Virginia Martin

Jefferson County’s New Sheriff Redesigns Star on Badges to Mark Change. Cost, $27,500.

Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway is putting his mark on his department, beginning by changing the star that he and his deputies wear and that is the centerpiece of signs in offices and on the sides of vehicles. “We went to a 6-pointed star (because) we wanted to make changes throughout the whole department,” Pettway said. “We want to put my mark on everything, so we changed the star from a 5-pointed star to a 6-pointed star.” Pettway, who unseated 20-year Sheriff Mike Hale in November, has a badge that has his name on the front. Hale’s star also had his name on the star. Changing the star is customary when a new sheriff is elected. Captain David Agee, the department’s public information officer, said each new badge costs $50. With 550 sworn deputies, that brings the cost to $27,500. “We will have the money to cover it with the adjustments that the sheriff has made to our current budget,” Agee said. “We also have as an alternative a discretionary fund if we need to cover it with it.” The painting of signs on buildings and vehicles is covered under a preexisting maintenance contract, Agee said.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham-Hoover Metro Among Top Areas Predicted to Suffer Economically From Climate Change

Alabama will be among the states most hit in the pocket book by changes due to global warming this century, even as it seems most Trumpian in its opposition to the issue. The Birmingham-Hoover metro area is among the nation’s top 15 metro areas that will experience negative economic effects from increased heat and extreme weather events and other consequences. A new county-by-county study by the Brookings Institution shows Alabama counties are among those facing the biggest long-term losses in income by the end of the 21st century. The analysis found that the top 10 states whose economy would suffer most include Alabama and eight others that voted for Trump, who has consistently downplayed or derided the idea of global warming. In other words, people who are most exposed to climate impacts consistently vote for people who are opposed to doing much to mitigate climate change. Adding insult to injury, a recent Department of Defense document named Reagan Operations Center in Huntsville and Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery as among the installations currently or in the future vulnerable to climate effects as it assessed “operational risks.” Flooding and damage from stronger, more frequent events such as hurricanes, health and safety effects from increased temperatures, and greater land management issues are among the risks named. These warnings came just as congressional Democrats prepare to lay out a Green New Deal that envisions economic benefits of policies that would ameliorate the effects of global warming. Read more.

by Hank Black

Doug Jones Plans Summit to Explore HBCU Challenges

By WBHM, 90.3 U.S. Sen. Doug Jones will host the first annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Summit Friday at Lawson State Community College. There, Jones says, educators, administrators, and students will discuss factors that pose the greatest threat to HBCUs, and opportunities ahead, specifically in terms of funding. Read more.

by WBHM, 90.3

Alabama’s Federal Employees Return to Work as Federal Shutdown Is Temporarily Ended

Federal employees in Birmingham and across the state returned to work Monday after a record-setting, five-week partial federal shutdown that affected about 5,500 workers, almost 10 percent of the state’s 50,000 federal employees. About 120 of these federal employees work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in downtown Birmingham, where most of the workers had been furloughed. A first priority at the office Monday morning was getting employees’ time recorded and approved quickly “so folks can get the past two paychecks,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Towns. Another priority for employees back at their desks after five weeks was checking and responding to weeks of voice mails and emails. Employees are prohibited from responding to messages or doing any government business while on furlough. “Folks are happy to be back at work and that the funding lapse is over for now,” Town said. Read more.

by Jackie Romine Walburn

Congressional Votes for the Week Ending Jan. 25

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House and Senate last week voted for a continuing resolution that reopened federal government operations through Feb. 15. However, there were no roll-call votes on the final version of HJ Res 28, so the votes of senators and representatives were not recorded. The House and Senate approved the measure Jan. 25 and President Trump signed it into law the same day, ending a 35-day government shutdown. There were votes last week on other unsuccessful bills aimed at reopening the federal government. Here's how area members of Congress voted on those and other bills during the legislative week ending Jan. 25. Read more.

by Voterama in Congress

Mea Culpa: BCRI Apologizes, Offers Davis Award as New Group Moves Forward With Alternate Plans

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is “taking things day by day” as it awaits a response from civil rights icon Angela Davis to its offer to give her its highest award – an offer it made earlier then rescinded. Meanwhile, the grassroots organization that formed after the institute rescinded its invitation to honor Davis announced its plans for her to come to town. The Rev. Thomas Wilder, interim chairman of the BCRI board of directors, is awaiting an answer from Davis to the institute’s renewed wish to present its Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award to her. “Right now the most immediate issue is to let Dr. Davis know how apologetic we are for whatever we've done that caused any disparaging remarks to her name or to her character,” Wilder said. “We think the right thing to do is to ask her to accept the award and then after that we'll move forward.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

State Asks Judge to Protect Confederate Monument While Lawsuit Appealed

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall fired the latest salvo in the battle over historical monuments in the state, filing a motion to stay a Jefferson County judge’s ruling that the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act is unconstitutional. Then-Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Michael Graffeo said in his Jan. 14 ruling that the law essentially forced a pro-Confederacy message on the city of Birmingham. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Civil Rights Institute Reverses Decision on Angela Davis Award Again

By Andrew Yeager, WBHM The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will award Birmingham native Angela Davis its 2018 Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award — again. Friday’s reversal is the latest development in a public controversy that has embroiled the institute for the past month. BCRI officials announced in October that Davis would receive the annual award. But on Jan. 3, the board voted at a special meeting to rescind the award saying Davis did not “meet all of the criteria on which the award is based.” The decision prompted a wave of criticism, then an apology and the resignation of three board members. Read more.

by Andrew Yeager, WBHM 90.3

Town Hall Set on Sewer Rate Increases

Jefferson County commissioners approved funding a town hall meeting on rising sewer rates Thursday, but not without lengthy debate of whether proper procedures were being followed. The gathering will be in the meeting room at Regions Field on Monday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jefferson County Deputies Granted 5 Percent Raise, Sheriff Cites Competitive Need

Sworn personnel of the sheriff’s department received a 5 percent cost-of-living raise when the Jefferson County Commission met in Bessemer Thursday. The raise in the sheriff’s department is on top of the raise given to Jefferson County employees at the beginning of this fiscal year. Sheriff Mark Pettway said the extra pay is needed to keep his department competitive with nearby law enforcement departments. “We are losing officers, deputies, daily to surrounding agencies,” he said. “We want to maintain those that we have and bring on good people to work inside the sheriff’s department. Everybody works for money, so we want to make sure that we’re competitive.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.