Author: Virginia Martin

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BirminghamWatch, June 21, 2022

Sheriff Requests More Money for World Games Security

Solomon Crenshaw Jr., June 21, 2022

Learning that his department has a much bigger task than anticipated with The World Games, Sheriff Mark Pettway today sought $1.2 million from the Jefferson County Commission.

“We’ve had some other departments to pull out, which increased our involvement within The World Games,” Pettway said. “We are here. We’re local. We want to make sure that when everybody comes here, that everybody is safe. Read more.

Taxi Rates Increased to Offset High Gas Prices

Sam Prickett, June 21, 2022

The Birmingham City Council has approved an increase in taxi rates to offset rising fuel costs. The decision, which passed unanimously after a public hearing yielded no speakers, will add a $1 surcharge to every taxicab ride in the city through at least the end of the year. It’s the first time taxicab rates have been raised in a decade. Read more.

Voters Go Back to the Polls Tuesday to Decide the Fate of Candidates in the Primary Runoffs

BirminghamWatch, June 19, 2022

Voters go to the polls today to determine the nominees in several offices for which no candidate got a majority of the vote in the May 24 party primaries. The polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across the state.

The runoff ballots are fairly light. At the top of the Republican ballot is perhaps the most-discussed race in the state this year, for nomination to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Richard Shelby, who is retiring. At the top of the Democratic ballot is nomination to the governor’s race. Candidates who won their party’s nominations for each office will face each other in the general election in November.

One important thing to know about the runoffs is that Alabama bans crossover voting. That means that if you voted in the Republican primary, for instance, you can vote only in the Republican runoff. You cannot vote in one party’s primary and the other party’s runoff. If you didn’t vote in the May 24 primary, though, you can vote in whichever runoff you choose.

If you don’t know where you should go to vote, what ID you need or other information about voting, check out the Voter FAQ in BirminghamWatch’s Runoff Voter Guide. Also in the Voter Guide are candidate profiles and printable sample ballots. Read the Voter Guide.