Government

Birmingham Looks at Limiting Dollar Stores, Easing Restrictions on Other Food Vendors as Way to Battle Food Deserts

A new ordinance proposed by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin looks to combat the city’s food deserts by loosening regulations on farmers markets and mobile grocers, while simultaneously limiting the spread of dollar stores in low-income neighborhoods. The proposed ordinance would establish a “healthy food overlay district” over areas of Birmingham defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as “low-access census tracts,” which are areas where “a significant number (at least 500 people) or share (at least 33%) of the population is greater than half a mile from the nearest supermarket, supercenter, or large grocery store.” According to that data, 69% of Birmingham residents live in a food desert — a figure often cited by members of the Woodfin administration as motivating the new healthy food ordinance. The council is expected to vote next week to set a public hearing to discuss the ordinance. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Jones and Byrne Have Stacked Up Millions to Lead Fundraising in the US Senate Race.

Incumbent Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Bradley Byrne already have millions of dollars in their campaign accounts as the field begins to form for Alabama’s 2020 U.S. Senate race. In reports filed this month with the Federal Election Commission, Jones listed a cash balance of $3.09 million at the end of the first quarter of this year. Byrne, the congressman from Mobile who is giving up his House seat to run for the Senate, reported a balance of $2.04 million. Candidates are required to file quarterly financial reports with the FEC once they raise $5,000 in contributions. Byrne and Jones are the first to file in the Senate Race. Others have filed in the race for each of Alabama’s seven U.S. House districts. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Town Hall Meeting Tonight to Discuss Sewer Rates and the Effects of Jeffco’s Bankruptcy

The Jefferson County Commission is conducting a town hall-style meeting tonight to discuss the county’s 2011 bankruptcy and its long-term effects, including the schedule of sewer rate increases, the county’s current financial condition and an outlook for the future. The event is 6 p.m. at Regions Field, 1401 First Ave. S., Birmingham. Doors open at 5 p.m. The town hall is open to the public. Read more.

by BirminghamWatch

Could Cooper Green Employees Stay in the Retirement System if They Went to Work With a Health Care Authority? Maybe.

The executive director of Jefferson County’s General Retirement System has softened her stance concerning eligibility of employees of Cooper Green Mercy Clinic to remain in the county pension system. The issue arose when Jefferson County commissioners brought up a proposal to study partnering with UAB to form a health care authority. In a letter last week, Amy Adams wrote that current pension law would not permit Cooper Green employees to participate in the county’s pension if they were “terminated.” A day later, she clarified a point and said it might be possible under certain conditions. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Bill Would Protect Forest Owners From Fire District Fees

Disputes between timberland owners and some fire districts have resulted in statewide legislation to prohibit any district from assessing fees or dues on timberland. “We have, unfortunately, local fire districts throughout the state and some of them, we feel like, have been taking some measures, i.e., issuing some costs, on their own,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said. “The (Alabama Forestry Association) and such have felt we have to do something to protect the landowners.” Senate Bill 282 would leave fire protection on privately owned property used for timber production to the Alabama Forestry Commission, a state agency. The bill, which would affect money paid to Jefferson County fire districts including the one in Center Point, was given a favorable report on a 11-0 vote in the Senate Forestry, Conservation and Agriculture Committee earlier this month. The next stop is a vote in the Senate. Fire district fees as high as $8 an acre per year have been reported in Jefferson County. “I don’t want to call out folks, but it is my understanding that most of the issue has been raised in the northern part of the state,” Albritton said. Gene Necklaus, president of the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs, said the issue appears to be between a few holding companies and one or two fire districts. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Crime Wave Highlights Barriers Between Police and Hispanic Community

Luis, who asked us not to use his last name, had just gotten off work one Friday night late last year. He and his family were making dinner outside at their trailer park in Pinson. “We were heating up the food, a few tacos, when two African-American men arrived with assault weapons,” Luis says. “They threw us to the ground. I have it all on video. My wife was pregnant. They threw her on the ground. No one could do anything.” It was payday at work and Luis had about $1,200 in cash on him. The men robbed him and fled. Luis was one of several residents who recently shared their stories at a forum at the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. The event was organized in response to a recent surge in robberies targeting the Hispanic community in Birmingham. Police officials from Birmingham and Jefferson County were also in attendance. They say there is a pattern to these crimes, which are often armed robberies that take place on the weekend in trailer parks. They say criminals may target Hispanic residents because they are more likely to have cash on hand and they are less likely to call the police. A law enforcement officer at the meeting asked residents not to be afraid. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Momentum Shifts on Bill to Repeal Common Core

When it comes to student achievement in math and reading, Alabama is near the bottom of the list. If you ask state Sen. Del Marsh, he’d blame Alabama’s poor performance on standards for teaching math and language arts in public schools. Marsh wants to repeal the nationwide academic standards known as Common Core this legislative session. But the proposal seems to have lost some momentum. Read more.

by Sherrel Stewart, WBHM

Senate Passes Lottery Plan

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed a constitutional amendment calling for a statewide vote on a lottery. Senate Bill 220, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, would put the question of establishing a lottery on the ballot in next March's presidential primary, the nearest statewide election. The plan calls for a paper lottery and allows Alabama to participate in multi-state "Mega Millions" jackpots, among others. The bill passed 21-12, which was the minimum vote total needed to secure Senate passage. The narrow vote came after more than three hours of intense floor debate and deliberation over amendments. "I'm pleased, a little surprised and grateful it's over," Albritton said. "I came in fully anticipating this to be a very, very close vote, but we never had 21 votes in our head counts. Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

Lawmaker Passionate About Banning Cell Phones While Driving Strikes Bill on House Floor

A bill to prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones and other devices while driving was supposed to get a vote in the Alabama House on Thursday, but in an unusual move, the sponsor effectively killed his legislation. Rep. Alan Farley, R-McCalla, said on the House floor that a new version of the bill is sponsored by Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville. “He’s going to do a fantastic job and that legislation is going to save lives,” Farley said. Later, he said he won’t comment on why he removed his name from the legislation until after it becomes law. Brown also wouldn’t comment on the change of sponsorship. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Reading Proficiency, Third Grade Holdback Bill Approved in House Committee

A bill approved Wednesday by a House committee would provide resources to get more Alabama third graders reading proficiently and requires that those who aren't be held back. Bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins, R- Decatur, said during a public hearing: “I’ve read estimates that only 35% of our children are reading proficiently, that is 65% that are not. So I hope that shows the urgency of which we need to deal with this issue.” The state Department of Education estimates it would cost about $90 million annually to implement the proposal, according to a fiscal note on the bill. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News