Consent Decree Lifted

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2007/01/dhr.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1253;s:4:"file";s:15:"2007/01/dhr.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-336x219.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:219;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-771x503.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:503;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-768x501.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:501;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"dhr-1536x1002.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1002;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:13:"dhr-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-477x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:477;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-406x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:406;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:15:"dhr-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1470285;s:14:"optimized_size";i:481960;s:7:"percent";d:67.219999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:43:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1178396;s:14:"optimized_size";i:268450;s:7:"percent";d:77.219999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-336x219.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24218;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17789;s:7:"percent";d:26.550000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-771x503.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:99532;s:14:"optimized_size";i:72321;s:7:"percent";d:27.34;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3402;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3358;s:7:"percent";d:1.29;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:60035;s:14:"optimized_size";i:43572;s:7:"percent";d:27.420000000000002;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:27272;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19940;s:7:"percent";d:26.879999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-476x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:43879;s:14:"optimized_size";i:31956;s:7:"percent";d:27.170000000000002;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/01/dhr-406x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:33551;s:14:"optimized_size";i:24574;s:7:"percent";d:26.760000000000002;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1680715389 
1168992000
For almost twenty years the Alabama Department of Human Resource’s child welfare system has been under the close watch of the federal government. The oversight came about because of a lawsuit filed on behalf of a child known only as R.C. In 1988 the 16-year-old boy, who had behavioral problems, sued the state over his treatment while in DHR’s care — saying he was never provided the services he needed while in foster homes. The suit was eventually settled and what became known as the “R.C. Consent Decree” was signed; the state agreeing to allow a federal monitor in to make sure Alabama fixed its broken child welfare system.

Since the consent decree’s signing in 1991 Alabama has become a national model for reforming children’s services. When Page Walley took over as commissioner in 2004 getting the state out from under R.C. was one of his primary goals and he’s done it. Walley announced to his staff on January 16 that a federal judge had agreed to lift R.C. WBHM’s Rosemary Pennington talked with Walley about the decision.

 

 

Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed

The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.

Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?

The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.

Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins

Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.

Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries

Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.

Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham

Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.

Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot

Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.

More News Coverage