Government

Prepping for Super Tuesday

With Super Tuesday looming, political pundits across the country have been scrutinizing Alabama and the state’s newly redrawn Congressional District 2 because it offers the possibility of a second Democratic representative being elected from the state. As dominoes fall, that could affect the split between Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House. A big spotlight will be turned on Alabama all election season because of that. But that’s hardly the only race on Alabama’s ballot. Two congressional districts that cover Jefferson County are on the ballot, and incumbents have challengers from their own parties in each. State and local judges populate a lot of the ballot. And party nominees will be selected in Jefferson County races such as tax collector and Board of Education members. Read more. For more information on candidates up and down the ballot, read: Alabama and Jefferson County Democratic Candidates Alabama and Jefferson County Republican Candidates 21 Candidates Qualify for Alabama 2nd Congressional District Race

by Virginia Martin

21 Candidates Qualify for Alabama 2nd Congressional District Race

The race to fill Alabama’s new 2nd Congressional District will be a crowded one. Twenty-one candidates – 13 Democrats and eight Republicans – have entered the race. The Democratic candidates are: James Averhart, a retired U.S. Marine and former 2020 congressional candidate; Rep. Napoleon Bracy, Jr., D-Prichard; Sen. Merika Coleman, D- Pleasant Grove; House Minority

by Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector

Alabama and Jefferson County Democratic Candidates

JEFFERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CANDIDATES   Jefferson County Probate, Place 1 – Yawanna Nabors McDonald Jefferson County Probate, Place 1 – Yashiba “Red” Blanchard Jefferson County Probate, Place 1 – Everett Wess Jefferson County Probate, Place 1 – Lee Wendell Loder Jefferson County Probate, Place 1 – Joi L. Travis   Jefferson County, Probate 2

by BirminghamWatch

Alabama and Jefferson County Republican Candidates

JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES   Jefferson County Probate Judge, Place 1 John Amari Jefferson County Probate Judge, Place 2 Joel R. Blankenship   Jefferson County Assistant Treasurer Delor Baumann   Jefferson County Assistant Tax Collector Johnny Curry   Jefferson County Board of Education, Place 1 Phillip Brown Jefferson County Board of Education, Place 2 Robert

by BirminghamWatch

New Community Center Planned for Old Bank Building in Ensley

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved selling a former AmSouth Bank building in Ensley to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity so it can establish a community center there. The Mu Psi Lambda chapter of the fraternity intends to refurbish the building and transform it into a multi-purpose outreach center to serve as a resource to the Ensley community by eliminating blight, providing youth and community training programs and other services. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Birmingham City Council Appoints New Committees

The Birmingham City Council approved new committee assignments on Tuesday, after new council officers were chosen recently. The Council approved new committee assignments, which will be for a term of two years. Two new committees were created in the process, the Community Development Committee and the Workforce Development Committee.  Chairs of the new committees –

by Virginia Martin

Court Denies JeffCo Request to End Sewer Consent Decree – for Now

UPDATED — It ain’t over. Jefferson County’s efforts to escape an environmental consent decree took a bit of a hit Tuesday, with the U.S. District Court denying its motion to declare the county sewer system in compliance with the decree. That ruling came hours after the Jefferson County Commission moved to Thursday’s agenda an agreement to pay $2.223 million in fines to the Environmental Protection Agency. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

O’Quinn Elected President of the Birmingham City Council — Again

The Birmingham City Council in a special called meeting Friday elected Darryl O’Quinn as its president on a 5-3-1 vote after the legality of his initial election, on Tuesday, came under questioning. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

JeffCo Commission OKs Eco Dev Funds, Tyson Wants More to Go to Small Black-Owned Businesses

The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday authorized its support of Innovation Depot and the Birmingham Business Alliance, but not without Commissioner Sheila Tyson voicing her objection. “I feel like both of those organizations do not address the businesses in the minority community,” she said. “(They) don’t reach farther out from downtown.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Travis Hendrix Wins Nod for Alabama House District 55 Seat; Brinyark Nominated for District 16 Seat

Travis Hendrix was overcome with emotion as he made his triumphant arrival at Soho Ensley Tuesday night after defeating Sylvia Swayne by an almost 2-1 majority in a runoff for the District 55 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. Hendrix drew 65.12% of the votes to Swayne’s 34.88%, according to results reported by Jefferson County. “I just feel really, really, really good,” he said after he composed himself. “I thank all the voters that came out in District 55. I thank everybody who voted for me. I thank you for the love and the support (from) my family, my friends, from the local government, from the state government, from everybody that supported me.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr. and Virginia Martin