Page 2 - Barnett Wright News Today

Ten months after George Floyd’s murder, Black men still don’t have to watch Updated 9:31 AM; Today 7:31 AM Protesters take to the streets of Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday, May 30, 2020. People gathered to speak out about police brutality and demand justice in the recent death of George Floyd who was killed by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020. (Kendall Warner | MLive.com) Kendall Warner | MLive.com Facebook Share I didn’t watch. Correction, in the interest of ho...

By Barnett Wright The Birmingham Times  Dozens of residents with appointments began driving up to the Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS) clinic in North Birmingham at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday as the first COVID-19 vaccination clinic opened in the community. Throughout the morning 200 people were given their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and automatically given an appointment for their second dose at the same location. The vaccination site was open between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. “We a...

By Barnett Wright Jefferson County Manager and CEO, Tony Petelos, on Tuesday announced his retirement. Petelos was appointed as the first person to hold the position on Oct. 1, 2011. He made the announcement at the end of the Commission’s Committee of the Whole meeting inside the downtown Courthouse.   “The county is in better, better shape today than it’s been in many, many years,” said Petelos, 67, after his announcement, with his wife Teresa by his side.  A national search will be...

By Barnett Wright The wins continue to pile up for Miles College. The Fairfield institution will be beneficiary of a partnership with multinational investment bank UBS that will focus on delivering a financial literacy and wellness curriculum, the latest in a collaboration that Miles has with a number of global brands. UBS is partnering with the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) to offer its Tomorrow’s Talent Program curriculum at SIAC’s 14 colleges and universities across...

By Barnett Wright The Birmingham Times When Dr. Jesse J. Lewis Sr. was a student with the school newspaper at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, he went for the one interview that no Black journalist would ever consider: Alabama Gov. George Wallace, the virulent segregationist. “[Wallace] had never given a Black person an interview,” Lewis said. “I called [his office] one afternoon, and he answered the phone. I told him who I was and what I wanted. He said, �...

By Barnett Wright The Birmingham Times Legendary businessman Dr. Jesse J. Lewis Sr. smoothly makes the 20-minute drive from Birmingham’s historic Smithfield neighborhood, where he lives, to the Roebuck Municipal Golf Course on a chilly late January morning, two weeks after his 96th birthday. Once at the course—which he leases from the city of Birmingham, one of his numerous business endeavors—he cranks up one of the golf carts, loads his bag of clubs and drivers, and heads to a nearby hol...

By Barnett Wright The Birmingham Times Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has raised more than $1 million towards his re-election over the past five months, according to a recent campaign finance report. Woodfin, who formally launched his bid for a second term during a rally on Saturday, has so far raised $1,003,783, according to the report. Of that amount, the mayor raised $253,941 in January from more than 500 people who donated in amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1. The next scheduled election...

By Barnett Wright Yolonda “Yogi Dada” Carter’s artistry is limited only by her imagination.  Carter has produced a work she’s named GRAFFICA which is set to premiere on February 12 as part of ArtWorks@TheDJD, a new cutting-edge digital performance series that will feature short-form multi-media content by local artists presented online to virtual audiences across Alabama and beyond. The series itself begins January 29. “To be a part of the series is a blessing and the DJD team has be...

The Birmingham Times  A new call center in Jefferson County has been established to provide information about COVID-19 vaccines. The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) and the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency (JCEMA) will provide information through the call center and assist with coordinating vaccination efforts throughout the county. Individuals or organizations who would like information on the COVID-19 vaccination can dial the Jefferson County United Command Call Ce...

The Birmingham Times  Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin is at home recovering tonight after testing positive for COVID-19, according to the city. Woodfin went in for a test this afternoon and received his results this evening. He is working from home, still handling matters of the city. He will continue to self-quarantine. “COVID-19 has made its way to my doorstep. I’ve tested positive, but my symptoms are currently mild,’’ Woodfin said. The mayor’s test came at the end of a busy d...