Author: Virginia Martin
DA Raises Prosecutors’ Salaries to Retain Staff
District Attorney Danny Carr told the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday that he is adjusting the salaries of his deputy district attorneys to help hold onto his veteran crew of prosecutors.
“It’s hard to keep a good lawyer who sees what we see every day, who takes home what we take home every day and does what we have to do under the most strenuous circumstances, in all honesty, making $50,000-something a year,” Carr said. Read more.
Alabama to Begin Working With a Consulting Company That’s Under Criminal Investigation
McKinsey & Company, an international consulting business, will help the state of Alabama develop a new strategic economic growth plan. The company is undertaking that project while also dealing with a probe into whether it engaged in a criminal conspiracy. Read more.
New Pilot Program Will Offer Housing, Resources to People Leaving Prison
The Birmingham Reentry Alliance will provide wrap-around services to dozens of men and women adjusting to life after prison. Read more.
Student Journalists Shine in Campus Protest Coverage
A student reporter at the Columbia Journalism School who is covering the campus protests there tweeted Wednesday that she was so overwhelmed that she had to quit … giving interviews to professional media. On this story playing out around the nation, it’s the campus media that are leading the way. Read more.
Birmingham Council Approves $421K in Tax Incentives for Japanese Restaurant
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved $421,833 in incentives for a planned Japanese restaurant in downtown Birmingham, and it changed landscaping, buffering and screening ordinances to increase landscaping requirements and protect trees, among other changes. Read more.
BW’s Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Takes Firsts in State Journalism Contest
Writer Solomon Crenshaw Jr. recently was given top state awards for two stories published by BirminghamWatch and was named the sweepstakes winner for his cumulative performance in this year’s contest.
Crenshaw won first place in the Alabama Media Professionals’ 2024 Communications Contest Award in the Specialty Articles – Government and Politics category with his story ”Sylvia Swayne Bucks Customs in House District 55 Runoff Race.”
A judge in that category said of Crenshaw’s story, “Good planning and organization; excellent use of quotes; demonstrates knowledge of government/political journalism.”
He also won first place in the contest’s Web and Social Media – Video for Web – Web Reporting, Single News or Feature Story category for his slideshow, “An Ode to Steve Ammons.”
A judge in that contest wrote, “This is a very sweet angle to what may have otherwise been considered a run-of-the-mill official departure story. Great idea setting this poem to a gallery of moving photos – this is truly going the extra mile.”
He also won five other first-place awards: Read more.
BW’s Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Takes Firsts in State Journalism Contest
Writer Solomon Crenshaw Jr. recently was given top state awards for two stories published by BirminghamWatch and was named the sweepstakes winner for his cumulative performance in this year’s contest.
Crenshaw won first place in the Alabama Media Professionals’ 2024 Communications Contest Award in the Specialty Articles – Government and Politics category with his story ”Sylvia Swayne Bucks Customs in House District 55 Runoff Race.”
He also won first place in the contest’s Web and Social Media – Video for Web – Web Reporting, Single News or Feature Story category for his slideshow, “An Ode to Steve Ammons.”
He also won five other first-place awards. : Read more.
Do You Solemnly Swear to Smile for the Camera?
Very misleading subtitle on MSNBC a few days ago: “World watches Trump hush money trial.”
No, the world isn’t, because TV news cameras aren’t allowed in the courtroom. And they should be. Read more.
Jefferson Commission Cuts Time It Takes to Help Cities with Storm Debris
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday voted to reduce the time it may take for a municipality to be approved to receive assistance in debris removal in a disaster. It also approved funding for two organizations to help small businesses and delayed voting on a grant request for Midfield’s Senior Center. Read more.
Two Economic Development Agencies Set to Get $100,000 Apiece From JeffCo
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday is set to provide $200,000 to a pair of organizations to bolster small businesses in the county.
Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance and Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama each is in line for $100,000 to aid with innovation, economic development and building a strong workforce to support the growth and development of Jefferson County. Read more.
