Government

Commission on Reentry: Further Discussion Needed on Recidivism Definition

MONTGOMERY –  A new state commission studying how to help released inmates stay out of prison spent much of a meeting Wednesday working on a definition of recidivism that all state agencies can use. One of the goals of the Joint Commission on Reentry is to create a definition so the state can implement best practices to aid those leaving prisons and create a safer Alabama. Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole, said during the meeting that since every state agency defines recidivism differently, it is a nearly impossible task to settle on a singular meaning and mission. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Birmingham Council Set to Fund Rapid Transit Project Next Week

The Birmingham City Council is set to allocate $18 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan funding toward the construction of the city’s Bus Rapid Transit system. The project, which will create a 10-mile, higher-speed public transit corridor through 25 neighborhoods, broke ground in December. But rising construction costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic had placed significant strain on the project. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

ALDOT Moves Road Money to Admin Fund

The Alabama Department of Transportation recently moved $7 million from a road fund to help cover administrative costs for the last three months of the fiscal year. The department said the move is allowable and typical late in a budget year. The money is coming from ALDOT’s Public Road and Bridge Fund, which consists largely of gas tax receipts and federal funding receipts, but not the 2019 gas tax increase. That account, known as the Rebuild Alabama Fund, is specifically prohibited from being diverted from road and bridge projects for other purposes. State agencies often transfer Legislature-allocated money between funds throughout a budget year, as allowed by law. The actions have to go through the Department of Finance. Still, the decrease in road funding and increase in administrative funding first reported by Alabama Daily News Monday gives some lawmakers pause. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Huntsville is Now Alabama’s Largest City, but the Birmingham Area Still Dwarfs other MSAs

Huntsville is now the largest city in Alabama, surpassing Birmingham by 14,273 residents, according to new information from the U.S. Census Bureau. However, the Birmingham-Hoover metro area and Jefferson County still reign supreme in the state, topping the next-largest areas by hundreds of thousands of residents each.   Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Bell Wants to Get the City Back on Track After His Four Years Out of Office

William Bell wants to reclaim his legacy.

by Sam Prickett

Scales Driven to Run After Watching Government in Action

Lashunda Scales was inspired to run for government office after watching politicians and becoming disenchanted with the way they did business.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Chris Woods Wants to Look Out for the City Like a Brother

Birmingham mayoral candidate Chris Woods could star in the reboot of the 2000 ABC situation comedy “Malcomb in the Middle.”

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Woodfin Points to ‘Progress and Rebirth’ as Reasons Voters Should Reelect Him Mayor

Mayor Randall Woodfin has a simple request for Birmingham: “Stick with me.”

by Sam Prickett

HUD Secretary Touts ‘Millions and Millions of Dollars’ Coming to Birmingham for Infrastructure

One day after the Senate passed a $1 billion infrastructure bill, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge visited Birmingham Wednesday. Read more.

by Cody Short, WBHM

Linda Roper Richardson, BBOE D7

Linda Roper Richardson, BBOE D7 Linda Roper Richardson filed papers to run for the Birmingham Board of Education, District 7 seat but said told BirminghamWatch that she has withdrawn from the race.

by BirminghamWatch