Search Results for: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

BW’s Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Takes Firsts in State Journalism Contest

Writer Solomon Crenshaw Jr. recently was given top state awards for two stories published by BirminghamWatch and was named the sweepstakes winner for his cumulative performance in this year’s contest.

Crenshaw won first place in the Alabama Media Professionals’ 2024 Communications Contest Award in the Specialty Articles – Government and Politics category with his story ”Sylvia Swayne Bucks Customs in House District 55 Runoff Race.”

A judge in that category said of Crenshaw’s story, “Good planning and organization; excellent use of quotes; demonstrates knowledge of government/political journalism.”

He also won first place in the contest’s Web and Social Media – Video for Web – Web Reporting, Single News or Feature Story category for his slideshow, “An Ode to Steve Ammons.”

A judge in that contest wrote, “This is a very sweet angle to what may have otherwise been considered a run-of-the-mill official departure story. Great idea setting this poem to a gallery of moving photos – this is truly going the extra mile.”

He also won five other first-place awards: Read more.

BW’s Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Takes Firsts in State Journalism Contest

Writer Solomon Crenshaw Jr. recently was given top state awards for two stories published by BirminghamWatch and was named the sweepstakes winner for his cumulative performance in this year’s contest.

Crenshaw won first place in the Alabama Media Professionals’ 2024 Communications Contest Award in the Specialty Articles – Government and Politics category with his story ”Sylvia Swayne Bucks Customs in House District 55 Runoff Race.”

He also won first place in the contest’s Web and Social Media – Video for Web – Web Reporting, Single News or Feature Story category for his slideshow, “An Ode to Steve Ammons.”

He also won five other first-place awards. : Read more.

Crenshaw Named Communicator of Achievement, Received Awards for 7 Stories

BirminghamWatch contributor Solomon Crenshaw Jr. has been named Communicator of Achievement of Alabama Media Professionals.

That distinction puts Crenshaw in the running for the national Communicator of the Achievement of the National Federation of Press Women, the parent organization of AMP.

Additionally, seven of Crenshaw’s works from 2021 were recognized in AMP’s communications contest. Read more.

Jefferson County Commission Moves to Preserve Downtown Jail Where Martin Luther King Jr. Was Held

The Jefferson County Commission today took the first steps toward acknowledging and preserving remnants of the jail where Martin Luther King Jr. was held.

History often refers to King’s Birmingham incarceration in 1963, during which he penned his Letter From a Birmingham Jail. But months before his 1968 assassination, King was again jailed in Jefferson County, first in Bessemer and a day later on the seventh floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse in downtown Birmingham.

Mark Pettway, the first black elected sheriff of the county, said he is proud to be part of this memorial to King.

“We have an opportunity to tell the full story about someone who came to Jefferson County to change the lives of all those who lived here,” Pettway said. “We want to make sure that that hidden treasure that is here in this building … is memorialized to make sure that the full story does not end in Bessemer but continues here in this part of Jefferson County.”

UPDATED: Excitement and Angst: Voters Cast Ballots at a Steady Clip This Morning

A steady stream of voters filed through Mountain Brook City Hall Tuesday as polls opened for the special Senate election.

Most who spoke after voting described a greater excitement and a bit of angst as they prepared to cast their vote for Republican Roy Moore or Democrat Doug Jones.

Barry Stephenson, chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Registrars, said about 1 p.m. that voting today is “progressing pretty well.”

He said it’s running like a normal election day so far. Secretary of State John Merrill has predicted a 25 percent voter turnout for today. But Stephenson thinks Jefferson County will top that, based on the number of calls his office has been getting.

He’s heard a couple of polling places are somewhat cold, but those are the only complaints that have come in to his office.

In Mountain Brook, Brian Sullivan noted that the new tablets were in use to identify voters.

“It’s an important election, I’ll tell you that,” he said. “It’s important for people to get out and vote Republican.”

Mountain Brook High School senior Jackson Sharman was voting for just the second time, but he noticed the difference from his previous trip to the precinct.

“People seemed a little more excited, or interested,” he said as he hurried off to math class after voting for Jones.

Cumbee Tyndal noticed a higher level of anxiety.

“I think people are concerned about this race, because of the national coverage and because of the nature of the race,” she said, acknowledging that she voted for Jones. She said she normally votes Democratic. Read more.

Voters Turn Out Early in Huffman
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Chief inspector Bill Peoples said turnout was heavy early at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Huffman. There were 50 to 60 people waiting in line at 6:30 a.m. or earlier.

“We even let them stand inside,” he said. “We don’t usually do that but it was cold.”

The flow of voters had slackened by 10 a.m. but Peoples said there are projections of a record turnout if voters continue to show up as they have.

Gregory Young, an African-American man, made an observation as he returned to the parking lot: “A lot of folks passing out stuff aren’t out here today,” he said. “People who are usually out here passing out stuff (suggesting) who to vote for, they’re not out here. It’s very strange.”

There was a lone volunteer from the Alabama Democratic Conference who was doling out yellow sample ballots marked for Doug Jones. Young said he voted for Jones.

“It’s not about what’s in the news,” he said. “I just felt he’d probably be a better candidate. Sometimes I vote Republican and sometimes I vote Democrat.” Read more.

Voting Steady at Legion Field

Voters streamed in and out of Legion Field in Birmingham during lunchtime. Voting at the precinct, which has about 4,317 registered voters, has been steady, according to Doug Jones campaign worker Edwina Robinson.
Robinson, 62, has been at the polling site since 8 a.m. handing out sample ballots. She said she hasn’t seen long lines or a drop off in voters, only a steady stream of people casting ballots.
“I think it will be a good turnout,” she said. Read more.


U.S. Senate Special Election, What You Need to Know