Wade on Birmingham

Heads and tales: Sky trappins and the world of tomorrow

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mcnairUpdate: Chris McNair, along with others, was found guilty this afternoon of bribery and conspiracy. The trial has attracted attention, not only for the $1 billion sewer debacle which McNair supervised as a Jefferson County commissioner, but also because he’s known to the world as father of Denise McNair, one of the four girls killed in the 1963 KKK bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Possible sentences range from probation to prison time.

domeA dome deal?: The Birmingham City Council is committing $264 million over the next 30 years to expansion of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex — including plans for a domed stadium. The city was spending $5 million annually on the BJCC, but that will jump 76 percent to $8.8 million annually. The $264 million — more than $1 million for every resident — is just the first step: County and state commitments are still needed for the $624 million project to survive. Couldn’t we just dump truckloads of money down the sewer, instead?
• Vote sets 30-year pay plan for BJCC
[Birmingham News]

In odd we trust: God, supreme ruler of the universe, has disassociated himself from fired CEO and Healthsouth founder Richard Scrushy. In a statement issued Thursday, God commended Scrushy for his “renewed dedication to Christian teachings” and his plans to feed African children, but stated that “I have nothing to do with Scrushy’s missionary work or ongoing legal battles. And his invocation of my name borders on copyright infringement.”
• Scrushy: Ministry to feed African children, offer mortgages [Associated Press]

Earth weekend: As you’re cleaning out your trash, a friendly reminder that many Earth Day events take place this weekend.

  • A roundup of events, including Saturday tree plantings at Shades Creek.
  • TechBirmingham will take your gadgets for reuse or proper disposal Saturday at 12 locations.
  • You can’t spell Earth Day without “e-a-t” (well, we can’t spell anyway …), so be sure to stop by the Eighth Annual Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church on Southside today and Saturday. (warning: audio plays automatically)

Also:

  • Bird flu expected to take years to catch on in local market
  • Easter “sugar high” finally wearing off
  • Have we mentioned our giant new speedboat lately?

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1 Yip for “Heads and tales: Sky trappins and the world of tomorrow”

  1. Curtis
    Sunday, April 23, 2006, 2:40 pm
    1

    thanks for the TechBirmingham Ecycling Day… we had a good day, not great from the best of my information so far. Our recycler is still unloading the 26′ trucks filled to the brim with our region’s e-waste. Oh such fun.

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