Heads and tales: From the ground up
By Wade Kwon
Go with the flow: Is Jefferson County poisoning the water? Last week, 23.5 million gallons of sewage went into Shades Creek — more than six times the amount Trussville produces in one day. No biggie: It’s just one of more than 2,800 overflows since 1997. Billions borrowed, dozens of facilities built, with disgusting results. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to fine $1,000 for each offense while cutting $10 million in funding for the state. We’ll stick to making water at home … it’s two parts hydrogen and one part something, right?
• Sewage fouls Shades Creek [Birmingham News]
Adger is burning: An explosion Tuesday at the state’s biggest coal mine hurt no one since the site had already been evacuated. That’s because it’s the fourth explosion there since Friday. Despite a judge’s order in January for the state to inspect all mines within 10 days, despite a renewed focus nationally on mine safety, the Drummond Co. Shoal Creek mine has seen quite a few explosions and fires. The miners’ union says the state could have prevented the potentially deadly situation with a full inspection. A state official blamed time constraints. People, people, there will be plenty of time for finger pointing after another dozen miners are trapped and killed.
• Another explosion rocks coal mine [Birmingham News]
CeCe to FX: Birmingham’s Courteney Cox loves gossip. Sorta. She’s playing an editor of two celebrity mags in “Dirt,” a pilot for FX shooting this month. Cox, along with Matthew Carnahan and hubby David Arquette (hi, David!) are also executive producers. For those keeping score … Phoebe, cancelled HBO show; Joey, likely cancelled NBC show; Rachel, dumped by Brad Pitt; Ross, ????; and Chandler, in one of 20 SNL-inspired meta-TV fall comedy pilots. As for Courteney’s personal life, she is or isn’t pregnant. How’s that for a (non-)scoop?
• Cox Gets the ‘Dirt’ for FX [Zap2It]
Also:
- Accountant who misplaced precious cash to give seminar on how not to lose precious cash
- Tire retailers fight to legalize potholes
- H.S. center makes amazing three-point shot during warmups before team knocked out of state playoffs
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