Here’s a reminder, as if you need it, that we’re in a big election year. And of course it’s going to get wild. Reaches a fevered pitch every four years. Everybody you know will at some point this summer start believing that you wake up in the morning just to log onto social media and see what they’re mad about.
But if it’s not making you crazy, it can be a spectator sport to watch the gamesmanship and jockeying for position.
That said, today we’ll lead with some election-related sparring.
Voter service or partisan push?
the Alabama secretary of state and an organization that targets specific demographics for voter registration are at odds over some mass mailouts, reports AL.com’s Mike Cason.
The Voter Participation Center and the Center for Voter Information send out mailers with voter registration applications and pre-addressed, postage-paid envelopes.
They target the registration of black people, unmarried women and young people. In Alabama, that means voters who skew more toward Democrats than the overall population. Secretary of State Wes Allen is a Republican, and he’s calling it a partisan effort by the tax-exempt group.
Allen: “On two occasions, this Office was contacted on behalf of Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information regarding a mailer they planned to send to Alabama citizens. In response, I strongly discouraged the group’s plan to mass mail our citizens. This type of targeted, partisan interference by out-of-state, third-party organizations is unnecessary, confusing, and counterproductive.”
The president of the organization, Tom Lopach, said that is a mischaracterization. “The goal of the Voter Participation Center (VPC) and Center for Voter Information (CVI) is to register and turn out eligible voters in Alabama. … Our hope is that all election officials will support our efforts to promote democracy, instead of misleading and alarming voters about our effective and non-partisan voter registration programs.”
Lopach has been chief of staff to a Democratic Montana governor and a Democratic U.S. senator from Montana.
In the market for a campus?
With Birmingham-Southern College having announced it would cease operations at the end of May, given the lack of interest in a state bill to help fund the school, folks are already starting to wonder what’s going to happen to the campus.
Yesterday we mentioned state Rep. Juandalynn Givan’s disappointment in the announcement and her belief that several buyers are interested. On Wednesday she expressed concern over the west Birmingham neighborhood that has in the past also lost a hospital and another college. And state Sen. Roger Smitherman had hopes it would remain a college campus.
However, you can count UAB out as a potential buyer. A spokesperson said the school has no plans to pursue the property, squashing what certainly would’ve become part of the speculation.
If you’re in the market for a college campus, here are a few details: The property covers 192 acres. There are dozens of buildings that include offices, classrooms, residence halls and an apartment complex. There’s a pond and ballfields. And, hey, the apartment complex has a pool.
School officials point out that security guards will be on duty until the property is sold. The United Methodist Center will continue to be open for the public to use.
Red snapper season
For those who plan at least part of your summers around deep-sea fishing, we now know at least the opening date for the recreational red snapper season.
How long it lasts depends on how long it takes to reach the harvest quota, and the harvest quota has yet to be determined.
AL.com’s Lawrence Specker reports that the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has penciled in May 24 as the season opener. During the season, red snapper can be taken Friday through Monday of each week until whenever the end comes. It’ll be open the entire week of the Fourth of July.
It’ll be interesting to see where they set the quota. It’s done by pounds, and two years ago it was more than a million pounds but anglers caught less than half a million. This caused the regulators to worry snapper numbers were down so they cut the quota. Others claim that bad weather and high gas prices kept boats out of the water so much it affected the catch.
How Sweet it is
The University of Alabama men’s basketball team will play in the Sweet 16 at 8:30 tonight against North Carolina. The Tar Heels are the No. 1 seed in the region and favored by bettors. Alabama is a fourth seed.
The game will be televised by CBS, and the winner will advance to Saturday’s Elite 8 round against the winner of the Clemson-Arizona game.
Quoting
“You’ve got an elderly woman going to jail. You’ve got the mayor and a councilman going back and forth. You’ve got the mayor talking about how he wants to do something sexual to the councilman’s wife. You’re really dealing with people who don’t know how to get along.”
Jarvis Escott of the Tarrant industrial development board, on the city’s wild political climate.
By the numbers
Born on this date
In 1957, Auburn sprinter and Olympic Gold medalist in the 4X100m Harvey Glance of Phenix City. He earned his medal in the ‘76 games. He passed away just last year.
On the calendar
May 30-31: The window set for the state to execute Jamie Ray Mills will be between 12 a.m. May 30 and 6 a.m. May 31, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday.
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