Category Archives: News

Postage rate goes up today

Posted on May 14, 2007 | Leave a comment

Apparently it’s time for another rate increase at the United States Postal Service . Beginning today sending that letter (that you almost never write anymore anyway) is going to cost $0.41. That is unless you need to add all of those other letters that you haven’t sent out either to that envelope that’ll be an extra $0.17 per ounce.

All of your other favorite postage rates have gone up in price as well, a reflection on the rising cost of making sure that it still gets to you through snow, sleet, or… well we haven’t seen rain in a while, now have we?

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City trucks going “green”

Posted on May 10, 2007 | 1 comment

Thanks to a recent announcement by the City of Birmingham, many could say that we can start breathing easier in the Magic City. Mayor Kincaid held a news conference at the city’s downtown fueling station yesterday to announce that the city had signed a $5 million contract with Allied Energy of Birmingham to provide biodiesel fuel for all city vehicles currently using diesel. Both NBC 13 and the Birmingham Business Jorunal filed reports yesterday. The new biodiesel blend would include 20% soy bean, canola oil, rapeseed and poultry fat. Continue reading →

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Posted in 35203, Citywide, News

Marconi Park charette set for May 24

Posted on May 9, 2007 | Leave a comment

There has been a great deal of buzz in recent weeks about the future of one of Birmingham, Alabama’s downtown parks. It appears as though the first steps towards defining its future is set as Meredith Carswell-Sheline, executive director of the Carraway Community Development Corporation, announced earlier today that a town hall meeting & charette is planned to discuss future plans for Marconi Park on Thursday, May 24 starting at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the YMCA Youth Center. Continue reading →

YP Expo announced for June 21

Posted on May 9, 2007 | 1 comment

The YP Roundtable that has been meeting for the last few months has announced their first joint event – an expo showcasing the organizations available for YPs in the greater Birmingham area. The expo will take place on the evening of June 21 as one of the first after hours events at the recently opened Innovation Depot. The expo is resulting from meetings that have taken place among the leadership of several organizations since last fall. Continue reading →

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Posted in 35203, News, yp

No replacement for Montgomery, yet

Posted on May 2, 2007 | 2 comments

Official City Council image of Joel Montgomery It appears that no one will fill in for Birmingham City Councilman Joel Montgomery as he continues to recuperate from injuries sustained in early April when he was arrested on charges of public intoxication. The Birmingham News reported in today’s paper about the exchange between council members and president of the Parkway East District Business Association Tricia Working during yesterday’s weekly City Council meeting. The business association had decided at their meeting last Thursday that they wanted to request that the council appoint someone, especially considering that it is during budget season at City Hall. According toboth reports, councilors have promised that the concerns of District 1 will not be ignored in Councilor Montgomery’s absence. There has been no announced timetable for when he will be able to resume his duties.

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Posted in 35203, Birmingham, City Council, News

Birmingham metro #4 on most polluted cities list

Posted on May 1, 2007 | 3 comments

Unfortunately all of that grilling this summer could help lead the city towards the top of another, albeit dubious list. The American Lung Association recently released its list of the cities with the nation’s worst air pollution. The Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman metro area came in at #4 (Los Angeles led the pack, followed by Pittsburgh & Bakersfield, California in their annual State of the Air report based on analyzing long term particle pollution. The metro area ranks sixth when the focus shifts to short term particle pollution.

The results were calculated by studying particle pollution levels. The association states that such levels of pollution can contribute to asthma attacks, heart disease and lung cancer. Despite the ranking, air levels have improved in the area in recent years. Sounds like a potential election year issue (at least after its brought up by the voters).

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Posted in Alabama, Birmingham, Citywide, News

Another luxury hotel enters the fray

Posted on April 30, 2007 | 8 comments

Rendering of renovated facade of Regions Tower building

If you thought that the hotel building boom was slowing down anytime soon, it’s not, at least not yet. Birmingham-based Harbert Realty Services and Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, N.C. announced a partnership and plans to spend $52 million to renovate the old Regions Plaza building with a “4-diamond quality hotel” this afternoon at a 2 p.m. press conference at Regions Center.

When completed the as of yet unnamed hotel will house 255-rooms and include several features including a full-service restaurant and bar, a coffee shop. It will also add an estimated 12,000 square feet of additional meeting space to the city’s central business district. The project will not be started until the relocation of some 400 Regions Bank employees is complete, most into the larger Regions Center. Continue reading →

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Posted in 35203, Alabama, Birmingham, Business, News