Tag Archives: Alabama

Metro Birmingham thinks “green” collectively

Posted on January 26, 2009 | 3 comments

Elected officials from throughout metro Birmingham announced the formation of the Alabama Green Initiative (AGI) on Friday. AGI is, according to Friday’s press release, “a non-profit organization created to assist the municipalities of the metro Birmingham area in applying for and receiving green-only and stimulus grant monies from President Barack Obama’s upcoming stimulus package.” It could be one of the most powerful moves yet to a truly regional approach to the area’s future.

According to reports, this is the first such partnership in Alabama and the United States. The organization will be headed up by Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford and Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos, with participation from other cities and the Jefferson County Commission.

Examples of programs that will be targeted by the new organization include low emission vehicles, public works’ projects and large-scale community structures utilizing green-building standards.

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Posted in environmental, politics

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Wake up with Charles tomorrow morning

Posted on January 26, 2009 | Leave a comment

If you feel like hitting that snooze bar tomorrow… don’t! You may miss former Terminal contributor (and designer of that orange logo you all like) Charles Buchanan‘s appearance on HGTV’s That’s Clever at 7 a.m. If you miss it then, well, let’s have Charles tell you more about that and other things over on his blog.

We’ve got a list of the artists in and/or from Alabama that have or will be making appearances on the show in the coming weeks over on Timetable. It also gives you an excuse to see what other stories have been hiding out over there from you in recent weeks (with more coming soon).

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Posted in Art

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Help Nena and Ellie be recognized nationally

Posted on January 26, 2009 | Leave a comment

We’ve just learned about what you might call the American Idol of therapy dog awards. One of Hand In Paw‘s therapy teams, Nena Moon and her dog Ellie, are one of only five finalist teams from around the country competing for the Pet Partners category of the Beyond Limits Awards. It’s presented by The Delta Society, the international organization that registers professionally trained therapy teams. The winner is chosen by popular vote on the Society’s website. There’s a video on the website of Nena and Ellie in action at UAB’s Comprehensive Cancer Center (it’s the last one). So go, check it out and vote once a week through Feb. 7 (with one vote per ISP) and then tell your firends.

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Posted in Health, Take a moment

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JeffCo county manager issues moves to forefront

Posted on January 26, 2009 | Leave a comment

One issue that appears to be high on the priority list for Jefferson County delegation of the Alabama State Legislature as the new session fast approaches is the installation of a county manager to help deal with, well, you know. Both sides appear to be taking the pulse of the community to see what they think.

There is currently a rally planned for tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 9 a.m. by the League of Women Voters of Greater Birmingham to show support for the bi-partisan bill being introduced by Rep. Paul DeMarco. This evening (Monday) JeffCo Commissioner Sheila Smoot and Team Seven plan to hold “an important town meeting” to deal with several issues facing the county, including the idea of a county manager, the sewer debt and the recent occupational tax ruling.

Looks like it’s going to be an interesting ride this session.

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Posted in politics

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UPDATE: BBVA Compass announces layoffs

Posted on January 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

Yep, that’s the word we’ve just received – BBVA Compass will announce plans to lay off nearly 10% of their workforce as early as later today. NOTE: They did announce it today – here’s NBC 13’s account via the Associated Press and The Birmingham News‘ post on their breaking news blog, where they confirm that 200 of the jobs will be lost in the Birmingham area.

We’re awaiting confirmation. It would be a major amount of cuts as well, reportedly 10% reduction in current staff numbers. When the last round of job cuts were announced in late November, the bank was reportedly employing more than 13.000 people across six states.

Sources report that internal emails indicated that 1,200 positions would be eliminated with individual notifications made “over the next couple of weeks.”  Severance and placement services were also offered.

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Posted in Business

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Jimmie Hale Mission Expands

Posted on January 19, 2009 | 4 comments

Birmingham's Jimmie Hale Mission new constructionIt wasn’t big news, but this past spring the Jimmie Hale Mission,one of Birmingham’s most respected men’s missions and shelters, moved to a new location on the former Thomas School grounds on 3420 2nd Avenue North. The building was donated by the city of Birmingham and went through extensive renovation. It now houses 175 beds on 3 floors.

According to Bhamwiki, the mission received a $245,00 federal grant to construct a new chapel and administrative facilities and it looks like they’ve wasted no time getting started. Construction began last week on the new wing of the Shepura Men’s Center as well as a basketball court.

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Posted in Take a moment

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Bridging the BJCC

Posted on January 19, 2009 | Leave a comment

Construction continues on the skywalk projects at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention. The renovations to the BJCC include the construction of two exterior bridges connecting the Sheraton Birmingham hotel to the North and South Exhibit Halls as well as the BJCC Arena. The bridges are due to be completed by this July and are part of the complex’s six-year, $52 million capital improvement project.

Photo: Bob Farley/f8Photo

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Posted in Random Shots

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