Government

JeffCo’s County Manager Plans Retirement After 10 Years Helping to Navigate Rough Waters

Tony Petelos, the only county manager Jefferson County has had, told county commissioners at their committee meeting today that he will soon retire. “After 34 years of public service in many different jobs throughout the years and 10 years here at the county, I'm going to announce my retirement this year,” he said from his seat at the end of the board table. “I don't have a date set, but I just want to give you a heads up that I do plan to retire this year. I've got a couple of projects I'm still working on and I want to get those done, but it's been a pleasure and an honor to work with you.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Derelict Banks High School Building Set to Be Demolished

After multiple delays, demolition of the long-derelict Banks High School is moving forward. The Birmingham City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the one-year extension of a loan agreement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to tear down the building, which has sat vacant in the city’s South East Lake neighborhood since 2007. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Alabama Would Lose Seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas Under Federal Proposal

A proposal before the federal Office of Management and Budget would reduce the number of Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Alabama from 12 to five, a move that is not welcomed by officials of the cities losing the MSA status. A committee of federal statistical agencies has made the proposal to OMB that would leave intact MSAs with 100,000 populations in their core cities. In Alabama, that’s Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.  The remaining seven MSAs statewide would be reclassified as “micropolitan” statistical areas with core populations of 50,000 to 99,999. Those are Decatur, Dothan, Baldwin County, Auburn-Opelika, Florence-Muscle Shoals, Anniston-Oxford, and Gadsden. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Lawmaker: During Pandemic ‘Compassionate Care’ Needed in Health Facility Visitor Policies

On Oct. 21, Bonnie and Harold Sachs entered a north Alabama emergency room because, despite a negative COVID-19 test, Harold Sachs’ symptoms, including decreased blood oxygen levels, were worsening. He was tested again and, when the results were positive, he was admitted to the hospital. Bonnie Sachs kissed her husband of 50 years before he was taken to the COVID unit. She wouldn’t see him in person again until he died Nov. 9. “He didn’t know me, he was on a ventilator,” Bonnie Sachs told Alabama Daily News. Harold and Bonnie Sachs’ and many similar stories in the past year are the reason Sen. Garlan Gudger said he filed Senate Bill 307, which says that, during public health emergencies, health care facilities shall continue to allow visitors under certain conditions. “I think everyone needs compassionate care at the end of life,” Gudger, R-Cullman, told Alabama Daily News. “And I think they need their family to be there to help patients get over whatever illness or virus.” Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Alabama’s Senators Among Republicans Who Opposed $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Bill That Won Senate Approval

WASHINGTON — The Senate on a highly partisan vote Saturday approved a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The vote on (HR 1319) was 50 for and 49 against. Both of Alabama’s senators joined every Republican present to vote against the bill, which now goes to the House of Representatives. However, the Senate blocked a Democratic move to increase the minimum wage that had been in the bill. On the House side, representatives in the week that ended March 5 passed a multi-faceted bill aimed at expanding voting in the U.S. and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, both mostly along party lines. Read more.

by Voterama in Congress

State Budgets, Legislative Authority, Gambling Bills in State House This Week

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House is expected to vote this week on the 2022 General Fund budget while the Senate's priorities include gambling legislation and bills that could blur the lines of authority between the legislative and executive branches of state government. After moving fast through the first four weeks of the 2021 session, lawmakers are expected to slow down to a more normal pace as the mid-point approaches. “We’re hopeful by spring break we’re going to move (the budgets) out of the house of origin,” Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, told reporters on Thursday. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Concealed Carry, Law Enforcement Checks, Jail Issues Taken Up Thursday by Legislature

MONTGOMERY — Here's the latest notable legislative activity from the State House. Concealed Carry Bill Advances Rep. Proncey Robertsons’ House Bill 477, the Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act, was approved Thursday in the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee. It would standardize across the state the concealed carry permit process, create a “prohibited person database” and allow for a lifetime permit. Read more.

by Caroline Beck and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Mask Mandate Continues, but Other COVID Restrictions Easing, Governor Announces

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Thursday extended a statewide mandate requiring residents to wear face masks as protection from the coronavirus in public places and businesses until after Easter at 5 p.m. She also eased restrictions on restaurants and bars, hospitals and nursing homes. Ivey declared this would be the last mask mandate for Alabama. “We have to get past Easter before we take the steps that other states have taken,” she said. “But let me make this perfectly clear, we will not continue mask orders after April 9.” Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

Ban on Curbside Voting Passes, Special Session Bill Dies

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature continued its 2021 Regular Session Wednesday, when most of the work was in committee. Here's the latest notable legislative activity from the State House. Paying Voters A bill that would prohibit people from being paid for voting after an election passed a House committee vote on Wednesday. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Monuments Bill Killed; Lawmaker Calls Members Racist

MONTGOMERY — An Alabama legislative committee on Wednesday voted down a proposal that would have given counties and municipalities more flexibility in removing historical monuments, including Confederate statues. Afterward, the Democratic sponsor of the bill accused Republicans who voted against it of being racist. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, sponsored the bill that would have amended the 2017 Monument Preservation Act. It was voted down by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. “Many of those individuals who voted against this bill are members of the Republican Party, they are ‘Trumplicans’, and they have their beliefs because they are in power and they actually exude white supremacy here in the state of Alabama, especially in the House of Representatives so it doesn’t surprise me that they voted against the bill,” Givan told reporters. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News