Virginia Martin

Jefferson County School Taxes, House Seat on Tuesday’s Ballot

Jefferson County voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to extend a series of property taxes that fund local schools. Also on the ballot is the Democratic primary race to fill the state House District 58 seat left vacant by the retirement of former Rep. Oliver Robinson. School officials and advocates for weeks have been reminding people that there is an election March 7 and asking that they vote to extend the property taxes for schools. The taxes were enacted about 30 years ago but are set to expire in 2021. Voters will decide Tuesday whether to extend them for another 25 years, to 2046. Jefferson County school Superintendent Craig Pouncy and other superintendents have said the property taxes help schools pay for things not funded through state and federal taxes. They provide a total of $100 million a year for academic programs, facility upgrades, textbooks, buses, computers and other education needs. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Birmingham Council Clears Way to Become First Alabama City With a Healthy Food Incentive Program

The Birmingham City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday to make Birmingham the first Alabama city with a Healthy Food Incentive Program, but not before a nearly hour-long debate with members of the city’s law department. The program will cost $2 million, which will be allocated from the city’s general fund budget for fiscal 2018, and it is slated to begin Aug. 1. Essentially, the ordinance would allow qualified recipients to receive a food incentive card to be used toward the purchase of eligible foods at participating stores. The cards would have a value of up to $150 annually and take the form of either a debit card or voucher. Before the vote, Councilor Lashunda Scales objected to the city’s law department having “gone week to week discussing the same thing,” referring to changes in the language and the proposed launch date of the program. “We make plenty of time for economic development. When do we make the time to help the poor people?” Scales asked. Read more

by Cody Owens, Weld: Birmingham's Newspaper

JeffCo Commission Honors Pioneering Black Judges

Lifelong friends and former neighbors in Birmingham’s “Dynamite Hill” community were honored by the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday after their retirement as judges of the 10th Circuit Court of Jefferson County. Judge Helen Shores Lee, the first black woman to serve in the civil division of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, and Judge Houston Brown, the first black presiding judge in the circuit, were honored for their service to the community with a proclamation presented by District 2 Commissioner Sandra Little Brown. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

JeffCo Commissioners Discuss Cooper Green Contracts, Water Line Project, Other Issues to Come up in Thursday’s Meeting.

February 21, 2017 -- Jefferson County Commissioners discussed $105,400 in contracts for Cooper Green Mercy Hospital during a committee meeting Tuesday. “That goes back to reallocating to make sure we have the funds necessary to have a positive impact on our indigent citizens,” Commission President Jimmie Stephens said after the meeting. “This commission is committed to doing that and we’re going to continue to do it.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham City Council Agrees to Transfer Surplus Land, Provide Funding for Sporting Events

February 21, 2017 – The Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday for an intergovernmental agreement to list and transfer surplus city property to the Birmingham Land Bank Authority. The resolution allows the authority to “dispose of the property in a manner consistent with its Mission Statement and Administrative Policies and Procedures.” The city initially will present seven potential properties to the authority to be listed on its website “as being available for purchase by the general public,” the resolution reads. It does not indicate which properties will be considered. Read more.

by By Cody Owens, Weld: Birmingham's Newspaper

Birmingham City Councilors Debate “Self-Promotion” and the Water Board, With Suggestions That City Officials Are Under Investigation.

A Birmingham City Council meeting consumed by debate over ads purchased by the council and the behavior of the Birmingham Water Works Board also entertained the suggestion that an investigation of city officials is underway. The references to a possible grand jury investigation – which has not been publicly revealed by any prosecutor’s office – seemed almost an aside in a discussion about the activities of the BWWB. Councilor Valerie Abbott during Tuesday’s meeting said that not only is a grand jury investigating the utilities board, but also the Birmingham City Council and the mayor’s office. “Lord knows what they’ll find,” Abbott said. Read more.

by Cody Owens, Weld: Birmingham's Newspaper

Legislative Overview: Lawmakers Take up Bills on Abortion, Immigration and Death Sentencing in First Week.

Alabama legislators kick-started their session last week, with committees approving bills on abortion, sanctuary campuses and death penalty sentences, among other topics. Those bills could go to the floor of the House or Senate this week. The governor’s recommendations for the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets also were introduced last week but have yet to come up for a vote. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Jefferson County Commission Approves United Way Funding Despite Concerns

The Jefferson County Commission OK’d paying $500,000 to the United Way at its meeting Thursday, but not before commissioners were assured senior citizens are receiving the “top notch” service they should be getting. Commissioner Sandra Little Brown asked that approval of the funding be delayed so she could pose questions to United Way officials who were on hand. She said she had received numerous calls about people not getting services they had received before.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jeffco Legislators Predict Medicaid and Prison Funding Will Dominate Early Days of the Session.

Alabama legislators convened their regular session Tuesday facing some of the same problems that consumed them last year. “The main thing for all of us is going to be the budget,” said Allen Treadaway, R-Morris. The governor is recommending a $1.9 billion General Fund budget that is almost flat funding from this year, though he has said he was considering proposing a pay raise for state employees. His $6.3 billion proposed Education Trust Fund budget does not include a raise for education employees, who did get a bump in pay this year. But the two biggest elephants in the budget conference room will once again be Medicaid and prisons. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Heavy Turnout Spurs Long Lines but No Major Problems at the Polls

A contentious presidential race drove heavy turnout at the polls Tuesday, causing long lines at some polling places and periodic glitches with voting machines and routines. As of late Tuesday night, almost 1.9 million ballots had been tallied, with 60 of 67 counties having reported their results, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. But the state had slightly higher turnout in 2008 and 2012. Almost 2.1 million people voted in each of those years. A surge in voter registration teased election officials with the prospect of record voter turnout, but it was not to be. Still, turnout was heavy Tuesday, and people from across the state reported having to stand in line for three hours or more to cast their ballots. Read more.

by Virginia Martin