General

Alabama Supreme Court Clears the Way for Jefferson County to Refinance School Bonds

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens summed up an Alabama Supreme Court ruling during a press conference Friday afternoon. “What’s it mean? It means it’s a great day for the citizens of Jefferson County, for all citizens of Jefferson County,” he said. “It enables Jefferson County to proceed in refinancing the county school tax warrants that is guaranteed by the 1 cent county sales tax.” Commissioners sought a state law revising that county sales tax law so they could refinance the warrants at a lower price and divide the remaining money from the tax more broadly. A circuit judge struck down that law, but Friday the Alabama Supreme Court upheld it. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr., BirminghamWatch

Historic Tax Credit Returns to the Legislature With Widespread Support – in Theory

The newly renovated Pizitz Building sits on 19th Street North in downtown Birmingham, its pristine, wedding cake white façade belying its 94 years. It’s the latest among dozens of historic downtown Birmingham buildings that have been renovated in recent years. But many more of them haven’t been. They stand nearby, vacant or sparsely populated, with fading signs and sagging woodwork. Three such buildings in Birmingham – a total of seven from around the state – are on a list at the Alabama Historic Commission, waiting to see whether the Legislature will renew tax credits for historic renovation. The tax credit expired last year because of concerns about the cost of the program to the state. But bills to overhaul and reinstate the tax credit program have pulled much more support this year – at least in theory. The tax credit this year has 87 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and 29 co-sponsors in the Senate. “It’s huge for Birmingham,’’ said Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, who introduced the bill in the Senate this year. Read more.

by Virginia Martin, BirminghamWatch

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

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

Hoover Fire Station No. 8 Malfunction

Janet Haines, lead poll official at Hoover Fire Station No. 8, said the ballots are in a locked portion of the machine and will be counted later. The machine malfunction caused a bit of a line at first, but it dissipated quickly, Haines said. The polling place now is using its one working box. This

by Virginia Martin

Keeping Watch on the Polls

BirminghamWatch is participating in ElectionLand, a nationwide project of the nonprofit news organization ProPublica that will cover access to the ballot and problems that prevent people from voting.  To sign up to take part in this effort, text ELECTIONLAND to 69866. Then on election day you will be asked about your voting experience. If you

by Maggie Andrews

Pell City results

Pell City Council, District 1 David Arnett           118 Jay Jenkins              170 Council, District 3 Blaine Henderson    163 Dot Wood 109 Council, District 4 Jason Mitcham            388 Sharon Thomas           230 Council, District 5 Jud Alverson             336 Terry Templin           193 Phil Roberson           143 Pell City Board of Education District 5 Brenda Burrow              165 Sonia Dale                   

by Virginia Martin

Wilsonville Results

Wilsonville Town Council: Blake Ray                     294 Ricky Ray Morris        255 Richard B. Atchison   238 Melissa Rosetta           225 Larry Cohill                  213 Gordon Fluker   194 Ivan Greene                  182 Anne L. Phelps             170 Patricia “Pat” Johnson  161 Lane Ross                     156 Calvin Gill                      147 Terry Newman              109  

by Virginia Martin

Pinson Results

PINSON  Mayor                                       Richard “Joe” Cochran                   359 Hoyt Sanders                                  453 Council, Place 2      Shannon Galamore                         459 Michael Brad Walker                      327

by Virginia Martin

Adamsville Results

ADAMSVILLE  Mayor Christopher Allen James                  236 Pam Cairns Palmer                         411 District 3 Glenn Minyard                       85 Ricky L. Pierce                        41 District 5 Johnathan Charles Click     73 Reginald Crawford                  47

by Virginia Martin