Birmingham City Council President Maxine Parker Dies

| November 12, 2013 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2013/11/MaxineParker.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:4:"file";s:24:"2013/11/MaxineParker.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"MaxineParker-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"MaxineParker-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:237487;s:14:"optimized_size";i:151030;s:7:"percent";d:36.399999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:52813;s:14:"optimized_size";i:30432;s:7:"percent";d:42.380000000000003;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-336x189.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14447;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10398;s:7:"percent";d:28.030000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-771x434.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:52163;s:14:"optimized_size";i:31399;s:7:"percent";d:39.810000000000002;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3279;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3203;s:7:"percent";d:2.3199999999999998;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:35703;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22819;s:7:"percent";d:36.090000000000003;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23064;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16834;s:7:"percent";d:27.010000000000002;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-553x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31396;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20027;s:7:"percent";d:36.210000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2013/11/MaxineParker-470x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24622;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15918;s:7:"percent";d:35.350000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1638309268 
1384214400

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 like many she was shocked to hear the news of Maxine Parker’s death.

 

Birmingham Mayor William Bell issued the following statement:

“Councilor Maxine Herring Parker will be remembered as a strong advocate for her district. She worked tirelessly and faithfully for the people of District 4. I was with her family at the time of her passing and I want them to know that the City of Birmingham is with them as they grieve the loss of such an outstanding mother, Councilor and friend. This is a sad day for our city.”

The mayor has also ordered city flags be flown at half-staff in her memory. President pro-temp Jay Roberson will lead meetings until a new president is elected. The council will appoint a replacement for her seat, but no timeline for that decision has been announced.

 

~ Andrew Yeager, November 12, 2013

 

World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli airstrike, Gaza health ministry says

An Israeli airstrike hit a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing five people, including at least three employees with the food aid charity. World Central Kitchen said that it was "urgently seeking more details."

Opinion: The life and work of Seuk Kim, pilot and animal rescuer

NPR's Scott Simon remembers Seuk Kim, a volunteer animal rescue pilot who died in a crash earlier this week, transporting several dogs.

How to solve the Gen Z social isolation problem? She tried surfing and it worked

Young people today spend nearly 1,000 fewer hours per year hanging out with friends in person than they did 20 years ago. Some solutions for the loneliness epidemic are coming from unlikely places.

SunFed cucumbers and Costco eggs recalled for potential salmonella contamination

Cucumbers shipped to the U.S. and Canada, and organic eggs sold in 25 Costco stores in five southern U.S. states, were recalled this week for potential salmonella contamination.

Reporter Journal: A sunrise trek through wild solitude in New York City

New York City is home to more than eight million people but NPR's Brian Mann mapped out an urban hike through solitude and parkland wildness.

Ireland headed for coalition government, exit poll suggests

An exit poll in Ireland's parliamentary election released late Friday suggests the three biggest parties have won roughly equal shares and the country is headed for another coalition government.

More Government Coverage