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Oliver Robinson

Alabama’s top 5 political new stories of 2018

As usual, 2018 was a busy year for state political news in Alabama. From indictments and scandals to big election wins and controversial legislation, here are the top five political stories of the past year. 5. Superfund convictions  After months of embarrassing stories for Alabama politicians, a federal grand jury finally brought some closure to … Continued
December 28, 2018

EPA Region 4 administrator Trey Glenn resigns after indictment

Monday, the EPA Administrator for Region 4, Onis “Trey” Glenn III has resigned just days after a Jefferson County grand jury returned indictments against Glenn and former Alabama Environmental Management Commissioner (AEMC) Scott Phillips on multiple counts of conspiracy and/or complicity to violate the Alabama Ethics Act. “I offer my resignation,” Glenn wrote. “As you … Continued
November 20, 2018

Corruption, pollution and no pollution

Senator Doug Jones and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin have called on the EPA to reconsider placing the 35th Avenue Superfund Site on the National Priorities List (NPL) for a faster and more expensive cleanup. And we heard of a Democratic opponent attacking Congressman Mo Brooks for signing a letter to the EPA supporting an extension of time for … Continued
September 28, 2018

Sewell receives briefing from EPA on 35th avenue Superfund site

Wednesday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, D-Selma, joined Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and local officials at a tour of the 35th Avenue Superfund site. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the officials on the progress being made at the site. “Today elected officials and community leaders received an EPA briefing on the status of the North Bhm … Continued
August 28, 2018

Joffrion calls on Mo Brooks to return “corrupt” contributions

Democratic congressional candidate Peter Joffrion has refused corporate PAC contributions and calls on his opponent, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, to return $30,000 in money he took from PACs associated with Drummond Company, Birmingham based law firm, Balch & Bingham and convicted felons David Roberson and Joel Gilbert. David Roberson and Joel Gilbert were convicted of … Continued
August 24, 2018

Jones expresses concerns over Trump Administration policies

Monday, U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-Alabama) held a town hall event at the historic A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham. “It was because of the incredible work that you did that I am here representing as the first Democratic Senator to represent Alabama in 25 years,” Sen. Jones said. “The first thing I did was … Continued
August 16, 2018

Roberson and Gilbert both found guilty of federal corruption charges

Friday a federal jury today convicted prominent Birmingham attorney  Joel Iverson Gilbert and Drummond Coal executive David Lynn Roberson in a scheme to bribe a state legislator to use his office to lead efforts opposing proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actions in north Birmingham. The convictions in the federal corruption trial were announced by U.S. … Continued
July 20, 2018

Birmingham superfund scam extends well beyond federal courtroom

A scam took place in Birmingham. It involved an EPA superfund site. It involved political corruption. It involved poor, mostly black people getting the absolute shaft by the people who swore oaths to protect them. No, this scam isn’t part of the ongoing Oliver Robinson federal corruption trial. It is very specifically not part of … Continued
July 5, 2018

Ed Henry was the latest victim of Republican greed problem

Another Alabama Republican has been indicted. Another Alabama Republican was caught (allegedly) enriching himself at the expense of taxpayers. Another Alabama Republican who spent his days in the Legislature harping about personal responsibility, bemoaning the moochers who dare utilize America’s social services and looking down on the no-good citizens who had the gall to be … Continued
June 8, 2018

HB317: The players

Sometime after 10 a.m. today, the Alabama Senate will take up HB317, a bill to exempt a specific class of individuals from the state’s ethics laws. During a hearing on the bill before the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh told the committee members that the legislation was, … Continued
March 22, 2018