Government

Extra Unemployment Benefits Ended Saturday

As of Saturday, Alabama’s unemployed workers will no longer receive extra federally funded benefits put in place to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Kay Ivey last month announced she was withdrawing the state from those programs effective June 19. Read more about her reasons and the effects on the unemployed in BirminghamWatch’s original reporting. Governor Shuts Down Extra Help for the Unemployed, Says Workers Needed to Invigorate the Economy

by BirminghamWatch

Petelos Says Goodbye to Jefferson County County Manager Post

Tony Petelos attended a party Thursday to mark his retirement after a decade as county manager for Jefferson County. Petelos is the only county manager Jeffco has had, and the county now is searching for its next one. County commissioners earlier lauded Petelos for his stability during a tumultuous period in the county’s history, through tornadoes, bankruptcy, receivership, a sewer crisis and a consent decree.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Blalock to Challenge Rafferty for Birmingham House Seat

Brit Blalock, a community organizer and Orange Beach native, has announced that she will challenge state Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, for the Democratic nomination for House District 54. But the leader of House Democrats says they'll firmly back the incumbent. Blalock said in a campaign ad that her experience fighting for progressive causes makes her the right voice to represent the Birmingham district. “When I saw my LGBTQ community’s isolation, I built organizations to foster belonging,” Blalock said. “When reproductive freedom was threatened, I created a coalition to fight back. When I heard the cries for racial justice fall on deaf ears, I took to the streets. When I found out that women only hold 15% of our legislative seats, I rolled up my sleeves to help women candidates win. The race pits Blalock, who identifies as non-binary, against Rafferty, the only openly gay member in the Legislature. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Stan Cooke Running for State Auditor

MONTGOMERY — Republican Stan Cooke, a pastor from Kimberly, announced his campaign for state auditor Wednesday. Current Auditor Jim Zeigler is term limited and cannot run for reelection. Cooke said in a statement that his conservative Christian background makes him an ideal candidate to be auditor. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Kelly Butler to Retire as Finance Director Citing Possible ALS Diagnosis

MONTGOMERY — State Finance Director Kelly Butler is retiring Aug. 1 due to medical complications that might be associated with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Gov. Kay Ivey said today. Early symptoms point to an ALS diagnosis, and Butler will undergo additional testing in the coming days, a press release from Ivey’s office said. “Without exception, Kelly Butler has been the finest finance director to have ever served the state of Alabama,” Ivey said. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Chemical Castration Law Hasn’t Been Used Since 2019 Enactment

MONTGOMERY — An Alabama statute requiring chemical castration for certain convicted child sex offenders has not been used after being passed two years ago. The law was national news when it was passed in 2019, but its lack of impact is mostly due to the relatively minor scope of cases in which it could apply. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Bang, Bang. You’re Closed: Birmingham threatens to close clubs with violent episodes.

The city of Birmingham is going to make a greater effort to close clubs and venues where gun violence takes place, Mayor Randall Woodfin said Tuesday. “I want to give public notice to any club owner,” Woodfin said in a press conference after Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “You are responsible for protecting your patrons, and if you do not do so, we will move to shut you down.” The announcement follows an early morning drive-by shooting at Club Euphoria in west Birmingham that left 21-year-old Lykeria Taylor dead and another male injured. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

5 Ways Birmingham Is Celebrating Its 150th Birthday

Mayor Randall Woodfin and Darlene Negrotto, Vulcan Park and Museum CEO, announced on Monday a series of events to celebrate Birmingham’s 150 anniversary. Read more.

by Cody Short, WBHM

Club for Growth PAC Endorses Mo Brooks

MONTGOMERY — Club for Growth PAC, the campaign arm of the Washington, D.C.-based conservative group, endorsed Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, in the race for U.S. Senate. Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

‘Retain Alabama’ Effort Looks to Keep Bachelor’s Degree Recipients in State

Knowing that nearly half of Alabama’s public university bachelor’s degree earners are working in other states five years after they graduate, state leaders are funding more efforts to keep that talent pool at home. In the 2022 state education budget, lawmakers allocated $800,000 for a new “Retain Alabama” initiative to introduce college students to opportunities for them in the Yellowhammer state. “Our state has been a low-growth state and we have to do all we can to retain that knowledge capital that we’re losing every year when they leave,” said Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, chairman of the Senate education budget committee. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News