Government

Ammons Fails in Move for More Discussion of Jeffco Budget

Commissioner Steve Ammons took one last shot Thusday at conducting more discussion concerning adjustments to the recently passed the budget for fiscal year 2020. Ammons moved that the resolution approving amendments to the budget be set aside from the other 51 resolutions for separate consideration. Commissioner Lashunda Scales offered a counter motion that all of the resolutions be considered as presented. The counter motion was passed on a 3-2 vote with Scales, Sheila Tyson and Joe Knight voting in favor; Ammons and Commission President Jimmie Stephens voted no. Speaking later, Ammons repeated his concern that budget adjustments are coming a very short time after the budget was adopted in early August. Read more.

Birmingham Launching Pilot Ridesharing Service

Starting in December, residents of some Birmingham neighborhoods will have a new transit option. The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to approve a six-month transportation pilot program with ridesharing company Via, funded in part by the city and in part by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. The program will provide on-demand transportation using marked Mercedes Metris vans, which can be summoned online, through an 800 number or on a smartphone app. Each trip will have a flat fee of $1.50 per rider; the vans can accommodate six riders at one. The pilot program will cover a 6.7-mile area that includes parts of downtown Birmingham, along with western neighborhoods such as Smithfield, Graymont and College Hills. Read more.

Jefferson County Commissioners Quarrel Over Making Changes to New Budget

The recently passed fiscal 2020 budget was the subject of some terse discussion during the Jefferson County Commission’s committee meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Joe Knight offered a resolution to move $250,000 from demolition to reserves and another $250,000 that had been listed in the public service fund to a project fund for transit. Knight said there was no new money. The transit money was already there, he said. The proposal prompted a lengthy discussion that addressed the lack of demolitions of derelict house and the prospect of 15 being torn done this year. Read more.

Birmingham Partnering With Bloomberg Philanthropies on Early Childhood Learning Program

Birmingham in October will be launching an early childhood program designed to increase interactive talk with children as a way to foster early brain development. The Birmingham Talks program will serve 2,500 children, birth to 3 years old, across Jefferson County over the next three years. The city of Birmingham is among five cities selected to replicate the Providence Talks program, which is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies through its What Works Cities initiative. Read more.

House Sends Bill Designed to Avert Government Shutdown to Senate

Key Votes Ahead The House in the week of Sept. 23 will take up bills dealing with banking rules, the Border Patrol and medical care for migrant children. The Senate will debate fiscal 2020 appropriations and executive-branch nominations. WASHINGTON — The House last week passed a continuing funding resolution (HR 4378) in an attempt to avert a government shutdown. The resolution, which is expected to be taken up this week by the Senate, provides stopgap appropriations for the first seven weeks of fiscal 2020, which starts Oct. 1. It would fund agencies at 2019 levels while giving negotiators time to reach agreement on regular appropriations bills for the 2020 budget year. Alabama’s representatives split on the vote, with Reps. Martha Roby, Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt and Terri Sewell voting for it. Voting against it were Reps. Bradley Byrne, Mo Brooks and Gary Palmer. Read more.

Can Gov. Ivey Keep Doing Her Job During Cancer Treatments?

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday she will soon begin treatment for lung cancer. This morning she’s expected to undergo an outpatient procedure at UAB Hospital, and soon after she’ll begin a series of radiation treatments. Ivey seemed confident in a statement she issued that none of this will prevent her from carrying out her duties as

Gov. Kay Ivey to Undergo Treatment for Lung Cancer

Gov. Kay Ivey, 74, announced Thursday she has lung cancer. This comes after her doctor recently found a spot on her lung during a routine visit. Ivey says additional tests confirmed it was “a tiny, isolated malignancy.” On Friday, Ivey heads to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for an outpatient procedure. She’ll begin a series of specialized radiation treatments soon. Ivey says she’s been reassured by her doctors that the treatment plan she’s on has a very high success rate. Ivey says it’ll have “a minimal impact” on her schedule and says “none of this will prevent me from continuing to serve as your governor and doing the work you elected me to do.” Read more.

Immigrant Rights Workers Released on Bond From ICE Detention

Two migrant workers arrested by immigration officers in Homewood last month were released on bond Wednesday following fund-raising and petition drives by Adelante Alabama Worker Center. Marcos Baltazar, a member of the Adelante board of directors, and his son, Juan, 18, spent the month in detention facilities at the Etowah County Jail in Gadsden and in Jena, La. Both facilities have been cited by human rights groups for their inhumane treatment of detainees, said Reysha Swanson of Adelante, a non-profit organization based in Hoover that unites migrant workers and their families. Read more. Read BirminghamWatch’s coverage on the Etowah Detention Center and immigration:

Alabama Site for Detained Immigrants Has History of Abuse Charges, Efforts to Close It

Man Without a Country’ Describes Conditions at Gadsden Detention Center

Lawyers: Major Changes Happening in How Law Is Applied to Immigrants

Immigration Rights Worker and Son Detained by ICE

Transit Board Approves Fare Increase and Service Cuts

Bus riders in Birmingham and Jefferson County will see an increase in their fares and reduced service times beginning this November. After weeks of debate, the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority approved its $34 million budget Wednesday. This includes setting one-way fares at $1.50 — an increase of 25 cents. And some MAX bus routes that run late into the evening will now end at 7 p.m. Read more.

Birmingham Council Clashes Over Funding for Public Transportation

Members of the Birmingham City Council clashed Tuesday over funding for the embattled Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, which currently is mulling route cuts and fare increases within the city.