Government

Birmingham Promise Scholarship and Internship Program Gets Corporate Backers

Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Tuesday that three corporate foundations — Alabama Power, Altec/Styslinger and Regions — have each committed $1 million to the new Birmingham Promise educational initiative. The Birmingham Promise initiative initially was approved as part of the city’s FY 2020 budget, funded with $2 million taken from the city’s allocation to Birmingham City Schools. The program is planned to offer juniors and seniors in city schools paid internships and dual enrollment opportunities, as well as offering graduates the opportunity to attend in-state two-year or four-year public colleges tuition-free. The $3 million in corporate contributions announced Tuesday will go “a long way” toward the tuition assistance side of the Birmingham Promise, Woodfin said. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

BirminghamWatch 2020 Primary Voter Guide: Republican U.S. Senate Race Headlines March 3 Primaries in Alabama — Mobile

Who is the strongest, most effective supporter of President Donald Trump? That seems to be the dominant question Alabama Republicans are asking as they near the March 3 election to choose a nominee to try to unseat freshman Democrat Doug Jones in this fall’s U.S. Senate race. The field of seven GOP candidates has talked

by Glenn Stephens

Don’t Go to the Polls Without the 2020 Primary Voter Guide

In BirminghamWatch’s 2020 Primary Voter Guide, you’ll find: A story on what candidates in the U.S. Senate race have to say about issues important to voters and why the Senate race is driving debate about the election. A story about the candidates’ positions on issues in the Republican primary for president, and in the Democratic primary for president. A story about the statewide amendment on the ballot, which would move the state Board of Education from an elected board to an appointed one. Profiles of candidates on the ballot, including basic information about each of the candidates along with the top contributors to their campaigns, the main issues they’re citing in their campaigns and links to their web or social media sites. A list of those links will be updated this evening. Printable sample ballots you can use to mark your own choices for each race. And a Voter’s Toolbox of information about voting, including which districts will be on your ballot and how to find your polling place. It’s all in one package on the BirminghamWatch 2020 Primary Voter Guide.

by BirminghamWatch

After Committee Passage, Senate Slows Animal Cruelty Bill

MONTGOMERY — At least one member of the Alabama Senate committee that approved a bill opponents claim rolls back state animal abuse laws said he wants to see the legislation die. “My goal right now is to not let this come up on the floor,” Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, told Alabama Daily News. Senate Bill 196 says those who file animal abuse complaints that aren't substantiated as severe cases can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor. It also puts responsibility for most abuse investigations on the Alabama Department of Agriculture and allows money raised by nonprofit animal groups to go toward the fees abusers must pay. A co-sponsor on the bill, Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, said it was designed to protect farmers, particularly cattle ranchers, from bogus claims of abuse. But opponents say the language isn't clear enough and could hurt humane shelters and people who breed dogs as pets, for instance. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Will Smith

Republican candidate for Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals Place 2

by Solomon Crenshaw

Greg Shaw, 2020 general election

Candidate for Alabama Supreme Court, Associate Justice

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Where Democratic Presidential Candidates Stand on Major Issues

Alabama voters who choose a Democratic ballot for the March 3 party primaries will see a crowded slate of 14 presidential candidates, but nine of those have withdrawn from the race. The remaining five active candidates are Joseph R. Biden, Michael R. Bloomberg, Tulsi Gabbard, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The nine candidates who dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination are Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Julian Castro, John K. Delaney, Marianne Williamson and Andrew Yang, along with Tom Steyer, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, who withdrew from the race after disappointing results in Saturday's primary in South Carolina. According to a recent Gallup Poll, Democratic candidates selected the following topics as the top five issues in the party’s presidential primary: health care, climate change, gun policy, education and the distribution of wealth and income. Read about their stances.

by Scott Morris

Mary Becker Windom, 2020 general election

Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals Place 1

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Melvin Hasting

Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals Place 1

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jill Ganus

Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals Place 2

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.