Author: Virginia Martin
Opera Birmingham, Other Arts Groups Making Leadership Changes Ahead of Coming Season
Several of Birmingham’s premier arts organizations are making significant leadership changes ahead of their 2024-2025 seasons, shifts they say will position them for growth and continued community engagement. Read more.
JeffCo Commissioner Tyson Objects After Two More Republicans Appointed to Board of Equalization
A disgruntled Commissioner Sheila Tyson left the Jefferson County Commission chamber Wednesday, saying, “the fix was in” after her nominee for the Board of Equalization failed to get the support of her fellow commissioners. Read more.
Birmingham Council Waits on Budget Amendments as New Spending Plan Remains in Limbo
The March computer network disruption that interfered with the city of Birmingham’s operations for weeks caused further confusion Tuesday, with the City Council voting to delay approval of several budget amendments. The city will be operating at 2024 levels until the budget is finished. Read more.
UAB Prez: Purchase of Ascension St. Vincent’s to Ensure Health-Care Access
The UAB Health System is set to take over Ascension St. Vincent’s Health System properties in Central Alabama in a $450 million deal officials said would ensure continuing quality health care for people in Birmingham and surrounding communities. Read more.
Miles College Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Birmingham-Southern College
Miles College has signed a letter of intent to begin negotiations to purchase Birmingham-Southern College, the private liberal arts school that closed May 31, The Birmingham Times has learned. Read more.
Datcher, Woodson Move to Runoff in House District 52 Special Election
Kelvin Datcher, Birmingham’s deputy director of community development, and nonprofit executive Frank Woodson were the top two candidates in Tuesday’s special election for the Democratic nomination to the Alabama House District 52 seat. They will meet in a runoff July 16. Read more.
Read the full Voter Guide, with candidate bios and statements
Birmingham Council Sends Questions About Controversial Night Club’s Business License to Committee Rather Than Revoking It
The fate of a downtown Birmingham nightclub criticized for attracting crime remains unclear after the City Council held a public hearing Tuesday to discuss revoking the company’s business license. Read more.
The World Takes Notice of Birmingham’s Rickwood Field
Bessemer’s Kewanna Benson and her son Kamaurion were dressed for baseball. The 9-year-old rising 4th grader could have been at practice for his Hueytown youth baseball all-star team.
Instead, mother and son were at Birmingham’s Carver Theatre for a screening of the HBO Original documentary “Say Hey, Willie Mays!” It is one of several events happening around town related to Major League Baseball’s hosting three games at historic Rickwood Field.
But the real stars of the three-day extravaganza are Rickwood Field and the Negro League teams and players who applied their craft there. Supporters say the buzz over the event also is drawing attention to the western-area community around Rickwood and the game of baseball itself. Read more.
Vote Tuesday in House District 52 Race
Some Birmingham-area voters will be going to the polls Tuesday to select a Democratic nominee to run for the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat, which recently was left vacant after former Rep. John Rogers resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.
Six Democrats are running for the seat: Dedra Campbell, Kelvin Datcher, Eric Major, LaTanya Millhouse, Eyrika L. Parker and Frank Woodson. If none of the candidates gets more than half of the votes, there will be a runoff between the top two votegetters on July 16.
One Republican is running for the seat – Carlos Crum. Since he had no challengers for the Republican nomination, there won’t be a Republican ballot in Tuesday’s election.
The general election on Oct. 1 will pit Crum against the Democratic winner.
House District 52 covers parts of Birmingham, including the Glen Iris, Powderly, Southwest Birmingham and West End communities; along with sections of Homewood, Mountain Brook, Bessemer and unincorporated Jefferson County. See the map here.
You can determine whether you’re in House District 52 by looking up your name on the Secretary of State’s website.
BirminghamWatch’s Voter Guide for the race also includescandidate profiles, a compilation of the candidates’ statements on why they should be elected and the issues that are most important to them. Read more.
