell and Mayor William Bell joined Jewell for a tour of Birmingham's civil rights district.
Attorney General Statement Casts Doubt on Governor’s Version of Events
The split between Governor Robert Bentley and the former head of the state's law enforcement office has taken an interesting turn and one that doesn't exactly put the governor in the best light. Earlier this year, former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency director Spencer Collier, one day after being fired, accused the governor of an affair with his top aide. Bentley denied the accusation and instead turned attention to an internal ALEA report that showed financial mismanagement. But as information about the report dripped out, it appeared far less than purported to be. Last week, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange weighed in. We hear about that from Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald
Attorney: Suspension is Not Removal; Roy Moore Still Chief Justice
Attorneys for Roy Moore say he’s technically still Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, despite being suspended for the remainder of his term without pay. Mat Staver is with Liberty Counsel, the group representing Moore. He says Acting Chief Justice Lyn Stuart acted unilaterally when she removed Moore’s name from the court’s letterhead and […]
Your Guide to the 2016 Proposed Constitutional Amendments
When Alabama voters head to the polls November 8, they won’t just choose candidates in the presidential and congressional races. They’ll also have the chance to vote “yes” or “no” on 14 proposed statewide constitutional amendments. Some are technical or just affect a local area. Others have a much wider impact.
Supporters Say Constitutional Amendment Must Pass to Preserve Hundreds of Local Laws
When voters go to the polls next month, they’ll be voting on a proposed constitutional amendment that some say has to pass or cities and towns could be thrown into legal chaos. Supporters of Amendment 14 say without its approval, hundreds of local laws across Alabama could be wiped out by legal challenges. The list includes laws related to schools to local taxes to law enforcement.
Document Dump Adds to Bentley Impeachment Investigation
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is battling it out with legislators as they look to possible impeachment of the governor. The impeachment effort was sparked by allegations Bentley had an affair with his top political advisor, Rebekah Mason. Bentley denies this. Nevertheless the House Judiciary Committee has hired a special council to investigate. The committee’s issued subpoenas for documents. Bentley’s lawyer says the panel doesn’t have that power. But still the governor’s office has released thousands of document and we talk about what they reveal with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
NPR Live Fact-Check: Clinton and Trump Debate in St. Louis
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton are scheduled to face off in the second presidential debate Sunday night at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Education Activists Seek to Rescind Hire of Ala. Superintendent
About three dozen people organized by education advocate Larry Lee have signed on to be plaintiffs in pending legal action intended to rescind the hiring of Alabama Superintendent Michael Sentance.
AL Medical Boards Could Face Scrutiny from Federal Trade Commission
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision set a new precedent regarding federal antitrust laws and state medical agencies. The ruling means regulatory groups made up of members with private sector interests are subject to federal antitrust laws. Agencies like the Medical Association of Alabama - which is headed by several private medical practitioners - could potentially be affected.
Little Publicized Law Disqualifies more than 100 Candidates
Voters in a number of Alabama cities went to the polls Tuesday for municipal runoff elections. As residents looked at their ballots this cycle, there were fewer names than might have been there otherwise thanks to a new law. In fact, it disqualified at least 118 candidates statewide. Particularly noteworthy is what happened in the Jefferson County town of Adamsville. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about that and reacts to the suspension of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore on ethics charges.
Live Fact-Check: The 2016 Vice Presidential Debate
Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence square off in the vice-presidential debate Tuesday night. NPR's politics team, with help from reporters and editors who cover national security, immigration, business, foreign policy and more, is live annotating the debate. Portions of the debate with added analysis are highlighted, followed by context and fact check from NPR reporters and editors.
Attorney: Moore Decision Disregards “Rule of Law”
Lawyers for former Chief Justice Roy Moore are appealing his removal from office saying the move was a disregard for the “rule of law.” Attorneys with the Liberty Counsel, a conservative non-profit law firm out of Florida that represents Moore, filed the appeal yesterday. It once again comes down to semantics. Among other arguments, Moore’s […]
Roy Moore Calling His Second Ouster “Politically Motivated”
Moore is calling his punishment the result of a "politically motivated effort by radical homosexual and transgender groups," who targeted him because of what he calls his "outspoken opposition to their immoral agenda."
Fate of Chief Justice Roy Moore Hangs in the Balance
Several children were among the overall peaceful protestors that gathered at the state Supreme Court Wednesday for the trial of yet another high-ranking Alabama official, Roy Moore.
Awaiting a Ruling in the Roy Moore Case
All eyes are on the Alabama Court of the Judiciary awaiting a decision regarding Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. Moore went to trial Wednesday on judicial ethics charges. At issue is a January order from Moore in which he tells probate judges Alabama's same-sex marriage ban is still in effect. That's despite a U.S Supreme Court ruling last year clearing the way for gay marriage nationwide. Moore could be removed from office for the second time in 13 years over the case. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald watched the proceedings and offers his perspective.
Roy Moore Trial Ends; Fate of State Chief Justice Unknown
Suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was on trial himself today in Montgomery. He’s accused of ordering probate judges not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
Roy Moore Faces Removal from Bench for Second Time in 13 Years
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is facing removal from the bench for the second time in 13 years. Moore goes to trial Wednesday on judicial ethics charges for allegedly ignoring a U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
Live Fact-Checking of Clinton And Trump’s First Debate From NPR Politics
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump go head-to-head tonight in the first presidential debate, and NPR’s politics team will be live annotating the debate. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will moderate the event starting at 8 p.m. at Hofstra University in New York. The debate will be divided into three 30-minute segments on three topics: […]
Birmingham School Board Ousts Superintendent
After a heated meeting Thursday night, the Birmingham school board surprised many by voting six to three to fire the district’s Superintendent. Kelley Castlin-Gacutan, more often called “Dr. G,” had held the position for 14 months.
Birmingham Law Enforcement Responds to Unease around Mass Shootings
With recent shootings and terrorist attacks in Paris and Orlando, some in Birmingham are taking new interest in personal safety. Les Lovoy reports on how local law enforcement are trying to respond and what people can do to protect themselves.
Grand Jury Could Cut Through the Smoke
The political climate in Birmingham is taking on a new flavor after last week's news the state attorney general's office is opening an investigation in Birmingham. There's not much known about it other than a special grand jury will convene October 17th and it's looking into the Birmingham Water Works Board. This is the same unit that took down former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard. We talk about the development with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Birmingham Schools Host Charter School Forums
Alabama may very well have its first-ever charter schools next year. The approval process, which has already hit snags in other parts of the state, will go either through a state commission or through local school boards that have elected to become authorizers. Birmingham City Schools is one of just two authorizers in the state, and last night, school leaders held a meeting to explain what that means.
Gasoline Could Flow Again this Week Along Leaking Shelby County Pipeline
Colonial Pipeline says it is constructing a temporary pipeline that will bypass a leaking section of its main gasoline pipeline in Shelby County. According to Al.com, Colonial says it could restart the pipeline through the bypass sometime this week.
Birmingham Leaders Want Civil Rights Sites Declared National Park
Leaders in Birmingham, Alabama want President Obama to declare the city's civil rights district a National Historical Park. Many notable events from the civil rights era took place in Birmingham including the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church where four black girls were killed by Ku Klux Klansman
From CIA to United Way: Weld for B’ham on Diverse Agencies
This week, CIA Director John Brennan met with Birmingham City School students as part of a self-described crusade to make the agency more diverse. That’s one story in the latest Weld For Birmingham. Editor Nick Patterson joins us most Thursdays to discuss Weld's top stories. He tells WBHM’s Dan Carsen about Brennan's visit, and about Weld’s cover story on the United Way and area nonprofit groups.
A Moratorium on Travel by Birmingham City Officials
Birmingham city officials often travel on trips related to their jobs. When those trips are for the public's benefit, they travel on the taxpayer's dime. But travel by the Birmingham City Council and the mayor's office has been scrutinized as excessive and with unclear returns. Travel became a flashpoint at this week's city council meeting and Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says it a perfect time to institute a moratorium on travel.
State Board Approves Contract For New Superintendent Michael Sentance
Alabama’s new school superintendent Michael Sentance starts work Monday with annual salary and benefits of about $240,000. But the vote to approve his contract came with controversy over how the search was handled.
Special Session Ends with No Lottery and 2-year Fix for Medicaid
Alabama lawmakers are home again after wrapping up a special session on Wednesday. It’s a special session that began with Governor Robert Bentley wanting legislators to set up a lottery with the proceeds benefiting Medicaid and other general fund agencies. It ended with two lottery proposals dead and lawmakers using money from the BP oil spill settlement to fill financial gaps. To help us review the special session is Don Dailey. He’s host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.
A New Building for Cooper Green Could be on the Way
Jefferson County's indigent healthcare system, Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, could be on its way to a new facility. Cooper Green transitioned from being a hospital to an outpatient clinic in 2013, but county officials say the former hospital building is expensive to keep up and they'd be better off with a new building. On Wednesday, the county commission voted in support of that idea. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about the significance of the move and about a Birmingham Water Works Board contract that's drawing scrutiny.
Lawsuit Says Alabama Appellate Court Elections Violate Voting Rights Act
The civil rights group Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is filing a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Alabama NAACP and four individuals challenging how Alabama elects appellate judges. The suit alleges the at-large elections violate the Voting Rights Act.
A New Direction for Birmingham’s Largest Public Housing Complex
Picture public housing and a certain image comes to mind. Typically, it is one of poverty, where hundreds of people live in a low-income neighborhood. Birmingham’s Housing Authority is hoping to re-shape this picture by re-developing Loveman Village, the city’s largest public housing complex. The idea is to build new apartments and diversify the area, but ultimately, the hope is to change the perception of public housing.
Alabama lottery bill dies in Special Session
The proposed Constitutional amendment died Friday (Aug. 26), when Senators voted not to concur with changes made by the Alabama House of Representatives and give the bill final approval.
