Alabama paused executions for three months after the state failed to execute two men and took more than three hours to kill another man. Now, after an internal review and a rule change, prison officials will resume the procedure. Read more.
Here’s a round-up of the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. Thursday, Mar 23, 2023Senate SB63, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, which allows the city of Vestavia Hills to raise property taxes. The bill passed 16-0 with two abstentions. It moves to the House of Representatives. SB113, sponsored by
Docena is next up in Jefferson County’s bid to remove dilapidated houses. At its committee meeting Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commission moved to the agenda of its Thursday meeting a resolution declaring 29 structures in the unincorporated community off Minor Parkway public nuisances and targeting those structures for demolition. Those structures are part of Batch 3 of the county’s demolition program. Read more.
The Birmingham City Council needs more questions answered before it will officially lend its support to the financially struggling Birmingham-Southern College. A “resolution of intent” on the agenda for Tuesday’s council meeting would have seen the city promise to provide financial support to BSC — if the college could also secure binding funding commitments from the state of Alabama and the Jefferson County Commission. But some councilors were reluctant to make that commitment without further discussions with college administrators first. BSC President Daniel Coleman has said the board of trustees must decide the college’s future by the end of March to give students time to decide where to transfer and help faculty and staff make plans for their future. Read more.
People have been injured, even killed, in exhibition driving-related incidents in Birmingham. Now, lawmakers are addressing the issue on a statewide level. Read more.
Alabama only allows state funds for sewage infrastructure to go to public bodies. A civil rights complaint argues the policy hurts communities of color. Read more.
Last week, a judge sentenced two people to life in prison without parole in a federal kidnapping case that resulted in the death of Kamille ‘Cupcake’ McKinney. The 3-year-old went missing in 2019 outside a public housing complex in Birmingham. Her body was found about a week later in a dumpster. A new podcast from
Gov. Kay Ivey delivered her State of the State address to Legislators Tuesday night, using the opportunity to call a special session on spending of pandemic relief funds and possibly giving state residents one-time tax rebates of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for families. In her address she also focused on the need to improve education, from kindergarten to college-bound students. Read her full speech.
Jefferson County Commission Finance Chairman Joe Knight repeated Tuesday his plan to continue on a conservative path that includes squireling away money in the county’s reserve accounts. Read more.
Lawmakers return to Montgomery at a time when money is flush thanks to federal COVID funds. Education is among the top issues expected to generate discussion. Read more.
