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With Boost From City Council, Birmingham Students Can Chase a Coding Dream This Summer

The Birmingham City Council Tuesday approved funding for computer coding “boot camps” at Lawson State Community College this summer. The funding, which according to the resolution is not to exceed $85,000, will fund four weeks of four-day camps for Birmingham City School students, running from June 18 to July 19. Up to 100 students of the city’s school system — 50 middle schoolers and 50 high schoolers — will get to participate. Lawson State President Dr. Perry Ward said that the program would be similar to Chicago’s Apple-sponsored “Everyone Can Code” initiative, which teaches city school students an easy-to-learn coding language called Swift which can be used in developing mobile applications. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Ivey Stretches out Her Lead in Fundraising for Governor’s Race

Gov. Kay Ivey is closing in on the $4 million mark in contributions to her campaign to win the Republican nomination for governor, according to financial reports filed this week. Ivey raised $143,515 between May 12 and May 18, pushing her total for the campaign to $3.93 million, according her new weekly report. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle is a distant second in the battle for campaign cash. He reported contributions of $103,825 for the week, raising his total to $2.28 million. Ivey, Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and Birmingham evangelist Scott Dawson are vying for the GOP nomination. The winner of the June 5 Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the November general election. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

‘Just Wrong’ Campaign Talk About Sewer Rates, Commissioners Say

Jefferson County Commissioners Tuesday disputed comments about sewer rates that they said candidates in the June 5 primary election are making. Commissioner David Carrington, the lone commissioner not seeking reelection, cited the claim of a candidate that sewer rates will increase 40 percent. “Don’t confuse me with the truth when lies sound better,” he said during the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday morning.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Candidates for Governor Pitch Ideas During PARCA Roundtable Forum

Six candidates vying to be the next governor of Alabama sat down for interviews with professors and professionals from across the state Wednesday night during a forum sponsored by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. Three Republican candidates – Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Evangelist Scott Dawson and state Sen. Bill Hightower – and three Democratic candidates – former state Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, former state Rep. James Fields and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox – participated in the forum, held at Woodrow Hall in Birmingham’s Woodlawn community. Gov. Kay Ivey, who also is seeking the Republican nomination in the June 5 primary, was invited to the forum, said PARCA director of communications Marci Smith, but the governor declined. Organized by the PARCA Roundtable group of young professionals, the forum featured 12-minute, one-on-one interviews with each candidate by interviewers who belong to or were selected by the Roundtable. After the interviews, the candidates took turns answering questions submitted by the audience. Read more.

by Jackie Romine Walburn

Cavanaugh, Ainsworth Leading Hunt for Funds in GOP Lieutenant Governor Race

Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh outpaced her two rivals for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in campaign contributions during early May, according to financial reports candidates filed this week. Cavanaugh, president of the Public Service Commission, raised $76,325 from May 1 to May 11. William Ainsworth reported contributions of $66,272, and Benjamin “Rusty” Glover III listed receipts of $18,393. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Republicans in Governor Race Eclipse Democrats in Spending

Gov. Kay Ivey has collected almost $100,000 this month for her campaign for governor, bringing her total to $3.78 million since the race for the June 5 Republican primary began last year. In a report filed Monday with the Secretary of State’s office, Ivey said she raised $99,303 during the period of May 1-11. She has spent $2.52 million, leaving a balance of $1.27 million in her account. Read more.

by Glenn Stephens

Neighborhood, Economic Development Groups Protest Woodfin’s Budget

May 14, 2018 – Mayor Randall Woodfin was not present Monday night at the public hearing on his proposed FY 2019 budget. If he had been, he would have faced complaints from a handful of organizations unhappy that their city funding had been cut or eliminated entirely. The members of the City Council who were there — all but District 1 Councilor Lashunda Scales — appeared sympathetic to almost all of the parties who spoke at the hearing, and they even pledged to some organizations that they would advocate for them during the upcoming budget negotiations with Woodfin’s office. Eliciting the most sympathy from the council were several neighborhood association officers, led by Central Park Neighborhood Association President Susan Palmer, who expressed anger that the new budget would cut funding to neighborhoods. Read more.

by Sam Prickett
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