Birmingham City Council Rejects $30,000 Request For Deontay Wilder Heavyweight Fight
World Boxing Council Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder defends his title in Birmingham next month, but the Birmingham City Council says it won’t be investing in the fight.
The Birmingham City Council rejected the mayor’s request to invest $30,000 in Deontay Wilder’s WBC fight, saying they support the champ, but the city has pressing needs.
“We’ve got fire station issues. We’ve got police station issues. We’ve got all these issues in the city, but we can find $30,000,” says Councilwoman Lashunda Scales.
There was also an issue about tickets not being available for residents who ultimately would foot the bill for the city’s support.
“If the citizens are paying and putting up $30,000 for a fight, I want to know if they’re going to be invited to the party too,” she said.
Then someone sent Scales an electronic invite to neighborhood leaders from the Mayor’s Office, telling them to RSVP for the Wilder fight. The tickets would be a reward for their hard work for the community. Holding up her cell phone, Scales read the flyer and said: “Isn’t that the fight we’re talking about? If you can’t give it to everybody, you don’t give it to nobody. If you don’t give it on first come first serve, this is wrong, Mr. President.”
April Odom, spokeswoman for Mayor William Bell, says: “The WBC fight is an economic development win for the city. The last fight generated an estimated $3.5 million for the area. Every hotel room was booked and restaurants were packed.”
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.
