Video: a look at the storm damage in a Center Point neighborhood

Storms and tornadoes made an unwelcome encore following their devastating march through Alabama on April 27. A series of tornadoes and severe storms passed through the central portion of the state in the early Monday morning hours.

Two were killed, and hundreds were injured. Hardest hit areas in Jefferson County included Center Point, Clay, Oak Grove and Trussville. Center Point received so much damage that Center Point Parkway wasn’t cleared to reopen for 2 days.

Hundreds of houses were destroyed or damaged along the path, which mirrored the same path of the deadly April tornadoes. Center Point Elementary, built in 2003, was damaged beyond repair and will have to be bulldozed and rebuilt.

Gov. Bentley declared a state of emergency for all counties.

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Audio: storm survivor stories

ABC 33/40 viewer-submitted photo

An EF-3 tornado tore through Center Point Monday.

Relief efforts are under way:

• Texting REDCROSS to 90999 will donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
• Those affected by the storms can call the Red Cross on a special line at (205) 439-7800, option 6.
• Donations can be made online to Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief fund and the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services fund (specify for ”January 2012 Tornado Relief”).
• The Junior League of Birmingham is collecting nonperishable foods, cleaning supplies and batteries at its office, 2212 20th Ave. S. [map] during office hours.
• Three Trussville churches are collecting water, food, toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies and more.

Gallery: Jan. 23 storm aftermath

A traffic camera shows a 1-mile wide tornado moving
across North Birmingham.

The death toll stands at 50 after more than 120 tornadoes tore through Alabama today. Those tornadoes followed a series of severe storms early in the morning, with the worst damage in Cullman, Tuscaloosa and near Birmingham in Pinson, Gardendale, Pleasant Grove and Fultondale.

Gov. Bentley and President Obama have declared a state of emergency in Alabama.

Take a look at the full report on Magic City Post, including ways you can help.

Robert and Dianne Bentley on Election Day.

The mandate from Alabama’s voters on Election Day could not be more clear: Turn everything, and I mean everything, over to the Republicans for at least the next 2 years.

Let them screw things up for awhile.

The Democrats have screwed up plenty in the previous 136 years, and really, could the GOP do much worse? Alabama continues to trail in health, per capita income, transportation, education, crime, your category here. If this red state becomes any redder, you’d hope it would be from embarrassment rather than another shift to the right.

Not that conservatives haven’t been in control since the days of the Gipper. Essentially, most state races came down to the conservative Democrat or Republican since Ronald Reagan entered the White House. Which flavor of conservative suits you best?

• • •

Winners and losers from Tuesday
around Alabama and metro Birmingham.

• • •

So while the brand names may change, what can we really expect from the Republicans in power?

The new crew, including Gov.-elect Robert Bentley, has promised ethics reform out of the gate. We shall see, though my cynical side expects only token changes. Politicians are politicians after all, and you can hardly expect Republicans to clean up the cesspool in Montgomery if it also hides their fattened pockets.

Look back a mere month, and relive that infamous day when the FBI arrested four state senators (two Democrats, one Republican, one independent) in connection with selling votes on a gambling bill. Alas, the bingo bots and the mafia will have to try again in 2 to 4 years.

The mandate must include more jobs and a better economy. Like the president, the governor will likely receive an undue share of the credit or blame, though one leader has little say in global economic dynamics. Still, continuing to attract industry must remain a priority.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

• • •

With an all-Republican government, are we headed for sideshows popular in Texas and Arizona, from illegal immigration to revising school textbooks to repealing national health care? Let’s hope not, with more pressing issues such as constitutional reform and education funding.

Er, scratch that. Forget constitutional reform for at least another 4 years (sigh) and don’t hold your breath for an education miracle, though Gov.-elect Bentley has vowed to switch to a budget that determined by the previous year’s numbers (holds breath anyway). He took money from the Alabama Education Association and later lied about it. Such petty sins aren’t enough to keep you out of the governor’s mansion; likely, they are the only path to it.

Just imagine if it had been the learned Bradley Byrne had led the Republican charge instead.

Rural voters swept the new legislators into power and didn’t much care for the citified Byrne. City folk aren’t well represented in the new Republican regime. As a member of the city folk, I cast a wary eye at my country cousins calling the shots, probably no less menacingly then they’ve eyed us with suspicion.

They found a kindred spirit in Bentley, the dermatologist from Tuscaloosa. As he leads a unified party and state government, let’s pray feverishly that it marks the start of 136 years of progress and prosperity.

Otherwise, red state Alabama could end up dead state Alabama.

Wade Kwon is publisher of Wade on Birmingham.

• • •

More post-election thoughts:

• Second Front: “The GOP Agenda: ethics reform, redistricting”
• Flashpoint: “Alabama Beat Down”
• Doc’s Political Parlor: “Who Had a Good Election Night? A Bad Night?”
• Left in Alabama: “Election Day Winners & Losers – Alabama Edition”
• The World Around You: “Can the Alabama Democratic Party Return to its Promise?”
• Birmingham News: “OUR VIEW: This time around, Democrats took it on the chin for control of the Alabama Legislature; now, Republicans must govern”
• Opelika-Auburn News: “Jennifer Foster: Newly-elected Republicans need to ‘proceed with caution’”

• • •

What can we expect from the Republicans in charge? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Rejoice! Or repent. Republican Robert Bentley and Democrat Ron Sparks will have one final, final debate tonight.

The Alabama gubernatorial candidates will clash at 7 at Athens State University. It’s airing in Huntsville on WHNT channel 19.2, and will live-stream on AL.com.

Check out clips from the Oct. 19 debate at Auburn University. (See the entire debate.)

Video: Campaign and ethics reform

Video: Jobs

Video: Public school funding

• • •

Who will win the debate, Bentley or Sparks? And who will win next Tuesday? Tell us in the comments below.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

If you’re still on the fence about Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks, you can see them square off one last time in tonight’s hourlong debate at Auburn University. The two will make their pitches and answer (or deflect) the tough questions starting at 7 tonight.

NBC 13′s Andrea Lindenberg will serve as moderator. Questions will include those submitted ahead of time by citizens and vetted by the League of Women Voters.

The debate will be carried on Alabama Public Television and on WBHM (90.3 FM). A live video stream will also be available on the Alabama Public Television website, while WBHM will have an audio stream. AL.com will also have a live video stream and moderated chat.

Republican nominee Bentley has been on the defense this week after admitting he sought and received contributions from the Alabama Education Association. Whether this will aid Democratic nominee Sparks remains to be seen.

Video: The previous Bentley-Sparks debate at
Birmingham-Southern College. (Note: Video will play,
after it loads completely.)

Election Day is Nov. 2.

Also:

• The World Around You looks at the fallout from Bentley’s AEA admission and whether it will help Sparks at all.
• Video: First debate at the University of Alabama

• • •

Have you decided which candidate gets your vote? Tell us in the comments below.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Republican nominee Robert Bentley and Democratic nominee Ron Sparks will have a lot to discuss tonight at the gubernatorial debate. The FBI made arrests today in a federal gambling probe involving alleged bribes to state lawmakers. Those arrested this morning include VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor and lobbyist Robert Geddie.

Both nominees have discussed gambling during previous debates and campaign stops.

Tonight’s debate will focus on economic development and business. The hourlong event, sponsored by the Birmingham Business Alliance, starts at 6 p.m. at Hill Recital Hall on the Birmingham-Southern College campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

The debate will be carried live on Fox 6 and on the station’s website.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Tonight, Samford University plays host to Republican nominee Robert Bentley and Democratic nominee Ron Sparks as they face off in their second gubernatorial debate.

The focus will be on business issues.

The 90-minute event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Wright Center. No word on whether the debate will be carried live. Tickets are free for Samford students and faculty, but the $15 general admission tickets are sold out.

Update: The debate will be broadcast live on WERC (105.5 FM), including streaming, and on the Fox 6 website.

Bentley and Sparks traded soundbites and jabs Thursday at the University of Alabama in their first debate. (See clips below.) The next debate is scheduled for Oct. 19 at Auburn University.

In case you missed Thursday’s debate, we have a couple of video clips.

Video: Sparks and Bentley make opening remarks Thursday.

Video: Bentley and Sparks share their closing statements.

Watch the hourlong debate in its entirety, or see more clips by topic.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

• • •

Which business issues do the candidates need to address? Share your thoughts in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Election Day will arrive in less than 7 weeks. Can you tell your candidates for governor apart?

Republican nominee Robert Bentley, left, and Democratic nominee Ron Sparks are set to debate in the first of two debates on college campuses. Tonight’s debate will take place in the Frank Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The rematch will be Oct. 19 at Auburn University.

Debbie Elliott, Alabama graduate and NPR national correspondent, will serve as moderator.

The free event is open only to students. The hourlong debate will be broadcast live at 7 tonight on Alabama Public Television and on WBHM (90.3 FM). A live stream will also be available on the Alabama Public Television website.

Voters can still submit questions for the Oct. 19 debate online, by e-mailing 2010gubernatorialdebate@gmail.com or mailing them to Box 1326, Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-1326. Deadline is Oct. 16.

• • •

Will you be watching tonight? What would you ask the candidates? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Plus more results from Tuesday’s state runoff election

In the absence of a designated successor, we often find ourselves heading toward chaos.

George W. Bush anointed no one as a possible Republican successor to the presidency. The mad scramble left an opening for the Democrats to exploit.

Gov. Riley had no preferred candidate in the GOP to follow in his footsteps. Well, at least not until Saturday, when he finally tossed a late endorsement to Bradley Byrne.

It has been chaos in the Republican camp in Alabama leading up to Tuesday’s runoff election. The two biggest names running for governor were Tim James, the son of a former two-term governor, and Roy Moore, former chief justice of the state supreme court — and they finished in third and fourth place.

The runoff featured front-runner Byrne, former chancellor of the state’s 2-year college system and scourge of the Alabama Education Association. It also had a dark horse, Robert Bentley, a doctor and state representative.

Tuesday night, Bentley, shown at right, pulled off the upset by soundly defeating Byrne 56 percent to 44 percent in unofficial results. He had trailed Byrne just 6 weeks ago in the primary election 25 percent to 28 percent.

City folk may have liked Byrne, but it was country folk who supported Bentley. Rural counties overwhelmingly went for the doctor over the lawyer.

• • •

Runoff winners and losers from Tuesday
around Alabama and metro Birmingham.

• • •

Bentley faces Democratic challenger Ron Sparks, shown at left, who pulled off an upset of his own in knocking out Artur Davis, the 7th district congressman.

As many of you may not know, Sparks has served two terms as the state’s agricultural commissioner. And even if you did know that, your Sparks knowledge probably ends there.

The two unknowns, Bentley and Sparks, are left to battle for the state’s top office. Who’da thunk it 2 months ago?

Headed toward chaos? No, just the orderly progression of moneyed interests.

In this year’s election, those two interests are the AEA and the gambling lobby.

The AEA and Byrne have been at odds over merit pay and tenure law for years. Naturally, the AEA bankrolled millions of dollars in anti-Byrne ads during the runoff campaign.

It has also be a big contributor to … Sparks. Both sides covered.

Note to AEA head Paul Hubbert: Next time, it’ll probably be cheaper just to run for the governor’s office yourself in 2014.

Make no mistake: A teacher’s union isn’t the same as an educational reform group. One is there to maintain benefits and protection for teachers, even as the state remains in the Bottom 2 in education decade after decade.

As for bingo, Sparks wants to legalize it and tax it, following a public referendum. His campaign has been funded in part by gambling political action committees.

No such funding appears to have come into Bentley’s largely self-funded campaign. While personally against it, Bentley says he’s OK with a state referendum on bingo, which, if approved, should be taxed.

Are Alabamians screaming for bingo, or for other forms of gambling from dog racing to lotteries to casinos? We may soon have our say at the ballot box.

The same ballot box where we’ll still be scratching our heads on Nov. 2 over the curious race between Robert Bentley and Ron Sparks.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

• • •

• U.S. House: On the Democratic side, Terri Sewell beat Shelia Smoot in the District 7 race to replace Artur Davis. On the Republican side, Don Chamberlain beat Chris Salter for the nomination.

The heavily gerrymandered district favors Democrats. Should Sewell win in November, she would be the first black female Representative in state history.

• Attorney general: James Anderson clinched the Democratic nomination, defeating Giles Perkins. Anderson faces GOP nominee Luther Strange.

• Jefferson County Commission: The members will be all new in the fall after the last standing incumbent went down Tuesday.

In District 1, George Bowman beat Johnathan Austin in the Democratic runoff. If this sounds familiar, he beat Austin a few weeks ago in the special election to fill the seat immediately. Bowman faces Republican Greg Stanley in the fall.

In District 2, Democrat Sandra Little Brown beat Gary Richardson, winning the seat with no Republican opposition.

In District 3, Jimmie Stephens defeated incumbent Bobby Humphryes Jr. on the Republican ticket. He’ll face Vivian Ford, who defeated fellow Democrat Ron Yarbrough.

In District 4, Republican Joe Knight beat Ronnie Dixon. Knight will face Democratic challenger Roy Wood.

• Jefferson County Sheriff: Willie Hill defeated Ron Blankenship to win the Democratic nomination. Hill battles Republican incumbent Mike Hale.

Election Day is Nov. 2.

• • •

Also:

• ABC 33/40: Election analysis from Second Front writer Kyle Whitmire
• Clarion Caller: Jenn Foster on Bentley’s victory
• Flashpoint: Post-runoff thoughts
• Doc’s Political Parlor: Who had a good night last night? A bad night?
• The World Around You: Hello Governor Sparks – The Upside Down World of Alabama Politics

• • •

Who will win the governor’s race in November, Bentley or Sparks? Who should win? Tell us in the comments.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

And other results from Tuesday’s state primary election

A semi-soggy Primary Election Day in Alabama brought some surprising results amid light voter turnout.

• Governor: Rep. Artur Davis, long touted as the frontrunner in the Democratic race, fell to opponent state agriculture commissioner Ron Sparks (pictured below left) in a landslide.

Davis picked up less than 38 percent in his attempt to become the first major black candidate for governor of Alabama. It appears not so much that Sparks won as much as Davis lost, and the reasons are many. Davis failed to win the endorsement of key black Democratic groups; he voted against his party on health care reform; he could still be the wrong color for a conservative Southern state.

Byrne, left, will face either Bentley,
center, or James in a runoff.

Meanwhile, a very tight three-way race among Republicans kept watchers guessing until late Tuesday night. State senator Bradley Byrne eventually pulled far enough ahead with 28 percent to secure one runoff spot. With 99 percent of precincts counted, Robert Bentley had a tiny 140-vote lead over Tim James, 25.15 percent to 25.12 percent.

It’s likely the close vote will trigger an automatic recount, which will set the stage for the July 13 runoff. The winner faces Sparks on Nov. 2.

• • •

Results from Tuesday’s primaries, state and metro Birmingham.

• • •

• U.S. Senate: Incumbent Richard Shelby handily won the GOP nomination, facing and probably trouncing Democratic attorney William G. Barnes in the fall.

• U.S. House: In District 6, Republican Spencer Bachus won 76 percent of the vote to secure re-election to his 10th term.

In District 7, the seat being vacated by Artur Davis, Don Chamberlain and Chris Salter are headed for the GOP runoff, while Terri Sewell and Shelia Smoot will compete in the Democratic runoff. Keep in mind: Only three times in history has a non-Democratic candidate filled the seat.

• Lieutenant governor: Democratic incumbent Jim Folsom Jr., who ran unopposed, will battle state treasurer Kay Ivey, who knocked out two opponents in the Republican primary.

• Attorney general: James Anderson came up just a hair short to win the Democratic nomination outright, facing a runoff with Giles Perkins. But the real tale is in Luther Strange‘s trouncing of incumbent Troy King, who not only faced opposition in a primary but also from GOP leaders after an extended battle with Gov. Riley over bingo and gambling. Strange day, indeed.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

• • •

• Jefferson County Commission: We’re still not sure why anyone wants this job, given that previous members have sent the county into billions of dollars in debt and have gone to prison. Certainly not most of the incumbents, since only one ran for re-election.

In District 1, a seat that came open when William Bell became mayor of Birmingham, Democrats Johnathan Austin (Birmingham city council member) and George Bowman (former county commissioner) are headed to two runoffs. One runoff to immediately fill the position, the other for the regular 4-year term.

In District 2, former Birmingham city council member Sandra Little Brown and radio station owner Gary Richardson will compete in the Democratic runoff.

In District 3, Vivian Ford, a minister and a Realtor, will be in the Democratic runoff against Ron Yarbrough, who served recently as assistant tax assessor in the Bessemer cutoff. Incumbent Bobby Humphryes Jr. will face businessman Jimmie Stephens in the GOP runoff.

In District 4, Democrat Roy Wood, ran unopposed, will face the winner of the GOP runoff, businessman Ronnie Dixon or attorney Joe Knight.

And in District 5, Republican business owner David Carrington won the seat outright by defeating two opponents.

• Sheriff: In Jefferson County, incumbent Mike Hale handily defeated Republican challenger and convicted felon Jim Woodward. He’ll face the winner of the Democratic runoff, Ron Blankenship or Willie Hill.

In Shelby County, incumbent Chris Curry easily won re-election in the Republican race.

• Voter turnout: Secretary of State Beth Chapman had predicted 35 percent to 38 percent turnout among registered voters Tuesday. In 2006′s primary, turnout was 38.4 percent, while in 2002′s primary, it was 35 percent.

But in Jefferson County, voter turnout was under 25 percent Tuesday. That was about the same turnout for Madison County and Huntsville.

With such low figures in the major cities, it’s likely the statewide turnout will be low, too, maybe even below 30 percent.

Update June 3: Birmingham News estimates statewide turnout to be about 33 percent.

• • •

How did your candidates do on Tuesday? Are you planning to vote in the runoffs? Leave us a comment with your thoughts on the primaries.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.

Six men are running for governor of Alabama on the Republican ticket on June 1. Let’s meet these candidates for governor.

[Also: a rundown of the Democratic candidates.]

Robert Bentley

• Age: 67
• Elected to state House of Representatives in 2002
• Before that, doctor, founder of Alabama Dermatology Associates, service in Air Force. Graduated from University of Alabama.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “I have more experience dealing with state budgets than anyone else running.”

Video: Bentley campaign ad on “no salary” pledge.

Bradley Byrne

• Age: 55
• Elected to state Senate in 2002.
• Before that, state Board of Education, chancellor of Alabama Department of Post-Secondary Education and attorney. Graduated from Duke University and University of Alabama School of Law.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “When I have to educate myself about a particular issue, I like to think I have the ability to do that and then make the best decisions I can.”

Video: Byrne campaign ad on pledge not to raise taxes.

Tim James

• Age: 48
• Former business owner, including Baldwin Bridge Co. and asphalt and construction firms.
• Before that, formed and operated the Escambia County Environmental Corp. with family members. Graduated from Auburn University.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “I’m probably best suited to be governor in tough times.”

Video: James campaign ad on English-only driver’s license tests.

Bill Johnson

• Age: 51
• Elected Director of Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs from 2005 to 2009.
• Before that, political consultant, Birmingham city council member, owner of industrial/commercial contracting company. Graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “As the director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, I invested a quarter billion dollars in communities across the state, so I got to know mayors and county commissioners.”

Video: Johnson introductory statement.

Roy Moore

• Age: 63
• President of the Foundation for Moral Law in Montgomery.
• Before that, chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Etowah County circuit judge and deputy district attorney. Graduated from U.S. Military Academy at West Point and University of Alabama School of Law.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “I’ve always fought the special interests. I can more closely identify with the people.”

Video: Moore campaign ad with doo wop sound.

James Potts

• Age: 60
• Financial professional
• Before that, service in the Air Force. Attended five colleges.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “We have beautiful golf courses. We need to take the prisoners, clean up our state parks, create hiking trails, camp sites, make it a haven for recreation.”

Video: Potts answers question asking to reveal
something voters may not know about the candidate.

Charles Taylor

• Age: 53
• Salesman for Buck Taylor Manufacturer Sales Co. in Daphne.
• Before that, graduated from Auburn University.
• Campaign site
• Soundbite: “Abortion must be stopped. It is unacceptable.”

No video available

Deciding factor: It’s a two-way race between Byrne the politician and James the businessman. James’ late momentum may send it to a runoff, but it’s Byrne’s race to win.

If you’re voting in the Republican primary, who will you vote for and why? Leave a comment.

• • •

More Vote 2010 coverage.