After some spirited debate and two rounds of balloting, the Executive Committee of the Jefferson County Democratic Party left the Five Points West Library on Saturday with its nominee for county treasurer in the November general election. Read more.
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to sell the old Scott Elementary School and a neighboring community center to a group planning a health clinic at the property. The measure passed despite some pushback from community members, particularly those already involved in operating a community center there. Read more.
Despite speaking on Super Bowl Sunday, Dan Pile chose not to say the Northeast YMCA will be a “Super Y” after a major redevelopment on that Roebuck campus. His hope, Pile said, is that the redevelopment will be the new norm, the standard for all YMCAs. “Actually, what I believe will happen is this will become a prototype of future YMCAs,” said Pile, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham. “We’re not the only provider but we’ve convened in bringing in other providers. I really believe this represents the future of the YMCA, especially here in Birmingham.” Read more.
Crime in Birmingham is running behind last year’s rate, at least for most crimes. Auto thefts are up more than 30% year to date over last year’s numbers, 170 already this year compared to 129 this time last year, according to this week’s crime summary released by the Birmingham Police Department. On the other hand,
The Jefferson County Commission today provided $1.87 million to fill in the gap in the YMCA’s revitalization project for its Roebuck Community facility. Inflation created the nearly $2 million shortfall in the plan to build a new, comprehensive center, to include mental health services, veteran crisis intervention services and services to address inequities in health care, early learning and housing, among others. Read more.
The Alabama Ethics Commission ruled this week that persons who were removed from the ballot of the March 5 primary cannot be their party’s nominee in the general election. That ruling means the Jefferson County Democratic Party cannot nominate incumbent Eyrika Parker or challenger Mara Ruffin Allen to be the party’s candidate for Jefferson County treasurer. The party will be meeting next Saturday to select a new candidate. Read more.
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with neighboring municipalities that will see a roundabout installed on Blue Lake Drive near the Historic Cahaba Pumping Station. The roundabout will be built where Blue Lake Drive intersects with Cahaba Heights Road and Sicard Hollow Road, just northeast of the intersection of Interstate 459 and
Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday decided to send a resolution to Thursday’s agenda that would provide ARPA funds to fill in the gap in the YMCA’s revitalization project for its Roebuck Community facility. Inflation left the Y with a $1.87 million shortfall in its efforts to build a comprehensive center to include mental health services, veteran crisis intervention services and services to address inequities in health care, early learning and housing, among others. Read more.
The city of Birmingham today filed a lawsuit against Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway for not accepting city inmates, according to a filing in Jefferson County Circuit Court. It’s an extraordinary step in a dispute between the two sides that dates back nearly two years and involves the city and county jails, money and politics. Read more.
The Alabama Legislature will kick off the 2024 session on Tuesday with work on the state’s two budgets and a host of other issues awaiting them. Lawmakers this year are expected to take up legislation that would create a voucher-like program for schools in the state and possible legislation creating mandatory kindergarten or something very close to it. Legislators may also consider bills on gambling; ethics and trafficking and kidnapping. Read more.
