Alabama Power volunteers keep King’s dream alive with Day of Service
Nearly 55 years after Dr. Martin Luther King gave his moving, iconic speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, his dream of transforming the world into a better place continues. Thousands across Alabama and the nation will take part in Martin Luther King Day celebrations. Many Alabama Power employees are among those honoring King’s legacy by performing Day of Service activities in the company’s Birmingham, Eastern, Mobile, Southeast and Southern divisions. Several members of the Magic City Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) will kick off celebrations by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Birmingham on Jan. 12. Members will set up tables and decorate in preparation for the RMH Open House at 7 p.m. Magic City APSO President Wilbur Johnson said that RMH has added 33 guest suites, including a new family center a game room, a volunteer kitchen with a larger dining room and additional food lockers. RMH provides affordable, temporary housing for sick children and their families while receiving medical treatment in the Birmingham area. With RMH expanding its program, Johnson, principal engineer for Regulatory Pricing at Alabama Power, said it’s the perfect time to partner with the facility. “We basically will do everything they’ve asked us to do to help out,” Johnson said, from decorating meal tables with flowers to placing needed items in guest rooms to increase families’ comfort. “We want to give back to those who run across issues being away from home and not having things you’d readily need at hand.” Eastern Division APSO will assist with the annual Martin Luther King breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Anniston Meeting Center on Jan. 15. Latoya Zackery, customer service representative (CSR) at the Anniston Office, and Training Coordinator Varnestra Jones are leading the project. Mobile Division APSO members will help in a Day of Service sponsored by Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) in Mobile on Jan. 13. Volunteers will clean Tricentennial Park sites around Three Mile Creek and One Mile Creek. Following the 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. cleanup, PEP will provide a lunch with guest speakers. On Monday, three Southeast APSO volunteers will assist in planting vegetables at the Twelve Stones CDC Community Gardens in Eufaula. Project chair Jake Taylor, a Southeast APSO member for seven years, said that the project is part of efforts to “revive the neighborhood.” Volunteers for Southern Division APSO will serve at the MLK Community Celebration at Troy State University’s Davis Theatre on Jan. 16. Montgomery CSR and project chair Edaine Wilson is among 12 Southern APSO members who will take tickets, hand out programs, direct visitors to seating and pin corsages during programs at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Attendees will enjoy an inspirational program of music and faith provided by the Montgomery Interfaith Choir. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Over 200 million Christians facing severe persecution worldwide, Robert Aderholt reacts
Roughly 215 million Christians are being persecuted due to their faith, according to a new report released by the Open Doors USA — that’s one in 12 Christians worldwide. The president and CEO of Open Doors, David Curry unveiled the 2018 World Wide List (WWL) of the top 50 “most dangerous” countries to worship Jesus at the National Press Club Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Each year, the WWL provides a searing glimpse into the 50 places around the world where it costs the most to be a Christian. In some countries, familial and social pressure make it terribly difficult to follow Jesus, while in other places, faith in Christ is threatened by daily risk of violence and physical oppression. Alabama 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt attended the event and said the news from the report was not good. “Sadly, the news from the event was not good. The number of Christians who are facing persecution around the world is increasing,” said Aderholt. “North Korea continues to be at the top of the list of countries where Christians are persecuted and strictly prohibited from openly worshipping. The following is a list of the top ten countries where Christians are persecuted: North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran.” Aderholt shared many of the most vulnerable of those persecuted are women. “The Open Doors report highlighted that women are particularly singled out and abused for their faith,” Aderholt added. “There were reports of 2,260 women who were raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriages through threats of death. It’s believed this number is greatly under reported. I should also point out this is an issue that women, men and children all face around the world. “We cannot turn a blind eye to this evil and the United States must continue to hold our friends – and our enemies – accountable. I will continue to discuss these issues with my colleagues in Congress to help ensure that the Administration has all the tools it needs from those of us in Congress who understand the severity of this issue.”
Support grows for bipartisan, statewide ridesharing bill
Want to take an Uber in Alabama? Well you can, depending on where you live. Currently, ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft operate in only 15 of the larger cities across the state —Auburn, Birmingham, Daphne, Gardendale, Gulf Shores, Homewood, Hoover, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Tuscaloosa, Trussville and Vestavia Hills — but due to a lack of comprehensive, statewide regulations aren’t able to operate in all parts of the state. Which is what Mountain Brook-Republican State Rep. David Faulkner and Greensboro-Democratic State Sen. Bobby Singleton hope to remedy this legislative session. They’re soon introducing a bill that would create a ridesharing network across the state for companies like Uber and Lyft, and place it under the control of the Alabama Public Service Commission. On Thursday, the pair was joined by Gov. Kay Ivey on the steps of the State House where they discussed plans for the bipartisan, statewide ridesharing legislation. They were also joined by the “Ride for Alabama” coalition, formed by supporters of the bill. More than 30 local rideshare drivers were also in attendance. “To embrace the future, Alabama must accommodate modern transportation demands. The ability to request an on-demand ride is no longer considered a perk of being in a big city, it is an expectation no matter where one lives or work,” Ivey at the press conference. “Having consistent rules statewide for ridesharing is the sensible way to give Alabamians access to safe, consistent and efficient transportation options.” Alabama is one of only six states that lacks statewide ridesharing regulations. If passed, the bill would allow Alabamians from not only the larger cities, but also suburban and rural communities across the state to take advantage of all benefits the ridesharing industry produces. “Alabama has the opportunity to make the best decision for the state’s future with regard to a statewide ridesharing framework, as the passage of this bill would provide citizens from one corner to the other with the opportunity for safe and reliable transportation,” said Faulkner. “Ridesharing creates transportation options for those with low incomes, the elderly, and people with disabilities,” added Singleton. “By increasing overall transportation access for all of Alabama, we are also creating new economic opportunities for our state.” Ride for Alabama is made up of multiple Chambers of Commerce and third-party entities, such as Birmingham Urban League, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the Alabama Black Chamber of Commerce, Young Alabama and the Alabama Association for the Deaf, Inc., among others. “Embracing innovative and forward-thinking technology platforms like Lyft and Uber will continue to move Alabama forward,” said Deon Gordon, Ride for Alabama coalition member and president, TechBirmingham. “The time has come for Alabama to become the 45th state to expand these vital transportation options to all.”
Alabama Senate Republicans propose state income tax cut
Alabama Senate Republicans on Thursday announced they have proposed a bill that would allow more taxpayers to take the maximum standard deduction on their state income taxes. “This is not a tax break for the rich,” said Anniston-Republican and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh at a press conference unveiling the Senate GOP’s 2018 legislative agenda. “It’s a tax break for working class Alabamians.” According to the Associated Press, SB76 “would increase the adjusted gross income level where jointly filing married taxpayers qualify for the full $7,500 standard deduction from $20,000 to $23,000. The deduction would be lowered as incomes rise. There would be similar changes for single people.” Marsh, the bill’s sponsor, estimates the proposal will cost the state between $4 million to $6 million.
Senate GOP announces “Fighting for Alabama” 2018 legislative agenda
The Alabama Senate Republican Caucus announced their legislative priorities for the 2018 legislative session at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Statehouse. Anniston-Republican and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, Jasper-Republican and Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, and other Republican state senators presented four legislative priorities, in addition to their primary objective of passing balanced budgets, for the new year. The “Fighting for Alabama” agenda will focus on legislation to spur economic growth, encourage infrastructure improvements, and protect children. “An efficient and accountable state government is in the best interest of all Alabamians,” said Marsh. “We want to focus on good governance that will positively impact the lives of Alabamians.” According to the news conference, bills accomplishing these goals will be given priority as they move through Senate committees, along with top placement on the calendar when debated on the Senate floor for final passage. “Our top priority is passing balanced, responsible budgets. Beyond that, we have an agenda that’s focused on cutting taxes and bringing job growth to every part of Alabama,” stated Reed. “We are going to continue to focus on common-sense, conservative solutions to the challenges facing Alabama.” The “Fighting for Alabama” Senate Republican Agenda includes the following items: Provide an Income Tax Break Expanding the adjusted gross income range for a maximum standard deduction on Alabama income tax would provide a significant tax break for hardworking Alabama families. Grow Broadband and Telecom Services in Rural Alabama By providing incentives to telecom companies to invest in rural Alabama, we will ensure all of our citizens have fast and reliable access to the internet. Studies show that faster internet leads to more investment and higher paychecks. Make Child Sex Trafficking a Capital Offense This Legislature is committed to protecting the most vulnerable Alabamians. Making child sex trafficking a capital offense will help ensure that predators are never allowed to harm children again. Save Money in Alabama’s Biggest Budget Item – Medicaid The Alabama Legislature has worked diligently to be good stewards of the budgets we manage. Federal law requires state Medicaid agencies to recover from the estates of deceased recipients, but Alabama is the only state without a Medicaid estate recovery process – establishing a streamlined process for Medicaid to place liens on property to recover medical assistance payments will protect taxpayers’ dollars. Watch the caucus unveil their agenda:
Alabama House passes resolution to impose term limits on U.S. Congress
Target deal for Shipt showcases Birmingham’s dynamic tech sector
The vibrant entrepreneurial tech scene in Birmingham is once again in the national spotlight, as Target plans to buy local grocery delivery service Shipt for $550 million in a blockbuster deal. The retail giant, which announced the acquisition in December, said it will have a major impact on efforts to increase convenience for Target shoppers through affordable, same-day delivery across a variety of product categories. For Birmingham, the move is the latest win for the city’s burgeoning innovation sector, which has attracted millions of dollars in new investment for tech-based startups. “Birmingham is a center for innovation and this agreement highlights the type of cutting-edge industry that is emerging here,” said Jon Nugent, vice president for innovation and technology for the Birmingham Business Alliance. “Through the success of companies like Shipt, Birmingham continues to reinforce its presence as a destination for entrepreneurs looking for a smart, modern city where they can build and launch the next generation of technology companies.” Vibrant scene Shipt has grown rapidly since its founding in Birmingham in 2014. Members of the service use an app to connect to a network of more than 20,000 personal shoppers, who fulfill orders from various retailers and deliver within hours in more than 72 markets. Nugent credited Shipt’s leadership for recognizing what Birmingham has to offer startups. “Bill Smith and Jeff Smith are truly visionary business people who recognized the incredible value in Birmingham’s people, community and commitment to its entrepreneurs,” Nugent said. “Their investment in Shipt’s employees, their neighborhood and their corporate headquarters represents a standard of excellence that continues to be recognized across the United States and internationally. “They continue to be an integral part of this vibrant community that, through the twin discovery engines of UAB and Southern Research, are launching new and innovative companies at an incredible pace.” Opportunities Innovation Depot is a hub of much of the activity. The downtown Birmingham business incubator is home to more than 100 companies, which recorded $126 million in gross sales in 2016. The five-year economic impact of the facility is estimated at more than $1.4 billion. Meanwhile, other technology-based startups have turned heads among major investors, and shepherding more firms like them is a priority in Birmingham and across Alabama. Innovation Depot’s Velocity Accelerator is designed to accelerate development of idea-stage companies, while Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, has invested $4 million in companies that have created more than 500 jobs and go on to raise $50 million in follow-on funding. “It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur in Birmingham and Alabama, especially a technology-based entrepreneur,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “With a skilled and creative workforce, growing funding and mentorship opportunities, and a history of advanced research and developments, the city and the surrounding region have all of the ingredients to help startups thrive.” Ambitious goals As for Shipt, it will be a wholly owned Target subsidiary and will continue to run its business independently. Target will look to Shipt to help achieve ambitious goals set last year that focus on giving customers a number of convenient ways to shop, said John Mulligan, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the retailer. “With Shipt’s network of local shoppers and their current market penetration, we will move from days to hours, dramatically accelerating our ability to bring affordable same-day delivery to guests across the country,” he said. “By the 2018 holiday season, we will be servicing every major market across the country with same-day delivery, and Shipt’s service-oriented approach aligns well with Target’s commitment to delivering an exceptional shopping experience for our guests.” Shipt founder and CEO Bill Smith said the company is excited to partner with Target and is eyeing additional expansion. “Partnering with Target and the national scale they provide allows Shipt to further accelerate our growth, bringing our service to more people, in more markets across the country,” he said. “We’ll continue growing our marketplace and membership base, working with a variety of retailers to drive scale and efficiencies. We look forward to introducing Target guests to the convenience of our same-day delivery services, with the level of personal attention only Shipt can provide.” This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. Republished with permission from the Alabama NewsCenter.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox calls Kay Ivey’s picture of the state ‘fiction’
Republican Gov. Kay Ivey gave her first State of the State address Tuesday evening before a joint session of the Alabama Legislature. In her speech she painted an optimistic picture of the state, saying “we have successfully steadied the ship of state; I declare that the state of the state is strong and our future is as bright as the sun over the Gulf.” But Tuscaloosa Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Walt Maddox disagrees with Ivey’s outlook. On Wednesday, Maddox issued a counter statement to Ivey’s calling her description of the state “fiction” “The picture she painted of our state was fiction,” Maddox asserted. “The ship of state is not steady.” Maddox continued, “For years, our state’s leaders have turned a blind-eye towards corruption and incompetence which has now placed every core function of state government in crisis. All the one-time windfalls cannot disguise the fact that we need a New Covenant; a Covenant that places people and progress ahead of politics. Because the REAL state of the state is a crisis, and we cannot just pretend our way through in order to survive the next election cycle.” Ivey, who assumed the Governorship following former Gov. Robert Bentley‘s resignation in April, is seeking her own term as governor as a Republican candidate. Primaries will be held on June 5, and the general election on Nov. 5. Read Maddox’s full rebuttal to Ivey’s State of the State address below: Last night Governor Kay Ivey gave her State of the State address. The picture she painted of our state was fiction. The ship of state is not steady. Here’s the REAL State of the State. Across Alabama rural hospitals are closing. Alabama’s health ranking is 47th in the nation, and 50th in premature births. Roads and bridges are crumbling. In Alabama, more than 20% of our bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Our education system continues to fail our children. Too many of our children are still learning to read after third grade rather than reading to learn. For years, our state’s leaders have turned a blind-eye towards corruption and incompetence which has now placed every core function of state government in crisis. All the one-time windfalls cannot disguise the fact that we need a New Covenant; a Covenant that places people and progress ahead of politics. Because the REAL state of the state is a crisis, and we cannot just pretend our way through in order to survive the next election cycle. I am running for Governor because I believe in Alabama, and I believe we can chart a course to a new future that creates a highly skilled workforce, establishes strong public schools, implements modern infrastructure, and provides access to quality healthcare across our state. #believe
Federal judge dismisses challenge to Alabama voter ID law
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Alabama’s voter ID law. U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler on Wednesday rejected arguments — by the Greater Birmingham Ministries and the Alabama NAACP — that requiring a photo ID to vote is racial discrimination, denies equal protection and violates the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The groups had filed a lawsuit against Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill among other former state officials over a 2011 law, House Bill 19, which requires absentee and in-person voters to show photo identification in order to cast a ballot. The suit contended the law had disenfranchised some 280,000 voters and threatened hundreds of thousands more. Judge Coogler noted in his order that it is easy for anyone to get a photo in ID in Alabama, thus the law is not discriminatory. “…A person who does not have a photo ID today is not prevented from voting if he or she can easily get one, and it is so easy to get a photo ID in Alabama, no on is prevented from voting,” Coogler wrote in the order. He also determined “minorities do not have less opportunity to vote under Alabama Photo ID law because everyone has the same opportunity to obtain an ID.” Alabama’s Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall called the decision to dismiss the suit, the right decision. “Today’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit is without a doubt the right decision,” said Marshall. “Alabama’s voter identification law is one of the broadest in the nation with procedures in place to allow anyone who does not have a photo ID to obtain one.” But NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund President Sherrilyn Ifill said the group is not giving up and is considering its next steps. “We are deeply disappointed by the judge’s ruling dismissing our case before trial,” said Ifill. “Over the course of two years, we have developed a sound case demonstrating that Alabama’s voter ID law is racially discriminatory. We had hoped to present our full case at trial next month. We have no intention of abandoning our commitment to protecting the rights of African-American voters in Alabama, and we are considering our next steps.” View the full court order below:
Montgomery woman makes Alabama’s architectural history exhibition a reality
Melissa B. Tubbs for years has dreamed of an exhibition that showcases Alabama’s architectural history. The pen and ink artist finally got her chance with an exhibition tied to Alabama’s bicentennial that debuted Jan. 5 in Gadsden. The exhibition, “Celebration & Preservation: Drawing Alabama’s Architectural History,” features 25 detailed pen and ink drawings of architecture from throughout the state, beginning with the 1820 Ivy Green House – the home of Helen Keller, and ending in 1997, with the Goat House — an Auburn Rural Studio Project. The exhibition will travel throughout the state from January 2018 through June 2019. Tubbs began laying the groundwork for the exhibition in 2008. “I wanted to show the variety of architecture that has been built in and around the state,” Tubbs said. “We have almost every architectural style you can think of … from Victorian and Mid-Century Modern, to Art Modern and Art Deco.” With the support of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission and the endorsement of the Alabama Architectural Foundation, Tubbs reached out to the public on social media to solicit ideas for the buildings she would include in the show. While Tubbs is a long-time Montgomery resident, her query garnered suggestions for buildings and places she would have otherwise not known about. To help organize the selection process, Tubbs divided the state into five areas and chose five buildings in each of those areas to feature in the exhibition. “I did not necessarily want to choose buildings that were well-known and on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Tubbs. “However, it turns out that a good many of them are, which was a good way to find out information.” Tubbs chose a variety of buildings, including homes, churches, courthouses, businesses and even a jail. Each city hosting the exhibition has a building featured in the show. Tubbs’s pen and ink career began about 20 years ago, when her sister asked her to complete her first official pen and ink drawing of her father-in-law’s home. “I never knew how much I loved architecture until I drew it,” Tubbs said. “I really like working in black and white. I like seeing the values. … It doesn’t matter what color anything you see is, it’s the values – the shadows behind something or cast by the sunlight on a building that gives depth to everything and volume.” A lifelong artist, Tubbs graduated from Auburn with a degree in visual design, and worked in magazine production for nearly 25 years. However, about six years after the house drawing for her sister, the number of commissioned works Tubbs received equaled that of a full-time job, so she chose to leave magazine production to pursue her own art career full-time. “I never regretted it,” Tubbs said. “It is not always easy … but I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of different things.” Tubbs’s work includes designing the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Fine Arts awards, the 2011 White House Christmas ornament, as well as two different drawing pad covers for Strathmore artist papers in 2011-2012. While the pen and ink medium has been around for hundreds of years, it is not a common art medium. “It’s a hard medium to use, because you can’t erase,” Tubbs said. “You either start over or find a way to incorporate it into you drawing. Tubbs likes the challenge since she can’t make it easy on herself. “Pen and ink is a case of practice makes perfect,” Tubbs said. “I’ve gotten better with more that I’ve done. It is a medium that I think requires that … you get to a higher level at using the medium.” Her attention to detail, showcased through layers of delicate lines, captures every aspect of architecture that makes each of the buildings in the exhibition unique. Regarding her drawings, Tubbs has had people tell her that “each time they go back and look at the drawings, they see something they didn’t see before,” something that she hopes visitors to the exhibition will also experience. For Tubbs, preparing this exhibition was a labor of love, as she merged her love of art with her appreciation of history. “You can’t look at one without the other – art, architecture and history. … I love finding out about buildings – who built them, when, why they were built, and what materials were used,” Tubbs said. She incorporated her research into the exhibition catalog by recording the technical information about the building, as well as historical information and family history. For example, Tubbs discovered that the Holman House in Ozark was built by Jessee DeCosta Holman, a prominent businessman who sold horses and mules in the early 20th century. “When he built the house in 1912-1913,” Tubbs said, “he had a horse carved on one side of the living room mantle, and a mule carved on the other side, representing what he did to make the money to be able to build the house.” Another interesting story she uncovered after the exhibition catalog had been printed involved the Bashinsky Home in Troy. Tubbs spoke with the granddaughter of L.M. Bashinsky, who had been the cashier of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Troy in 1902-1903, and learned that members of the Bashinsky family used the Troy home as a refuge from “the polio season” during the summers in Montgomery. “Architecture is always influenced by what’s going on in the rest of the country, and world, at times,” Tubbs said. “It ties together all kinds of history and makes a community.” “Drawing these buildings and celebrating 200 years of different architecture in the state is a way of drawing people’s attention to these buildings that are worth saving,” said Tubbs. “We need to remember history … whether it’s architecture or anything else… For people to know and realize how important it is to appreciate the people who came before us… It’s made us who we are and makes Alabama what Alabama is.” To learn more about Tubbs,
