Federal Lawsuit Highlights Conflict Between State and Local Government
When Courtney Williams got to work in the kitchen at the Rally’s in Center Point last week, it was 99 degrees inside. As he stood on the steps of the Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse shortly before a demonstration began last week, he pulled out his phone and showed a picture of the feverishly high thermostat.
“It’s been like that for two weeks now,” Williams said, lamenting his low wages and long hours as a fast food worker. What’s worse, he says, is what he feels is a stigma on people working low-wage jobs. “People want to act like it’s not a job, but it is. I’m in that hot kitchen eight hours a day and when I get my check, it’s not even enough for bills.” – Cody Owens, writing in WELD
Alabama doesn’t have a minimum wage law. The state uses the federal rate of $7.25. Earlier this year, the Birmingham City Council tried to increase the city’s minimum wage, but we overridden by a bill Governor Robert Bentley signed into law inFebruary. The bill, originally flied by Mountain Brook Republican state Rep. David Faulkner, said only the state can set the minimum wage. That move motivated a federal lawsuit filed by the NAACP against Governor Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange, contending the law is racially motivated. For more on this, the weekly newspaper WELD visited a recent protest by Birmingham fast food employees, and WELD editor Nick Patterson tells WBHM’s Rachel Lindley workers told them.
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.
