Two Days Left to Apply for Absentee Ballots
Thursday is the deadline to apply for absentee ballots to vote in the June 14 primary runoffs. The voter then has through Monday, the day before the election, to submit the ballot. Read more.
Virginia Martin
Fauci Says Alabama Still Could Rein in COVID-19, Even as Cases Spread Among Young People
Dr. Anthony Fauci said even though Alabama has seen a rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases since Memorial Day, the state now has “a window of opportunity” to slow the virus outbreak. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Tuesday in a press conference with Alabama Sen. Doug Jones that the methods to slow the spread of virus are known: washing hands, wearing masks, social distancing and closing bars. “Indoor bars are the perfect setup for the virus to spread,” he said. The reopening of bars and resumption of large events with little social distance has put younger people in the virus’ cross hairs. Last month, Jones said, the median age of virus victims in the state dropped 15 years. In Alabama, the largest portion of people testing positive for the disease is now those in the 25- to 49-year age range. Read more.
Black at Samford Pushes for Changes in the University’s Culture, Treatment of Black Students
Students at Samford University regularly talk about the “Samford bubble,” the idea that when they step onto campus, they leave the real world behind. Inside the bubble, there’s a sense they are more sheltered and there is more uniformity in the beliefs and backgrounds of students and faculty.
But not for students of color.
Many Black current and former Samford students are now sharing stories about how that bubble has concealed their experiences of racism, discrimination, isolation and pain on the Black at Samford Instagram account.
The stories run the gamut of racial experiences: exclusion from student groups’ events based on race; offensive stereotypes; different treatment by white professors or coaches compared to their white peers; casual use of racial slurs by white students; and the unofficial racial division of the campus cafeteria. Read more.
More on racist speech and attitudes
Sticks and Stones: Racist Comments Affect Policy, Law and Discrimination
A White Son Raised by a Black Man: Seeing Race From a Unique Perspective
A White Son Raised by a Black Man: Seeing Race From a Unique Perspective
Kevin Sims, who is white, remembers being on a beach when another white fellow asked him for a cigarette. As the pair talked, the subject of football came up. And the other fellow showed his true colors. “He was like, 'Why I wanna watch football?’” Sims recalled. “I don't wanna watch a bunch of (N-words) run up and down a field chasing each other.'” Sims, who was raised by a Black man since the time he was 3, couldn’t stand for that. Read more.
Sticks and Stones: Racist Comments Affect Policy, Law and Discrimination
One time she was in a beauty salon when it happened, Pam King remembers. Another time, she was in the drug store. One time it happened while she was driving down the street in Vestavia Hills. In each instance, another white person — someone she didn’t know — decided it was OK to say something to her that was racist about Black people. “You can hear it every day. You can hear it … anywhere,” King said. “You hear from white people, constantly, ‘Well, did you hear what the Black people are doing?’ Just all kinds of little comments, every day. It's part of the conversation.” Read more.
2020 Primary Runoff Voter Guide: Your Source of Information for the July 14 Election
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill expects the state runoff elections on July 14 to go smoothly, despite the complications of having an election during a pandemic. He’s predicting a voter turnout of 17% to 22%, which is higher than turnout in the 2014 and 2016 party runoffs, when 11% and 12% of voters, respectively, cast ballots. That’s despite a thin ballot. Only two statewide races are on the Republican runoff ballot and none on the Democratic ballot. But one of those Republican races is the fierce battle between Tommy Tuberville and Jeff Sessions to capture the party’s nomination to the U.S. Senate. An appellate court race also is on the ballot, along with local runoffs in some counties. Read more. BirminghamWatch has put together a Voter Guide with information you’ll need before heading to the polls or filling out that absentee ballot. Inside you’ll find:
What’s on the Ballot?
Candidate Profiles
Voters’ Runoff Toolbox
Voters’ Toolbox for July 14 Primary Runoffs
Who can vote in this election? The July 14 election is a primary runoff. If you voted in the primary election, you may vote in the same party’s runoff. For instance, if you voted a Democratic ballot on March 3, you may vote in the Democratic runoff. But you cannot “cross over” and vote in
Candidate Profiles
Profiles and contributions for each candidate. Read more.
What’s on the Ballot?
Races on the ballot for the July 14 primary runoffs Read more.
Roderick “Rod” Scott
Jefferson County Treasurer Roderick “Rod” Scott Democrat Residence: Fairfield Political experience: Member, Alabama House of Representatives, District 55, 2006-present. Professional experience: Professor, Miles College, Fairfield. Education: Master of Business Administration, Dartmouth College, Amos Tuck School of Business Administration; bachelor’s in economics, Yale University. Main Issue: Careful stewardship of the county’s money. Campaign: Elect Rod Scott