Government
Political Ties to Potential Real Estate Deal Goes Deeper
Local government watchers are casting a critical eye on a proposed agreement which would have the City of Birmingham renting space in a former Social Security building for almost $140 million for 30 years. It's attracting attention because the developer gave tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to city council members as they consider this deal. But Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discovered this story goes beyond just a potential building rental.
Kyle Whitmire: Bresette Family Lawsuit Update
Monumental Contracting, one of several contractors involved with a flight information display board that collapsed on 10 year old Luke Bresette at the Birmingham airport last year, has been cleared of responsibility. Kyle Whitmire with AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us for an update.
John Archibald: Campaign Cash and a Rental Deal
There's a potential rental deal attracting attention around Birmingham. The city council is considering renting space in a former social security building. While the move is questionable, the situation involves a shower of campaign cash as well. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald explains.
Kyle Whitmire: The Revolving Door Ban
Kyle Whitmire from Al.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss the details of Alabama's revolving door ban. It prohibits legislators from lobbyists for two years after they leave office.
Law Enforcement Cautions Drivers Recovering Abandoned Cars
Many roadways around Birmingham are flowing with traffic now that temperatures have risen above freezing which is melting much of the snow left by Tuesday's storm. The warmer weather means drivers who had to abandon their vehicles in the chaos are now retrieving them. But law enforcement officials are still warning motorist to be careful.
Slow Progress In Road Clearing
ALDOT is working to clear vehicles from roadways once the thaw begins, today.
Coping with the Snow
Roads across the Birmingham area remain slick a day after snow blanketed a wide swath of Alabama. At least five people have died in weather related accidents. Some parents are still trying to get to children sheltering in schools. With many cities and businesses essentially shut down, WBHM's Andrew Yeager has a look at what people are doing to cope in one eastside Birmingham neighborhood.
John Archibald: What do you think of Obamacare?
Opinion on the Affordable Care Act nowadays seems to be pretty split and there's no gray for some. Obamacare is the best thing to happen or it'll destroy the country. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald has been listening to what people think about the law and shares what he heard.
Kyle Whitmire: Alabama’s Open Meetings Act
Governor Robert Bentley has introduced a bill that would make serial meetings among public officials illegal. Bentley also wants to close other various loopholes in Alabama's Open Meetings Act. These changes would not only impact Alabama lawmakers at the statehouse but also Jefferson County Commissioners. Kyle Whitmire with AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us.
John Archibald: Who is Anthony Barnes?
Anthony Barnes has quite a task. He has to convince lawmakers in Montgomery the Birmingham Water Works Board is the best thing since sliced bread. The Birmingham City Council has hired Barnes as a lobbyist to help fight a proposed bill that would change representation on the board and bring other new restrictions. The move though leaves Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald sighing.
Kyle Whitmire: What Was Missing From The SOTS?
On Tuesday night, Governor Robert Bentley used his State of the State address to talk about jobs, Medicaid, and raises for state employees. But there were several issues the Governor didn't mention at all. Kyle Whitmire of Al.com and the Birmingham News discusses what was left out of the address.
John Archibald: Battle over the Birmingham Water Works Board
The next session of the Alabama legislature gets underway on Tuesday and one thing lawmakers have their eyes set on is the Birmingham Water Works Board. Two Birmingham area legislators plan to introduce a bill that would expand representation on the board and put in place new restrictions. While this has been a simmering conflict, A-L (dot) com columnist John Archibald says the situation highlights hypocrisy on the part of the Birmingham City Council
Kyle Whitmire: Jefferson County Spending
Jefferson County spent millions of dollars in legal costs during Chapter 9 bankruptcy including more than $300,000 in fees for public relations. Some commissioners said they didn't learn about the spending until this week. Plus, the future of Birmingham based law firm Haskell, Slaughter & Young remains uncertain. Kyle Whitmire from AL.com and the Birmingham News discusses these issues and more.
Kyle Whitmire: Jefferson County New Year’s Resolutions
If Jefferson County officials were to sit down and write three new year's resolutions,what would they be? Kyle Whitmire with Al.com and the Birmingham News joins us as we look at the county's future in 2014.
John Archibald: A Look Back At 2013
There was no shortage of news in Birmingham and Jefferson County in 2013. We take a look back at some of this year's notable stories with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Kyle Whitmire: The Truth Behind Alabama’s Unemployment Numbers
In 2010, Alabama's unemployment rate was around 10 percent. Governor Robert Bently campaigned on the promise to reduce unemployment numbers, and to not draw a paycheck until he did. Today, unemployment is down to 6.5 percent in Alabama. But the numbers don't tell the whole story. Kyle Whitmire with Al.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss Alabama unemployment and job growth.
Birmingham Land Bank
While Birmingham's city center has seen a wave of new development, drive around some neighborhoods and it's hard to miss dilapidated homes and vacant lots. The rolls of abandoned properties have swelled as people left the city in recent years. But a new proposal under consideration by the Birmingham City Council called a land bank aims to turnaround these neighborhood eyesores.
John Archibald: Hoover Reverses Bus Decision
School officials in Hoover are trying to figure out what's next now that the district has reversed a decision to end bus service for most students next school year. The Hoover School Board made the change Monday after months of harsh criticism from some parents and residents. We hear more from Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
John Archibald: Low Voter Turnout
What if you held an election and nobody showed up? That's practically what happened this week in a special election to fill the House District 53 seat in Birmingham. Out of almost 21,000 eligible voters turnout was just 2.6 percent. We hear more from Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Kyle Whitmire: The Reality of Exiting Bankruptcy
If things go according to plan, Jefferson County will exit municipal bankruptcy on December 3. However, many of its financial problems remain. Kyle Whitmire with Al.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss four things that will come out of exiting bankruptcy and four things that won't change.
Jefferson County Bankruptcy Round-Up
After multiple corruption trials, years of hand wringing and intense negotiations with creditors, Jefferson County has been cleared to exit municipal bankruptcy The $4.2 billion bankruptcy was the largest in U.S. history until Detroit's filing earlier this year. This is the collection of WBHM's stories to date.
Judge Approves Jefferson County’s Plan to Exit Bankruptcy
Federal bankruptcy judge Thomas Bennett has confirmed Jefferson County's bankruptcy plan, paving the way for the county to exit its $4.2 billion bankruptcy in December. Most of that debt was linked to corruption, mismanagement and bad deals around the county sewer system. Thursday's ruling ends two years under municipal bankruptcy, the second largest in U.S. history after Detroit's filing earlier this year. County leaders say the confirmation allows Jefferson County move past its fiscal turmoil.
John Archibald: An End to Jefferson County’s Bankruptcy
Jefferson County's municipal bankruptcy appears to be in its final days. County commissioners approved the sale of $1.7 billion in new sewer debt Wednesday. Meanwhile a federal bankruptcy judge began a hearing on the county's plan to exit bankruptcy. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
WBHM Hosts Issues and Ales Event Tuesday, Nov. 19 at WorkPlay
Make plans now to attend WBHM 90.3 FM's next Issues and Ales event on leadership and civic engagement on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at WorkPlay at 500 23rd St S. The evening will feature a panel discussion focusing on how can we work together to build stronger communities. Representatives from throughout Birmingham will focus on North Central Alabama's challenges with leadership and regional cooperation.
John Archibald: Remembering Maxine Parker
Birmingham Mayor William Bell called it "a sad day for our city" when reacting to news of city council president Maxine Parker's death. She died unexpectedly Tuesday leaving colleagues in shock. But they also remembered Parker as a quiet, fierce advocate for residents of her north Birmingham district. We remember Parker with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Kyle Whitmire: Maxine Parker’s Legacy
City Council President Maxine Parker died at the age of 69 on Tuesday. We'll take a look at Parker's legacy as well as what's next for the council. Plus, JeffCo gets another bad review from a major rating agency regarding the county's sewer debt. Kyle Whitmire from Al.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss.
Birmingham City Council President Maxine Parker Dies
Birmingham City Council President Maxine Parker has died. She was 69. No word yet on the cause of death. The three-term councilwoman spent more than four decades working at Talladega College. She also served as president of the Collegeville Neighborhood Association in Birmingham. Vivian Starks succeeded Parker in that position. Starks tells WBHM's Andrew Yeager her memories of Maxine Parker.
A Vietnam Rescue and Reunion
Monday is Veterans Day and we mark the occasion with a special conversation between two Veterans. It involves a nighttime firefight, a rescue by helicopter and an unlikely reunion 44 years later.
Not quite “Mission Accomplished” for Jefferson County bankruptcy
Jefferson County commissioners are out talking to investors, pushing a revised plan which would allow the county to exit bankruptcy by the end of the year. It's a major accomplishment given that rising interest rates made a previous plan unworkable. But Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says its too early to say "mission accomplished."
Kyle Whitmire: The Pitfalls of Exiting Bankruptcy
There are still many hurdles Jefferson County must overcome before exiting bankruptcy. Kyle Whitmire with Al.com and the Birmingham News stops by to discuss worst case scenarios.
From UAB to White House Intern
With the end of this college semester just a month away, many students are busy applying for internships. As one UAB graduate knows well, internships can be a life changing experience. Mallick Hossain had been on a path toward medical school before his internship at the White House this summer pushed him to pursue a Ph.D in economics. WBHM intern Hollie Parrish spoke with him about his experience in Washington.
John Archibald: Fighting for Fighting’s Sake
After a two year legal battle, the fight over Alabama's toughest-in-the-nation illegal immigration law appears to be at an end. Tuesday, the state and a coalition of civil rights groups challenging the law announced a settlement. Alabama agrees to not enforce parts of the law, many of which had already been temporarily blocked by federal courts. But Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says this kind of fight seems to be part of Alabama's DNA.
