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Take Our Severe Weather Safety Quiz to Check Your Awareness

By
Birmingham Times
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We are now entering our spring weather season and for this region of the country that means beautiful sunny days, pleasant warm weather along with the opportunity to begin enjoying outdoor activities. It is a wonderful time of the year for most Alabamians, but like Charles Dickenson wrote in the Tales of Two Cities – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” because spring can also be troublesome in Alabama from the often-severe weather threats that accompany spring.

This is why our new safety series for April will begin with a severe weather review quiz meant as a refresher on frequently discussed safety tips in former safety articles.  Let us see how many questions you answer correctly?

Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in or around your watch area?

Yes                              No

Yes, because the watch is intended to provide you time to prepare and review your safety plan and rules.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued when severe thunderstorm has been detected by national weather service doppler radar or a reliable report has been received?

Yes                              No

Yes, a warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties for an hour or less. If the warning includes your neighborhood or work place, you should act immediately to your life and the lives of others. Treat this warning the same as you would a tornado warning by taking the proper safety precautions.

The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that protect you?

Yes                              No

Yes, because you want to protect yourself from deadly lightning large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes. Usually, thunderstorms do not last long and often past by your location in less than one hour.

Once inside a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid electrical equipment and plumbing.

Yes                  No

Yes, because of the potential dangers associated with them.

Hopefully this quick refresher severe weather safety quiz was helpful as you Keep an Eye on Safety daily, but especially during the spring season.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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KMarie Kitchen Summer Cooking Classes. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

TODAY…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**FREE EVENT: MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT with DAVID A. SMITH at Saturn.

**LATE NIGHT THURSDAY with WUNSTON RAMBLE DUO at the Nick Rocks.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY…

IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…

**SIPS & SOUNDS, 7-11 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art with live music, light bites & cocktails and sounds by A Fly Guy and a special performance by CARL THOMAS.

**MILK & HONEY – SUPERNOVA at Saturn.

**PALO BREA with SHAHEED & DJ SUPREME at the Nick.

**BLOOD AND EARL, KAMIKAZE ZOMBIE at The Nick.

**MACHINE FUNK – TRIBUTE TO WIDESPREAD PANIC at Avondale Brewing Co.

**LATE NIGHT FRIDAYS with DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick Rocks.

**GOOD PEOPLE & GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

SATURDAY…

**SCHOOL DAZE BIRMINGHAM, 12 – 5 p.m. at Avondale Brewing Co with music by A Fly Guy, Food trucks, vendors and photo ops and a live performance by TEEDRA MOSES.

**SHE’S INTO STEM: STEM FAIR FOR GIRLS– Hear from a panel of female stem experts, 9 – 11:30 a.m. with hands-on demonstrations and breakout sessions for girls, grades 6-12. www.girlspring.com FREE.

**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.

**THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK – Opera Birmingham is bringing one of the 20th Century’s best stories to life, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, at 2:30 p.m.

**KYLE KIMBRELL with BRAD LYONS at the Nick.

**LATE NIGHT at The Nick with R.1.Y.T.

**CLOAKROOM & SPY at Saturn.

**FUNERAL PARTY GOTH NIGHT with DJ BLESSED DREGS at Saturn

SUNDAY…

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**BLUE TAPE ART SHOW AT LAWSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, at 5-7 p.m. in the Ethel Hall Building on the Bessemer Campus.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**JOHN MORELAND with AL OLENDER at Saturn.

MONDAY…

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

**THE MOTH BIRMINGHAM STORY SLAM: BLOOM at Saturn.

TUESDAY…

**MY MORNING JACKET performs at the Alabama Theatre.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD at Saturn.

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE EVERY TUESDAY at The Nick.

WEDNESDAY…

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT with SUNDROP at The Nick.

**NICOTINE DOLLS – AN ATTEMPT AT ROMANTIC at Saturn.

NEXT THURSDAY…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**BLAKGRAZ & JOHN ARMSTRONG FELLER at The Nick.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**FREE EVENT: SUBSTRATE BINGO at Saturn.

**PENNY & SPARROW at Iron City.

 NEXT FRIDAY…

**GIMME GIMME DISCO at Saturn.

**QUICKSILVER AND KIDSLY at the Nick.

**THE STOLEN FACES – CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD at Avondale Brewing Co.

**YATES! at the Upstairs at Avondale Brewing Co.

BT PICKS 

Show of the Month

“The Residence”

Streaming on Netflix

“The Residence” is a captivating drama series that delves into the intricate lives of the staff working at the White House. Created by Shonda Rhimes and starring Emmy-winner, Uzo Aduba, this series offers a unique perspective on the political and personal dynamics within one of the most famous residences in the world. With a diverse cast of characters, both fictional and inspired by real historical figures, the show explores themes of power, loyalty, and ambition, set against the backdrop of significant events in American history. Filled with Rhimes’ signature plot twists and richly developed characters, “The Residence” promises to be an engrossing addition to Netflix’s lineup.

Book of the month:

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

“Children of Blood and Bone” is a fantasy novel that transports readers to the magical land of Orïsha. The story follows Zélie Adebola, a young heroine who possesses the potential to bring back magic to her people—the maji. After a ruthless king orchestrates the annihilation of her people and their magic, Zélie embarks on a perilous journey to restore what was lost. Alongside her brother Tzain and a rogue princess named Amari, Zélie battles against formidable forces, both external and internal, to reclaim their cultural heritage. Adeyemi’s debut novel masterfully blends West African mythology with themes of oppression, resilience, and hope, crafting a tale that resonates deeply with contemporary issues. “Children of Blood and Bone” is celebrated for its dynamic world-building, profound characters, and an unrelenting pace that captivates from beginning to end.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

**DATES TO REMEMBER (AND SHARE)…

April 13 – Passover

April 20 – Easter

April 23 – Administrative Professional’s Day

May 1 – National Day of Prayer

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

May 6 – Teacher Appreciation

AROUND TOWN…

**NEXT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY – BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS’ SPRING PLAN SALE is 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. There will be hundreds of plants available to purchase. The plant sale will be held in the Gardens’ Formal Lawn and Hill Garden.  Bring your cart or wagon. Pay by check or credit card ONLY. Proceeds support the Friends’ Mission to protect, nurture and share the wonders of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.  It is FREE and open to the public.

**NEXT SATURDAY – KITES 4 KIDS, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Vulcan Park. There will be kite flying, sweet treats, family fun, community connection resources and support during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

**NEXT SATURDAY – SCHOLARSHIP RUN, starts at 8 a.m. (For more info and details on events, call 205-975-8858 or go to: AlysStephens.org.)

**NEXT SUNDAY – SPRING FESTIVAL is 1 – 4 p.m. at the Railroad Park. Visit with the Easter Bunny, food trucks and more. FREE.

IN MOUNTAIN BROOK…

**SATURDAY – RECYELING DAY, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Mountain Brook High School, front parking lot. Secure document destruction & electronic waste removal. No TVs.

**APRIL 13 – EASTER EGG HUNT, 4 p.m. at VHMC Sanctuary Lawn.

**APRIL 16 – MOUNTAIN BROOK CHAMBER QUARTERLY LUNCHEON – THE POWER OF YOUR STORY with KEITH CROMWELL, Director of Institutional Advancement for RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE.

**APRIL 19 – MOUNTIAN BROOK EASTER EGG ROLL, 10 a.m. at the Grassy Field by the O’Neal Library

**APRIL 26 – CITIZEN APPRECIATION DAY 2025, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at City Hall.

**MAY 1 – ENGLISH VILLAGE SPRING FLING, 5-8 p.m. with the Mountain Brook Car Club, Specials & Live Music.

**MAY 3 – MOUNTAIN BROOK ART ASSOCIATION SPRIN ART SHOW, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Mountain Brook City Hall.

FOR BALLET LOVERS – UNBOUND – A SERIES OF EVER-EVOLVING PERFORMANCES is April 16-18 at the Opera Ballet, 2726 First Avenue South. UNDER THE LIGHTS is a Johnny Cash Ballet and is a Christopher Stuart’s tribute to the legendary Man in Black. Stuart is the Alabama Ballet Artistic Director. Alabama Ballet invites you to attend the unforgettable fusion of movement and music in Unbound: A Mixed Repertoire Performance, a season finale featuring two groundbreaking works.  This is a World Premiere by James Whiteside, an internationally renowned dancer and choreographer who created it exclusively for Alabama Ballet.

AT VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM…

**MAY 16 – FROM STEEL TO STAGE: BIRMINGHAM’S THEATRE HISTORY.

**JULY 18 – IRON BOWL TO STALLIONS: ALABAMA’S FOOTBALL OBSESSION.

**NOVEMBER 6 – BREWING UP HISTORY: BIRMINGHAM’S CRAFT BEER & SPIRITS SCENE.

FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS, LOVERS OF SPRING AND MORE…

**LIFEGUARD RECRUITMENT – Hiring Certified Lifeguards and will certify Non-certified lifeguards. For more, Contact 205-254-2189 or 205-254-2391.

**FIRST TEE BIRMINGHAM – Programming has started for ages 7-18 with no golf experience needed. Youth can learn experiences that combine character development and golf. Program locations and Days include Highland Park Golf Course: Monday – Wednesday, Roebuck Golf Course: Monday – Thursday and PGA Tour Superstore- Saturday. Kids are paired with others their age to develop skills. For more got and register at firstteebirmingham.org.

**ART PLAY SPRING FAMILY DAY is May 10 at 1-4 p.m. Register at www.alysstephens.org/events/spring-family-day/

FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH…

**SMALL MAGIC FAMILY PROGRAM is for ages 0-4 years and is free for families living or working in Jefferson County. One class per week for 8 weeks, receive books, educational toys and a $75 gift card. Sessions are on Zoom and In-Person. For more, Glorious Bates, 205-502-4406 and glorious@smallmagic.org OR Nora Samayaa, 205-538-3379, andnora@smallmagic.org. Discover how you can positively influence your child’s development and build their future from the beginning.

**YWCA: CREW 2025 – Teen Enrichment Program is June 9 – July 11, 9 a.m. – 1p.m. For more, contact FRC@ywcabham.org.

**GIRLS MENTORING through May 2025. For more, call 205-949-5550.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY…

**EDUCATION SUNDAY SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY is a Worship Center Christian Church Scholarship open to high school seniors only where (3) scholarships will be awarded. Deadline is April 18th. For more, nextgen@theworshipcentercc.org.

MORE FOR YOUTH…

**VOCABBY’S WORLD is May 3, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at West Center Street School Auditorium in Woodland Park for families with children 0-5 years is for little ones to learn new vocabulary words through the arts. FREE

**KMARIE KITCHEN SUMMER COOKING CLASSES will help create memories through meals by teaching the next generation how to cook. For more 765-278-9494 or kmadams05@yahoo.com.

**YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMP – Register for the Jaylyn Sherrod Will and Skill Youth Basketball Camp, Saturday, 9 – 12 p.m. for ages 11-17, boys and girls at the Ramsay IB high School, 1800 13th Avenue South.

**2025 KIDS & JOBS PROMO TOUR – Calling All Birmingham Residents Area residents, Middle and High Schools, Birmingham Area Colleges and Universities, Community Organizations and others. The purpose of the Kids and Jobs tour is to allow the City of Birmingham Department of Youth Services to present pertinent information.

**2025 KIDS AND JOBS PROGRAM – The program ha two components to serve participants: EXPOSURE (age 14-15) Participating students will receive their first exposure to the workforce while earning an income, proving deserving Birmingham youth with valuable opportunities for professional growth. EXECUTIVE (ages 16-24) Participating students will have the chance to earn an income while experiencing professional development opportunities, gain valuable workforce experience and nurture essential skills crucial for a successful career. Eligible participants must meet the requirements including live with in the city limits of Birmingham, Possess a minimum 2.0 GPA, Must be least 14 years of age and not exceed age 24 by June11th. Must be committed to work from June 9th – July 11, 2025. Applications are available at www.bhamyouthfirst.org/ For more call (205) 320-0879 or email dyskidsandjobs@birmingham.al.gov.

FOR BUSINESS LOVERS…

**KIDS & JOBS SUMMER 2025 PROGRAM PARTNER COMPONENT – Empower your business or organization to host a Kids and Jobs Intern(s) this summer. The City of Birmingham will pay for the wages of hosting interns at your site. Visit www.BhamYouthFirst,gov to submit a Program Partner application!

FOR YOUR HEALTH…

**4TH ANNUAL MELANIN MALA COMMUNITY YOGA Project is May 18 at the East Lake Park. For more, go to: theblkyogitribe.org

AT UAB…

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAYS…

**APRIL 21 – STORIES FROM THE STAGE – Creating Community and Connection through Artistic Expression with “FROM WHERE I SIT” by Suzanne Costello

**MAY 19 – MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING: A CONVERSATION WITH DONNA DUKE-POPE (For more and to register go to, AlysStephens.org and questions, email: artsinmedicine@uab.edu.)

FOR MUSIC LOVERS…SARAH AND THE SUNDAYS at Saturn on May 20.  They have taken their indie and alternative rock roots and amplified them with a keen sense of empathy. With guitar riffs, organic rhythms and lyrical commentary, there is LIAM YORGENSEN (lead vocals, guitar) BRENDAN WHYBURN (vocals, guitar), QUINN LANE (drums), MILES REYNOLDS (keyboard, guitar) and DECLAN CHILL (bass)

COMING SOON…

**MAY 13 – SHINEDOWN “Dance, Kid, Dance Tour with special guests BEARTOOTH & MORGAN WADE at the Legacy Arena/BJCC.

**JUNE 20 – AN EVENING WITH HEART at the Legacy Arena/ BJCC.

**JUNE 24 – DAVE MATTHEWS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

**JUNE 25 – DEF LEPPARD with special guest BRET MICHAELS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

**JUNE 27 – THOMAS RHETT “Better in Boots Tour 2025” with TUCKER WETMORE & THE CASTELLOWS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

**JUNE 28 – JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT with special guest BAND OF HORSES at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com AND thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com. (If you are ever interested in advertising and have a budget, contact me and let’s discuss options.)

Seasons Change, So Do Our Relationships

By
Birmingham Times
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Just as the natural seasons shift, expect change related to your relationships and what you’re going to see from people as we fully embrace this season of spring. My goodness, how we love the freedom that comes with this time of rebirth and renewal, but don’t forget the other side of this natural gift. There will be some things which will erupt and there will be some things which will die out. It’s all a part of the cyclical nature of life, so don’t be discouraged when you experience it.

There are things that have been lying dormant as we have come through the winter season and I’m always tickled to see how spring comes in, because it is usually with a bang. Because anytime there’s a new reality, or anytime there is a shift taking place, there’s normally some sort of challenge that accompanies it.

So I know it seems as if I am fascinated by the weather (and I am), but I just wanted to use it as an opportunity to encourage you not to be discouraged when things are exposed and shift in your relationships as well.

It’s a new time and it’s a new season, and oftentimes we fight, or we become upset when this exposure happens. But the exposure occurs for a reason. Sometimes we allow things (or relationships) to carry on or because of the way it has always been and we don’t address certain items.

But here comes spring (in life and relationships) and guess what? We’re pulling off the covers; we’re pulling off the clothes; and we are lighter and freer. And with that light, there are certain things that we can see.

I mean even think about it.

During the spring season there is more light, and with more light, you can not only accomplish more, but you can see more. So just a reminder for us all to do a little spring cleaning in our relationships.

And don’t be discouraged if, when you go through that closet of friends,  you have to make some adjustments – maybe put some things away; give some things away; or maybe a better term in terms of relationship is perhaps even you’ll have to release some things and release some people in this season as relationships will be redefined.

Don’t be discouraged, though, because once you let go of the old, then you can begin to make room for the new because the one thing that we know is constant in life is change.

We change; people change; situations change; seasons change; and time changes. Change is constant and remember that even when it comes to your relationships.

Always remember I am cheering for you.

 

How Birmingham’s New Police Chief Tracked Down a Killer — Then Called for Backup

By
Birmingham Times
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Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett, who has served in that role since last winter, on Tuesday was appointed as Birmingham Chief of Police. (Provided)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

When it comes to chasing down bad guys and making arrests, Michael Pickett, named Birmingham Chief of Police on Tuesday, knows what it takes. Literally.

Earlier this year, Pickett then interim chief was returning from a family outing when a man was shot and killed on an Interstate 59 South off ramp. Birmingham Police Department’s Real Crime Center Specialists were quickly able to identify a suspect, and the vehicle involved in the homicide. In less than two hours Pickett tracked down the suspect and vehicle — and then called for backup.

“I got the call somebody was shot and killed on the interstate,” Pickett told the Birmingham Times on Tuesday. “I’m seeing the alerts. Drop the family off. We have technology to where we can get information on where the suspect might be … and I said ‘let me go check this area. If he’s in the vicinity I want to see if I can lay my eyes on him’ and sure enough, I spotted that vehicle.”

Pickett, who has a background in surveillance and fugitive apprehension, said he noticed damage on what he believed to be the suspect’s vehicle and called in the Crime Reduction Team and the Special Enforcement team who made it to his location and apprehended the suspect.

That was just one in a number of successes Pickett has notched since becoming chief of the state’s largest police force. The 40-year-old graduate of Birmingham’s Ramsay High School and Miles College took over as the interim chief in December following the retirement of Chief Scott Thurmond. Under Pickett’s leadership, the city has seen an almost 50 percent decrease in homicides in the first quarter of 2025, and a homicide clearance rate well above the national average.

‘War-Game Plans’ 

The clearance rate is an important part of crime reduction, said Pickett.

“When criminals go unchecked they get more bold,” said the chief. “When they see you are arresting some of their friends and people who choose to be in that lifestyle” it can be a deterrent.

It was Pickett who in late 2023, put the brakes on exhibition driving and illegal street racing that had been spinning out of control in the city. He told The Birmingham Times that his approach to crime reduction is not that complicated.

“I love to do research, I love to study behavior and understand everything you can about any issue,” he said. “You have to understand what causes the issue, understand what amplifies the issue and then you have to understand the different ways that you can stop it.”

From there, Pickett said he looks at the trends, what drives the issue and what options will be most effective.

“I get with my team, and not just my executive leadership team. I talk to officers, detectives, and I say, ‘let’s all talk about this, what ways would you try to get away with this crime … once we ‘war game’ that, we come up with a primary plan, a contingent plan and then another plan just to see which one works the best and then we keep dialing in and perfecting it and perfecting it until we get a solid product.”

‘Fearless Leadership’

Another key for the chief is that he knows the city. He’s a graduate of both Ramsay High School and Miles College. His first assignment with the Birmingham Police Department was as a patrol officer in the West Precinct and he was promoted to investigations, and Dignitary Protection, and eventually to sergeant and lieutenant.

He served as the city’s Law Enforcement Branch Director for the 2022 World Games and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in criminal justice, with a concentration in Homeland Security and Advanced Counterterrorism.

Knowing the city and residents is paramount, Pickett told The Birmingham Times.

“You really have to understand the people, understand how they move, understand how they tick, understand their insecurities, understand the history of the city,” he said. “I’m from here and my parents are from here. I understand the things that my parents experienced. They were alive during the time when the 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed [killing four girls] … I understand the older people in the community, and I understand folks around my age and I do like to interact with the younger people.”

Pickett said he is aware Alabama is a football state and he played baseball in high school, “but I love basketball,” he said. “I was born in the ’80s and raised in the ’90s watching the Bulls and watching Michael Jordan and that team … I’m a fan of the Golden State Warriors. I’m a huge fan of [Warriors guard] Steph Curry. He’s the best shooter in the game — ever.”

In announcing Pickett’s appointment on Tuesday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said his administration takes pride giving “hard working employees a chance to rise, as well as serve. Michael Pickett has proven that,” Woodfin said, “Leadership matters … Chief Pickett leads from the front not from behind a desk.”

The mayor added, “When I say we’re cleaning up the city. He’s literally doing that. He’s out in the field, he’s literally out arresting folks for illegal dumping. He’s meeting with residents who’ve had their homes shot into … tracked down a killer and then he called for backup. This is what we define as ‘fearless leadership’ from a man who has a true heart for the City of Birmingham … under his watch what we can say is Birmingham is already more safer and we are more secure.”

Cory Booker Sets a Record with Marathon Senate Speech. Why It Matters

By
Birmingham Times
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0
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., held the Senate floor with a marathon speech that lasted more than 25 hours, setting a historic mark to show Democrats’ resistance to President Donald Trump’s sweeping actions. (Associated Press Screengrab)
By  MIKE CATALINI and STEPHEN GROVES | Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a feat of determination, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker held the Senate floor with a marathon speech that lasted all night and into Tuesday evening, setting a historic mark to show Democrats’ resistance to President Donald Trump’s sweeping actions.

Booker took to the Senate floor on Monday evening, saying he would remain there as long as he was “physically able.” It wasn’t until more than 25 hours later that the 55-year-old senator, a former football tight end, finished speaking and walked off the floor. It set the record for the longest continuous Senate floor speech in the chamber’s history, though Booker was assisted by fellow Democrats who gave him a break from speaking by asking him questions on the Senate floor.

It was a remarkable show of stamina as Democrats try to show their frustrated supporters that they are doing everything possible to contest Trump’s agenda. Yet Booker also provided a moment of historical solace for a party searching for its way forward: By standing on the Senate floor for more than a night and day and refusing to leave, he had broken a record set 68 years ago by then Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, a segregationist, to filibuster the advance of the Civil Rights Act in 1957.

“I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people are more powerful,” said Booker, who spoke openly on the Senate floor of his roots as the descendant of both slaves and slave-owners.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black party leader in Congress, slipped into the Senate chamber to watch Booker on Tuesday afternoon. He called it “an incredibly powerful moment” because Booker had broken the record of a segregationist and was “fighting to preserve the American way of life and our democracy.”

Still, Booker centered his speech on a call for his party to find its resolve, saying, “We all must look in the mirror and say, ‘We will do better.’”

“These are not normal times in our nation,” Booker said as he began the speech Monday evening. “And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”

Booker warns of a ‘looming constitutional crisis’

Shifting his feet, then leaning on his podium, Booker railed for hours against cuts to Social Security offices led by Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. He listed the impacts of Trump’s early orders and spoke to concerns that broader cuts to the social safety net could be coming, though Republican lawmakers say the program won’t be touched.

Booker also read what he said were letters from constituents, donning and doffing his reading glasses. One writer was alarmed by the Republican president’s talk of annexing Greenland and Canada and a “looming constitutional crisis.”

Throughout the day Tuesday, Booker got help from Democratic colleagues, who gave him a break from speaking to ask him questions. Booker yielded for questions but made sure to say he would not give up the floor. He read that line from a piece of paper to ensure he did not slip and inadvertently end his speech. He stayed standing to comply with Senate rules.

“Your strength, your fortitude, your clarity has just been nothing short of amazing and all of America is paying attention to what you’re saying,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said as he asked Booker a question on the Senate floor. “All of America needs to know there’s so many problems, the disastrous actions of this administration.”

As Booker stood for hour after hour, he appeared to have nothing more than a couple glasses of water to sustain him. Yet his voice grew strong with emotion as his speech stretched into the evening, and House members from the Congressional Black Caucus stood on the edge of the Senate floor to support Booker.

“Moments like this require us to be more creative or more imaginative, or just more persistent and dogged and determined,” Booker said.

Booker’s cousin and brother, as well as Democratic aides, watched from the chamber’s gallery. Sen. Chris Murphy accompanied Booker on the Senate floor throughout the day and night. Murphy was returning the comradeship that Booker had given to him in 2016 when the Connecticut Democrat held the floor for almost 15 hours to argue for gun control legislation.

His Senate floor speech breaks Thurmond’s record

Still hours away from breaking Thurmond’s record, Booker remarked Tuesday afternoon, “I don’t have that much gas in the tank.”

Yet as anticipation in the Capitol grew that he would supplant Thurmond, who died in 2003, as the record holder for the longest Senate floor speech, Democratic senators sat at their desks to listen and the Senate gallery filled with onlookers. The chamber exploded in applause as Schumer announced that Booker had broken the record.

Booker had already surpassed the longest speech time for a sitting senator — the 21 hours and 19 minutes that Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, had held the floor to contest the Affordable Care Act in 2013. Responding to his record being broken, Cruz posted a meme of Homer Simpson crying on social media.

Throughout his determined performance, Booker repeatedly invoked the civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis of Georgia on Tuesday, arguing that overcoming opponents like Thurmond would require more than just talking.

“You think we got civil rights one day because Strom Thurmond — after filibustering for 24 hours — you think we got civil rights because he came to the floor one day and said, ‘I’ve seen the light,’” Booker said. “No, we got civil rights because people marched for it, sweat for it and John Lewis bled for it.”

Booker’s speech was not a filibuster, which is a speech meant to halt the advance of a specific piece of legislation. Instead, Booker’s performance was a broader critique of Trump’s agenda, meant to hold up the Senate’s business and draw attention to what Democrats are doing to contest the president. Without a majority in either congressional chamber, Democrats have been almost completely locked out of legislative power but are turning to procedural maneuvers to try to thwart Republicans.

Can his speech rally the anti-Trump resistance?

Booker is serving his second term in the Senate. He was an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 2020, when he launched his campaign from the steps of his home in Newark. He dropped out after struggling to gain a foothold in a packed field, falling short of the threshold to meet in a January 2020 debate.

But as Democrats search for a next generation of leadership, frustrated with the old-timers at the top, Booker’s speech could cement his status as a leading figure in the party.

On Tuesday afternoon, tens of thousands of people were watching on Booker’s Senate YouTube page, as well as on other live streams.

As Democratic colleagues made their way to the Senate chamber to help Booker by asking him questions, he also made heartfelt tributes to his fellow senators, recalling their personal backgrounds and shared experiences in the Senate. Booker also called on Americans to respond not just with resistance to Trump’s actions but with kindness and generosity for those in their communities.

Booker said, “I may be afraid — my voice may shake — but I’m going to speak up more.”

Catalini reported from Trenton, N.J. Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed.

“I Pulled Out the Ring … And Said ‘[To Her], Would You Be ‘My Forever?’

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Birmingham Times
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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

TIMOTHY & ALLYSON PERRY

Live: Pelham

Married: Aug. 17, 2002

Met: December 1999, at Timothy’s parent’s home in Trussville. Allyson was coworkers with Timothy’s ex-sister-in-law, when Allyson asked him to ride along with her to drop something off at his parent’s home. Timothy had recently finished earning his master’s degree from Alabama A&M University and had just moved back home when he came upstairs and bumped into Allyson.

“On the way over there she [the ex-sister-in-law] began talking Timothy up, telling me about all the degrees he had and how he was a teacher… I was not interested and was wondering why she was telling me all of this. And about 45 minutes into the visit, Timothy came upstairs to the kitchen where we were looking rusty,” Allyson laughed. “He had on a baggy oversized t-shirt and said he had been downstairs playing video games and that was a huge no-no for me – a grown man playing video games?

“He started staring at me and wouldn’t take his eyes off me and said, ‘it’s nice to meet you, are you married?’ And I said, ‘no.’ Then he said, ‘do you have any kids?’ and I said, ‘no.’ Then he said, ‘I can see you in my kitchen’, and I said, ‘sir, you’re just hungry. And then in front of everybody [his parents and the ex-sis-in-law, and other family members], he told me I was ‘beautiful’ and told [the ex-sister-in-law] to give me all his numbers, it was so awkward. I’m sitting there thinking ‘the audacity of this man.’”

The part she didn’t tell you was my response to her telling me ‘I was just hungry.’ I said, ‘what I mean is, ‘I’m gonna buy you a house one day, and you’re gonna have your own kitchen.’  She was staying in an apartment at the time, and I took her from somebody [she had a boyfriend but was not married].” Timothy said.

First date: Watch Night service, Dec. 31, 1999. Timothy had invited Allyson to attend the service at his home church, Greater Emmanuel Temple Holiness Church in East Lake.

“He came and picked me up around 9:30 [p.m.], we got to church around 10 [p.m.] and we didn’t get out of church until 3 [a.m.] They had testimony service, did a foot wash, served communion, did a prayer walk around the church, and served breakfast afterwards. His whole family was there. I had no idea I would be there until 3 [a.m.], it was nothing I had ever experienced before,” Allyson recalled.

“I just wanted her by my side, I wasn’t thinking about nothing else,” Timothy said.

Allyson said Timothy’s family made up half of the church and she got a chance to meet everybody. “Here ‘chile, go over there and meet [so and so], ‘this is Timmy’s friend,’ ‘come over here and meet Timmy’s friend’. It was kind of awkward because I didn’t know what to expect,” Allyson said.

The turn: Timothy and Allyson became exclusive very quickly, but just as quickly broke up a few times within the following months. However, at Timothy’s nephew, Terry Jr.’s first birthday party, the two reconnected for good.

It was summer 2000, said Allyson. “I made sure I was extra cute, had on some cute tight jeans because I knew he was gonna be there. I made my appearance and sashayed past him with my little gift. I could tell it worked because of how he was looking at me … I stayed for a little while and when I left, Timothy came outside and chased me down asking me why I was leaving,” Allyson laughed. “He told me he missed me, we kissed, and after that we were back together [for good this time].”

“She’s correct, that’s how it went. She was dressed up and looking beautiful as ever and I had to have her back. I went begging like [‘90s R&B singer] Keith Sweat,” Timothy laughed.

The proposal: March 2002, at Allyson’s apartment in Center Point. The two were headed to Timothy’s first cousin’s birthday party when he decided to pop the question before they left.

“We were sitting at the dining room table, she had just finished cooking and I proposed to her. I pulled out the ring she had picked when we went ring shopping and said ‘Allyson, would you be ‘my forever?’ and she said ‘yes’.

“It was a ring that I liked, so I said ‘yes’,” Allyson joked.

Timothy and Allyson Perry met in December 1999 and married in 2002. (Provided Photos)

The wedding: At Allyson’s home church in Mobile, Alabama, Liberty Missionary Baptist Church, officiated by her childhood pastor, Dr. Clyde Maye. Their colors were fuchsia and platinum.

Most memorable for the bride was a bevy of guests she did not know. “All of these people were coming up to me hugging and congratulating me and I had no clue who they were,” Allyson said. “These were friends of family members, and our parents’ coworkers… Our list went from 75 people to 200 people.”

Most memorable for the groom was his bride’s entrance and a moment while taking their vows. “I got tickled and started laughing so hard when my wife was walking down the aisle because she didn’t have her bouquet in her hand and was walking down waving at folks and about 10 steps later somebody came running her bouquet down the aisle trying to hand it to her. Then while we were taking our vows, she didn’t want to say that she would obey me.”

“That’s because he was talking mess under his breath to me when it got to that part, saying ‘that’s right, you gonna obey me, you gonna do what I say’,” Allyson laughed, “so I wouldn’t say it at first. It was a little [inside joke] between us,” before she said it.

They honeymooned in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. “We were so stressed out from the wedding that we were too tired to do anything. We literally laid around and slept, and talked about how we made it to this point and were so glad it was over,” Timothy said.

In 2022, The couple renewed their vows in Missouri at Allyson’s aunt and uncle’s estate where they had an intimate ceremony with their children as the wedding party to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

“Over the years the kids would always look at our wedding photos and say they wished that they were there so we did a renewal and only had about 10 guests. We enjoyed that so much more than our first wedding, it was so meaningful,” Allyson said.

Words of wisdom: “Keep an open line of communication. We’re not a perfect couple, we’ve been through many stages in our marriage– the vinegar, the lemon, and the cayenne pepper stage, but the main ingredient is God, keep Him first and talk. Life gets busy but you gotta talk things through. Those [sour] stages are real. Most couples jump out the window during the cayenne pepper stage when they don’t like each other and get divorced. But we stuck it out and we’re still here. We’re in our honey stage now and it’s worth it,” Timothy said.

“Keep God first in everything you do, in every decision you make, and remember that your marriage is built off love. Understand what love is – love is patient, love is kind, and at the end of the day remember your spouse is your helpmate and you all have to fight together to make it work. Walking away is easy, but staying in the fight and working hard is worth it in the end,” Allyson said.

Happily ever after: The Perry’s attend Birmingham Bible Church in Birmingham, where Timothy serves as an elder, and Allyson, an associate pastor. They have three children: Madyson, 18, Morgan, 14, and Mayci, 11.

Allyson is a Port City/Mobile, Ala. native, and John L. LeFlore High School grad. She attended Lawson State Community College where she received an associate’s degree in early childhood education, the University of Alabama where she earned a bachelor’s degree in leadership studies, and Walden University [online] where she obtained a master’s degree in leadership management. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and works in management with the U.S. federal government.

Timothy, 54, is an Ensley native, and Ensley High School grad. He attended Alabama A&M University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology with a minor in chemistry, and a master’s degree in secondary education. He also attended Gupton Jones Mortuary College [Atlanta, GA], where he earned a mortuary science degree, the University of Montevallo, where he obtained an ED.S in Education Leadership, Samford University where he received his administration degree and Nova Southeastern University [Ft. Lauderdale, Florida], where he earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Timothy is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Principal of Fairfield High Preparatory School.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

From Interim to Permanent: Michael Pickett Named Birmingham Chief of Police 

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Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham Times

Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett, who has served in that role since last winter, on Tuesday was appointed as Birmingham Chief of Police.

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin made the announcement at City Hall,

“I have been impressed with the performance of the Birmingham Police Department under the leadership of Chief Pickett,” Woodfin said. “ … Homicides in the city are currently down 47 percent compared to this time last year. Chief Pickett’s focus on making criminals uncomfortable in our city is showing results.”

Pickett who is a 20-year veteran and graduate of Birmingham’s Ramsay High School and Miles College had his first assignment with the Birmingham Police Department as a patrol officer in the West Precinct.

Pickett, 40, took over as the interim chief in December following the retirement of Chief Scott Thurmond.

“I want to thank Mayor Woodfin for his confidence in me and support for the Birmingham Police Department,” Pickett said. “From the mayor and council’s support of the $16 million police recruitment and retention plan to a commitment to new resources, and investment in a comprehensive violence reduction strategy, we are working to create the next generation of effective law enforcement in Birmingham.”

His career has included undercover work, oversight of safety and security of major events such as The World Games, and serving as Deputy Chief of Special Operations, where he successfully implemented Operation Knight Rider as a response to illegal and dangerous exhibition driving in the city. As interim chief, Pickett has been committed to enhancing ongoing partnerships with Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, as well as federal and state law enforcement agencies.

Birmingham City Schools, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, with NY Nonprofit Bring Hydroponics to Some Classrooms

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Birmingham Times
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Jones Valley operates seven teaching farms across the city, including a fresh produce stand at its central location. (Jones Valley Teaching Farm)

By Sarah Verser | WBRC

Spring has sprung and can continue blooming all year long in the classrooms of eight Birmingham schools using hydroponics technology through a new collaboration between Birmingham City Schools, Jones Valley Teaching Farm and New York nonprofit New York Sun Works.

Amanda Storey

Amanda Storey is the Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm, and says their relationship with Birmingham City Schools reaches back 12 years, integrating gardens in outdoor classrooms with Alabama Core Curriculum.

“Mostly on the east side in the Woodlawn feeder pattern, we’ve built out outdoor teaching farms, and we have long tried to figure out how we can continue to expand across the system,” said Story.

So, when an opportunity opened up to do something different with hydroponics and expand to schools on the west side of Birmingham, it was a no-brainer.

Storey said, “We’re so excited to find a resource in New York. Sun Works, who had already perfected this idea of building out kind of farm labs, or science labs inside school. We use the engagement tool that food is as a way to teach math and science and social studies to work with Birmingham through the Alabama Course of study, so we know that that’s important, but we also know that when we connect young people to their food source, they have a skill for the rest of their lives that they will be able to feed themselves, their families.”

New York Sun Works installed the hydroponics labs right before spring break, so students will be returning to classes this week to a whole new exciting way to learn.

Spencer King and his crew installed the lab at Minor Elementary. Tables and towers are sprouting with peppers and greens and tomato plants, all without the usual potting soil.

King explained, “They are recirculating water through a system that pumps it from reservoir up into a water distribution channel… spraying out into some buckets, all of that gets recirculated back into the reservoir, and it’s providing the nutrients that are in the water to all of the plants. So, it’s contained and gives us about 90% less water than standard agriculture.”

NY Sun Works is a 501 nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality sustainability science and climate education to K-12 city schools. (nysunworks.org)

King says New York Sun Works is in about 350 schools in the New York City Area, and now eight more in Birmingham.

King said, “We build and maintain hydroponic systems in school classrooms to teach about science. The process of growing food from seed to harvest, all within a classroom just like this one.”

Clarissa Reese is the Director of Post Secondary Success for Birmingham City Schools, and sees this partnership as a win-win.

We were reminded about just how important the Jones Valley Teaching Farm garden at Woodlawn High School was to the surrounding community, feeding neighbors during the pandemic.

The hydroponic labs are now in all the feeder schools leading up to Jackson-Olin High school, which has a Horticulture Academy.

Reese says this is another way the district is in step with the needs of the community.

“So, our students will be able to make a really informed decision about whether that is a pathway that they want to pursue once they arrive at Jackson-Olin High School. I think that this will really open their eyes and help them to understand what all that entails, and all of the different career pathways that are possible through that pathway as well. So we will just have a whole section of town that’s really informed in that way, and able to expand that at Jackson-Olin High School and beyond, if they so desire,” said Reese.

The district says the initiative is funded through a $500,000 seed commitment split by the City of Birmingham and Birmingham City Schools to diversify food and tech-based education, engaging hands-on experiences that inspire students, and joyful learning opportunities.

Jackson-Olin High School students will be able to obtain credentialing, career and technical education (CTE), and exposure to expanded career and postsecondary pathways.

Storey believes together with Birmingham City Schools, Jones Valley Teaching Farm is helping to “build the next generation of leaders who are going to care for each other, and care for the Earth, and care for the cities that they hopefully will be running in a different way because of that food-based education, and our goal is to reach all 20,000 students in Birmingham City Schools.”

For more on New York Sun Works, go here.

Birmingham Library to Host Learning Session to Create Health Care Programs for Underserved Communities

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Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham Public Library will host a free, one-hour training session, “Creating Sustainable Health Programs for Under-Resourced Communities” Wednesday April 9, on Zoom. (File)

By Jim Murray | Librarian II, Central Library

Major advances in health care delivery in the United States over the past century have not completely solved the problem of patient access. Currently, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designates over 3,400 places in the country as being Medically Underserved Areas (MUA).

Brittaney Jenkins

Part of the reason these areas are underserved is due to lack of available practitioners and facilities, but the social and economic makeup of the population plays a significant part as well. Low income, advanced age, physical isolation, lack of mobility/transportation, and language barriers often impede people getting the healthcare they need.

Join the Birmingham Public Library on Zoom on Wednesday April 9, 2025, for a free one hour training session, Creating Sustainable Health Programs for Under-Resourced Communities.

Are you connected with an organization or agency that is working to help alleviate the problems faced by medically underserved, or under-resourced, communities? If so, would you like to learn how to develop more effective healthcare programs that help fulfill your mission and generate positive outcomes?

The session presenter is Brittaney Jenkins, founder and CEO of Jenkins Public Health Consulting LLC in Birmingham. She has over 10 years of experience working in the areas of public health education, advocacy, and consulting. Prior to coming to Birmingham, she served as Director of Community Outreach at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a B.S. degree in Public Health from Ball State University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.

What: Creating Sustainable Health Programs for Under-Resourced Communities

Date: Wednesday April 9, 2025

Time: 12:00 p.m. CDT

Where: Virtual on Zoom | A Zoom link will be sent to you once you register

Details: The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, please visit the BPL’s online event calendar and click on the class date  OR go to the Jenkins Public Health Consulting LLC website. 

For more information about the session, please contact Jim Murray of the Central Library’s Business, Science, and Technology Department by email at jim.murray@cobpl.org or by phone at 205-226-3640.

 

Auburn Advances to Final Four; Will Face Florida in All-SEC Semifinal

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Birmingham Times
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Auburn will face Florida, which beat Texas Tech 84-79 in the West Region final, in an all-Southeastern Conference semifinal on Saturday in San Antonio. (Associated Press)

BY CHARLES ODUM | Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP)  — Johni Broome held his injured right arm through most of Auburn’s Elite Eight postgame celebration. That didn’t keep the star forward from climbing a ladder to cut down the net he then wore around his neck.

Broome had 25 points and 14 rebounds and Auburn took command with 17 unanswered points in the first half to beat Michigan State 70-64 on Sunday and complete a sweep of No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four.

“You talk about delivering again at the biggest moments,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said of Broome.

Auburn (32-5) earned its second Final Four trip, while Michigan State (30-7) fell short in its bid to send coach Tom Izzo to his ninth national semifinal. Pearl also led Auburn to its only previous Final Four appearance, in 2019.

The South Region champion Tigers, the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, became the last of the No. 1 seeds to advance to the Final Four — joining Florida, Duke and Houston.

Auburn will face Florida, which beat Texas Tech 84-79 in the West Region final, in an all-Southeastern Conference semifinal on Saturday in San Antonio.

“Unfortunately there will only be one SEC team playing for the national championship,” Pearl said, also wearing a net around his neck.

Jaxon Kohler led the Spartans with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jaden Akins had 15 points.

Broome fell on his right arm while attempting to block a shot with 10:37 remaining and left the game. He was escorted to the locker room for a quick examination. Broome, the Associated Press SEC player of the year and a first-team All-America selection, appeared to hurt his right elbow on the fall.

Broome returned with 5:29 remaining, drawing an immediate ovation from Auburn fans. He had the elbow wrapped and sank a 3-pointer less than a minute later. He also grabbed a rebound with one hand.

“It was a scary moment,” Broome said. “I went down but my team had my back.”

Broome said he was told by a team doctor “nothing serious” was wrong with the elbow, which appeared to bend at an ugly angle on his fall.

“I bet he’ll be sore tomorrow,” Pearl said.

Broome made 10 of 13 shots from the field, including each of his two 3-pointers.

“That’s why he’s an All-American,” Izzo said. “That’s why he’s a player of the year candidate. Did a hell of a job. … We did most of the things we wanted to do except guard Broome a little better.”

Auburn was the only Elite Eight team to win each of its first three March Madness games by double digits, including its 78-65 Sweet 16 victory over Michigan. Michigan State rallied for a 73-70 win over Mississippi in the Sweet 16.

The Spartans led 8-6 before the Tigers took command with the 17-0 run. The Spartans were held scoreless for 5:46 while missing 10 consecutive shots during the Auburn run.

A 3-pointer by Broome capped the run for a 23-8 lead.

Auburn led 33-24 at halftime. The Spartans pulled within five points at 35-30 early in the second half but got no closer.

It’s the first time all top seeds have reached the Final Four since 2008, which was the only previous year of all No. 1-seeded semifinalists since seeding began in 1979. And higher-seeded teams went 12-0 in regional semifinals and finals for the first time since the tournament expanded in 1985.

“That means the people that get the criticism … the selection committee, must have done a damn good job,” Izzo said.

Added Pearl: “I think the four teams that advanced are the four best teams in the country and that doesn’t always happen.”

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