Glenn Stephens

Center Point Woman Leads White Birminghamians for Black Lives

In the wake of the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and others, countless white people across the county have experienced a social awakening. Judy Hand-Truitt isn’t among them. The 72-year-old Center Point resident has been socially awake from her youth and four years ago established White Birminghamians For Black Lives to protest racial injustice. The racially mixed group marched regularly at Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park until the pandemic made their marches less frequent. Its most recent march was Friday, May 29; its next march will be Friday, June 26. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Alabama Reverses Decline with a Big Jump in COVID-19 Cases

After two days of decline, the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama shot up by 882 Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported. The agency’s daily report, showing changes from 10 a.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday, also showed a big increase in deaths, with the number rising by 17 for a total of 801 since the pandemic began in March. The new report marked a return to an acceleration in the number of cases that began last Thursday, June 11. The figures trended upward for four days, reaching 1,014 new cases on Sunday, before declining daily to as low as 390 on Wednesday. The surge was led by Montgomery County, long the COVID-19 hotspot in Alabama. The central Alabama county reported 271 new cases, bringing its total to 3,059, the most in the state. The county reported two deaths, raising its overall figure to 63. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Number of New COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Drops for Third Consecutive Day

For the third day in a row, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama dropped on Wednesday, as did the number of deaths from the disease. The state recorded 390 confirmed new cases from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday, bringing the total since the pandemic began in mid-March to 26,914. There were five deaths during that period to raise the total to 784, the Alabama Department of Public Health’s daily report showed. The report listed 398 cases and six deaths that officials say are probably from COVID-19 but have yet to be confirmed. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Former Governor Turns Attention to Criminal Justice System Following Release From Prison

It has been three years since former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was released from prison after being convicted of federal corruption charges in 2006. One thing remains unchanged about the case: Siegelman maintains he is innocent. A jury convicted Siegelman of bribery for soliciting a $500,000 donation from then-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy for a fund to support his education lottery campaign. Prosecutors say in exchange, Siegelman appointed Scrushy to a state hospital regulatory board. Siegelman said the prosecution was politically motivated. In a new memoir, “Stealing Our Democracy: How the Political Assassination of a Governor Threatens our Nation,” Seigelman lays out how he saw the case and trial. But paints himself as a fighter for criminal justice reform after experiencing what he believes was an improper prosecution. Read more.

by Andrew Yeager, WBHM

City of Birmingham Facing ‘Economic Crisis’ Over Falling Revenue From Pandemic

Birmingham can expect an $18.3 million budgetary shortfall for the 2020 fiscal year because of the pandemic, Finance Director Lester Smith told the City Council Tuesday. And he warned that the economic impact on the city’s FY 2021 budget could be nearly four times that. Mayor Randall Woodfin, calling the situation an “economic crisis,” said that the dip in revenue means “painful” budget cuts are likely on the way. The COVID-19 pandemic and the city’s subsequent “shelter-in-place” order led to a significant drop in business tax revenue for the city, Smith said. That revenue, which includes sales, use and occupational taxes, typically accounts for 81.3% of the city’s overall budget.  Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Alabama’s COVID-19 Count Continues to Level Off for the Second Consecutive Day

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Alabama dropped slightly Tuesdsay for the second consecutive day. There were 632 new confirmed cases from 10 a.m. Monday until 10 a.m. Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 26,524 since the pandemic began in mid-March, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported. There were 10 new deaths, raising the overall total to 779. In addition, there were 380 patients who are believed to have COVID-19 but whose cases have not been confirmed as being from the disease, and five deaths thought to have been from the disease. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Growth of COVID-19 Cases in Alabama Slows Monday

After four days of dramatic increases, the growth in the number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama slowed on Monday, the Alabama Department of Public Health reported. There were 657 new cases of the disease during the 24-hour period that ended at 10 a.m. Monday, the agency reported. That brought the state's total to 25,892 since the pandemic began in mid-March. Another 380 cases were believed to have been from COVID-19 but have not been confirmed. The report listed one new death from the virus, raising the overall total to 769, plus five that are believed to have been from the disease but have not been confirmed. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Another Record: Alabama Tops 1,000 New COVID Cases in One Day

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Alabama rose sharply again Sunday, with state health officials reporting 1,014 new patients. The death toll for the disease remained at 768. The Alabama Department of Public has now confirmed 25,235 cases of the disease since the pandemic began in March. Another 380 people are believed to have COVID-19, but their cases are still being investigated. The statewide death toll for the disease was unchanged, according to the Health Department’s report for the period of 10 a.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday. Five other deaths are believed to have been from COVID-19, but have not been confirmed. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Free State of Winston Honors Its Dual Destiny as Confederate Monuments Fall

DOUBLE SPRINGS — As racial tensions burn across the United States and protesters in the South pressure officials to remove Confederate symbols, all is quiet on this northwestern Alabama front. No one is trying to tear down what may be the most unusual courthouse monument in the state, a statue called Dual Destiny that features both Confederate and U.S. flags. Perhaps the design of the monument makes it more palatable to current values. But the lack of conflict also may lie in the fact that only 124 of the county’s estimated 23,968 residents are black. Roger Hayes, himself serving in a dual role as County Commission chairman and Haleyville barber, said residents are proud of their monument and their heritage of supporting the Union during the Civil War. Read more.

by Scott Morris

Spread of COVID-19 in Alabama Continues Saturday at a Record Pace

The spread of COVID-19 cases in Alabama continued to accelerate Saturday, with state health officials reporting a third day of record numbers. In its daily update, the Alabama Department of Public Health said there were 888 new confirmed cases of the disease across the state, bringing the total to 24,221 since the pandemic began. The department had reported 859 new cases on Friday and 848 on Thursday, both records at the time. The new report, covering the period of 10 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday, included four new deaths, bringing the statewide overall total to 768. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch