Author: Virginia Martin
Alabama Lawmakers Roll the Dice on a New Lottery Bill
The constitutional amendment would authorize a state lottery, sports betting, eight full casinos and two smaller gambling operations. Read more.
Why Gulf South Oil Producers Can’t Protect the Region From Rising Gas Prices
Experts say activating unused oil wells could temper the rising costs of gas, but consumers should not expect prices to get anywhere near their COVID low. Read more.
Photos We Don’t Want to See, But Maybe Should
We spent part of Monday’s media ethics class talking about dead bodies.
The topic was prompted by some gut-wrenching social media photos of fatalities from Russia’s special operation to liberate Ukraine. (That’s how I’m referring to Vladimir Putin’s immoral invasion of a sovereign nation just in case Putin reads the Arenblog and decides to poison my Diet Coke.)
My very smart students nicely framed this longstanding dilemma of whether and when to publish such photos. Respect for the victims, compassion for victims’ families and the danger of exposing audience to upsetting images all dictate not to publish. But showing the truth of war – so that citizens of the world might insist their nations never engage in it – demands no withholding.
The New York Times picked its side of one such debate on Monday. Read more.
Alabama’s ‘Ultimate School Choice’ Bill Gets Complicated When Considering Race and Poverty
Parents could get about $5,600 per kid in state money to use for other schooling options. The proposal is currently in a legislative study committee. But experts told WBHM school choice brings up concerns around equity. Read more.
Rep. David Wheeler of Vestavia Hills Dies
Birmingham Council OKs Minority-Led Housing, Retail and Recreational Development
The Birmingham City Council has approved the sale of 222 acres near Lakeshore Parkway to Green Meadow Apartments LLC, which will redevelop the property into single-family, multi-family and senior housing.
The city will receive $1.5 million for the property, which is located at 1911 Tiger Walk. General contractor Michael German, the former Alabama field office director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, has represented Green Meadow Apartments at council meetings. He told councilors that the proposed development will include a park, walking trail and a town center — including a grocery store and a community center — and compared the development to the nearby Ross Bridge community.
Green Meadow is a minority developer, and Cornell Wesley, the city’s director of innovation and economic opportunity, described its project as potentially transformational for the city.
“We are looking at what I believe to be the largest economic impact led by African Americans in our storied history as a city, that being over $100 million worth of economic impact and investment in our area,” Wesley said. Read more.
Vestavia Hills Schools and City Face a Lawsuit Alleging They Withheld Public Information
The Vestavia Hill City Schools along with the superintendent and the city face a lawsuit alleging they’re improperly withholding public information on how they decided COVID-19 masking and safety protocols. The lawsuit was filed by two parents last month. Read more.
Alabama Lawmakers Advance a Record-Setting Education Budget
Legislators also took up measures to improve math education and attack what’s known as “period poverty.” Read more.
COVID-19’s Stranglehold on Alabama Lightens
Jefferson County has dropped back into the moderate category for risk of community COVID-19 transmission as instances of the viruses have lessened across Alabama.
Only eight counties remain in the high-risk category and 12 are at substantial risk, under the state’s risk classifications. Seven have dropped to the low-risk category, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s COVID data and surveillance dashboard. The state as a whole is classified as being at moderate risk for community transmission.
The state’s positivity rate, or the rate of COVID-19 tests that have been returned positive in the past week, has dropped to 5.9%, and Jefferson County’s positivity rate is now 4.4%. Both topped 40% a few weeks ago. Read more.
Birmingham Leaders Say Decision to Ban Russian Athletes From the World Games ‘a Show of Solidarity’
The World Games’ ban was in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week. Read more.
