Government

COVID-19 Federal Funds in Alabama Total $46B, Contribute to Big 2021 Tax Revenues

About $46.8 billion. Billion with a B. That’s how much federal COVID-19 relief money has gone to Alabama residents, businesses and government agencies since the pandemic began. About $30.3 billion of that has been given directly to individuals and businesses to assist them, Kirk Fulford, deputy director of the Legislative Services Agency, told state lawmakers recently. About $6.3 billion was in the Paycheck Protection Program, forgivable loans to help businesses weather the economic drought caused by COVID-related shutdowns. And nearly twice that much, $12.6 billion, has gone directly to individuals in stimulus checks. The money had a big impact on the state’s record tax receipts for fiscal 2021, which ended last week, Fulford said. That’s especially true in the Education Trust Fund, where sales and income tax are the main contributors. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Stephens Left as Last Man Sitting, Recesses JeffCo Commission After Other Commissioners Had to Bolt

They say it’s lonely at the top. As Thursday’s meeting of the Jefferson County Commission neared its end, it was lonely on the dais. Commission President Jimmie Stephens was the only commissioner remaining after others were either absent or had to leave because of other commitments. “I guess I'm the last man standing on this particular deal,” Stephens said after recessing the session. “This is not the pattern, practice or the way we do business. We have commissioners who had other commitments, and this did run over very long. We wanted to give the citizens an opportunity to speak. “At the end of that, we did do what was needed and necessary to take care of the business of the county,” he continued. “We'll have a full quorum next meeting and continue the operations and business.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Melson: Proposed Changes Coming to Medical Marijuana Law

MONTGOMERY— Proposed changes to Alabama’s medical cannabis law will be coming soon. Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, the sponsor of the cannabis bill that became law earlier this year, said he will file legislation to make technical changes to some of the wording around timing and deadlines in the law, including starting the licensing process for growers earlier. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

A Bad Day for Incumbents: 2 Birmingham Councilors, 1 BOE Member Defeated in Runoffs

Two incumbent city councilors and one incumbent school board member were unseated during Birmingham’s municipal runoff election Tuesday. Council President William Parker and District 9 Councilor John Hilliard lost their seats to political newcomers Jonathan “J.T.” Moore and LaTonya Tate, respectively, while Douglas Ragland lost his seat on the Birmingham Board of Education to his predecessor, Sherman Collins Jr. Jason Meadows, meanwhile, handily beat Le’Darius Hilliard in a race for the school board’s District 9 seat. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

JeffCo Commissioners Begin Redrawing District Lines

The give-and-take of county government will be apparent in coming weeks as Jefferson County commissioners consider how lines separating the five districts will be redrawn. Board of Registrars Chairman Barry Stephenson made a presentation during the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday, showing commissioners maps for three options for evenly distributing the county population using 2020 U.S. Census numbers. Commissioners, following the advice of Stephenson, will advance all three maps for public review. A hearing on the plans will be conducted during the Nov. 4 commission meeting. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Voting Tuesday in Birmingham Council and BOE Runoffs

Voters in parts of Birmingham return to the polls today to make final decisions in two races for the Birmingham City Council and two for the Birmingham Board of Education. The city’s election was held Aug. 24, when voters reelected Mayor Randall Woodfin and selected representatives for seven of the City Council seats and seven of the board of education seats. The runoff is being held because no candidate in two council races, districts 4 and 9, and two board races, districts 1 and 9, received more than half the votes.s. Read more. More information about the election: Birmingham Council and BOE Runoff Candidates. Voting Information

by Virginia Martin

What Is Going On With Tarrant’s City Leaders?

There’s been an overwhelming amount of drama this past year in Tarrant, a small town with fewer than 7,000 people. Many believe the tensions are rooted in racism and Tarrant’s changing demographics. In less than a year, the city of Tarrant has seen its fire chief get fired, its police chief resign, a councilmember blurt out a racial slur and its first Black mayor arrested twice. “We’re trying to bring about change to a 100-year-old city. People are used to doing things a certain way and it’s resistance,” said Mayor Wayman Newton, 41. Read more.

by Cody Short, WBHM

Prison Plan Passes: How It Happened and What’s Next

Construction will start early next year on the two 4,000-bed men’s prisons the Alabama Legislature approved after a rapid-fire, five-day special session last week. The package of bills Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law late Friday includes the borrowing of up to $785 million for the two prisons and the use of $400 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act for the mega-prisons in central and south Alabama. A second phase of construction allows for a new women’s prison and renovations to three existing men’s prisons. Prison proposals have floated around the State House for years, dying when they couldn’t overcome turf wars and pricetags. So, what changed the attitudes of legislators this year? “There was a recognition of need that I don’t think we’ve seen before,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, told Alabama Daily News. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Voter Information

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Polling place: To find your polling place, confirm your voter status and see which district you’ll vote in, visit this voter information page. Absentee voting: The deadline to apply to vote by absentee ballot has passed unless you’ve had a medical emergency. In that case, you

by BirminghamWatch

Birmingham Council and BOE Runoff Candidates

Birmingham Council Council, District 4 William Parker J.T. Moore Birmingham City Council, District 9 John Hilliard LaTonya Tate Birmingham Board of Education, District 1 Sherman Collins Jr. Douglas Lee Ragland Birmingham Board of Education, District 9 Le’Darius Hilliard Jason Meadows

by BirminghamWatch