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Birmingham Iron pro softball team to debut in Trussville in 2027 (Bham Now)
Professional softball is coming to the Birmingham-metro area. This week, the Professional Softball League announced the creation of a six-team league that will include an independently owned organization called the Birmingham Iron. The team will play at Bill Roberts Stadium at Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Central Alabama Water attorney says lawsuit dismissal lifts a ‘heavy burden’ (WBHM)
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit the city of Birmingham filed challenging a state law that reorganized the metro area’s water utility and its board of directors last year. She said the city did not have standing to sue, but she left the door open for future legal actions.
Shan Paden, general legal counsel for Central Alabama Water, said the court’s action validates the state law and opened the door for CAW to go to the bond market to finance projects.
In Public Service Commission race, reorganization bill looms over candidates (Alabama Reflector)
The Legislature’s decision to expand the Alabama Public Service Commission forced those running to sit on the utility regulator to make some campaign adjustments. Gov. Kay Ivey this spring signed HB 475, which expanded the PSC from three members to seven; put the PSC under the supervision of a secretary of energy to be appointed next year, and banned formal rate hearings on the state’s high residential energy prices until 2029. The move to a larger board made it significantly less likely that the PSC would get a majority calling for formal hearings on Alabama’s high residential energy prices.
Birmingham leaders back 2027 legislative agenda focused on blight, housing and neighborhood safety (WBHM)
Birmingham officials want state lawmakers to give the city more authority to address blighted properties, expand affordable housing and improve neighborhood conditions. The Birmingham City Council approved a 12-item legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session, including a tax on neglected properties owned by absentee landlords, changes to how the city acquires tax-delinquent properties and the creation of a Birmingham Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing.
Alabama Educational Television Commission member resigns (Alabama Reflector)
Tijuanna Adetunji has resigned from the Alabama Educational Television Commission, leaving just one of the seven commission members who served on the board last month. Alabama Public Television Executive Director Wayne Reid said Adetunji submitted her resignation letter last Thursday without explanation. “With Tijuanna Adetunji’s resignation, the commission has experienced a complete turnover over the past twelve months,” Reid said. Gov. Kay Ivey removed five members from the commission earlier this month and after nearly a year of sometimes heated arguments among commissioners about maintaining affiliation with the Public Broadcasting Service.
Tuberville says ‘law and order’ would be a top priority if elected governor (WBHM)
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said during a speech to the Rotary Club of Birmingham last week that one of the first things he would do if elected governor is “clean up our cities,” as “we’re having people shot every day” and that “people are afraid to go out on the streets.” Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin have rejected Tuberville’s campaign ad promise that he would send National Guard troops to their cities, both of which have reduced violent crime and homicides in the past year.
Doug Jones tells Montgomery town hall he wants to ‘phase out the CHOOSE Act’ (Alabama Reflector)
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones, speaking to a crowd of about 100 people at a town hall in Montgomery last week, talked about giving teachers and retirees a cost of living adjustment and said he wanted to “phase out the CHOOSE Act,” the state’s effective school voucher program. Income caps on eligibility for the program will end on Jan. 1. Jones said the CHOOSE Act ultimately would kill or at least cripple public schools and referred to a 12,000-student drop in enrollment in the state’s schools. “What do you think it’s going to be next year when the income caps are gone and we start giving handouts to people who make a lot of money?” he said.
Alabama’s unemployment rate hits five-year high at 3.5% (1819 News)
Alabama’s unemployment rate increased to a five-year high of 3.5% in September, up from 2.8% at the same time a year ago, the state Department of Workforce announced. The rate represents 82,075 unemployed persons. The last time Alabama had an unemployment rate at 3.5% or higher was June 2021.
Birmingham’s Cooper Green Homes Completes Nearly $30 Million Renovation (Birmingham Times)
Cooper Green Homes has completed nearly $30 million in renovations, marking a significant investment in affordable housing on Birmingham’s southwest side. City leaders, housing officials and development partners gathered Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the final phases of renovations at the 32-acre community, which provides affordable rental housing to eligible residents.
Tax break for Lowndes County data center draws backlash (Alabama Political Reporter)
An Alabama resident and organizations, including the NAACP, have voiced opposition to a tax abatement granted to developers of a proposed data center in Lowndes County. The Lowndes County Commission approved a 20-year tax abatement for Project Red Clay, providing more than $1.1 billion in tax relief to the developer on the proposed 800-acre hyperscale data center.
