Virginia Martin

Legal Services Alabama Serves Thousands in State. Program, a Partisan Battleground, on President Trump’s Budget-Cut List.

Army veteran Ronald Whitson gives credit to Legal Services Alabama for keeping his family home in Birmingham. “I’ve been to the top, and I’ve been to the basement, and I know how important Legal Services is,” Whitson said. For Mike Letson, Whitson’s LSA attorney, what he did for Whitson is more than a job, it’s a passion. “You feel you are on the right side of justice,” he said. However, the program that Whitson and Letson praise has been controversial, the frequent target of partisan political battles since its start in the mid-1970s, with roots in the nation’s War on Poverty. Now the Alabama program’s federal parent, Legal Services Corporation, once again faces defunding, this time in President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal. Justifications for defunding the LSC include concern about the program’s lack of accountability measures and the value of transferring responsibility to the states to “encourage nonprofit organizations, businesses, law firms and religious institutions to develop new models for providing legal aid.” LSC helps provide legal assistance to low-income people in civil matters, including housing, family law and veterans’ rights. The agency distributes its $385 million budget through grants to 133 offices nationwide, including Legal Services Alabama’s seven offices and one call center. This is the third of BirminghamWatch’s Trump’s Budget Wish List series, detailing programs that President Donald Trump proposes cutting and the effect these choices could have in Alabama. Read More Read the earlier stories:

Trump’s Budget Wish List: What It Could Mean for Alabama

Peace Program is on President’s Budget-Cut List. Here’s Why Alabama Teacher Values Its Help.

by Jackie Romine Walburn

Alabama Power Awaiting Federal Guidance After Court Strips Its License to Operate 7 Coosa River Dams

It’s now official. Monday, Alabama Power Co.’s license to operate its seven Coosa River dams was taken away under terms of a federal court order issued a month ago. The power company will now operate under its prior license. A power company spokesperson said customers are not affected in any way by the legal issue and no operational changes will take place as it awaits direction from the federal agency that issued the license, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The unprecedented decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., was a surprise victory for environmentalists and is being followed closely by the hydropower-relicensing industry. Read more about the court’s decision:

Coosa River Gets Help: Federal Court Overturns Alabama Power’s License to Operate 7 Dams, Orders New Look at Waterway’s Environment

In a Segregated County, a New Charter School Offers an Alternative

University Charter School opened in Sumter County recently with a student population that is only about half African American. That’s big news in Sumter County, where enrollment in the public school system has been virtually 100 percent African American. Read more.

Officials Want More Contamination Testing in North Birmingham

More than 500 properties in North Birmingham have not been tested for contamination, Congresswoman Terri Sewell said Wednesday while touring Collegeville with city, state and EPA officials. She’s encouraging people who have rejected soil testing to allow EPA to check for contaminants. “We understand some of the citizens may be distrustful, but it’s important for us in order to truly have cleanup that is comprehensive for us to get those sites that have not been tested, tested,” Sewell says. Read more.

Don’t Swat! Alabama’s Bugs May Be Disappearing

Scientists recognize Alabama as one of the most biodiverse states in the US but know far less about its insect diversity. A landmark study has shown a dramatic decrease in flying insects, and there may be cause for concern here, too. Read more.

Birmingham Council Limits Spending by Outgoing Councilor

Jay Roberson wasn’t present at Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, but his recently announced resignation loomed over proceedings. A discussion over whether to reallocate funding for parks in his district led to a prolonged debate over how much spending power lame-duck councilors should have — with the only present outgoing councilor, District 1’s Lashunda Scales, expressing outrage that the discussion was even happening. Read more.

Tariffs Imposed by U.S., Trading Partners Hit Home in Alabama

President Donald Trump is battling with countries he says are unfairly hurting America’s foreign trade, but some of his moves may adversely affect industries in Alabama in the process. Trump’s new tariffs against China, Canada and the European Union — some proposed, some already in effect — are concerning the state’s auto manufacturers, farmers and newspaper publishers, and they have prompted responses from both industry representatives and politicians. In particular, Doug Jones, Alabama’s newly elected U.S. senator, has criticized an investigation by the Department of Commerce that may cause price hikes in vehicles made in Alabama using parts imported from abroad. The range of tariffs is wide but fluctuating, as Trump continues to negotiate with trading partners. Even as he announces additional tariffs and other countries retaliate by increasing their own against American exports, the president has said that he would remove all tariffs if other countries would do the same. Read more about the three areas where Alabama businesses and workers could get caught up in a potential trade war.

Filling in the Blanks: Birmingham Council Fine-Tuning Process to Find Replacements for Three Councilors

With this week’s resignation of President Pro Tem Jay Roberson, the Birmingham City Council faces the unusual task of appointing three new members by the end of the year. Roberson’s resignation takes effect Sept. 10, while Lashunda Scales and Sheila Tyson will resign from the council Nov. 14 to take office as the Jefferson County Commission’s newest members, having been elected earlier this year. The council’s seven remaining members will have to agree on three replacements for their outgoing colleagues. Historically, the appointment process has been a difficult one, and this year is unlikely to be an exception. Among issues to be decided by the council are the precise process for selection and how much outgoing council members should have to say about who is selected as their replacements. Even how long the new councilors will serve is up in the air. Generally, appointees serve until the next city election, which in this case is 2021. But if a special city referendum being considered is called early next year, the appointees who want to continue on the council will be running in just a few months. Read more. See also: Birmingham Councilor Jay Roberson Resigns, Cites Wife’s New Job. A Major Shake-Up for the Jefferson County Commission: Tyson and Scales Snare Nominations, Assuring a Majority of New Members in the Fall

Congressional Votes for the Week Ending Aug. 17

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate last week took up two of President Trump’s appointments to the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Both of Alabama’s senators – Republican Richard Shelby and Democrat Doug Jones – joined the majority to confirm the appointments. The Senate also unanimously agreed to condemn President Trump's attacks on the U.S. news media. Here's the detail on how Alabama’s senators voted on major issues in the week ending Aug.17. The House was in recess. Read more.

Birmingham Councilor Jay Roberson Resigns, Cites Wife’s New Job

Birmingham City Councilor Jay Roberson announced his resignation from the council on Thursday, a decision that left many of his colleagues “shocked” and that will further shake up a council already facing significant membership changes. During a press conference held at Lawson State Community College, Roberson confirmed that he would be stepping down as District 7’s councilor effective Sept.10. Roberson said his wife has taken a new “dream job” with Alabaster City Schools, which will require his family to move. “My wife’s wholehearted support allowed me to have this opportunity (as councilor),” he said in a press release. “Now is a time for me to support her professional aspirations and do what’s right for my family.” Read more.