“I don’t care if it’s MLK Day (n-word)”: racist video rants from Univ. of Alabama sorority girl surface
Officials at the University of Alabama are investigating a student after she recently posted multiple videos on social media where she used the n-word repeatedly among other profanities. Harley Barber, a Marlton, N.J. native and a member of Alpha Phi sorority took to her alleged “Finstagram” (fake Instagram) to post at least two racist video rants. Twitter user @TabisBack outed Barber’s videos Tuesday. Posting the first one a little before 1 p.m. CT, the video, which was originally posted on Instagram showed Barber turning off a water faucet in an undisclosed bathroom. She ranted: “We do not waste water… because of the poor people in Syria. We don’t waste water. I love how I act like I love black people because I (expletive) hate (n-word) so that’s really interesting but I just saved the (expletive) (n-word) by shutting that water off.” In a second video @TabisBack shared two minutes after the first, Barber ranted about those who were calling her for her use of the n-word on Martin Luther King Jr. Day no less, saying: “I’ve wanted to be an Alpha Phi since I was (expletive) in high school and nobody (expletive) understands how much I love Alpha Phi. And now someone wants to say I’m offensive because I said (n-word)’? You know what? (n-word), (n-word), (n-word). I don’t care if it’s Martin Luther King Day. (n-word), (n-word), (n-word). I’m in the south now, (expletive). So everyone can (expletive) off. I’m from New Jersey, so I can say (n-word) as much as I want. (n-word), (n-word), (n-word). And if anyone else wants to (expletive) snake me on my (expletive) Finsta for saying (n-word)?” The University of Alabama was tagged on the tweet by @TabisBack and they responded in little over an over disavowing Barber’s rant: These remarks are ignorant and disturbing and in no way reflect the values of The University of Alabama. This unfortunate behavior has been reported to the Office of Student Conduct as it does not align with the community expectations of students at the Capstone. — The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) January 16, 2018 “These remarks are ignorant and disturbing and in no way reflect the values of The University of Alabama. This unfortunate behavior has been reported to the Office of Student Conduct as it does not align with the community expectations of students at the Capstone,” the university tweeted. The Alpha Phi chapter at University of Alabama whose webpage says their values “cherish life-long friendships rooted in kindness, love and respect for one another,” has yet to make a statement on Barber’s actions. Alabama Today has reached out to both the chapter and Alpha Phi nationally for comment, neither were immediately available. We will update this post when we hear back from them.
Tripp Pittman introduces Kay Ivey’s General Fund budget in Ala. Senate
On Tuesday, Montrose-Republican and Finance and Taxation General Fund Chairman, State Sen. Trip Pittman introduced Governor Kay Ivey’s proposed General Fund budget in the Senate. SB178, otherwise known as the proposed budget, appropriates funds for functions of government, debt service, and capital outlay for fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. According to the Governor’s office, the it does so “sensibly” and “funds state government with prudence and care.” Ivey applauded Pittman’s introduction of the budget. “I am pleased to learn that my budget was introduced today by Senator Pittman,” Ivey said. “My proposed budget is a strong, manageable budget, and is highlighted by the bright spot of a lower than expected Medicaid appropriation. Improving Medicaid delivery and controlling costs is central to my budget; that is why I instructed Commissioner Stephanie Azar in October 2017, to begin working on implementing work requirements and increased copays for Medicaid recipients. That process has been ongoing, and I look forward to future implementation of those policies.” Recent changes by the Trump Administration, have enabled states, like Alabama, to seek Medicaid work requirements. After instructing Commissioner Azar to implement work requirements and increased copays for applicable Medicaid recipients, the governor notified Pittman of the new policies shortly thereafter. The governor’s instructions are aimed at continuing to increase efficiency and decrease costs related to Medicaid, all in an effort to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. “Since my meeting with Governor Ivey in October, we have been working hard to prepare for this change and ensure our recipients will continue to receive an adequate level of care,” said Commissioner Azar. “Last week, during my testimony to the General Fund Budget Committee, I illustrated how the work requirements and the copay increases will benefit the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Thanks to the improved economy and continued efforts to seek efficiency and decrease cost in the program, Medicaid is requesting less money than expected. We are certainly moving in the right direction to take care of the Alabamians that depend on our services.” The General Fund Budget is expected to start making its way through the legislative process, beginning in the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund this week.
Ed Richardson says major changes are ahead for Montgomery Public Schools
Interim State Superintendent Dr. Ed Richardson says major changes are ahead for Montgomery Public Schools (MPS), else the district might lose its accreditation. It’s a ominous thought, but an assessment he’s made before. Consider the state’s takeover of Birmingham City Schools in 2012 of which Richardson was appointed to oversee. According to Richardson, the Birmingham City Schools and Montgomery Public Schools share similar issues: financial chaos, low test scores, student retention rates, and what Richardson considers improper influence of the board members have all attributed to the system’s possible surrender. Richardson’s current plan of action is similar to the plan he executed to turn the Birmingham City Schools around. Richardson says his plan would keep teachers in their classrooms, and he would advise the sell of vacant properties and possibly consolidation of the system to strengthen financial resources. Birmingham’s board took Richardson’s advice in 2013 and voted to close schools while the district’s accreditation was on the fence. AdvancED, closely monitored the Birmingham City School takeover and will be visiting Montgomery Public Schools later this month per Richardson’s request. “[AdvancED’s] not coming to say you’re in trouble right now,” Richardson said of the visit to Montgomery Public Schools. “He’s coming to identify what the formal review of Montgomery will consist of, which will be the next school year.” Montgomery Public Schools Board of Education submitted their budget to Richardson for approval at the end of December 2017. “I gave them the opportunity, but I’m submitting my own (budget),” said Richardson. Not on the agenda in Richardson’s mind are teacher cuts. “Theirs included cutting (114) teachers and a number of paraprofessionals, which is certainly not compatible with improving instruction. There will be major changes, but I assure you it is my intention that teachers in the classroom will not be affected.” Richardson will be presenting his plan of action to the Montgomery Public Schools Board of Education on January 26.
State Representative George Bandy dies at 72
Longtime Alabama lawmaker, State Representative George Bandy Sr. died early Tuesday morning in a Macon, Ga., hospital, according to Alabama House spokesman Clay Redden. According to Bandy’s son, he passed away due to cardiac and pulmonary circulation issues, which he was hospitalized for last week. “I am saddened to hear of the death of state Representative George Bandy. Since his election in 1994, he has been a dedicated public servant to the people of Lee and Russell counties. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow legislators during this difficult time,” said Gov. Kay Ivey following his passing. Bandy served as the representative for House District 83 representing Lee and Russell counties. He represented the district for over 20 years. He was Chair of the Alabama House of Representative’s Lee County Legislation committee and served on the State Government and Transportation Utilities and Infrastructure committees. He was also Pastor of Saint James Missionary Baptist Church. On Jan. 12, his son George Bandy Jr., posted on Facebook asking for prayers for his father as he had been hospitalized due to cardiac and pulmonary circulation issues. Minutes before 11 a.m. Tuesday, Bandy Jr. shared another of update of details of his father’s passing: Alabama House Democratic Leader Representative Anthony Daniels called Bandy Sr. a “true fighter for his constituents.” “He was a true fighter for his constituents and region especially focused on education and tax reform. He served diligently in the education system and continued his fight in the Alabama House to ensure his districts had the funding and resources to invest in education. He also introduced legislation on tax reform and worked to represent and support the lower income constituents of his district to ensure everyone he represented had equal representation,” Daniels said in a statement. “Throughout his service, he served alongside Dr. Boyd, who attributes her teaching career to Rep. Bandy, as a result of him giving her a start in Opelika. Dr. Boyd remembers him as the mighty Morehouse man who was always prepared and dedicated to his constituents. His dedication and commitment to service will be sorely missed. We are heartbroken at this news and will honor his work and memory at the beginning of today’s session and in the coming days.”
Good on his word, Doug Jones co-sponsors bill to protect net neutrality
Alabama’s newest senator, Democrat Doug Jones is wasting no time getting to work in Washington, D.C. During the campaign, Jones asserted his support of net neutrality. On Tuesday, he made good on his word by announcing he will co-sponsor legislation to repeal the Federal Communications Commission‘s (FCC) decision to end its policy of net neutrality, also known as the Open Internet Order. I strongly support #NetNeutrality and believe every Alabamian should have access to a free and open internet.https://t.co/3XZ9ikWGaa — Doug Jones (@GDouglasJones) November 28, 2017 “A free and open internet is crucial for our nation to remain a leader in the global economy, provide our children a quality education, and promote freedom of speech,” Jones said in a statement. “Repealing the Open Internet Order would allow companies to raise the price of internet access and discriminate against certain internet traffic. Restoring net neutrality is the right thing to do to protect Alabama consumers and to provide an equitable platform for companies of all sizes to compete for their customers.” Jones’ sponsorship comes in the wake of the FCC’s December vote in favor of Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to roll back the net neutrality regulations, which prevented internet service providers like AT&T and Verizon from slowing down certain content or requiring websites to pay for faster speeds. Now, in order to save net neutrality and counter the FCC’s decision to give internet providers the ability to slow or block some websites while speeding up others, Senate lawmakers must pass a resolution to repeal the new regulations under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), all within a 60-day window that began on Dec. 14. Under the CRA, resolutions allow Congress to overturn regulatory actions at federal agencies with a simple majority vote in both chambers. In accordance with the CRA, the U.S. Senate will formally introduce the resolution after the rule is submitted to both houses of Congress and published in the Federal Register, and then force a vote within 60 legislative days. Currently, Senate Democrats, who are leading the efforts, have recruited 50 votes in the Senate — all Democrats with one lone Republican to their side. They need one more Republican to join them to avoid a tiebreaker that would be decided by Vice President Mike Pence. Being a Republican, Pence would vote on the side of the FCC, thus shutting down the effort for good.
Alabama BOE calls special work session to finalize superintendent search plans
The Alabama State Board of Education (BOE) will meet Wednesday for a special-called work session to receive, discuss and finalize the plan for conducting the search for the new state superintendent of education. The vacancy in the position follows former State Superintendent Michael Sentance‘s resignation in September. Sentance was named to the position in August 2016. With less than a full year under his belt, he found himself on the firing line in July as the Alabama Board of Education began to question his performance. Sentance, who oversaw nearly 900 employees at the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), was given a performance review by the state Board of Education in July, where in received low marks, and within two months resigned. The BOE named Dr. Ed Richardson as the interim superintendent following Sentance’s resignation. Richardson had served as the state superintendent from 1995-2004. In December, Alabama’s Board of Education presented a timeline for hiring a state superintendent through a firm. According to AL.com: On Feb. 8, during the regular board meeting, the board will vote on the wording and contents of the “notice of interest” packet for candidates to complete, he said. On Feb. 9, the vacancy will be posted, and applications will be accepted, Taylor said. During the month of March, Taylor said the firm will review candidates and in April, the board will interview finalists. The BOE meeting and work session will be available for live online viewing here.
Retire in Alabama? New analysis says state is among worst for retirees
Are you looking for the perfect place to retire? Then you may want to look some place other than the Yellowhammer State — it was ranked the tenth-worst state to retire in a new study released Tuesday. With almost 30 percent of all non-retired adults having no retirement savings or pension, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2018’s Best & Worst States to Retire. To help retirees find a safe, enjoyable and wallet-friendly place to call home, WalletHub analysts compared the 50 states across three key dimensions 1) Affordability, 2) Quality of Life and 3) Health Care, broken down further by 41 key indicators of retirement-friendliness ranging from adjusted cost of living, to mildness of weather to health care providers per capita. Here’s a look at how Alabama ranked in retiring (1= best; 25= avg.) 19th: % of population aged 65 & older 38th: Property-crime rate 38th: Health-care facilities per capita 44th: Elderly-friendly labor market 49th: Life expectancy Among the best states for retirement were Florida, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Virginia, Wyoming, New Hampshire and Idaho. And the worst? Kentucky, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia, Louisiana, New Mexico and Hawaii round out the top nine (in order of ranking). See how Alabama compares to the rest of the country: Source: WalletHub The states were compared and ranked with data gleaned from various public and other records including the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Council for Community and Economic Research, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Retirement Living Information Center, Genworth Financial, United Health Foundation, County Health Rankings, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Charity Navigator, Gallup Healthways, GolfLink, The Tax Foundation, America’s Scenic Byways, NOAA Office for Coastal Management, U.S. News & World Report, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and WalletHub research.
Guadalupe Lanning Robinson is an Alabama Maker with an Aztec flair
The Aztec Empire flourished in Mexico from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The Aztecs’ art and pottery held onto the inherent color of the clay, from shades of brown and red to yellow, tan and dark green. But you don’t have to be a time traveler to acquire pottery like the Aztecs made. You can get some at Guadalupe Lanning Robinson’s studio in the Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment district in Huntsville. Lanning Robinson creates pots eerily similar to Aztec work due to sticking with the actual colors of the clay. She does not glaze the outside with different colors like most potters. “I love the texture and colors of the clay, so I try not to cover that with a glaze. I do glaze the inside so they can be used,” Lanning Robinson said, “I love these Aztec-looking designs. It reflects my heritage. I sketch a lot, so everything you see here is my original design.” She was born in Mexico but came to Huntsville in 1985. Lanning Robinson’s Mexican heritage is important to her. Blending Mexican culture with the deep South creates an amalgamation of looks and designs that have become popular. “I feel very proud when people can recognize some of my heritage in my work,” Lanning Robinson said. Lanning Robinson began her clay work 35 years ago. She loves her Mexican culture and the colors, energy and flavor it produces in her work. She uses coils to create her meticulous pots; some take over 30 hours to finish. “I’m usually working on about two or three pieces at the same time, but time goes fast. I’m jumping from one piece to another. These larger coil pots take about 12 to 15 hours to build, and around seven or eight to carve the design. From the time I start to the time it’s ready to be sold, it takes about three or four weeks because of the drying and firing processes,” Lanning Robinson said. Lanning Robinson’s studio includes much of her pottery, but she also quilts. She has exhibited in Nashville and throughout the South, including Birmingham’s Moss Rock Festival and the prestigious Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport. Lanning Robinson has developed a kinship of sorts with clay. Her work is a testimony. “I guess Aztec blood is really awesome, and after thousands of years it still seeps through in my work,” she said. “I don’t try to do it consciously. A lot of people tell me my pots look like Aztec work.” If you are in search for Aztec pottery and you don’t have a time-travel machine, your best bet may be to pay Guadalupe Lanning Robinson a visit in Huntsville. ••• The Product: Handmade pottery and quilts. Take Home: Small bowl ($30) Guadalupe Pots www.guadalupepots.com 2211 Seminole Drive, Railroad Room #1 Huntsville, Ala. 35805 Arcilla204@gmail.com (256) 520-3205 (256) 533-6516
Talk of a Richard Shelby censure may be a GOP turning point
There’s talk about censuring Sen. Richard Shelby for his refusal to back Roy Moore and his encouragement of Alabamians to write-in candidates in December’s special election. Certainly the debate puts pressure on not only the state of Alabama, but also on the political party from a national level to look at party loyalty oaths and what party membership means. I’ve always said I believe those oaths are disingenuous to what the Republican Party stands for. They’re an attempt to almost enslave or entrap an individual who identifies themselves as a member of the party into giving away their vote. This is contrary to a party that values freedom and individual responsibility. The republican party is no longer full of single issue social or fiscally conservative voters. There are many reasons people identify as republican and the spectrum from libertarian conservatives to far-right conservatives is a big one. While party leaders understandably don’t want many cases of an elected official or party leader doing what Shelby did back in December, the fact is: who someone’s votes for is a matter of conscious and principles. There’s a reason our votes are cast in secrecy. The best the party can hope for is that the candidates we put up on the ballot are ones who share those same values and principles of the party. Moving forward the party needs to evaluate, are we going to maintain this oath? If so, then they have no choice but to censure Shelby. Shelby broke the rules, as the rules existed. What we do, is up to the leaders within the party but inaction or indifference will send a strong signal moving forward that the rules won’t be enforced or will selectively be enforced.
