Stand by your man: What does Birmingham have in common with Utah, northwest Georgia, Idaho, the Florida Panhandle and Wyoming? It’s all Bush country, as far as the eye can see. Even with presidential approval ratings in the low 30s nationally, these six areas still show an above-50 percent approval rating. Said one Provo, Utah, Mormon, “I’m against the war in Iraq — and what happened with Hurricane Katrina, well, it was a failure by everybody. I tend to judge a person by their character. And President Bush reminds me of President Reagan. He’s a man of principle.” The muck stops here.
• All Polls Aside, Utah Is Keeping Faith in Bush [New York Times]

Power to the people: New voting machines in Jefferson County are enabling voters with disabilities to cast their ballots today. Before, they had to rely on assistants, sacrificing their privacy, but machines equipped with headphones, braille readouts and touch screens allow for unassisted voting. Now, if someone would help us decide between “money-saturated tool” and “bigoted crazy zealot” …

Also, ballot problems affected at least one Jefferson County precinct this morning.
• 14 handicapped-accessible voting machines to be tested [Birmingham News]

Mething around: Public organizations in Marshall County have banded together to film public service announcements about the dangers of meth. The filming included blowing up a house to show the risk of explosion in residential drug labs. We smell Oscar! Not an Academy Award — Oscar, our neighbor who runs a crummy meth lab in his tool shed.
• Meth film to make citizens more aware [Sand Mountain Reporter]

Also:

• It’s too beautiful a day to stay inside and vote
• AmSouth downtown headquarters to be turned into low-rent condos, homeless shelter
• Bar scene seems so trashy lately

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Cross to bear: How much God is too much God when you’re running for office? In Alabama, even the Almighty has limits on helping one campaign over another. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that invoking religion and faith is the new “shaking hands and kissing babies” in politics. [streaming audio version] The primary elections are Tuesday.
• Faith-Based Voting [WBHM (90.3 FM)]

Signs o’ the times: You’re driving down I-65, enjoying the scenic view of pine farms and gravel/wildflower medians, when your lovely drive is spoiled by … campaign signs. One Blount Springs man is on a crusade to clear the plastic political weeds. Greg Caudle has been yanking signs since March and launched LitteronaStick.com (warning: automatic audio), offering a $50 reward to catch campaign workers in the act. In case you’re wondering, it is illegal for those signs to be there, not that the transportation department does much with them (yet they have time to cut down trees!). And at least one candidate has vowed to remove his signs — after the election. Next election: 10-foot-high Vote Wade on Birmingham signs.
• Cleaning up the campaign trail [Birmingham News]

Breathing easier: Ozone is becoming a scarce commodity in Birmingham, which could help in recruiting new industry to the area. Alabama Power, long a top polluter, has spent $2 billion in cleaning up its emissions from coal-fired plants. The city has inched closer to complying with EPA standards, which not only benefits recruiters but also people who breathe, too.
• Metro area gaining ground in pollution battle [Birmingham Business Journal]

The littlest lawsuits: Can a baby sue over a botched abortion? An Alabama appeals court says yes. A woman gave birth to a girl with a hole in her heart and damaged tube from the lungs to the heart. Her unsuccessful abortion at a Southside clinic of Planned Parenthood of Alabama led to the lawsuit. A circuit court ruled that the mother, L.K.D.H., couldn’t sue the clinic on her own behalf, and the five-member appeals court agreed, but did say she could sue on behalf of her child.
• Appeals court allows child to sue over botched abortion [Associated Press]

Also:

• Council, mayor clash over font, paper in preliminary budget
• Weekend picnic ends tragically in stomach cramps, sunburns
• June bugs rename themselves as “summer swarm”

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Pros and cons: The cost of housing prisoners in Alabama is akin to highway robbery. So says the state department of corrections, which found it cheaper to send prisoners to Louisiana than house them in Alabama’s first private prison. Dammit, first we’re losing them to Louisiana, next we’ll be losing them to Mexico. So Alabama’s newest export is … murderers, rapists and thieves? Ironically, state prison commissioner Richard Allen had little time to start finding homes for convicts — or face the problem head on by ending up in jail, too.
• In-state prison still empty; 600 inmates to go to Louisiana [Birmingham News]

Heading to the poles: Our pal Kathy Kemp explores another issues with metal bars: pole dancing. Workout classes known as Polates (ha!) are attracting women of all ages for a vigorous, um, routine of … well, let’s just let them talk about it. Instructor Erika Grooms says, “Our ladies come from all walks of life, stay-at-home moms, bankers, students. One was a school superintendent. This is fun, it gives you a head-to-toe workout and also boosts a woman’s confidence. It makes you feel sexy.” Great, we can get pole dancing everywhere in town … except actual strip clubs(!).
• Exotic workout [Birmingham News]

Stage beauties: Black and White has its roundup of acts at City Stages 2006, organized in a convenient stage-by-stage breakdown. Run, don’t walk, to your newsstand for your copy. And while you’re out, you have until Sunday to pick up three-day passes at the discounted price of $35, available at select AmSouth (not Regions yet) or Books-A-Million locations. (Also, Ticketma$ter, but watch out for the $ervice charge.)
• City Stages 2006 [Black and White]

Also:

• Election officials prepare for trickles of voters on Tuesday
• Spelling bee champ admits to performance-enhancing aids, like practice, studying
• Citizens flee downtown for gun shops, liquor shacks of suburbia

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Without a trace: In case you were wondering, it’s been one year since Natalee Holloway, a teenager from Mountain Brook, disappeared in Aruba — and it seems that no one’s any closer to finding her than they were May 30, 2005. Certainly, that fruitless investigation has been a boon to cable news operations, including:

• CNN, which manages to plug an interview with mom Beth Holloway Twitty on Nancy Grace.
• ABC (which doesn’t even have a cable news outlet) plugs itself: In an exclusive interview with ABC News senior legal correspondent Chris Cuomo in February, (suspect Joran) van der Sloot described the last moments he saw Holloway alive. “She was sitting on the sand by the ocean. … I tried to convince her to go back to the hotel and she said just put me down.”
• and Fox News, which has Greta Van Susteren creepily discussing her first-name chumminess with Beth while misspelling her daughter’s name: “At her home — besides taking pictures that are posted today — we interviewed Natalaee’s friends.” And, she throws in a plug for tonight’s show — don’t miss it!
• Even syndicated gossip tab “Entertainment Tonight” breaks off some of that. That’s entertainment?!

Classy.
• Holloway case a mystery after a year of ‘catch and release’ [CNN]

The usual suspects: The Birmingham News spent its one-year anniversary piece talking with Holloway’s family and friends for a Sunday story. How bored is the News with this series? It barely even bothers to update its all-Natalee story index, omitting its own stories from the last two months.

Who can blame them? Holloway’s disappearance is a blip among the 834,536 people reported missing in 2005 — the entire crowd of the Alabama Theatre supposedly vanishing every single day. We’ll have an update when she’s located — or the 10-year anniversary.
• Holloway family deals with topsy-turvy world [Birmingham News]

Life after death: John Allen Muhammad was convicted today of six sniper shootings in Maryland, facing a possible life sentence without parole. Which would mean something, if he weren’t already under a death sentence in Virginia for shootings there. The trial was seen as insurance, in case the Virginia case was overturned on appeal. It was an anonymous tip that led police to presumably the first shooting of the spree — in Montgomery in 2002 — in which fingerprints found at the scene belonged to Lee Boyd Malvo, Muhammad’s convicted accomplice in the Beltway murders. Both are apparently still fair game for another trial in Alabama, someday.
• Maryland jury convicts sniper [Associated Press]

Also:

• Birmingham sheds Magic City nickname for something ‘less heathen’
• Out-of-work teachers, bankers form long bread line
• Still feels like a Monday, doesn’t it?

• • •

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Before the booth: If you want to vote in the primaries on 6/6/(0)6 and you haven’t registered, today is your last chance. The registrar’s office has more info: 325-5550 (Birmingham) or 481-4105 (Bessemer) for Jefferson County and 669-3913 for Shelby County. You can also find more info online for Jefferson County. What’s at stake? We’re glad you asked …
• Deadline to register to vote is May 26 [Birmingham News]

Wedded abyss: Alabama already has a law prohibiting gay marriage. But on June 6, voters can also amend the constitution to prohibit gay marriage. There’s an inappropriate joke about covering your ass, but we won’t make it. Meanwhile, are gays becoming more accepted in Alabama? Said one Montgomery school board employee: “We believe in hospitality — being kind to people whether you approve of their lifestyle or not. But the homosexual community is trying to force us into accepting something that’s immoral.” Why, just the other day, a gang of roving gay men forced us to have an appletini … and we liked it. The shame, the shame.
• Gay marriage ban vote nears [Montgomery Advertiser]

Get the leader out: Meet the major candidates, and read about their stances on taxes and education. Then vote. If you don’t, then you love/hate the Ten Commandments and/or lotteries and/or gay marriage. Traitor.
• Gubernatorial issues [Birmingham News]

Pepper denizens: A friendly reminder: Pepper Place Saturday Market kicks off Saturday in Lakeview [map] and runs through Oct. 7. But don’t wake up Oct. 8 and be all like, “I totally meant to go, but I kept forgetting, and I had to go out of town …” Blah blah blah. Our pal Franklin Biggs of Franklin’s Homewood Gourmet will make ginger-marinated peaches with pound cake just for you at 9 a.m. But if you’re inclined to sleep in, the market will also be at Linn Park downtown from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays starting June 7. Now, no excuses.
• Pepper Place market opens this weekend [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Area kids escape boredom of school for tedium of summer
• Troopers to mock, honk at stranded interstate drivers
• City looks forward to three days of cookouts, ‘X-Men,’ drunken hollering

• • •

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Binge and merge: Regions Bank and AmSouth Bank, two big Birmingham-based financial institutions, are one. The estimated $10 billion deal, announced today, would create a Top 15 bank that would actually remain based in Birmingham. At stake: $140 billion in assets, $100 billion in deposits, 2,000 offices, 37,000 employees and more than 2,800 ATMs in 16 states. Closer to home, a combined 6,000 local jobs are on the line, with layoffs looming as an inevitable side effect of the deal. Wait, weren’t we opposed to same-sector marriages?
• Regions, AmSouth to merge [Birmingham News]

The word on Wall Street: So far, investors are lukewarm about the merger. [stock prices: ASO | RF] “The companies say they can wring $400 million in annual cost savings out of the combination, including $150 million next year. That would amount to 10 percent of their combined expenses. The companies will also take $700 million in restructuring charges.” Just as long as they continue to give away free toasters. They still do that, right?
• Investors Shrug Off AmSouth-Regions Merger [Forbes]

Merge is the new black: The Regions/AmSouth deal is third largest bank takeover in the past three months. Capital One and Wachovia (which bought out Birmingham’s SouthTrust in 2004) have recently announced upcoming takeovers. It’s just the start of merger mania, experts say, as smaller regional banks join forces to compete against bigger institutions. Potentially good for investors, potentially bad for customers dependent on competition for accounts and service.
• Regions-AmSouth tie-up may herald more bank mergers [Reuters]

Also:

• Downtown ‘Idol’ celebrations turn to riots, leaving 12 hungover
• Ruben, call your mama
• Soul Patrol recalled from active duty

• • •

Send us your news tips.

The latest on City Stages 2006 …

The name game: Two stages still need sponsors for City Stages, Children’s Festival and Dance Depot. The three-day downtown music festival, taking place June 16-18, needs cash to continue to pay down its half-million-dollar debt. For up to $35,000, you get your name on a stage and a chance to help push tickets. And for an extra five grand, you can be another title sponsor of the Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick City Stages Presented by Lanny Vines & Associates. Whew, we get tired just saying it.
• Corporations can make or break City Stages [Birmingham Business Journal]

Sloss stages: The Strokes plays tonight at Sloss Furnaces for a benefit for City Stages. Tickets are $30. The show starts at 8 with opening act, Apples in Stereo. The group’s latest album is 2006’s "First Impressions of Earth."
• ‘First Impressions of Earth’ and the aftermath of hype [Birmingham Weekly]

Fo’ shizzle, Birmingizzle: Rapper/peewee football coach Snoop Dogg is headlining on the Miller Lite Stage on Saturday, June 17. He replaces reggae musician Sean Paul, who reportedly broke his leg. Snoop’s latest release is 2005’s "The Best of Snoop Dogg." We’ll bring the gin, y’all bring the juice.
• Bow wow: Snoop Dogg to replace Sean Paul [Birmingham News]

• • •

Complete City Stages 2006 coverage.

• • •

Also:

• City residents to leave urban quiet for noisy speedboats at lake retreats
• You can never put too much water in a water treatment facility
• Study: Lack of ozone makes us cranky

• • •

Send us your news tips.

The doctor is out: More details are out about alleged problems at Summit Medical Center on Southside. Several patients said no doctor was present during their examination or treatment at the abortion clinic. Also, three women have talked with the Birmingham News about their medical complications after having abortions at Summit. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have opened 87 express clinics in several states, including Alabama, since 2004. The clinics do not perform abortions but do provide emergency contraception.
• Abortion clinic violations detailed [Birmingham News]

Sons of the Times Gay Talese, who attended the University of Alabama and covered the civil rights clashes in Selma for the New York Times, returns for a book signing at 6 tonight at the Alabama Booksmith. His latest, "A Writer’s Life," covers those journeys and more. (Read the first chapter.) So meticulous is his writing style that he’s not unlike his immigrant father, a tailor by trade.

Another Timesman, who also went to college in Alabama and also wrote for our favorite newspaper, the Birmingham Post-Herald, also has a new book out. Howell Raines was in town last week for a signing for "The One that Got Away," another trip down memory lane, though much rockier. The Birmingham native also discusses getting back to writing and fishing.
• ‘A Writer’s Life,’ by Gay Talese [New York Times]

The Ugly idol: And for those of you who don’t like reality TV, more reality TV … Kassie Miller, a Cullman native who skipped to Nashville to become a singer, won “The Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search.” Based on the bar and movie of the same name, the show had female contestants compete in singing, dancing and bartending. The finale repeats at 9 tonight on CMT.
• Antioch resident wins reality show [(Nashville) Tennessean]

Also:

• Some parents put baby in a corner
• Nonvoters rush to not register to not vote
• Transit fight threatens to destroy false unity

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Stillborn: The state closed a Southside abortion clinic today because of allegations that a staffer administered RU-486 to a patient without a doctor present. A Summit Medical Center staffer allegedly told the unidentified patient, who sought treatment Feb. 20, that she was six weeks pregnant after an ultrasound. She received abortion-inducing RU-486 and other medications, but delivered a 6-pound “nearly full-term” stilborn infant in an emergency room six days later. The clinic’s license has been suspended and may be revoked; a hearing is set for June 20. Summit is one of seven clinics in the national chain based in Bridgeport, Conn.
• State closes Birmingham abortion clinic after investigation [Associated Press]

Soul survivor: Birmingham has landed its fourth homegrown singer in the “American Idol” finals. Hoover’s Taylor Hicks and Los Angeles native Katharine McPhee advanced Wednesday night, after Elliott Yamin was sent home in a statistical dead heat among the three. Hicks, 29, follows in the footsteps of Ruben Studdard, Diana DeGarmo and Bo Bice in the reality TV competition. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Hicks and McPhee will each sing three songs live on Fox; the results will be announced live during the two-hour season finale at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Hicks has won viewers’ votes during the season with his soulful renditions of pop and R&B hits, his attempts at dancing onstage and his trademark gray hair. Look for more coverage leading up to the season finale on Wade on Birmingham.

Big difference: More than 40 Jess Lanier High students have completed training to become Big Brothers and Sisters for Bessemer elementary students starting this fall. The program pairs volunteers to serve as mentors and role models to children in the Birmingham area. I know, because I serve on the organization’s Young Advisory Board. If you want to make a difference, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters today or give something to aid this worthy group.
• ‘Bigs’ return for ‘Littles’ to look up to [Birmingham News]

Get downtown: Two cultural events debut tonight in downtown Birmingham. The City Equity Theatre Company presents “American Buffalo” at the new Playhouse at 1818 Third Ave. N. The David Mamet play features three petty criminals planning to steal supposedly priceless coins. It starts at 8, and runs Thursdays through Sundays until June 4. Suggested donation is $15. Also kicking off tonight is Movies by Moonlight Downtown, a monthly free movie in Linn Park. The event starts at 5:30 p.m., with music by the Spots at 6 and the feature "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off" starting at sunset (appoximately 7:43). Food and drink available on site. The series runs through October.
• City Equity Theatre

Also:

• Fraud trial swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth
• Super sewer actually has no remarkable powers
• Undocumented dogs, cats prepare daylong rally for Saturday

• • •

Send us your news tips.

It’s time to play “Gay, Asian or Terrorist.”

Bishop or pawn: An assistant bishop from Birmingham has been elected bishop of San Francisco. But it’s not the Rt. Rev. Mark Andrus who’s making news so much as his competitors for the job within the Episcopal Church. Of the other six contenders, three were gay. Andrus said he would continue to support gay rights in his new position. Since Donald Trump is having so many ratings woes these days, may we suggest “The Apprentice: Divine Challenge” with the Pink Corporation against the Black Corporation?
• Episcopal Church sidesteps crisis over gay bishop [Religion News Service]

S(e)oul searching: A new Catholic church is open for business in Hoover. But don’t expect to hear your favorite liturgy in English, or even in Latin. It’s all Korean. Said one member, “We are a very small community. It’s very unusual for us to have our own building. People are proud of us.” Several other Korean churches meet in Birmingham, though only one other has its own building. Next up: Korean Jehovah’s Witnesses.
• Prayer in a place of their own [Birmingham News]

Muslim momentum: Also in Hoover, the Birmingham Islamic Society has the OK to turn a church into a mosque/family life center. But before the approval, the council discussion over routine permits and planning turned into a dire warning about Those People. Resident Loyd Brannon said, “We’re allowing an organization with a worldwide terrorist reputation to establish a beachhead in this community.” Don’t send those Guardsmen to the Mexican border — send them to Greystone, on the double.
• Plan to turn church into mosque OK’d [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Downtown hot dog vendors war over frank matters
• HealthSouth to change name to EnronSouth
• It’s not actually supposed to rain today, says Farmer’s Almanac

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Seedy, seedy Southside: A troubling trend continues, as Birmingham faces more bad news on the crime front. Based on stats from the first quarters of 2005 and 2006, rapes have nearly tripled on Southside, from eight to 22 incidents.
• Southside Sees Increase In Sex Crimes [NBC13]

Drive for Five: Operation New Birmingham wants to re-renew Five Points South with residential/retail/office complexes. Already, seven locations are potential sites for the development. Jeff Tenner, president of the merchants association and owner of Soca Clothing, said, “I would like to see everything filled up, all the street level space occupied and doing well with more people and more activity.” Build all the new spaces you want — if you don’t curb crime, ain’t no one comin’ to play.
• Five Points South renewal targeted [Birmingham News]

Sound check: City Stages has shuffled stages again. This time, the singer-songwriter venue My People.com Stage will be back in a familiar location, Fifth and 20th. But it will be facing the Miller Lite Stage, at Fifth and 18th. This isn’t the first time Stages officials have aimed the loudest stage at one of the quietest. Guess which stage drowns out the other one? It’ll cost you $35 to find out; three-day passes are currently on sale at AmSouth and Books-A-Million through June 4 at the discount rate. Also, the June festival has teamed with churches to bring in more gospel acts.

Update: Festival organizers decided to move the Miller Lite Stage one block over for better crowd management. And, they’re adding video screens to Miller and the Coca-Cola Classic Stage.
• City Stages’ songwriters stage back at first site [Birmingham News]

Yay us!: Our (pal) Miss Brooks isn’t just a Birmingham News staffer, but a blogger, too. You’d know if you read it in City Scene, which apparently couldn’t quite find a dozen things to do this week and padded it out with staff hobbies. Check it out next week, when the nice lady in Circulation holds a yard sale and May’s top display ad salesperson reveals his Schnauzer just had puppies!!
• 12 to do [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Brighton mom still ‘phoning it in’ on dinner prep
• Free-range college grads threaten to overrun fragile downtown ecosystem
• Your MySpace page is barely readable, a tad tawdry

• • •

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No bowl left behind: The Your-Corporation-Here Birmingham Bowl needs three things to succeed: right business plan (including title sponsor and TV deal), right date and right matchup. When Birmingham last held a bowl game, only 18 other bowl games were in play. Now, it’s 31. Which means more than half of Division I-A teams will be in a bowl. Since when did a post-season trip become jury duty? The good news: There’s never been another time to open a college, start a football program and see the world.
• Bowl survival [Birmingham News]

Stepping down from Samford: Thomas Corts is retiring this month as president of Samford University after 23 years. His achievements aren’t unlike other longterm college leaders: fund-raising, renovation and construction. But his most notable accomplishment: cutting school ties with the Alabama Baptist Convention in 1994. And he’s not too fond of politics in the pulpit: “Our faith is too precious to be put at risk by politicians and some in the church who want to use it to push narrow political agendas. I don’t back away from the idea that your faith can influence your vote, and should. But the church should not be organizing the vote, endorsing this candidate or slate of candidates. That is dangerous for the democracy, and it’s dangerous for our faith.”

Also stepping down is University of Montevallo president Robert McChesney after 14 years. Like Corts, McChesney favors a new state constitution. In an address to graduates, he said, “My generation has failed to produce even a draft (constitution) to be considered. You must do better. You are limited not by your ability, but by your vision.”
• Corts balanced faith, academics [Birmingham News]

What would Jesus serve?: Dr. John Crawford said he lost $85,000 in a restaurant partnership with chef Arman DeLorenz, then forgave him and lost $100,000 in another restaurant partnership with him. Now, he’s back in the biz with a new partner, taking over the failed Original Joe’s and Prairie Fire Grille near Greystone. Crawford says, “I knew there would be a degree of risk, but God wanted me to right a wrong. I did have a responsibility to the employees and a responsibility to the debt.” He also said God felt he should have been DeLorenz’ mentor, and that God later instructed him to get out of the partnership with DeLorenz after a disagreement over accounting. No wonder He doesn’t answer our prayers — He’s too busy running money-losing upscale eateries.
• Physician heals bad businesses [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Prom season ends with five breakups, two births, one missing limo
• State names official moonshine, meth
• County rezoned entirely for condos

• • •

Send us your news tips.

For all you amigos and gringos out there, lots of news on the Hispanic front …

The enema of my enema: Worried about undocumented immigrants taking over? You’re not alone. Friday’s rally at the state Capitol brought out 100 protestors, from reformers to xenophobes. Not to be outdone, the Ku Klux Klan came out 300 strong in Russellville Saturday to march for deportation of illegal aliens. After the march and rally, Klan members burned a 22-foot cross for giggles. A Klan imperial wizard from Indiana said the group received 20 applications. Guess they’re recruiting for a Hispanic church bombing next …
• Capital protest targets illegal immigration [Birmingham News]

Big hombre on campus: State colleges expect to see a rise in enrollment among first-generation immigrants, despite obstacles for these would-be scholars. Proof of citizenship, rising tuition and lack of information can make it challenging for Hispanic students to enroll. Plus, you know, that whole Alabama-49th-in-education stigma.
• Local colleges expecting to see more Hispanic students enroll [(Florence) TimesDaily]

Safe at work: Associated General Contractors is providing free safety training in Spanish for construction workers, at a cost of $10,000. The classes, held in Irondale, are aimed at curbing the tragic (and costly) 50 percent jump in deaths among Hispanic construction workers from 1997 to 2002. The program goal is 100 workers trained, but only six attended the first class on Monday. Part of the problem: immigration raids disguised as … safety training. Meanwhile, construction firms felt the pinch from the May 1 protest in which Hispanics skipped work, including a wasted work day on Bryant-Denny Stadium expansion. See, hit 'em where it hurts: football.
• Free safety courses offered in Spanish [Birmingham News]

Buenos noticias: Jairo Vargas started his Spanish-language newspaper, El Latino News, in 1997 with nothing more than 10 pages and a church copier. The weekly paper currently boasts 15,000 copies in Jefferson County. Vargas, a native of Colombia, voices a common complaint: “I like Birmingham because it is like my old city, Bogotá. But there is so much to do here and so many opportunities. What I don’t like is the traffic! Too, too much.” Great, now they’re taking our newspaper jobs, too.
• El Latino News [Birmingham Weekly]

Also:

• We had Mexican last night, thankyouverymuch
• Immigration reform leads to angry words between non-Indian residents
• These jokes are funnier in Spanish, anyway

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Hold your breath: Southern Research Institute is reopening a renovated lab in July at its Southside location to research anthrax. The upgraded facility is expected to attract new projects worth millions of dollars to better understand and counteract the bioweapon. This is the same company that shipped live anthrax spores from its Maryland lab to a children’s hospital research center in California in 2004. Even worse, no laws exist to regulate safety oversight. Not panicking, yet.
• SRI scientists to test anthrax [Birmingham News]

The upside of corporate crime: Because of the increasing number of high-profile corporate trials, law firms are devoting more attorneys to advising business leaders. The opportunity is there not only to defend them in court, but advise them before so that they could, you know, not break the law. Enforcement of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is largely responsible for the latest wave of white-collar crimes brought to trial. Ah, lawyers … is there anything they can’t do?
• Demand swells for white-collar defense work [Birmingham Business Journal]

Regards and rebounds: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons center and White Hall native, became the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year today. He’s the first to win that honor four times in five years; only Dikembe Mutombo has also won the title four times. And Wallace is the only pro in the Top 10 in rebounds, steals and blocks. Meanwhile, NBA legend and Alabama son Charles Barkley has also put up an impressive number: $10 million. That’s the amount he estimates he lost on gambling: “I do have a gambling problem. But I don’t consider it a problem because I can afford to gamble.” We’ll take that bet.
• Wallace Successfully Defends Defensive Crown [Associated Press]

Also:

• State political candidates debate logic, reality
• New video store actually stocks DVDs
• Did we remember to shut off the irony?

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Impasse in Silvertron investigation: The March 22 death of Silvertron owner Alan Potts remains a mystery — and will likely remain one. A coroner’s report confirms he died of a gunshot to the head but has no ruling on the shooter. Authorities said that ends the investigation, unless someone comes forward.
• Coroner’s Office Releases Statement About Silvertron Owner’s Death [NBC 13]

Debt’s all, folks: Jefferson County residents are getting deeper in debt. The average in 2004 was $56,986, a 47.4 percent jump since 1999. That’s from “Credit Scores, Reports, and Getting Ahead in America,” a new study from Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution. Higher debt means lower credit scores, with the South having the highest concentration low-scoring consumers. Doug Horst of the Consumer Credit Service in Birmingham said, “I hope this is a wake-up call that encourages people behind in their bills to seek help.” You know what will make us feel better? Shopping!
• Consumer debt rises in Jeffco [Birmingham News]

Cold hard casa: State home sales jumped 26.34 percent in March, way ahead of the national increase of a paltry 0.3 percent. Even better, home values in Jefferson County jumped 7 percent in the past year. The hottest neighborhood? North Lakeshore, with an average 44 percent increase. Excuse us while we call our real estate agent.
• Alabama home sales rise 26% in March; average selling price up [Birmingham Business Journal]

Charity begins elsewhere: The Crawfish Boil still describes itself as a “party with a purpose,” a reference to its charitable contributions in the past. Nowadays, it’s more about the purpose of the party: Make money. The bookkeeping has been shoddy, and title sponsor Jack Schaeffer says he hopes to donate $5,000 — to match 2005 — out of a starting budget of $500,000. Wow, kinda gets you right here (points to butt).
• Crawfish Boil’s a splashy festival first, fund-raiser second [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Lakeview revelers celebrate Mexican holiday with American excess, Panamanian pharmaceuticals
• Case of blahs spreads like apathetic wildfire
• Nationally ranked schools still stuck in Alabama

• • •

Send us your news tips.