Government

Jefferson County Commission Approves Incentives for Development

The Jefferson County Commission today approved a resolution to provide economic incentives for Bill Smith’s latest venture – Landing – but not before Lashunda Scales had her say. The matter passed 3-1, with Scales casting the dissenting vote. Sheila Tyson was absent. Scales expressed concern, saying she wanted to see what efforts the company will make to give priority to hiring residents of Jefferson County. Additionally, she said she is concerned that a long-term plan for the company was not presented even though the incentive plan covers six years. The District 1 commissioner said that while the company currently arranges apartments for rentals, she is afraid the operation will go beyond apartment rentals Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

As other states drew fire for passing restrictive election laws, Alabama skirted outside the limelight. But changes were made here, too.

Fourteen states passed 22 election laws this year, some of which caused a stir as voting advocates complained that they restricted the rights of voters, while others argued the new laws were needed to add security to the vote. Alabama has eight new election-related laws this year out of 27 voting-related bills introduced in the Legislature. While some stirred opposition in the state, it was nothing like the national outrage over changes in some other states. That’s at least partly because Alabama already had adopted one of the most controversial bills passed in other states – a requirement that voters show ID at the polls was passed here in 2014 – and because Georgia attracted so much attention for its ban on delivering water to voters standing in line at the polls. Alabama did pass a few other laws. One to ban curbside voting, which was not being offered in any of the counties, anyway. Others require a partial post-election audit in three counties, move up the deadline for applying to vote by absentee ballot, and specifically make it a crime to vote in Alabama and another state, for instance. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Two Hoover-Area Road Projects Up for Consideration Thursday

A pair of long-awaited road improvements came a step closer to fruition as the Jefferson County Commission moved those matters to the agenda of Thursday’s commission meeting. Each road project is in Hoover – extending Galleria Boulevard from John Hawkins Parkway to Lorna Road and widening South Shades Crest Road. The latter project would add a third lane to the heavily traveled stretch of road. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr

Zeigler Forms Exploratory Committee for Bid for Governor

MONTGOMERY — Term-limited state Auditor Jim Zeigler is forming an exploratory committee to test the water as a possible GOP challenger to Gov. Kay Ivey next year. Zeigler has been Ivey's chief critic over the past four years, opposing several of her proposals, including plans for a new Interstate 10 bridge over the Mobile Bay, the plan to lease three new, large prisons and a constitutional amendment to replace the elected state school board with an appointed commission. He touted himself as the “common sense” candidate, according to a press release today. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Caroline Beck and Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Mayor Woodfin Seeks Community Help to Find Shooters of Children

Five children have been killed or injured by gun violence in Birmingham this year, and city leaders are pleading for witnesses to come forward. “Our detectives are doing everything they can,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a Tuesday morning press conference. “This is a community issue and it needs to be a community effort, and I don’t think we can leave it to the five detectives for these five cases.” Read more.

by Sam Prickett

State Rep. Andrew Sorrell Announces State Auditor Campaign

State Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, formally announced his campaign for state auditor Monday, saying he wants to bring more responsibilities to the role. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

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