BW Recommends is a rundown of stories you might have missed this week. It offers insight into issues important to our area and sometimes tickles your curiosity.

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For the First Time, Alabama Governor Commutes a Death Sentence (NBC News)

Gov. Kay Ivey this past week commuted the sentence of a death row inmate, saying, “I am not convinced that Mr. Myers is innocent, but I am not so convinced of his guilt as to approve of his execution.” Death row penalty opponents for several years have called attention to Myers’ case as one that should be reconsidered.

Judge Reprimands Attorneys for Judge-Shopping in Alabama Youth Gender-Affirming Care Case (Alabama Reflector)

The federal judge said the lawyers dismissed cases and then refiled them to avoid having them heard in her court. She reprimanded three lawyers while also fining another and referring his actions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review.

Alabama City Divided Over Whether To Abolish Police Department Accused of “Culture of Corruption” (Associated Press)

Residents of Hanceville, in Cullman County, worry about provisions for public safety after their city’s entire police force was put on leave. A grand jury recommended the department be abolished after it indicted four officers and the police chief and said the department “operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency.”

$5M Incentive Proposed for Ramsay McCormack Development in Ensley (Bham Now)

The Birmingham City Council will be considering a $5 million incentive package to kickstart plans to build on the site of the old Ramsay McCormack building in Ensley.

DOGE Cuts 5 Social Security Workers in Birmingham (Alabama Daily News)

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell drew attention to the cuts and said, “Elon Musk’s reckless power trip is directly threatening the livelihoods of my constituents.”

What Passed in the Alabama Legislature: Feb. 25-27, 2025 (Alabama Reflector)

A bill backed by Birmingham-area officials that would ban devices that convert guns to automatic weapons, often called Glock switches, in Jefferson County passed the House and was sent to the Senate; a similar bill was that would apply statewide was passed by the Senate and sent to the House.