Steve Marshall urges voters to vote Yes for Aniah’s Law
Attorney General Steve Marshall released a video statement on Monday expressing his strong support for Statewide Amendment 1, Aniah’s Law. Marshall asked the people of Alabama to vote to adopt the amendment when they vote on Tuesday. “On Election Day, several proposed amendments to the state constitution will be on the ballot,” Marshall said. “One is vital for public safety. That would be Amendment 1, which creates what is known as Aniah’s Law.” “As you will recall, Aniah Blanchard was the young woman who, in 2019, went missing and was later found murdered,” Marshall said. “The man charged with Aniah’s abduction and murder was out on bond at the time he committed his heinous acts, despite already being charged with multiple violent crimes, including kidnapping.” “Aniah’s case was a terrible tragedy that drew national attention, but I am here to tell you that hers is not the only case of this kind—and it won’t be the last,” said Marshall. “That’s why we need Aniah’s Law. Aniah’s Law—which you will find on your ballot as Amendment 1—amends the state constitution to allow judges the discretion to deny bond to violent criminals like Aniah’s murderer. So, on Tuesday, be sure to vote “yes” on Amendment 1, which will keep dangerous criminals off the street and the public out of harm’s way. And thank you to Aniah’s family for leading the charge to make Alabama a safer place.” Aniah’s Law has also been endorsed by Governor Kay Ivey. “It is past time we fix those issues, but because of the unwavering dedication of Aniah’s family and the unanimous support by the Alabama Legislature, Amendment One, also known as Aniah’s Law, will be on the ballot this November,” Ivey said. “I encourage every Alabamian to join me in voting yes on Aniah’s Law to ensure no family would have to go through the pain of preventable tragedy.” Under current Alabama law, judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. That means that dangerous criminals are often released back onto the streets, even when it is likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. Proponents argue that if the majority of Alabamians vote for Aniah’s Law, then judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when they are charged with serious felonies like murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse. This legislation was sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown. It passed unanimously by the state legislature in April 2021 and was named in memory of murdered 19-year-old Southern Union Community College student Aniah Blanchard. Her accused murderer was out on bail awaiting trial for charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery. Amendment One has also been endorsed by the Mayors of Alabama’s ten largest cities. “As members of the Alabama Big 10 Mayors, public safety is one of our top priorities,” the Mayors wrote in a statement. “And on the November 8 ballot, there will be a constitutional amendment that, if voted for by a majority of Alabamians, would give our state’s judges the tools they need to keep violent, repeat offenders off our streets and out of our communities, and in jail where they belong. In October 2019, 19-year-old college student Aniah Blanchard was tragically kidnapped. The suspect in her case was out free on bond, awaiting trial for charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. He should have been incarcerated, and Aniah Blanchard should still be alive.” “We urge all Alabama voters to vote for Amendment One on election day so what happened to Aniah and her loved ones will not happen again,” the Big 10 Mayors concluded. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Polls will open Tuesday at 7:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. Voters need to bring a valid photo ID to the polls with them in order to vote. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Big 10 Mayors urge Alabama voters to vote Yes for Aniah’s Law – Amendment One
Aniah’s Law – Amendment One – will be on the November 8 general election ballot. If ratified by Alabama voters, it would allow judges to deny bail to dangerous criminals likely to re-offend. The Alabama Big 10 Mayors held a press conference in Auburn on Monday to express their support for the Aniah’s Law constitutional amendment. The mayors urged Alabama voters to support it on Election Day. “As governments, public safety is our number one responsibility,” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “Collectively, we have been working since 2019 on legislation to change our state constitution and give judges the option of denying pre-trial bail to the most violent offenders who are likely to re-offend. We know this will save lives in every community across the state.” Aniah Blanchard was a Southern Union student who was kidnapped off of the streets of Auburn at a gas station by a known violent kidnapper who was out on bond. She was brutalized, raped, and murdered by her attacker. Her parents were instrumental in Aniah’s law being passed by the Alabama Legislature. “Fall is an exciting time in Auburn, with new students, football, relationships, and classes,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “It has been a great fall here in Auburn, but it should have included Aniah Blanchard. On November 8, the citizens of Alabama have something they can do about this. By voting for amendment one, you will allow judges to keep violent offenders in jail, so in the future, we will not have other stories like Aniah Blanchard’s to remember.” “When Aniah was taken from us, it was extremely unsettling,” said Anders. “It was unnerving. It rocked our world.” “The thing is, when you talk to our men and women in the police department, they do great work – they do a lot of hard work. One of the most dispiriting things that happen is that when they arrest someone, especially for a violent offense is when that person is back out before the community even settles down,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed. “We want to make sure that when people do wrong, when they commit a violent offense, that they have to pay for it.” Angela Harris – the mother of Aniah Blanchard – said, “Aniah’s Law will be on the ballot on November 8, and I encourage everyone to get out to vote for Amendment One. No family should have to go through such a tragedy. If this could happen to Aniah, it could happen to anyone. Please keep your family, your friends, and your community safe, and honor Aniah’s memory on November 8.” “This bill would change so that other parents would not have to go through the same tragedy that we have had to go through,” said Elijah Blanchard – Aniah’s father. “On November 8, vote yes for Amendment One because we are going to make a change.” Alabama judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. This allows known dangerous criminals to be released back onto the streets, even when it’s likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. At one point, there were 300 accused murderers out on the streets of Mobile alone awaiting trial. If the voters ratify Aniah’s Law, judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to re-offend when they are charged with serious felonies like attempted murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse. This law passed both Houses of the Alabama Legislature unanimously in April 2021. Representing the largest cities in Alabama, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. These mayors meet quarterly to address the state’s most critical issues and to make Alabama a safer, better place for all of its residents. Voters will get to vote on Amendment one in the general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Richard Shelby announces $27 million for Alabama in transportation grants
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced yesterday that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Alabama three Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, which total $27,179,948, to fund efforts for infrastructure improvements in Alabama – $20 million for the City of Huntsville, nearly $5.2 million for the City of Cordova, and $2 million for the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments. The DOT RAISE grant program awards funding annually for important transportation and infrastructure projects across the nation. The program provides an opportunity for the department to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. “I am proud to announce that Alabama is receiving more than $27 million for local infrastructure improvement projects through DOT’s RAISE Grant Program. All three of these investments will support improved quality of life, safety, and experience in each of their respective communities,” said Senator Shelby. “I am particularly pleased that Huntsville has been awarded the funds to construct multiple pedestrian bridges that will soon provide greater access to businesses and vital services located downtown. This multimodal project has been in the works for quite some time, and I look forward to the finished product.” The City of Huntsville will receive $20,000,000 to design and construct multimodal improvements on approximately 1.2 miles of the Pedestrian Access and Redevelopment Corridor (PARC), linking downtown Huntsville to neighborhoods that are physically isolated by U.S. Route 231/431, Governors Drive, and the Pinhook Creek. Huntsville mayor, Tommy Battle stated, “Huntsville welcomes the RAISE grant, which will allow us to take property out of flood zones, enhance connectivity and improve our transportation grid along Pinhook Creek. We appreciate our partnership with the federal government and this grant, which will help us take Huntsville to the next level.” The City of Cordova will receive $5,179,948 for repairs and improvements to take place on more than 30 miles of deteriorating roadways throughout Cordova, Alabama. The grant for the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments will provide $2,000,000 for the Shoals Area Railroad Overpass in Colbert County. The project will produce a comprehensive corridor study and design plan for the roadway approaches and bridge structure over the Norfolk Southern Railroad near Montgomery Avenue in Sheffield, Alabama.
Steve Flowers: Very impressive, high steppin’ victory for Gov. Kay Ivey
Our popular high steppin’ pistol tottin’ Governor Kay Ivey won a very impressive reelection victory for Governor on May 24. Ivey turned back eight GOP primary challengers to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination without a runoff. She garnered an amazing 54% of the vote and carried every county in Alabama. That is a feat not often accomplished, especially considering she had eight folks running against her. However, her popularity is probably the reason she had no serious thoroughbreds challenge her in the gubernatorial derby. Any knowledgeable political pro could look at the odds of defeating one of the most popular incumbent governors in the nation with plenty of campaign resources and walk away from that uphill battle. After all, she had beaten a more impressive field in 2018, which included Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, without the need for a runoff. Six of her male opponents were “also ran” unknown and still unknown candidates. The seventh male in the race, Tim James, whose claim to fame is that his daddy was governor, is becoming a perennial candidate. He has run three times and finished third three times. He got a respectable 15%, but he spent $5.7 million to get that amount. If he tries again, he will be considered in the Shorty Price category. The only female in the race was first-time candidate Lindy Blanchard. She finished second to Kay Ivey with 18%. Therefore, the two females running for governor finished first and second. However, there is a world of difference in getting 54% and 18%. Lindy is a nice lady. If you meet her, you cannot help but like her. She spent an amazing $11 million of her own money. That equates to about $100 per vote. That may be a new record. That should tell her that she just might not be cut out for politics. She nor Tim James ever got any traction or resonated. The fact that Blanchard and James spent most of their $16 million combined on negative ads, and I might add disingenuous ads against Governor Ivey, is even more of a testament to how popular and resilient Ivey remains. I said from the get-go that Ivey would win without a runoff and felt that way to the end. I have to admit that on the night of the election, when it appeared that the turnout was going to be lighter than expected, I wondered privately if she might dip below 50%. However, she outperformed and got about 54%. Kay and her team ran a flawless campaign. Her TV ads were folksy and effective. She did not take anything for granted. She never said a bad word about any of her opponents. In fact, she never acknowledged them or called their name. Even in her victory speech, she said we have got to keep running hard against our Democratic opponent. Even though winning a statewide gubernatorial race as a Democrat is extremely unlikely. Winning the GOP primary for governor in the Heart of Dixie is tantamount to election. Kay Ivey’s 2022 reelection victory is almost as remarkable as her mentor and idol and our only other female governor, Lurleen Wallace’s 1966 landslide victory. There are several other constitutional offices that will be decided on June 21. The Secretary of State runoff race will be the closest to watch. State Representative Wes Allen and two-term State Auditor Jim Ziegler are notched in a dead heat. Both got about 40%. Ziegler has name identification, having run a dozen times statewide. Wes Allen has the qualifications. He has been a Probate Judge for over a decade prior to his House term. This one will be close and interesting. The State Auditor’s job will be filled by either Florence State Representative Andrew Sorrell or Kimberly preacher Stan Cooke. The Reverend Cooke did benefit from having run for this job before, and he also received a significant hometown vote from Jefferson County. Our two incumbent conservative PSC members, Chip Beeker and Jeremy Oden, have liberal green-leaning opponents in the June 21 runoff. Greg Cook won an impressive 55-45 victory over Anniston Circuit Judge Debra Jones for Place 5 on the Alabama Supreme Court. He will fit in well with our current conservative and well-credentialed state high court. We will discuss the monumental runoff contest for our open U.S. Senate seat next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Steve Flowers: Benefactor or idealogue
Over the years, I have discussed my observations and concepts of the two different roles or routes taken by a U.S. Senator or Congressman during their tenure in Washington. One clearly chooses one of two postures in their representation of you in Washington. Our delegates to D.C. are either benefactors or idealogues. The role of benefactor is much better for any state, especially Alabama. This public figure is not only a benefactor but also a facilitator and a statesman. In other words, this person is interested and diligent in bringing home federal dollars to the Heart of Dixie. The perfect example of a benefactor, facilitator, and statesman senator is our current U.S. Senator, Richard Shelby. No senator in Alabama history has brought home more federal dollars to our state than Richard Shelby. He has helped Alabama more during his 36-years in the senate than any other senator. The second role is idealogue. This politician sees his role as a zealot on issues. The idealogue is more interested in advocating for popular social and non-economic issues with no regard for the state’s financial interests. Beginning in the 1930s and extending for 30 years through the 1960s, we had two of the greatest U.S. Senators in history. Lister Hill and John Sparkman were giants in Washington and were erudite diplomats for our state. They can aptly be described as benefactors, facilitators, and statesmen for Alabama. During the 1970s and 1980s, we had two well-respected and effective senators in Judge Howell Heflin and Richard Shelby. Upon the arrival of Jeff Sessions in 1996, as the state’s first true blue Republican, we witnessed the portrayal of our first true ideologue. Sessions was the most right-wing, reactionary Republican in the U.S. Senate. However, he was not a demagogue; he was a true believer and one of the most honest and gentlemanly men I have ever observed in the public arena. He was also well qualified and prepared to be a U.S. Senator, having been a U.S. Attorney and Attorney General of Alabama. Alabama cannot afford to have the ultimate demagogic idealogue, Mo Brooks, follow Richard Shelby. It would literally be like exchanging the most effective U.S. Senator in Alabama history with the least effective Senator in Alabama history. We would go from having the number one, most powerful senator to the last place, number 100th effectiveness for their state in Washington. It would be worse than not having a senator because the image that Mo Brooks portrays for Alabama is so harmful that we would be better off not to have a second senator, and for a state that depends on federal dollars, that would not be a good position for Alabama. A large portion of Alabama’s federal largesse dollars goes to the Huntsville area. Mo Brooks has been the congressman from this area for ten years. He has done nothing towards federal and economic growth in the Huntsville-Tennessee Valley area. Brooks has been an obstacle. He prefers being a bomb-thrower to being an effective representative. The entire growth and prosperity of the Huntsville area can be attributed to Senator Richard Shelby with local assistance from Mayor Tommy Battle. Brooks’s laissez-faire attitude towards government and his allegiance and loyalty to the right-wing clandestine Club for Growth is toxic for Alabama and our dependence on defense dollars. Brooks is an irrelevant, right-wing gadfly whom people just laugh at like a crazy uncle they keep locked in a closet. He has become a national poster boy for crazy theatrics. The image he gives to Alabama hurts us immensely in Washington. He is a pariah for Alabama’s future. Brooks would be a deterrent for Alabama procuring additional or even keeping our current federal defense dollars in Alabama. If Mo Brooks is elected as our senator to replace Richard Shelby, you can expect Redstone Arsenal’s growth to stop, and you can kiss the space command headquarters coming to Alabama goodbye. Furthermore, those of you who live in the Montgomery River Region area and those of you who live in the Wiregrass and have depended on Maxwell-Gunter and Ft. Rucker as your economic engines for generations better grab hold of your wallet. With Mo Brooks as the Senator from Alabama, you may very well see these mega-military economic meccas moved to California. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Steve Flowers: Huntsville is Alabama’s largest city
Huntsville has rocketed past Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city. It is not named the Rocket City for nothing. The Census Bureau had been predicting this amazing boom in population in the Madison (Huntsville)/Limestone area, but the actual figures recently released reveal a bigger growth than expected. Huntsville grew by 20% or 35,000 people and is now a little over 215,000. On the other hand, Birmingham shrank by 12,000 or 5% to 201,000 people. Montgomery held its own, and Montgomery and Birmingham are actually in a virtual tie for second at around 200,000. Mobile shrank to 187,000 and is now the smallest of the “big four” cities in the state. Our big four cities of Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile are all led by sterling mayors. Birmingham’s mayor, Randall Woodfin, and Mobile’s mayor, Sandy Stimpson, both won overwhelming reelection victories in late August elections. Mayor Woodfin won a very impressive reelection landslide victory on August 24. Woodfin garnered an amazing 65% of the vote against seven opponents. He won his first race for mayor four years ago, the old-fashioned way. He went door-to-door and knocked on an estimated 50,000 doors. He followed up this year by running one of the most picture-perfect campaigns in modern times. He again had a stellar grassroots campaign with a host of volunteers that knocked on an estimated 80,000 doors. Mayor Woodfin and his team are brilliantly adapting to the modern politics of using social media, yet he adroitly employs the old-school politics of mainstream television, traditional media, and getting out the vote. The initial polling on the mayoral race indicated that Woodfin could probably win reelection without a runoff, but nobody saw the 65% final result figure. I am convinced that the ad firm that designed his televisions ads garnered him a 12% boost from 53% to 65% with an ad using his mother. The ad featured Mama Woodfin asking her friends and neighbors in Birmingham to vote for her boy. She was a superstar. Mobile Mayor Stimpson also won an impressive 63% reelection victory on August 24. He was elected to his third term. Stimpson is a successful businessman from an old silk stocking Mobile family. He is doing the job as a civic duty. Mobilians must think he is doing a good job. Stimpson ran a positive campaign and spent a lot of money. Stimpson will be entering his third four-year term as mayor of the Port City. On election night, he indicated that this may be his last hurrah, noting that he will be 73 in 2025 and may be ready to hand over the reins. Huntsville’s mayor, Tommy Battle, won an impressive reelection last year. Montgomery mayor Steven Reed also won a very impressive first term election in 2020. The mayors of our four major cities are indeed popular. There is another dynamic developing in our state. The Morehouse College Degree and experience has become the standard of success among the new African American leaders in the state. It seems that this traditional historic college in Atlanta is where our elite leaders are spawned. The leadership of Montgomery are all products of this proud institution of higher learning. It is truly a powerfully bonded fraternity. Mayor Steven Reed, State Senator Kirk Hatcher, Probate Judge J.C. Love, and Circuit Judge Greg Griffin all have the same pedigree. They were born and raised in the Capitol City, went off to Morehouse for their education and national political networking, then came home to lead their city and Montgomery County. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is a Morehouse man. In his first race, his Morehouse friends and fraternity brothers from throughout the country, many of whom are professionals, doctors, lawyers, and businessmen, came to the Magic City to campaign and knock on doors for Woodfin. There was a room full of Morehouse men at Woodfin’s victory celebration on August 24 as he won his second term. By the same token, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson are products of the old school, 100-year-old University of Alabama fraternity called “The Machine.” Battle was a member of Kappa Sigma, and Stimpson was a Delta Kappa Epsilon. In closing, even though Huntsville is the largest city, folks in the Rocket City should not get too big of a head. The Birmingham/Hoover metro area is still by far the largest metropolitan area of the state by a 2-to-1 margin. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Steve Flowers: 20th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks
This week marks the 20th Anniversary of the infamous 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation. It was a day in your life where you remember where you were and what you were doing when you first heard of the attacks on the New York World Trade Center and Pentagon. It changed our world. Like most people, I thought the first plane that flew into the towering Trade Center, was an accident. However, when the second plane hit you knew it was not pilot error. It was traumatic and terrifying. I asked several of our state leaders their memories of that fateful day. Allow me to share some of their experiences. Today, only two members of our current congressional delegation were in Congress at the time: Senator Richard Shelby and Congressman Robert Aderholt. Our senior senator, Richard Shelby, was actually chairman of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee. He was immediately briefed by the CIA, however, amazingly, he was not placed in a protective bunker. He quietly sat in his office with his staff and watched the day unfold on television. Congressman Robert Aderholt, who was a brand new 33-year old congressman recalls he and his wife, Caroline, were taking their daughter to her first day of school while all the 9/11 events were unfolding. That daughter, Mary Elliott, is now a senior at Auburn. PSC President Twinkle Cavanaugh had just left Washington and was back home in Alabama getting ready for a conference call. The call was canceled, and she sat in shock all day. Gov. Kay Ivey shared her memory. She said it was a typical September morning. She was attending a conference and learned of the first plane flying into the tower while getting coffee. At first, the news did not seem too alarming. However, a few minutes later, when news of the second plane hit and videos appeared showing the large plane crashing into the World Trade Center, an awful feeling started to sink in for everyone as they realized our world was changing in front of their eyes. The Governor’s Chief of Staff, Jo Bonner, at that time was Chief of Staff to Congressman Sonny Callahan and later took that seat in Congress. Bonner was also at a legislative meeting in Montgomery. He was having breakfast at the Embassy Suites, and he watched the planes fly into the tower. Gov. Ivey’s new State Finance Director Bill Poole had recently moved back from D.C. a few weeks prior to enrolling in the University of Alabama Law School. He was in class and was concerned about young friends he had left behind in D.C. Ozark State Representative, Steve Clouse, was a young legislator and was in Montgomery eating breakfast at the Madison Hotel. State Senator Clay Scofield was a junior at Auburn University. He watched on television and recalls feeling sad, angry, and extremely patriotic. Lt. Governor, Will Ainsworth, was also a student at Auburn. He was in his apartment getting ready to go to class. Pardons and Parole Director and former State Senator, Cam Ward, was on a plane headed to Washington, D.C. while the events were unfolding. They were diverted to West Virginia to land and then informed of what had happened. State Senator Greg Reed was in his home office preparing for a business trip to Baltimore, Maryland. His wife, Mitzi, ran into his office a little after 9:00 and told him to come watch what was unfolding in New York. Needless to say, his trip was canceled. State Senator Clyde Chambliss was in an Autauga County Leadership meeting. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle was eating breakfast at a local restaurant in the Rocket City. State Treasurer John McMillan was head of the Alabama Forestry Association. They were at their annual meeting at the Perdido Beach Resort. Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, a decorated Veteran of Vietnam, had just departed campus en route to Luverne on a communities tour. By the time they reached Montgomery, he said, “It was clear that America had been attacked. What began as a day of celebration concluded in Prattville as a day of mourning and patriotism.” Attorney General Steve Marshall had been serving as the district attorney for Marshall County for just over a month. He watched the events unfold on televisions in underground offices. It was his daughter’s 11th birthday, but his family did little celebrating on that day. Former Congressman Bradley Byrne was practicing law in Mobile. His law offices were in the same building as the FBI. They got their fully automatic rifles out and were guarding the building all day. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Kay Ivey announces military contractor expansion in Huntsville
Gov. Kay Ivey announced today that defense contractor KBR is planning to expand its operations in Huntsville with a new headquarters facility. The expansion will bring more than 160 additional jobs. KBR will consolidate its presence in Huntsville at two buildings being developed at Redstone Gateway by Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) in partnership with Jim Wilson & Associates as part of a $65 million project. The growth plans will allow KBR to retain its workforce of over 1,100 people in the city. Kay Ivey stated, “It’s always great to see a company like KBR that has a major presence in Alabama decide to expand its operation in the state, especially when the jobs being added are highly technical and well paying. KBR is a world-class company, and I look forward to seeing it grow and thrive in Huntsville’s dynamic economy.” Based out of Houston, Texas, KBR will provide engineering, scientific, and technical services to the defense and aerospace industries at its new location just outside Redstone Arsenal, a sprawling government installation. Set to be operational in early 2023, KBR has executed two leases with the real estate partners to occupy 90% of a 172,500-square-foot office building and roughly half of a 45,000 square-foot R&D facility at Redstone Gateway. “Recently named one of the ‘Best Places to Live in the U.S.,’ KBR is excited to enhance its presence in Huntsville, specifically at Redstone Gateway,” said Byron Bright, KBR Government Solutions president. “Whether we’re defending our nation or supporting the latest missions in space, we equip those on the frontline and those exploring a new frontier. As our capabilities in aerospace engineering, asset management, and spaceflight operations continue to evolve and grow, maintaining offices in close proximity to both existing and future customers is the right thing to do.” Huntsville officials have welcomed the expansion plans. Mayor Tommy Battle commented, “We’re glad to see KBR expanding in Huntsville where the company’s best and the brightest engineers and innovators contribute to aerospace and defense industries. Congratulations to KBR and to COPT on this exciting venture.” Thomas Birnbach, president and vice chairman of real estate firm Cresa, said, “This deal represents a consolidation and commitment for KBR in the Huntsville market that will allow KBR to take advantage of new workplace strategies and standards, maximize efficiency, while at the same time upgrade their facilities significantly for their workforce.”
Huntsville now Alabama’s largest city, overtakes Birmingham
Huntsville has overtaken Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city, according to new Census numbers. Huntsville is now slightly more populous than Birmingham, according to U.S. Census numbers released Thursday. Huntsville has a population of 215,006. Birmingham, which had long been Alabama’s largest city, has a population of 200,733. However, the Birmingham metro area remains the largest in the state. The Birmingham-Hoover Metro Statistical Area has 1.1 million people, while the Huntsville Metro Area has 491,723. Huntsville, nicknamed the Rocket City for its historical ties to the space industry, has seen rapid growth over the last ten years, partly fueled by the tech and manufacturing sectors. The population of the city has jumped by 19% since 2010. “I’m proud that the great things we have going on in Huntsville have grown our city,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle wrote in a tweet. “To tell the truth, we’re more focused on being the best than the biggest. That is what my team and I are going to continue to work on every day.” Birmingham got the nickname the Magic City for its rapid growth and had long been Alabama’s largest city. Much of the recent growth around Birmingham has been concentrated in the surrounding suburban areas rather than in the city itself. “Growth in any city is good for Alabama, good for Birmingham and for our metro region,” Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said in a statement in response to media questions about the change to being Alabama’s second-largest city. He said city officials plan to analyze the data. “Birmingham is the nucleus of the state’s largest metro population and economic center. The Magic City continues to evolve as a diverse urban center and leader in regional growth. Our strength as a medical center, an emerging hub for tech start-ups and logistics center keeps Birmingham positioned for positive growth in the future,” Woodfin said. Montgomery is Alabama’s third-largest city, with a population of 200,603. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Alabama city, officer convicted of murder seek lawsuit delay
The city of Huntsville is again siding with a police officer convicted of murder and asking a federal court to delay action on a wrongful death lawsuit filed by relatives of the victim. The city and officer William Darby, who has been on leave since being convicted last month of killing a mentally disturbed man while on duty in 2018, asked a judge to keep the lawsuit on hold until after Darby’s sentencing, set for Aug. 20, news outlets reported. Relatives of Jeffrey Parker, who Darby shot to death while the man was holding a gun to his own head, contend it is time for the lawsuit, which was filed last year and delayed at Darby’s request, to move ahead. The city and Darby argue the criminal case won’t be over until the sentencing hearing, and Darby is busy helping with a pre-sentencing investigation, which a judge will review to help determine his penalty. The city, in papers filed Wednesday, said it needs to know the final outcome of the criminal case to properly defend itself in the civil suit. A hearing is set for June 21 on whether the case should go ahead. The city initially cleared Darby of wrongdoing and then helped fund his defense after grand jurors indicted him on a murder charge. Both Mayor Tommy Battle and Police Chief Mark McMurray publicly criticized the verdict after jurors convicted Darby. The city has started personnel hearings that could lead to the firing of Darby, who is free on bond and not working while using leave time. Darby was stripped of his police certification because of the murder conviction. Two officers went to Parker’s home in 2018 after he called 911 saying he was suicidal and had a gun. The officers found Parker seated on a couch and holding a gun to his own head when they arrived, evidence showed. One of the officers told jurors she was talking to Parker, 49, when Darby entered the house, ordered Parker to drop his weapon and shot him with a shotgun within seconds. Prosecutors argued that Darby had no justifiable reason to open fire. Darby faces a prison sentence of 20 years to life, prosecutors have said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Officer convicted of murder still gets paid in Alabama
An Alabama police officer convicted of murder for shooting a suicidal man who was holding a gun to his own head has been taken off duty but will continue to be paid, the city of Huntsville said. Officer William Darby, who was initially placed on desk duty following the killing of Jeffrey Parker in 2018, can’t continue working as an officer because of the conviction and went on leave Monday, city spokeswoman Lucy DeButy told news outlets. “This is the normal process until formal proceedings under the City of Huntsville’s personnel policies and procedures are complete,” she said in a statement. Darby was freed on $100,000 bond soon after the verdict on Friday. While Mayor Tommy Battle, a Republican, and Police Chief Mark McMurray have disagreed publicly with the jurors’ decision, Alabama Democratic Party executive director Wade Perry criticized the city’s move to keep paying Darby. “He’s a convicted murderer. He shouldn’t get another day’s pay. Fire him. And the police chief,” Perry said in a statement. Darby shot Parker, 49, moments after joining two other officers who had responded to a 911 call from the man, who said he was armed and planned to kill himself. One of the officers, who has since left the force, testified that Parker was upset but talking with her and posed no immediate threat despite the gun he held to his head. Jurors rejected defense claims that the shooting was justified. A defense attorney said Darby will appeal. He could receive a sentence ranging from 20 years to life at hearing expected to be held in about six weeks, a prosecutor said. While a city review board cleared Darby of wrongdoing, a county grand jury indicted him in the shooting. The city had said it would pay as much as $125,000 toward his defense. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Personnel Update: Henry Thornton leaves Yellowhammer News to work for the city of Huntsville
Henry Thornton, staff writer for Yellowhammer News, has been hired by mayor Tommy Battle to be the external relations officer for the city of Huntsville. Thornton will take over the position from Harrison Diamond. Diamond has been the business relations officer for Huntsville since 2014. Thornton graduated from Sewanee in 2014. He worked for Kay Ivey’s campaign for governor and was TitleAssistant Director of Field Operations for Mayor Battle’s campaign for governor in 2018. Thornton stated on Twitter, “Today was my last at Yellowhammer News. It has been an incredible experience! I cherished every minute. I have accepted an appointment from Mayor Battle to be the external relations officer for the city of Huntsville. I could not be more excited about this new adventure!” Today was my last at Yellowhammer News. It has been an incredible experience! I cherished every minute. I have accepted an appointment from Mayor Battle to be the external relations officer for the City of Huntsville. I could not be more excited about this new adventure! pic.twitter.com/mwTAl5FRg8 — Henry Thornton (@HenryThornton95) April 8, 2021
