Government

Lew Burdette, Governor, Republican

Lew Burdette Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 63 Residence: Birmingham Political experience: None Professional experience: President, King’s Home, 2002-present; CEO and owner, Kindred Inc.; chief operating officer, Books-A-Million, 1985-98 Civic experience: Director of Christian education, First United Methodist Church, Florence, 1982-85 Education: University of Alabama, 1981 Main issues: Ending corruption in state politics, including limiting campaign contributions; implementing

by Sam Prickett

Lindy Blanchard, Governor, Republican

Lindy Blanchard Alabama Governor Party: Republican Age: 62 Residence: Montgomery Political experience: Former candidate, U.S. Senate, 2022; United States ambassador to Slovenia, 2019-21 Professional experience: Founder and former senior adviser, B&M Management Company Civic experience: Founder, 100X Development Foundation, 2004 Education: B.S. in mathematics, Auburn University, 1991 Main issues: Improving education and supporting school choice; fighting critical race

by Sam Prickett

JeffCo Probate Judge: Tightened Security Will Delay Voting Returns in the Primaries

UPDATED — Jefferson County’s chief election official is warning that a new voting security measure will delay returns from the May 24 primary elections. Probate Judge James Naftel said Friday that county officials have worked with Secretary of State officials to find a way to expedite returns. At issue is a new security measure imposed by Secretary of State John Merrill that moves all precinct returns to central computers provided by his office. These two computers cannot be connected to a network and therefore cannot communicate with each other, so there will not be any results released until all precincts have reported and all results are in, Naftel said. Read more.

by Virginia MacDonald

JeffCo Commission OKs Store Near New Hospital in McCalla; President Says It’s a Bad Call

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said that someday a future panel of commissioners will say an action taken by the commission Thursday was shortsighted. Stephens cast the one nay vote to a request to rezone property in McCalla from agricultural to commercial to accommodate a convenience store with a gas station and deli. The property, at 4476 Bell Hill Road, next to the UAB West Hospital that’s currently under construction. The current land use plan for that area is rural. Stephens said the immediate future should have been weighed more heavily. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

As More Dilapidated Structures Are Demolished, Jefferson Commissioners Discuss Ways to Redevelop the Properties

During its committee meeting Tuesday, the Jefferson County Commission applauded the demolition of public nuisance properties but expressed concern for blight that could follow. Mike Thomas, building inspection services manager with the county’s Department of Developmental Services, presented a resolution for about 30 nuisance properties to be torn down. County Manager Cal Markert commended Thomas, who has 17 demolitions under bid already and another 30 in line. “That'll be 77 within 24 months,” Markert said, “so I’m superexcited.” Said Thomas: “We've always been reactive, looking at when we have complaints. Now we've had the opportunity to go proactive and try to clean up some communities and make things better for the people who live there. “What we want to do is make an impact. We don't want to do one house here and one house there.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham Sets Out Rules to Promote Historical Building Redevelopment

Birmingham has changed its zoning ordinance to encourage the reuse of historical structures throughout the city. The changes, which were approved Tuesday by the City Council, will provide “incentives and exceptions that are intended to foster the reuse of historical properties and further the goal of maintaining historical character within the city,” said Chief Planner Tim Gambrel. This will promote the conversion of “older, economically distressed, historically significant buildings” into apartments, live-work units or mixed-use developments while excepting them from zoning requirements that would require significant structural changes. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Birmingham Targets Motels Over Illegal Activity and Blight

Since the fall, Birmingham city officials have sued or taken other measures to shut down the businesses. Read more.

by Cody Short, WBHM

Judge Hears Testimony in Challenge to Alabama’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

A group of parents and doctors want the judge to stop the law from going into effect while a lawsuit continues. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

A Day After SCOTUS Leak, Gulf States Begin to Prep for a Future Without Roe v. Wade

While nothing officially changes until the Supreme Court delivers its decision, advocates on both sides of the issue are preparing for an end to legal abortion. Read more.

by Orlando Flores Jr., Gulf States Newsroom

Birmingham Council OK’s New Five Points South Restaurant Despite Councilors’ Fears

The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to approve a liquor license for a new Five Points South restaurant, Social, despite concerns from neighborhood residents and some councilors that the owners intend for the business to be a nightclub, instead. Social will occupy the space previously held by Skky Lounge, a nightclub shut down by the council in 2017 after multiple shootings. The restaurant will be operated by Jeremy Williams, whose J Wings restaurant has six locations in the city, including at the Birmingham CrossPlex and the Pizitz Food Hall. Williams told councilors that the restaurant would serve “high-end” fare such as lamb chops, steak and lobster pasta, and he said he had built a “state-of-the-art kitchen” in the building’s lower level. But several neighborhood residents expressed skepticism over the proposal and fear that Social would quickly become another Skky. Read more.

by Sam Prickett