Plans for a concrete batch plant in the Five Points West community have been placed on hold, but some Birmingham city councilors warned residents that the fight to keep Sherman Industries out of their neighborhood is not over. Read more.
MONTGOMERY — Alabamians won't be able to get wine delivered to their homes anytime soon, but wet counties and municipalities can now have Sunday sales without going through the Legislature. There were several alcohol-related bills in the 2019 legislative session that ended last month. See what passed and what didn't.
The deadline to apply to be a water reclamation facility operator apprentice has been extended to Friday. Already 90 persons have tossed their hats in the ring for 20 positions. Michelle C. Rodrigues, Jefferson County’s director of human resources, told commissioners at their committee meeting this morning that positions as water reclamation facility operators have been difficult to recruit. As a result, the county is developing its own pipeline of workers through its apprenticeship program.
For the first time in more than eight months, the Birmingham Public Library has a full board of trustees. The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Lynn Flowers-Martin and Mona Lisa Morris to fill two vacant seats on the board.
The Alabama Surface Mining Commission issued a permit renewal last week for Mays Mining Company’s Mine No. 5 on the Mulberry Fork. But the company has to meet multiple court-ordered and other conditions before beginning to operate at the site near the Dovertown community. Gary Hosmer, a Dovertown resident who has led the 14 year-long local opposition to mining in the 200-resident Walker County community, said, “We’re going to fight it as far as we can, and then some.” The mine site is about five miles upstream of a major intake pipe that supplies the Birmingham Water Works Board and serves 200,000 customers. The water works has said the mining is a threat to the area’s drinking water quality. The utility went to Jefferson County Circuit Court to stop the mine from operating on the Black Warrior tributary, and officials said in a statement, “We are reviewing the (commission’s) decision and evaluating the BWWB’s options.” Read more.
Current members of Birmingham’s City Council spent a total of $78,555 on travel between November 2017, when the bulk of councilors took office, and May 2019, a look at the council’s meeting agendas reveals. That amount does not include trips for which a final total has not yet been approved. Estimated costs for city-funded trips are approved beforehand by the council; after the trip, the council votes again to approve the actual amount spent. District 4 Councilor William Parker tops the list of the city’s most-traveled councilors, having spent $30,334.15 on 41 trips since November 2017. He’s followed by District 5 Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, who has spent $21,554.04 on 13 trips, and District 8 Councilor Steven Hoyt, who has spent $16,136.80 on five trips. District 9 Councilor John Hilliard, with $12,719.07 for 13 trips; District 7 Councilor Wardine Alexander, with $3,174.65 for two trips; and Council President Valerie Abbott, with $346.70 for one trip round out the list. The remaining councilors — District 1 Councilor Clinton Woods, District 2 Councilor Hunter Williams and District 6 Councilor Crystal Smitherman — each have no confirmed travel expenses since they took office, although Woods and Smitherman have each taken one trip, the expenses for which are pending final council approval. Read more.
MONTGOMERY – Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Birmingham, has been an Alabama lawmaker since 1966. "I've been through more sessions that anybody here, and this is one of the toughest sessions ever," Waggoner said Friday evening as legislators ended the annual law-making stint that began March 5. "I mean, we're talking lottery, gasoline tax, medical marijuana, abortion. It has been a gut check this year, it really has, as far as tough, impactful votes. But as far as high-profile issues, this session probably ranks No. 1 in my career." Read more.
A timeline of Birmingham city schools.
1873: Board of School Trustees established
1874: Free School Established (renamed The Powell School 1883)
1883: John H. Phillips, superintendent (First Birmingham Schools superintendent, considered the architect of the first school system)
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Multiple choice: 1. The Birmingham City Schools system has a high number of failing schools as determined by the Alabama Accountability Act. 2. The Birmingham City Schools system is below average, based on a “D” grade on the Alabama Education Report Card for the 2016-2017 school year. 3. The Birmingham City Schools system is doing better, on the upswing. 4. All of the above. If you chose “4” you may understand how complex it can be to determine the exact state of the city’s school system. Read more. Read the rest of BirminghamWatch’s special report on Birmingham schools:
The Birmingham City Schools system is one of the largest in Alabama. At the same time, it has a difficult history and a present reality in which a number of schools are performing at standards lower than what the superintendent, board of education and city administration would like.
In an effort to understand the state of the schools, BirminghamWatch examined the data and sought interviews or written information from BCS officials. Our efforts were less than fully successful.
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