The Alabama Power Company board of directors has elected Jonathan Porter vice president of Human Resources and Ethics, effective Feb. 1, 2014.
Porter will be responsible for labor relations, wellness, safety, health and disability management functions as well as delivery of human resource products and services to Alabama Power employees throughout the state. He succeeds Donna Dearman Smith, who is retiring Feb. 1.
At Alabama Power, Porter has held various positions of increasing responsibility. They include senior corporate recruiter, senior human resources business representative, customer service supervisor, assistant business office manager, lead human resources business consultant, assistant to the executive vice president of External Affairs, Birmingham Division area manager and his most recent role as director, Customer Services.
“Jonathan’s wealth of knowledge and broad experience in the company have prepared him for this opportunity,” said Alabama Power President and CEO Charles McCrary. “His work in Customer Services, ensuring our customers are satisfied, should serve him well in his new role.”
Porter serves as a member of the board of directors for the Jefferson County Education Foundation, Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Authority and INROADS Inc. Porter also serves on the board of trustees at Tuskegee University and is president of the Southside Homes Advisory Council  of the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club. He is also a member of the Newcomen Society of Alabama.
Porter is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham, has been featured in Who’s Who in Black Alabama, and was recognized as a “Top 40 under 40” by the Birmingham Business Journal.
Porter graduated cum laude from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While at Tuskegee, Porter was a four-year letterman in football and an All-Conference scholar-athlete. Porter later received his Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
A native of Bessemer, Ala., Porter is married to his high school classmate Kima and is the proud father of daughters Laila and Kailyn.

Former State Representative Earl Hilliard, Jr. has formally announced that he is a candidate for the Jefferson County Commission, District One seat.
“As Commissioner, my priorities will be economic development, fiscal responsibility and cooperative leadership. I will work with the other members of the Commission, as well as other elected officials to help move Jefferson County forward,” stated Hilliard.
Hilliard is a proven leader. He served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2006 – 2010.  He was named freshman legislator of the year by the House Democratic Caucus and served and was recognized for his sponsorship and passage of legislation in the House regarding the implementation of safety initiatives for schools, as well as his work with the Alabama Commission to Reduce Poverty. Hilliard has proven to be successful in the legislative arena by bringing home more than $400,000 for area schools and libraries, including funds to purchase computers, software, library books, professional development, tutoring assistance and other important needs.
Earl Hilliard Jr. is married to Janine Hunt-Hilliard and is the proud father of two children, Nya Nicole and Earl, III.  He is a graduate of Morehouse College, attended the University of Alabama School of Law, and received his law degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. He is a member of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of North Pratt, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Greater Birmingham Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, and the Screen Actors Guild. He also serves on numerous business, civic and community boards.
Hilliard says he is announcing his plans early and is beginning the campaign now because he wants the effort to be strong at the grassroots level. He plans to mount an aggressive campaign throughout the district.
Hilliard’s formal announcement was at the Vulcan Park and Museum on January 23, 2014 at 10 a.m.

Dear Voters:
Anthony “Alann” Johnson is President of Titusville Community. I am a Democratic Candidate running to fill the unexpired term of Alabama State Representative Demetrius Newton. I have the Experience, Education, Integrity to serve the people of House District 53. So on next Tuesday, February 4th, 2014, please vote “THE CLEAR CHOICE – THE PEOPLE’S VOICE” Candidate who has been endorsed by Alabama’s Labor Unions. Upon election I will bring new jobs to our district, rebuild our neighborhoods, protect our senior citizens and make affordable housing a reality. I will work to reopen Cooper Green Hospital and work with the Jefferson county delegation to resolve the problems impacting our county. I am the most-qualified Candidate with PROVEN LEADERSHIP. THE CHOICE IS CLEAR.  Anthony “Alann” Johnson, State Representative House District 53. Proven Leadership that you can SEE!!!!!
Sincerely,
Anthony “Alann” Johnson

During the Birmingham City Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, Council:

Approved an Ordinance to establish an Amnesty Program for the payment of certain outstanding traffic, parking and non-moving violation tickets from February 3, 2014 through March 31, 2014. For more information, contact Councilor Steven Hoyt at 254.2304. 

Other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:

1. Approved an Ordinance “to further amend the zoning district map of City of Birmingham” (Case No. ZAC2013-00019) to change zone district boundaries from R-3 Single Family District to R-5 Multiple Dwelling District, filed by Mike Mouron of Capstone Real Estate Investment, owner, for property located at 4447 Montevallo Road; and situated in the SE¼ of Section 27, Township 17 South, Range 2 West. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Jay Roberson at 254.2498.

2. Placed on consent an Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a Redevelopment Agreement with Firestone Flowers, LLC under which the City will sell property located at 1900 Third Avenue, South, Birmingham, Alabama to Firestone Flowers, LLC for the use value of $25,000.00 in connection with the redevelopment or construction of a mixed use facility within the same block on which the subject property is located and on adjoining property, including the development of one to three freestanding retail uses, the construction of a new building, and the development of 85-105 residential dwelling units and approximately 200 on-site parking spaces. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Marcus Lundy, Jr. at 254.2302.

3. Placed on consent a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Project Development Agreement with Parkside Residences, LLC, under which Parkside Residences, LLC will purchase property located in the 1700 block of first Avenue South, across from the Railroad Park to construct an apartment complex and approximately 3,000 square feet of retail space and the City will provide funding for the cost of the public infrastructure in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Marcus Lundy, Jr. at 254.242302.

4. Placed on consent a Resolution encouraging the Administration of the City of Birmingham to support House Bill 112, sponsored by State Representative Paul DeMarco which authorizes designated city officers or employees of cities in the county to issue motor vehicle registrations and to collect a city issuance fee. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Jay Roberson at 254.2498.

5. Referred to the Utilities Committee an Ordinance to amend Title 2, “General Government”, Chapter 2, “City Council”, Article A, “Meetings, Rules, Procedures and Enactment of Legislation”, Section 18, “Terms of Members of Governing Body of Board or Agency” to prohibit the appointment of a member of the Water Works Board of the City of Birmingham for more than two consecutive full terms under any circumstance. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Lashunda Scales at 254.2349.

6. Referred to the Utilities Committee an Ordinance to establish a method for selecting a member of the Birmingham Water Works Board from a jurisdiction served by the Board outside of the corporate limits of the City of Birmingham. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Lashunda Scales at 254.2349.

Announcements and Reminders:

1. Due to the snow and the potential of ice on the roads, Mayor Bell closed city hall at 12 Noon.

2. CANCELED: The Planning and Zoning Committee scheduled today, January 28, 2014, 4:00 p.m., in the 5th Floor Engineering Conference Room.

3. CANCELED: The Public Hearing with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) regarding the 20/59 Proposal today, January 28, 2014, 4:00 p.m. at St. James Missionary Baptist Church, 1300 24th Street, North.

4. The Western Area Framework Plan Involvement Meeting will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2014, 10:00 a.m., at the Five Points West Library, 4812 Avenue W.

5. The Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, February 3, 2014, 4:00 p.m., in the Birmingham Council Chambers.

6. The Transportation and Communication Committee is scheduled on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 12:30 p.m., Conference Room A.

7. North Birmingham Community Framework Plan Involvement Meeting will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2014, 6:00 p.m., at the Trinity CME Church, 3013 F.L. Shuttlesworth Drive. 

Are you unable to attend the Birmingham City Council meetings?

Watch Council Meetings on demand. From anywhere in the world you can log on to www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org and click on the tab Watch Council Meetings; or from the comfort of your home, tune to Bright House Cable Channel 244. The Birmingham City Council meetings are free and on demand. 

The City of Birmingham will make reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to enjoy all city services, programs and activities. If accommodations are required for public meetings, please contact John Long, Senior Public Information Officer, with reasonable advance notice by emailing John.Long@birminghamal.gov, or by calling 205-254-2036.

Cash for Crooks Div. of Refuge In Trouble Times (RITT), PO Box 28083, Birmingham, Alabama  35228 shares the nine year old story of Calvin Louis Cook, III age 23.
On April 22, 2009 as he sat in his car in the 1500 Block of Bush Boulevard in Birmingham, two people came up in ski masks and shot him, killing him.  Witnesses said that the two then ran away on foot. Cook, an only child and father of four was pronounced dead that night. No arrest has yet been made.
There is still a reward of $5,000 for an arrest/conviction for his murder.  Will you help bring closure to his parents?  In calling PLEASE NO NICK NAMES. Call Crimesstoppers: 205-254-7777 or text CRIMES7777 from your cell.  All info is strickly confidential and NO ONE WILL KNOW YOUR NAME.
RITT works faithfully with Law enforcers worldwide to help solve this and other cases listed here.  If there is a case you need closure on or need to bring back to life, contact odussasplace@yahoo.com or call Minister Ward at 205-240-9910.
Reality is, When It Happens To You,” please don’t let it happen before you get involved.  Make the Call!

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – BankInfo Security has named University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher Gary Warner one of the Top 10 influencers in banking information security. The list, released Jan. 22, acknowledges the roles key individuals are playing in the fight against cyberthreats to information security and privacy.
Warner is the director of research in computer forensics in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at UAB. He is an expert in phishing attacks and international cybersecurity fraud.
He also directs the UAB Computer Forensics Research Laboratory and is chief technologist for Malcovery, a public-private partnership based on research conducted at UAB’s Center for Information Assurance and Joint Forensics Research. Malcovery is the leader in delivering actionable intelligence that can be applied to neutralize the threats and actions by cybercriminals in the areas of phishing, spam and malware.
“I am honored to be included in this list of information security professionals,” Warner said. “At both Malcovery and UAB, I have worked to contribute to the research and application of email-based threat intelligence, a market that is now rapidly emerging in the information security space, and is very important in the banking sector.”

(MONTGOMERY)– Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction of former ACJIC Chief Agent Dennis Bodine for improperly accessing confidential law enforcement information.  On Monday, Bodine, 63, of Foley pleaded guilty in Baldwin County Circuit Court to one count of obtaining criminal offender record information under false pretenses, an unclassified felony, related to his unauthorized use of the Law Enforcement Tactical System (“LETS”) after he was no longer employed with the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
“This case is a sad example of someone misusing an important law enforcement investigative tool, but luckily, state agents caught it quickly,” said Attorney General Strange.  “Our message to all is that the people of this state can rest assured that we will aggressively prosecute those who violate the privacy of Alabama citizens by misusing confidential law enforcement information.”
The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center referred this case to the Attorney General’s Office after discovering the possible LETS misuse by a former employee.  The State’s evidence against Bodine included documents and testimony showing that he used what he believed to be an unmonitored web portal to gain access to LETS to obtain the criminal records of numerous individuals.
As per the plea agreement, Bodine pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining criminal offender record information under false pretenses, an unclassified felony, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, which was suspended for 6 months of probation.  Bodine also agreed to pay a $5,000 fine within 10 days, as well as court costs and $50 to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
The Attorney General commended Assistant Attorneys General Pete Smyczek and Bill Lisenby of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, Litigation Support Paralegal Lucie Welch of his Executive Division, and Special Agents from his Investigations Division, for their successful handling of this case.

Colbert County Sheriff’s Capt. Timothy Vanderford Receives Federal Law Enforcement Award

TUSCUMBIA — Colbert County Sheriff’s Capt. Timothy Bryan Vanderford has received a national law enforcement award recognizing his integral role in the multi-agency investigation and federal prosecution of Ricky Walter Denton for armed bank robbery, identity theft and filing false federal tax returns.
U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot, FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr., and Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May announced the presentation of Vanderford’s award.
James Nolan, president of the Birmingham-based chapter of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, presented Vanderford with the FLEOA’s 2012 State, County, Local or Special Police Investigative Award in a ceremony at the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office in Tuscumbia. IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Matt Austin nominated Vanderford for the award. FLEOA presents national awards annually and last year announced Vanderford as its only 2012 recipient in the State, County, Local or Special Police category.
Vanderford, now Colbert County’s chief investigator, was a sergeant in the department’s Investigations Section when Denton, of Tuscumbia, robbed First Southern Bank in Colbert County in December 2009. The FBI and the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the bank robbery, and Vanderford was instrumental in conducting interviews, executing search warrants and testifying in hearings and at the trial that led to Denton’s armed bank robbery conviction, Austin said in his nomination letter. During the course of the robbery investigation, Vanderford discovered that Denton also was running a federal tax fraud scheme by using stolen identities of Alabama State Prison inmates to create false tax returns. At the time of Denton’s prosecution in 2011, the prison identity-theft scheme was the largest known to the IRS in Alabama, according to Austin. Denton and a co-conspirator, Joann Choat, stole $148,000 from the IRS while Denton was in the state prison system.
“Capt. Tim Vanderford is an intelligent, hardworking, very capable investigator who is extremely diligent in reviewing all aspects of a case for the victim,” Sheriff May said. “I am proud for him; he truly deserves this award.”
“It is always a privilege to work with local law enforcement in an effort to protect and serve the public. We are extremely pleased that Capt. Vanderford, during the investigation, recognized the identity theft scheme and collaborated with us and other law enforcement to bring it to an end,” said IRS SAC Hyman-Pillot. “Capt. Vanderford’s years of training, hard work and perseverance have served him well, and we look forward to working with him again in the future.”
“Capt. Vanderford’s tenacity and attention to detail led to uncovering additional crimes, for which Denton and Choat are now being held accountable. This was simply outstanding work on his part and exemplifies what can be accomplished when law enforcement comes together in a spirit of cooperation with a common goal,” said FBI SAC Schwein.
Vanderford began his law enforcement career with the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office in 1996. He has received many awards for his work during that time, including Officer of the Year from both the Sheffield Elks Lodge and the Colbert County Exchange Club, 1999; Roper Marksmanship Award for Colbert County, 2000; and Alabama Governor’s Office Law Enforcement Medal of Distinction, 2008. Vanderford also is a recent graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Study finds four out of five Black homicide victims were killed with guns
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Black Americans are four times more likely to be murdered than the national average, and four out of five Black homicide victims are killed with guns, according to a new analysis by the Violence Policy Center (VPC). The study finds the Black homicide victimization rate in 2011 was 17.51 per 100,000, while the overall national rate was 4.44 per 100,000. The national homicide victimization rate for white Americans was 2.64 per 100,000.
The annual VPC study, Black Homicide Victimization in the United States: An Analysis of 2011 Homicide Data, is based on unpublished data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR). The study refers to homicide rates in 2011, the most recent year for which comprehensive national data is available. This is the eighth year the VPC has released the study.
Nationwide, there were 6,309 Black homicide victims in 2011. For homicides in which the weapons used could be identified, 82 percent of Black homicide victims (4,949 out of 6,022) were shot and killed with guns. Among the victims killed with guns, 77 percent were killed with handguns.
The study also ranks the states according to their Black homicide victimization rates. For 2011, Nebraska led the nation in the rate of Black homicide victimization with a rate of 34.43 per 100,000.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis that touches all Americans, but the impact on African Americans is especially devastating,” states VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann. “This report should be a wake-up call for our elected officials to address the disproportionately high homicide victimization rate among Black men and women. The longer we wait to act, the more lives will be lost.”

Nationwide, the study finds that in 2011:

·         Of the 6,309 Black homicide victims in the United States, 5,452 were male, 854 were female, and 3 were of unknown gender.

·         The homicide rate for Black male victims was 31.67 per 100,000. In comparison, the overall homicide rate for male victims was 7.13 per 100,000. For white male victims, the homicide rate was 3.85 per 100,000.

·         The homicide rate for Black female victims was 4.54 per 100,000. In comparison, the overall homicide rate for female victims was 1.81 per 100,000. For white female victims, the homicide rate was 1.45 per 100,000.

·         Among the 82 percent of Black homicide victims who were shot and killed with guns, 77 percent (3,824 victims) were killed with handguns. There were 868 victims killed with firearms where the type of gun was not stated. There were 644 victims killed with knives or other cutting instruments, 221 killed by bodily force, and 130 victims killed by a blunt object.

·         Four hundred eighty-seven Black homicide victims (8 percent) were less than 18 years old and 100 victims (2 percent) were 65 years of age or older. The average age was 30 years old.

·         For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 73 percent of Black victims (2,138 out of 2,928) were murdered by someone they knew. Seven hundred ninety victims were killed by strangers.

·         For homicides in which the circumstances could be identified, 70 percent (2,540 out of 3,652) were not related to the commission of any other felony. Of these, 58 percent (1,475 homicides) involved arguments between the victim and the offender.

The 10 states with the highest Black homicide victimization rates in 2011 were:

Rank     State          Black Homicide Rate Per 100,000

1          Nebraska         34.43
2          Missouri           33.38
3          Michigan          31.54
4          Pennsylvania   29.02
5          Oklahoma        25.51
6          Louisiana         25.30
7          Kansas            24.97
8          Wisconsin       23.22
9          West Virginia   22.79
10         North Dakota   21.99

Birmingham, AL – The Birmingham City Council passed a resolution supporting proposed state legislation by Representative Paul Demarco that would allow cities to sell vehicle tags and collect a fee.
The resolution, sponsored by Council President Pro-tem Jay Roberson, is calling for the city to support the bill (HB112) as a convenience to city residents. The issuance of car tags would also add a new source of income for the city.
“Today’s item was to ask the administration to explore HB112 and seek this opportunity to offer car tag renewal service in the city,” said Councilor Roberson. “It allows the citizens to renew their car tags at city hall in the revenue department and online, and would enhance the quality of life for our citizens.”
The House passed the bill last week and it is scheduled to come before the Alabama Senate next.
If approved, Birmingham could begin offering the new service within the next 6 to 8 months after employees are trained on the new system. Car tags would be distributed at city hall or mailed to citizens.