Government Archives - Page 230 of 339 - BirminghamWatch
Donate About Subscribe

Government

GOP Lawmakers Say Abortion Ban Bill Worth Potential Fight

MONTGOMERY — Legislation to criminalize the performance of almost all abortions in Alabama goes further than many of the more than two dozen anti-abortion bills proposed in other conservative states this year. The heavy restrictions in the bill are exactly why more than 70 GOP lawmakers have signed on as co-sponsors, hoping the U.S. Supreme Court, now with five Republican-appointed justices, will limit constitutional protections on abortions. Several lawmakers told Alabama Daily News the legislation would be worth a costly legal fight when pro-choice groups challenge it. Read more.

by Caroline Beck and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Stay tuned for ruling on who is the legal mayor of Fairfield

A Fairfield resident angrily stormed out of the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Eugene Verin, slamming the door behind her, after the judge said Friday that it will be next week before he makes a ruling on whether Eddie Penny is the legal mayor of Fairfield. The Fairfield City Council removed Mayor Ed May II from office, citing a state law, when May missed City Council meetings over the course of 120 days. Friday was the second day that about two dozen residents of the city showed up in the Bessemer Cutoff Courthouse, hoping for an answer to the question of whether Penny, the former council president, or May is the legitimate mayor. “If you all will just hang with me for another week, I’ll do the best that I can,” the judge said. “I can almost assure everybody here that what I say won’t be the last word. (The ruling) will be appealed.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Ethics Exemption Passes House Overwhelmingly

MONTGOMERY — A bill to exempt economic developers from state ethics rules governing lobbyists passed the Alabama House of Representatives overwhelmingly Thursday. The vote was 94-4, with three abstentions. The legislation is seen as essential by the state's economic development community, which argues that treating site selectors like lobbyists and requiring them to publicly disclose their clients will result in Alabama missing out on the next Mercedes, Honda or Mazda-Toyota type of projects. Read more.

by Todd Stacy and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Vaping Regulation Bill Advances

MONTGOMERY — Citing increased usage by teens, Alabama lawmakers want to put more regulations on the sale of vaping devices and electronic cigarettes. House Bill 41 was approved unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The bill updates the state's definition of alternative nicotine products to include electronic cigarettes, vaporizing devices and liquids intended to be vaporized. A substitute bill adopted Wednesday added nicotine gums, mints and lozenges to that list. “The main goal of this was to put checks and balances in place to regulate the sale of these devices to minors and to regulate the sale and advertisement of the different flavors for the devices in and around schools,” bill sponsor Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, said during the committee meeting. Read more.

by Caroline Beck and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

DOJ Alleges Alabama Prisons Violate the Constitution

WBHM Federal officials released a report Wednesday alleging conditions in the state’s male prisons violate the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, along with three U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the State of Alabama issued the findings. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Would You Be My Neighbor? Jefferson County Mayors Answer ‘Yes’ as They Sign Pledge Not to Poach Business

Trafford Mayor Greg Rogers wasn’t present in the Jefferson County Commission chambers this morning but the spirit of TV’s Mister Rogers was as 22 Jefferson County mayors signed the Good Neighbor Pledge. The pact discourages poaching between cities in the county. Each city represented in the agreement pledges not to recruit business from another city within the county. “Under the voluntary agreement, we as mayors promise we will not lure businesses away from other cities in Jefferson County through solicitation or incentives,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “I’m convinced the Good Neighbor Pledge will lay a better foundation for our cities’ future … all of us within the county.” Woodfin said not having a pledge such as the one signed today put Birmingham at risk of losing small businesses, including shops, grocery stores and restaurants. “When a business closes in one city and moves to a neighboring city, we’re not creating new jobs, we’re not creating opportunities,” the Birmingham mayor continued. “We’re just shuffling them around.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Jeffco Health Officials: Violence Is a Public Health Issue

WBHM Violence is the newest strategic focus for the Jefferson County Department of Health. During Tuesday’s annual State of Health in Jefferson County address, Dr. Mark Wilson said the department added the issue in response to increasing rates of homicide. “It (violence) isn’t something that our health department has devoted resources to in the past,” Wilson said, “but it is clearly a public health problem.” Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Jefferson County Commissioners Question Legality of Bingo

Bingo was the subject of a lengthy discussion this morning as members of the Jefferson County Commission met for their committee meeting. Commissioner Lashunda Scales sought clarity on the county’s stance on bingo in general and electronic bingo machines that are being licensed for operation by a number of Jefferson County municipalities. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
1 … 228 229 230 231 232 … 339