GOP Medicaid plans would slash health coverage for millions, CBO confirms
By Stacy M Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
A newly released analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has confirmed that proposals pushed by Republicans in Congress to slash Medicaid spending would result in millions of Americans losing health coverage
The analysis arrives just days before the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to vote on several of these drastic policy changes
See Medicaid, p 6
Trump Administration moves to eliminate Habeas Corpus
By Stacy M Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller confirmed the Trump administration is actively looking at” suspending the writ of habeas corpus a constitutional right that allows individuals to challenge unlawful detention Though framed as a move against undocumented immigrants, historians and legal experts warn the consequences could be far more sweeping, especially for Black Americans
See Habeas Corpus, p 6
Black America celebrates African Descent Heritage of Pope Leo XIV
By Stacy M Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Pope Leo XIV
Black America is taking pride in a truth shaking up the Vatican and resonating through the streets of New Orleans: Pope Leo XIV formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago has Black and Creole roots The Pope’s factual anthropological roots are not just symbolic According to genealogist Jari Honora, his maternal lineage traces directly to the Black community of New Orleans’ 7th Ward with family ties to Haiti and census records identifying his ancestors as Black or Mulatto
See Pope Leo XIV, p 6
Trump abruptly fires Carla Hayden: The first Black woman to serve as Librarian of Congress
By Lauren Burke,
NNPA Congressional Reporter
President Donald Trump abruptly fired the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on May 8 Hayden made history in 2016 as the first woman and first African American to run the Library of Congress Her firing arrived in the form of an abrupt email in the evening hours There are fears that President Trump may also target a second prominent Black federal official, Smithsonian Chief Lonnie Bunch for no other reason than the perceived political bias in a position not known for partisan activity
See Carla Hayden, p 4
Disturbing prank appears to be a growing trend Judges: Pizza deliveries are meant to intimidate
By Evann Gastaldo, Newser
Federal District Judge Esther Salas, whose son was killed
Federal judges have been receiving hundreds of unwanted pizza deliveries since February and no it's not fueled by random acts of kindness The judges say the pizza deliveries are threatening, and largely go to judges overseeing lawsuits that are challenging Trump administration policies, the Washington Post reports
See Judge Esther Salas, p 2
thouse Squar e
Monday, May 12, 2025, the meeting of the Commission was called to order at 5:00 P M All commissioners were present The Commissioners heard and voted on four proposals presented by Ms Brenda Burke, County Administrator She offered four issues on the agenda, for approval by the Commission which were all passed unanimously Commissioner Corey Cockrell welcomed the attendees at the meeting Commissioner Allen Turner led the Invocation, and Commissioner Tennyson Smith led the motion to approve the previous minutes Commissioners Roshanda Summerville
Greene County
and Smith led the motion to approve the agenda The items considered and passed with unanimous vote included the following: (1) approval to the City of Eutaw’s use of six voting machines for an upcoming election; (2) allowing the Greene County Industrial Development Board (GCIDB) to complete the Streetscape Grant (sidewalks around the Old Court House) grant proposal to ALDOT; (3) An extension of one month for county employees with excess vacation time to utilize their benefits; (4) approval of a Beer License at a Truck Stop in Boligee that is located on the interstate
Chairperson Garria Spencer insisted that the six voting machines borrowed by the City of Eutaw be maintained and serviced by ES&S, the same company the county contracts with to assure security by transferring the voting machines
The Commission approved the Finance Report and Payment of Claims presented by Ms Burke and carefully reviewed the Greene County Commission’s bank statement balances when considering the four agenda items
The total funds on the statement are (Unrestricted) $3 224 610 52; ( R e s t r i c t e d ) $7,821,646 63; and (In-
vestments) $1,899,505 22 With the votes on the agenda closed Mr John Cashin was recognized He inquired about the possibility of the Commission joining with other entities including the City of Eutaw, to resurface the airport runway He explained his research on the possibility of matching funds and asked for clarification of the process to move forward Chairman Spencer said he’d take it up with the Eutaw City Council and county engineers and return an answer to Mr Cashin
The meeting was adjourned on a motion of Commissioner Summerville
Feder al cour t strikes down Ala bama ma p, citing r acial
The court ruled Alabama s map violates the Voting Rights Act, ensuring continued use of a courtordered map enabling two Black Congressional representatives
discrimination, defiance
makers to win seats in Congress, in November 2024
representatives to Congress for the first time ever
U S Rep Terri Sewell, D-AL-7, was re-elected, and U S Rep Shomari Figures DAL-2 won his seat in a newly redrawn district designed to comply with the Voting Rights Act
By Bill Britt, Editor-inChief,
Alabama Political
Reporters
In a sweeping rebuke of
racial gerrymandering a federal court has struck down Alabama s 2023 congressional map, ruling that it was enacted with “intentional racial discrimination and violates both the Voting Rights Act and the U S Constitution The decision clears the way for continued use of a courtordered map that, for the first time in state history, enabled two Black law-
The ruling follows a full trial in Milligan v Allen where judges concluded that Alabama lawmakers not only failed to correct the unlawful dilution of Black voting strength but deliberately defied court orders to do so The court found that the Legislature’s actions amounted to “a strategic attempt to checkmate the injunction that ordered it ” Historic Breakthrough in Representation
The remedial map adopted for the 2024 cycle drawn by a special master appointed by the court culminated in a historic breakthrough: Alabama voters elected two Black
“This win is a testament to the dedication and persistence of many generations of Black Alabamians who pursued political equality at great cost the plaintiffs said in a joint statement, emphasizing that “we know that all Alabamians will benefit from today s victory just as we have benefited from the work of others ”
See Alabama Map, p 2
Gr eene County r eceives $41, 263 in BBCF g r ants Black Belt Community Foundation awar ds over $300,000 in community and ar ts g r ants
The Eutaw Police Department reported the following arrests 5/7 - Charbreia Hill of Boligee was arrested on warrants with the Eutaw Police Department Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following arrests 5/6 - Alphonso Norman, 53, was arrested for SORNA violation and illegal possession of a pistol 5/11- Jason Rooney, 48, was arrested for failure to
appear on a stop sign violation The Eutaw Police Department reported the following incidents 5/5 - John Love, of Pine Hill, reported theft of property 1st degree of a motor vehicle
5/7 - City of Eutaw reported damage done to the trees by the old E911 building 5/9 - Talina Reeves of Selma, reported criminal mischief 3rd degree
5/1 1 - Maurie Fulgham (cashier JR Food Mart) reported theft of property 4th degree
5/12 - Barbara Allen reported theft of property 4th degree Greene County Sheriff Department reported the following incidents 5/5 - The State of Alabama reported failure to register as a sex offender 5/10 - Roosevelt Williams reported harassment
Shown above are representatives of Greene County groups awarded BBCF community and arts grants At far right are: Dr Carol P Zippert, a BBCF Founder; Ms Darlene Robinson, BBCF Greene County Board Member and Ms Felecia Lucky, BBCF President
Carla Hayden
Cong Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures
They parade in cap and gown Their entire bodies puffed in pride anticipating honors and acclaims and dreading loss of friends and safe harbor
They sit in cap and gown fidgeting through speeches delivered to inspire yet laden with underlying fear of the unknown
They stand in cap and gown Accepting the scrolls that imprint their departure touching hands that clasps in prayerful message
They dance in cap and gown Joyous in sharing farewells greeting family and friends who tell them they have just begun
They depart in cap and gown ready to party not yet realizing the inevitable challenges they must embrace
We admire them in cap and gown And we call them graduates They call themselves graduates We pray we ’ ve prepared them to continue to grow
Carol Prejean Zippert
The case was first filed in 2021, on behalf of Evan Milligan Khadidah Stone Shalela Dowdy, Letetia Jackson, Greater Birmingham Ministries and the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP The plaintiffs were represented by the Legal Defense Fund ACLU, ACLU of Alabama and the Birmingham-based firm Wiggins, Childs Pantazis Fisher and Goldfarb
U S Rep Terri Sewell offered her own insight on the federal district court s ruling saying “In yet another victory for fair representation a federal court has once again ruled unequivocally that the State of Alabama s 2023 congressional map illegally dilutes the power of African American voters Despite the state’s years-long legal battle to undo our progress this ruling ensures that Black voters in Alabama will continue to have not one but two congressional districts where we can elect a candidate of our choice Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is indeed alive and enforceable!”
Rep Shomari C Figures D-AL-02 said the ruling reinforces the importance of equitable representation for Black voters The court ruled that the congressional districts in the state of Alabama were drawn in a way that did not allow Black people to have fair representation The U S Supreme Court has already agreed once with the earlier ruling in this case and it is my hope that this ruling puts the issue to rest because fair representation is central to the foundation of our democracy ” Court Unmoved by Alabama’s “Defiance”
In its 600-page opinion, the three-judge panel concluded that the 2023 map, like its 2021 predecessor unlawfully diluted Black voting strength by confining Black voters to a single
majority-Black district despite clear evidence that two opportunity districts were both necessary and achievable
“We cannot understand the 2023 Plan as anything other than an intentional effort to dilute Black Alabamians’ voting strength and evade the unambiguous requirements of court orders standing in the way the judges wrote
They found that Alabama’s Black population is sufficiently numerous and geographically compact to form two such districts and that voting in the state remains “intensely racially polarized
The court cited trial testimony in which the state s own legal team admitted that the Legislature “may have been hoping to force another Supreme Court review by refusing to comply The judges rejected this maneuver, writing that “if this record is insufficient to rebut the strong presumption of legislative good faith, then we doubt that the presumption is ever rebuttable ”
A Legacy of Resistance and a New Chapter
Deuel Ross, deputy director of litigation at LDF, stated that Alabama s unprecedented defiance of the Supreme Court and the lower court orders harkens back to the darkest days of American history ” He called the ruling “a reaffirmation of the rule of law and the importance of protecting the fundamental right to vote ” Laurel Hattix, senior attorney at the ACLU of Alabama, said the decision was “an overdue acknowledgment of Alabama lawmakers’ persistent attempts to shut out Black voters from the electoral process ” and added, “for decades, Black Alabamians have organized and fought for not just their voting rights but the voting rights of all
Americans ” Davin Rosborough, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, underscored the broader implications: “The court has once again recognized that in order to comply with the Voting Rights Act it is essential that Alabama s congressional map have two opportunity districts for Black voters ” Preclearance Request and What Comes Next The court permanently enjoined Secretary of State Wes Allen from using the invalidated 2023 map in future elections and ordered continued use of the remedial map through the remainder of the decade A status conference is scheduled for May 28 2025 to determine next steps
The plaintiffs have also requested that Alabama be placed back under federal preclearance, a provision of the Voting Rights Act that would require the state to obtain federal approval before implementing any new congressional map a safeguard typically reserved for jurisdictions with a history of repeated violations
In its concluding remarks the court warned that Alabama’s actions “fly in the face of its own claim that it no longer needs federal oversight, writing: “We are troubled by the State s view that even if we enter judgment for the Plaintiffs after a full trial, the State remains free to make the same checkmate move yet again and again, and again, and again ” As the case now enters a new phase the ruling stands as one of the most forceful judicial rebukes of racial discrimination in redistricting in recent memory and a landmark moment for the future of representation in Alabama
Community Calendar
Judge Esther Salas
Some have even been delivered to relatives of judges, and in a particularly chilling move some have been placed in the name of Daniel Anderl the son of US District Judge Esther Salas who was fatally shot at the family's New Jersey home in 2020 by an attorney masquerading as a FedEx delivery person Senate Democrats are calling on the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate the deliveries, Fox News reports
"What does that say to those judges?" Salas said in a television interview last month, per NJ com "It says I know where you live I know where your kids live And do you want to end up like Judge Salas? Do you want to end up like her son? These are unprecedented attacks on judicial officers One US Circuit judge who spoke to the Post says she's personally received seven unsolicited deliveries over the past few months, including one just after she ruled against the Trump administration an administration that has been brazen in its attacks on the judiciary Reuters recently published a report on the threats judges have faced after ruling against the administration, including threats of violence targeting their families Attorney General Pam Bondi said last week she was "just learning" about the pizza intimidation the Washington Examiner reports
The Greene County Board Of Education
REGULAR SESSION Monday, May 19, 2025 at 4:30 p m in the central office auditorium
May 18- Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Pleasant Ridge will host their Pastor and First Lady
Kenneth Gilmore 1st Pastor ’s Anniversary, at 2:00 p m Rev Matthew Wilson Pastor of Povidence
GIANT KILLERS: MORE THAN TWO (2) BILLION DOLLARS FOR CLIENTS
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Don’t
Poetry
M B C Marion, AL, will be the guest speaker The public is invited
BBCF
Greene County received 13 grants for community and arts projects, in the amount of $41,263 24, awarded to the following organizations: Alabama Art Casting, Boligee Senior Center, Boss Ties LLC, Broader Horizons, Bundle of Joy Praise Team, Eutaw Elderly Village Inc , Greene County Human Rights Commission, Mount Pleasant Home Protection Society, Operations Taking Back Our Community (TBOC), Release the Earth, Society of Folk Arts and Culture (Black Belt Festival Grant ) United Purpose Inc The 2025 arts grants including the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival totaled $14 125; community grants totaled $27 138 24
Ms Darlene Robinson BBCF board member representing Greene County stated that each of the 12 counties has a group of volunteers, known as Community Associates, who raise funds for the Foundation and these resources, which receive a percentage match from BBCF, are allocated in grants to the respective county “We hold a lot of fundraising activities in Greene County, but that money can only be spent in Greene County through grants, she said "We continue our focus on empowering local initiatives by first listening and responding to the very needs voiced by the communities themselves all while fostering growth and impacting the entire Black Belt region ” stated President Lucky
Last week, the Greene County Health System Clinical Team and staff provided comprehensive health screenings for employees of Smurfit WestRock Company The screenings covered personnel at both the Eutaw and Livingston facilities, supporting the company’s commitment to employee wellness and proactive healthcare. Gr eene County Health System conducts health scr eening for Smurfit Westr ock employees
Cook Eriyona Craig Cong r atulations to 2025 GCHS Senior s Correction: Names and / or photos of the following Graduates were overlooked: Perriunna, Jhari, Nichyian and Eriyona The Democrat staff apologizes for the error
Barnes
Graduation will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. BBCF presents grant award to the Society of Folk Arts & Culture which is sponsoring the
Congratulations Alfred Kennard GC is proud Alfred went into the Marine Corps at just 17 years of age, and was recently promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant, the highest rank that an elisted Marine can achieve Alfred is the son of the Late Rev John Kennard and Mrs Pamela Kennard
Note of Thanks
Word cannot express how grateful we are for your support Your generous contribution means so much to us Thank you for standing by us and offering both your friendship and financial help May the Lord bless you Thank You All
Cynthia Burton, a leader and a strong influence in the Tuscaloosa community, died May 7
Her death has deeply touched residents in all of Tuscaloosa County
Pastor Freddie Washington, president of the Community Service Programs of West Alabama Board, said they plan to carry on her legacy and keep her name alive
Cynthia Burton made an irreplaceable impact on
Tuscaloosa, especially at Community Service Programs of West Alabama where she served as executive director Burton led the organization for more than 15 years During her time, she fought hard for countless low-income families across more than nine counties
He said Burton played a crucial role in bringing resources to these families and that replacing her won't be easy "It's going to be extremely difficult to fill the shoes of a Cynthia Burton, said Washington "The networking she did, the partnerships friendships and relationships she built over the years reached beyond Tuscaloosa beyond West Alabama, across the state, and even nationally " Burton s hard work and dedication helped Commu-
nity Service Programs of West Alabama grow in numbers contributions and recognition
"She helped create build up and expand countless programs through CSP, especially when it came to funding and resources," said Washington Now, the organization is taking time to remember reflect and celebrate Cynthia Burton's life and legacy
Cynthia Burton-Pilot traded time for eternity on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at DCH Regional Medical Center Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 17 2025 11am at Cornerstone Full Gospel Church The public viewing will be on Friday May 16 2025, 11am-5pm at Rainey Mortuary Service Rainey Mortuary Service in charge of final care
2025 in Eutaw, AL L to R: Felecia Lucky, BBCF President; Darlene Robinson, BBCF Board Member, Carol P Zippert, Festival Coordinator and Aaron Head, BBCF Arts Coordinator
Perriunna Austin Jhari
Alexis Her man: Gr ace, Grit and Glue
Presi-
Marc H Morial,
dent and CEO, National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com)Trump wants us to be demoralized He wants his despotic plans to be a fait accompli They will be if no one stands in the way But every time we and especially those with power and authority make ourselves into obstacles we also make it a little less likely that the administration’s authoritarian fantasy becomes our reality –Jamelle Bouie
The first 100 days of President Trump’s second administration have been an unrelenting assault on civil rights, civil liberties, economic justice the constitutional separation of powers and the rule of law itself
His administration has upended the global financial system alienated longstanding allies and steered the United States rapidly toward autocracy
He has imposed a grossly distorted version of the nation s history to justify the elimination of pathways to equity and inclusion, and appointed Cabinet members and staffers who have actively embraced conspiracy theories bigotry and racism
Since Trump’s inauguration, at least $9 6 trillion was erased from the U S stock market – more than half of that in just two record-setting days His first 100 days in office have been the worst for the stock market in more than 50 years
His administration has blocked at least $3 trillion in federal spending, defying court orders to unfreeze the funds that tens of millions of Americans rely on to keep a roof over their heads food on the table, and access to lifesaving medical care
The first 100 days of this administration have been an assault on the last 70 years of progress, from Brown v Board all the way forward It is an as-
by Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire com)
-
May we take a moment to mourn the transition of the Honorable Alxis Margaret Herman (1946-2025) the first African American woman who served our nation as Secretary of Labor Nominated by President Bill Clinton her confirmation was no easy feat During her hearings, members of our sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated crowded the Senate chambers in our unmistakable red and white We made a point – Black women are here and we have her back Ultimately the succumbed to our presence, with 85 of them voting in her favor
sault on the American future The administration is trying to convince the American people that the future is a replay of the past Instead of looking forward they've been looking in their rearview mirror
This is reflected in the early verdict of the American people President Trump has the lowest 100day approval rating of any president in the last 80 years, and twice as many Americans give the administration a grade of “F” than any other grade
This is not what people voted for, and it is not what people expected
And so these 100 days of unprecedented chaos have also been 100 days of principled resistance
Within a day of the inauguration, the National Urban League convened dozens of the nation s top civil and human rights leaders for an emergency strategy session and launch of the new Demand Diversity Roundtable to defend equal opportunity for all Americans
Individual Americans, businesses, faith communities, schools, state officials and advocacy organizations including the National Urban League have filed more than 200 lawsuits challenging Trump’s actions as reckless, harmful illegal and unconstitutional “These acts of resistance have resulted in nearly 100 rulings that put a stop – at least temporarily – to some of these actions
The National Urban League also has spearheaded the Fair Budget Coalition, an alliance of civil rights, economic justice, and policy organizations advocating for a responsible federal budget that centers fairness opportunity, and economic security for all Americans including people and communities long overlooked and under-resourced
We’ve mobilized opposition to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) an extremist proposal to dismantle democracy and disenfranchise millions of American citizens
As we mark 100 days into this antagonistic and chaotic administration we take hope and inspiration from the millions of Americans who continue to stand in defense of democracy equality and the rule of law
Alexis was a southern Belle, a velvet hammer She was full of grace, with
graceful ways, but anyone who encountered her should know that grace was not to be confused with weakness She was grace and she was grit because who without grit could manage a strike between UPS and its unionized workers Package delivery was hobbled for fifteen days only settled when Secretary Herman moved into the same hotel that Teamsters leaders and UPS management stayed She shuttled between conference room, not trying to be graceful, but simply direct Yet she was graceful because she carried herself that way, and a 1997 commerce-crippling strike was settled Alexis was grace always grace often administered with a bit of a southern twang It’s not fay-ar, she sometimes drawled when losing a card game It ain’t riiight, she sometimes said, when losing Win or lose, she was always gracious, always ready with the pat on the shoulder the generous hug She was, indeed, the perfect daughter of her mentor, Drouthy Irene Height the longest-serving President of the National Council of Negro Women
Alexis took her Height legacy seriously After leaving government service, she created consulting firms that dealt with diversity and minority hiring issues She served on Fortune 500 boards, including Coca-Cola and Exelon She mentored hundreds of young people and helped place them in impactful positions And she was the glue that brought people together If you attended a gathering in her sprawling home in Northern Virginia, you d not only connect with friends and colleagues you d eat well connect fulfillingly, celebrate milestones like new books, impending births or more, but you’d also observe Alexis taking a person or two aside for a private conversation She was glue She brought people together She was committed to the collective I never heard Secretary Herman raise her voice, but I often saw her firm She was grace but she didn t play She was kind but she didn’t roll over She attracted a coterie of loyal friends and colleagues because she was, indeed loyal and graceful
I am among the many mourning the loss of the Honorable Alexis Margaret Herman, among the many grateful for her legacy As labor is being attacked in the graceless shadow of this feckless administration, her voice is missed and her legacy looms large She was committed to women s empowerment especially Black women s empowerment And she was committed to diversity having worked to convince corporate America that Black women were more than cooks and maid She passed the baton to Black women leaders who will lift her up as they do the work of advancing women in the workplace Her loss is a national loss but for me it is also a personal loss I met her as an undergrad, and she welcomed me to Washington DC when I moved here in 1994 She graced me with her presence when I left Bennett Collen 2012 She was present during many of my milestones gracious
Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author She can be reached at juiannemalveaux com
W hen the Bir ds Stop Singing
By Ben Jealous
(TriceEdneyWire
com)
Where I grew up in California, on quiet mornings, you could hear the birds before anything else –finches warblers sparrows They made the dawn feel like something alive Those songs filled the sky with beauty and made the world feel whole
Now, those voices are going silent
A new study published l a s t week in Science brought stunning news Three out of every four of the 500 North American bird species in the study are in decline Seventy-five percent It is a collapse happening in real time, in our backyards in our forests in our skies
This is not a mystery It is not a natural cycle The reasons are clear – and they are all human-made
We are destroying bird habitats across this continent Wetlands, forests, grasslands – paved over or poisoned We are using pesticides that kill off the insects birds depend on for food We are building in places that block nesting and migration And of course, we are heating the
planet in ways that are driving entire species to the edge
This study is not just a report It is a warning And we should treat it as such
Birds are essential workers in our natural systems
They pollinate plants They eat pests They spread seeds that help entire forests grow When birds vanish entire ecosystems unravel The decline of birds is not a small crisis It is a signal of something much bigger
We are not just losing birds We are losing balance We are watching the Earth’s systems go out of rhythm That is the extinction crisis
Many people still do not realize we are living through a mass extinction –what scientists are calling the sixth in Earth s history
But unlike the one that killed off the dinosaurs, this one is driven by us
Species are disappearing at a rate thousands of times faster than normal We are making this planet unlivable for the creatures we share it with – and eventually, if we are not careful, for ourselves
And yet there is still hope
We have done hard things before We have solved problems that once seemed impossible In the middle part of the last century, America s greatest birds of prey were pushed to the edge of extinction
The bald eagle The peregrine falcon The osprey All were being poisoned by DDT, a pesticide that was weakening their eggshells until whole generations were lost
Car la Hayden
But in 1962, a scientist named Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring She told the truth She connected the dots And people listened The movement she sparked led to the banning of DDT It led to the creation of the EPA And it helped bring our great raptors back from the brink
Today in places like Chicago, peregrine falcons are nesting on skyscrapers In Maryland, where I live, bald eagles fly over the Chesapeake Bay again
That happened because people fought for it That is the power of action guided by truth
We also saw what the world could do when faced with the hole in the ozone layer – another man-made crisis In the 1980s scientists sounded the alarm The world came together to ban the chemicals causing the damage Now the ozone layer is healing We are seeing progress because we acted boldly and together
We can do the same for birds – and for nature itself
It starts with honesty We must name what is happening: a man-made collapse of ecosystems We must reject the lies coming from those who want to bury the science downplay the damage or pretend that nothing is wrong We know the truth And the birds – or the silence where they used to be – are telling it too Then we must act We need to protect the land birds depend on – from forests to shorelines to native grasslands We need to reduce pesticide use and restore pollinator-friendly
habitats We need to pass strong laws that defend biodiversity And most of all we need to stop burning the fossil fuels that are driving the climate crisis and accelerating species loss all around the world Birds are not the only canaries in this coal mine When I was a boy in Pacific Grove CA – known as Butterfly Town USA –they came by the tens of thousands These charismatic critters, each one lighter than a feather were heavy enough in their great numbers to bend the tree limbs on which they would land The same butterfly sanctuary that was home to that marvel this year counted fewer than 250 monarchs From the monarchs to the meadowlarks we are watching life itself vanish in plain sight Simply to go outside – to walk through a field, sit under a tree hike through a park or step into the ocean – reveals the deep truth that we are not separate from nature We are part of it What happens to the birds happens to us And what history shows – from banning DDT to saving the ozone layer – is that we still have the power to change course when we choose to face the truth Let this study be our alarm Instead of having to face the terrible question of how much time we have left, let us focus on what we do now: that the time to act is right now Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania
“Carla, on behalf of President Donald J Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately Thank you for your service, the terse communication to Hayden read The Library of Congress confirmed that Hayden had been informed she was fired by The White House According to the Associated Press, Hayden recently faced criticism from a conservative advocacy group aligned with Trump s political allies The group the American Accountability Foundation accused her and other library officials of promoting children’s books with what it called “radical” themes ” Since his return to office Trump’s Administration has been focused on removing anyone who may disagree with their policy agenda Many of the removals have introduced a sense of partisanship that Washington hasn’t seen in certain sectors such as the Library of Congress “This is yet another example in the disturbing pattern of the President removing dedicated public servants without cause likely to fill the position with one of his ‘friends’ who is not qualified and does not care about protecting America’s legacy,” wrote House Democrat Rosa DeLauro in a statement on Hayden s firing President Trump s unjustified decision to fire Dr Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress is deeply troubling and just the latest example of Trump s assault on the legislative branch of government It s also the latest demonstration of his blatant disregard for public servants who dedicate their lives to serving the American people wrote U S Senator Alex Padilla of California in a statement late on May 8
Some Constitutional experts are encouraging Hayden to sue since she is part of the Legislative branch serving Congress but was fired by the Executive branch which does not authorize or supervise her position She is also the guardian of Federal records and has challenged Trump for his handling of Federal documents in his first administration
Honoring Mother’s Day
By Marian Wright Edelman
Mothers Grandmothers Women
We have so much work to do
So many mothers and infant lives to save So many child dreams to realize and hopes to nourish and protect
Our countries and a common world to change and such long distances to travel from waging war to waging peace; from sickness and death to health; from doubt to faith in Creator s feminine spirit within Let some of us you and I begin this minute on that journey
To speak for those unable to speak for themselves
To stand with those who cannot stand alone
To gather family and friends to stand with us
Let us begin this day singing a new song for all our mothers and sisters and brothers and fathers and children around our world who are our own
For mothers and for all those with a mothering spirit, there is so much work to do Mother s Day is often a time when families show appreciation by encouraging mothers to rest, maybe beginning with that lovingly homemade card and breakfast in bed But many mothers know well that even at those rare times when our hands are still, our creative minds and hearts are never fully at rest, whether filled at any moment with worries dreams, plans, or prayers
On this Mother s Day weekend I share again special prayers for all mothers and all those who are tirelessly sowing seeds of life and hope for the future
**
A new baby is born
A new gift of life
A new gift of love
A new gift of joy
A new gift of hope
Make us good stewards of Your faith in the future
**
Dear God I thank You for the gift of this child to raise this life to share this mind to help mold, this body to nurture, and this spirit to enrich
Let me never betray this child s trust, dampen this child’s hope or discourage this child s dreams
Help me dear God to help this precious child become all You mean him to be
Let Your grace and love fall on him like gentle breezes and give him inner strength and peace and patience for the journey ahead
**
God, help me to weave a tapestry of love and not hate in my children, a spirit of tolerance and caring and a dedication to freedom for all and not just some God help me to sow seeds of peace and justice in my children’s hearts today
**
Thank you, God, for Your never-ceasing love and inexhaustible well of hope through the gift of children
**
Oh God help us to be worthy of the children You have entrusted to our care
Marian Wright Edelman is Founder and President Emerita of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start a Head Start a Fair Start a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities For more information go to childrensdefense org
Senate Sketches #1977.....by Hank Sander s The President’s Last Graduation
The President s last graduation When I arrived at Wallace Community College Selma with my wife of 55 years the campus security recognized me and pointed the way to the special parking lot I entered the campus, parked and entered the side door with a sign that read, Invited Guests We sat with other “Invited Guests ” My mind continued to travel back more than a quarter century The president’s last graduation!
I have attended a number of graduations at Wallace Community College Selma I have spoken at two of the graduations All have been rewarding experiences However this one on May 9, 2025, was more impactful for a special reason The president s last graduation!
I became the State Senator for Dallas and seven other counties in 1983 I was never invited to a graduation at the college In fact I was informed by others that I was persona non grata at events on the Wallace Community College Selma Campus All this changed in 2000-2001 That was the first year Dr James Mitchell served as president The president’s last graduation!
I was not only a member of the Alabama State Senate, but I was Chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee commencing in 1995 This committee handled the multi-billion dollar education budget I was able to help many public education entities However, local racial politics prevented official invitations to visit the community college campus This was true even with the African American president of the college the immediate predecessor of Dr Mitchell The president’s last graduation!
I met with Dr James Mitchell soon after he was appointed President I think I met with him before he arrived on campus Chancellor Fred Gainous of the Alabama Post-Secondary System encouraged him to meet with me as well as others in Selma We went to Strong s Restaurant for fried catfish taken from the Alabama River Dr Mitchell had never eaten catfish The president’s last graduation!
Dr Mitchell told me that a number of persons had already advised him not to talk to me or my wife and law partner Rose Sanders (now Faya Rose Toure) or my law partner J L Chestnut Jr He was determined to meet with anyone in Selma and beyond who wanted to meet with him The president’s last graduation!
Dr Mitchell presided over many graduations in his years as president When he arrived he indicated that he would be retiring in 10 years After 10 years he said “My work is not complete ” He stayed for a total of 25 years and presided over many graduations The president s last graduation!
There were about 400 graduating students at the president’s last graduation The entire program lasted less than an hour Dr
Mitchell is known for programs that move along
This one moved I later learned that the administration had divided the ceremony into two graduations because projected bad weather prevented an outside graduation ceremony The gym would not hold all the graduates along with their families and friends The president’s last graduation!
I remembered how the campus looked when Dr Mitchell first arrived It was downtrodden Now, on May 9, 2025, it looked like a well-kept university campus In my mind I ran through the many improvements made over the years This was in programs as well as buildings The president’s last graduation!
Before Dr Mitchell arrived, it was difficult for students of color to get into the nursing programs
Now the nursing programs and all academic programs are open to all students regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds The number of academic programs have expanded greatly under Dr Mitchell s leadership The college is in excellent academic standing It is recognized not just in Alabama but well beyond The president’s last graduation!
I soon realized that Dr Mitchell was a truly exceptional college president
Over the years I had noticed that some leaders are good administrators but cannot envision that which was not yet in existence A few able to envision but could not administer Dr Mitchell was and is a visionary and an administrator He also was and is a task master in administration and a man of real courage generally The president’s last graduation!
Dr Mitchell was particularly adept at handling finance He took strong stands against waste, fraud, corruption and abuse He ran a tight financial ship
Some people were always looking for something to discredit him but they failed because there was nothing As he leaves the presidency, the college has no debt It is in great financial as well as academic condition The president s last graduation! The initial buildings on campus have been upgraded Even the roofs look new Three new buildings have been constructed A fourth is in the works None were financed All were built within Dr Mitchell s strict financial framework The president s last graduation!
Dr Mitchell was not just excellent with college academic programs and campus developments; he was excellent in the community He understood and took seriously the community in community college He worked with economic development He worked with transportation including the Craig Field Airport He worked with culture initiatives including the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, the largest annual gathering involving voting rights in the United States of America He cofounded and leads the Selma to Montgomery March Foundation He
helped to establish the Black Belt Community Foundation which has grown into a financial force within the community He worked with K-12 education initiatives, including widespread dual enrollment programs across the Black Belt He worked with anyone really who would work with him
The president’s last graduation!
Graduations have a special spirit at Wallace Community College Selma There is this unique combination of accomplishment mixed with hope, faith and vision It is wrapped in an overarching spirit derived from overcoming great odds Dr Mitchell is known to find a way for any student who really wants an education to attend the college The president s last graduation!
When Dr Mitchell casually mentioned during the graduation that this was the last graduation he would preside over the audience broke into a hearty applause of appreciation I was glad that people appreciate how great and rare and excellent a college president Dr Mitchell is The 400 students were graduating so was their President Dr James Mitchell was graduating to a well-earned and long-delayed retirement The president s last graduation!
Now on to the Daily Diary
Saturday, May 3, 2025 – I had come to Montgomery on Friday for a movie and dinner and remained overnight for an early morning program the next day I awakened and headed for the Alabama New South Coalition 40th Annual Spring Convention I attended an opening session, three panel discussions (I chaired one panel on education) and a luncheon I also met with New South members before returning to Selma where I worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Alabama New South Coalition President Everette Wess, Board Chair Sylvia Fitts and State Coordinator Shelley Fearson; Roger Watts, Roberta Watts and Robert Avery of Gadsden; United States Congressman Shomari Figures; and Faya Rose Toure, Ainka Sanders Jackson and Rebecca Marion of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee
Sunday – I walked hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Margaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio Station and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; Askhari Little of Washington D C ; Black Belt Folk Roots Festival leader Dr Carol P Zippert and Richard Graham of Jefferson County
Monday – I handled many matters as I worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Selma Uni-
Announcement
versity President Dr Stanford Angion; John Stamp of the Black Belt Law Group; Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton; and Josiah Jackson of Morehouse College
Tuesday – I walked handled many matters, attended the 50th birthday celebration of my son and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Greene County School Superintendent Dr Corey Jones; Dorothy Hulett and Rosie Whiting of Lowndes County; Law Professor Kindaka Sanders; and Dr Ernest Okeke of Selma
Wednesday – I handled many matters as I worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Angela McCullough, Marquita Johnson, Hassan Caldwell, Algia Edwards, Levon Agee, Kenny Johnson and Christopher Mooney of Montgomery; Montgomery businessman Steve Thomason; and Latonia Tisdale of Alabama Power Company
Thursday – I walked, handled many matters, participated in a statewide conference call along with several in person meetings and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Gloria Pompey, Josephine Curtis, Marilyn Cosby, Geraldine Wofford, Karen Jackson, Charlene Williams and Junior Oliver of Selma; Dr Rhoda Johnson of Tuscaloosa; Lowndes County School Superintendent Samita Jeter; Greene County Democrat Co-Publisher John Zippert; Yvette Patterson of Lowndes County; and Mary Coleman of Selma who is recovering
Friday – I handled many matters attended a college graduation and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Wallace Community College Selma President Dr James Mitchell and wife Priscilla Mitchell; Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr ; Barbara Turner of Monroe County; Dallas County License Commissioner Sandra Cowan; and Sabrena Fulford of Wallace Community College Selma
EPILOGUE – Good leaders take a little and do a lot to make life better for their communities Bad leaders take a lot and diminish that which is already good Dr James Mitchell is an excellent leader He left the college and community much better than he found them The president’s last graduation!
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Boligee, will celebrate its annual Women’s Day on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 11:00 a m Dr Karen Lewis, Boligee Senior Citizens Program Director, will be the guest speaker
The public is invited
Rev John C Glass, Jr , Pastor
Fortune 500 Companies
Renege On Climate Commitments
Shashwat Mishra May 8, 2025
Dear EarthTalk: Which
U S -based Fortune 500 companies are turning their backs on previous climate commitments and which are forging ahead toward carbon neutrality?
L J , via email
Microsoft is among the Fortune 500 companies still leaning into their climate commitments Credit: Angel Bena, Pexels com
Microsoft is among the Fortune 500 companies still leaning into their climate commitments Credit: Angel Bena, Pexels com
Many Fortune 500 companies have pledged ambitious climate goals including net-zero emissions and investing in renewable energy But while some are making meaningful progress, others are quietly scaling back Economic pressures, shifting political landscapes and industryspecific challenges have led some corporations to depri-
Pope Leo XIV
oritize sustainability raising concerns about the future of corporate climate action
One of the most notable examples is BP which recently announced a shift away from its previous renewables target, doubling down on fossil fuel production Other energy companies have also weakened their emissions reduction targets Some have cited
By the Europeans own 1/8th rules, we have a Black Pope, noted author Elie Mystal declared “Anyway Pope’s grandfather is Haitian We kind of got a Black Pope ‘End Woke’ is not gonna be happy about this ” Further, New Orleans historian Jari Christopher Honora also speaking to the National Catholic Reporter and Black Catholic Messenger detailed how the pope’s grandparents married in 1887 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church on Annette Street in New Orleans before migrating north His mother Mildred Martínez, was the first child in the family born in Chicago “The Holy Father ’s ancestors are identified as either Black or Mulatto, Honora said
The Chicago Tribune and New York Times also reported on Pope Leo’s mixed-race background and Creole lineage, noting that his election marks a defining moment in the Church’s evolving identity “As a Black man a proud son of New Orleans and the U S Congressman representing the very 7th Ward neighborhood where our new Pope s family hails from I am bursting with pride today ” said Rep Troy Carter
This is history! The first American Pope, with Creole and Haitian roots, rising from the streets of New Orleans to the Vatican As a Xavier University alum I know how deeply faith and resilience run in our community We celebrate this moment with joy, with prayers and with pride ” Former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial called Leo XIV’s background “universal,” saying, “Here’s an American whose ministry was in Peru, who has roots in the American South and also ancestry in the American Black community
Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian Order, named after the African theologian St Augustine of Hippo His election came from a conclave in which two other leading contenders Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo were also men of African descent
But Leo XIV stood apart not just as the first pope from the U S but as one known for his outspokenness on racial justice, immigrant rights, gun reform, and the abolition of the
Ha beas Cor pus
The Constitution is clear Miller told reporters The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in time of invasion Miller cited immigration at the southern border as justification using language similar to what President Trump has repeatedly described as an invasion But civil liberties advocates and Black historians say suspending this right a cornerstone of due process would reopen legal pathways used throughout U S history to detain punish, and silence Black Americans From the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 to Reconstruction-era terrorand Japanese internment in World War II, the right to habeas corpus has been both a shield and a last resort for marginalized people Its suspension has consistently led to devastating consequences
“Black Americans remember what happens when the government has unchecked power to detain, wrote historian Amanda Tyler author of Habeas Corpus in Wartime This isn t new It s the same mechanism that was used to capture fugitive slaves and suppress Black resistance during Reconstruction In 1850 Congress passed a law that denied suspected fugitives any right to testify in court or even seek habeas relief Free Black Americans were captured alongside escapees “It meant no Black person in the North was safe,” wrote historians James and Lois Horton who documented how the law turned states like Massachusetts into hunting grounds for slave catchers backed by federal power The parallels are striking Today, many of the deportation cases the Trump administration wants to fast-track involve habeas claims legal challenges asserting that the government has no lawful basis for detention One such case involves Rumeysa Öztürk a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was jailed for 45 days without charges A federal judge in Vermont ordered her release after she filed a
Medicaid
The CBO report addressed to Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden and House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr , outlines five Republican-backed Medicaid policy options that would significantly reduce federal spending
The agency estimates that under the proposed changes as many as 8 6 million people could lose Medicaid coverage and up to 3 9 million would become uninsured “This CBO report further confirms what we already knew – that Republicans in Congress are willing to sell out millions of working families to give their billionaire friends another massive tax break said Kobie Christian spokesperson for Unrig Our Economy Republicans in Congress have been gaslighting the American public by claiming to be against Medicaid cuts, while actively trying to take away health care from millions of working-class Americans ”
The proposals outlined in the CBO s letter are capping federal contributions to Medicaid reducing the matching rate for states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and repealing enrollment rules designed to streamline access to Medicaid and CHIP Each of the first four policy options would force states to respond by cutting provider payments, reducing benefits, and slashing enrollment The fifth option alone repealing the Eligibility and Enrollment final rule would eliminate coverage for 2 3 million people, most of whom are low-income seniors and people with disabilities Donald Trump and Rubber Stamp Republicans in Congress are lying to the American people about their plans to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history ” warned Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
The CBO analysis confirms House Democrats’ warnings that the GOP proposals would force states to raise taxes, cut education spending or push people off health insurance,” Jeffries said “Rather than working to improve the Medicaid program congressional Republicans are continuing a 15-year-old fight to repeal the Affordable Care Act,”
economic uncertainty and fluctuating energy prices as reasons Meanwhile, in the tech and retail sectors some firms have quietly abandoned carbon neutrality goals, either removing or delaying key targets without much public acknowledgement
While some corporations are stepping back, others are pushing forward with their climate goals Tech giants like Microsoft Apple and Google remain leaders in sustainability continuing their investments in carbon removal, renewable energy and energy-efficient operations Microsoft has reaffirmed its goal to be carbon negative by 2030 and is expanding its use of carbon capture technology In the automotive sector some companies are maintaining their transition to electric vehicles, despite policy uncertainties Ford and GM for example, continue to in-
vest in EV production and infrastructure though the pace has slowed
Retail and consumer goods firms are busily reducing plastic waste adopting sustainable packaging and decarbonize supply chains efforts that align with consumer demand
Former Unilever CEO Paul Polman, a strong corporate sustainability advocate warns about the risks of companies backtracking: “Businesses that fail to take sustainability seriously will not have a seat at the table in the future economy
In some cases, companies are accused of greenwashing making sustainability claims without meaningful action The growing use of carbon credits is also controversial as critics argue some businesses rely on offsets rather than directly cutting emissions Investor and consumer pressure remain key forces in corporate sus-
tainability As regulations tighten and the clean energy market expands, companies that continue investing in sustainability may gain a competitive edge Meanwhile those that scale back risk reputational damage and financial consequences For consumers, staying informed and supporting businesses that remain committed to sustainability is one way to influence corporate behavior CONTACTS Why Big Corporations Are Quietly Abandoning Their Climate Commitments EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk See more at https://emagazine com To donate, visit https://earthtalk org Send questions to: question@earthtalk org
death penalty TIME Magazine reported that his selection represented a Vatican rebuke of efforts by wealthy Americans and political operatives aligned with Donald Trump to influence the papal outcome
Known in Rome as “The Latin Yankee ” Leo XIV used his verified X account (@drprevost) to amplify criticism of Trump-era immigration policies, often reposting commentary from respected Catholic figures The New York Post reported that his last post before his election was a retweet of Catholic journalist Rocco Palmo slamming Trump’s alliance with El Salvador s President Nayib Bukele over migrant deportations Back in 2017, the Roman Catholic leader also reposted a message quoting Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, calling Trump s refugee bans a dark hour of US history
Though Trump offered lukewarm congratulations from the White House driveway his far-right allies were quick to lash out Laura Loomer tweeted, WOKE MARXIST POPE, calling Pope Leo “just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican ”But outside the MAGA echo chamber, in Black communities across the globe, the emotion is pride The pope is Black ” journalist Clarence Hill Jr said bluntly And that means something in the Black neighborhoods of Chicago and the Creole corridors of New Orleans
Many said it means representation resilience and the reshaping of history at the highest level of the Catholic Church “We celebrate this moment not because it erases the struggles of our past but because it affirms that our faith our heritage and our presence matter
Rep Carter said “This is history, and it belongs to all of us ”
The Reverend Dr Benjamin F Chavis, Jr affirmed, On behalf of the Black Press of America as the authentic voice of 50 million African Americans and millions more throughout the African diaspora, we join to celebrate Pope Leo XVI, a world leader of African descent who speaks truth to power with courage and grace ”
habeas petition arguing her detention was based on her political speech and not any crime Miller hinted that such judicial checks on the executive branch are part of the reason for considering suspension It depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not, he said That sentiment echoes past abuse During Reconstruction, Congress had to pass the Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871 to protect Black citizens from paramilitary terror The act allowed President Grant to suspend habeas corpus not to restrict civil rights but to crush white supremacist violence
Now the suspension is being considered not to protect Black life, but to expand detention powers in the name of immigration control Critics say that opens the door to much broader repression “The legal history is clear,” said Tyler Suspending habeas has often led to the erosion of other rights especially for Black people ”
The fear isn t hypothetical In 1786, a Black father named Cato used a writ of habeas corpus to rescue his daughter Betsey from re-enslavement in Pennsylvania Their case became one of the first major freedom suits in U S legal history Even during Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus in 1862 a fierce backlash followed Lincoln justified it during a rebellion Critics warned then as now that the nation cannot preserve itself by abandoning the very liberties it claims to protect Stephen Miller s comments come at a time when millions of Americans are already concerned about voter suppression, militarized policing, and authoritarian tactics For Black Americans the prospect of suspending habeas corpus rings especially loud When we hear this, said one civil rights attorney “we don’t just hear a legal argument We hear footsteps from the past
noted Andrea Ducas vice president of Health Policy at the Center for American Progress “This new CBO report confirms that each of congressional Republicans latest proposals would kick millions of the most vulnerable Americans off their health care, all to pay for tax giveaways for the president’s billionaire donors ”
The report also arrives as Senate Republicans voted 53–47 to confirm Frank Bisignano former Wall Street executive and self-described DOGE person as the new head of the Social Security Administration drawing harsh criticism from Democrats and advocates During his confirmation hearing Bisignano dodged questions from Senators Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden about the agency’s cuts and the use of cryptocurrency-related tools in sensitive federal databases
In recent months, under the Trump administration, the SSA has shuttered field offices laid off 7 000 employees and made it harder for Americans especially seniors and rural residents to access benefits Reports from outlets including Axios, NPR, and the Washington Post highlight the collapse of customer service at the SSA long wait times and the inability of many Americans to apply for benefits online or by phone “Republicans just handed over the future of Americans’ Social Security to Frank Bisignano, a Wall Street stooge said Ken Martin Chair of the Democratic National Committee “Just like Trump and Musk, Bisignano will gladly put Social Security on the chopping block to line the pockets of billionaires and special interests Democrats argue the Republican strategy cutting Medicaid and destabilizing Social Security amounts to an allout war on working-class Americans The CBO report estimates the GOP s Medicaid policy shifts would reduce the federal deficit by as much as $710 billion over the next decade, but at a devastating cost: loss of care, rising outof-pocket expenses and widening inequities in health access “Crafting health care policy is not an academic exercise; for tens of thousands of Americans it s a matter of life or death,” Ducas noted
STATE OF ALABAMA D E PA RT M E N T OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES STATE LANDS DIVISION
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUCTION FOR HUNTING LEASES FOR CERTAIN STATEOWNED LANDS
DATE TIME & LOCA-
TION OF AUCTION: No-
tice is hereby given that a PUBLIC AUCTION for lease of certain StateOwned lands FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUNTING will be conducted in the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square, 105 W College Street Columbiana Alabama 35051 on MAY 31 2025 Doors will open for bidder registration at 8:15
a m and the Auction bidding will begin at 10:00 a m It shall be the absolute and sole responsibility of the bidder to arrive sufficiently prior to tract bidding to ensure sufficient time to complete registration as a bidder
WRITTEN ABSENTEE
BIDS (WABs): For individuals not electing to attend the Auction, WABS will be accepted separately for each individually numbered tract (in its entirety) as set forth in the COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AUCTION FOR HUNTING LEASES FOR CERTAIN STATEOWNED LANDS ( Complete Announcement”) found at https://www out-
d o o r a l a b a m a c o m / p u b l i cnotices/hunting-leases
WABs must be submitted to and received by the State Lands Division NO LATER THAN 4:00 p m , Wednesday May 28 2025 at its office located at 64 North Union Street, Room 464 Folsom Administrative Building Montgomery, Alabama 36130 (36104 if delivered by express courier such as Federal Express, UPS, etc ) Lump sum bids for all tracts multiple tracts or portions of tracts will not be considered WABs received in accordance with the Complete Announcement will be publicly opened by the State Lands Division at its office in Room 458E beginning at 9:00 a m on the following day, and results will be posted as a “Listing of High WABs by Tract Number” as soon as possible following the opening at h t t p s : / / w w w o u t d o o r a la b a m a c o m / p u b l i c - n otices/hunting-leases An individual submitting a WAB for a tract still may elect to attend the Auction and participate in oral bidding at a higher bid amount, if desired FOR BOTH WABS AND ORAL BIDDING:
Prior to submitting a WAB or bidding at Auction, interested parties MUST review BOTH the COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT and the COMPLETE LISTING OF THE 140 HUNTING LEASE TRACTS across 32 counties ( Complete Tract Listing”) which detail specific requirements related to this Announcement and tracts available for bidding including, but not limited to WAB and oral bidding requirements, MINIMUM BIDS, BID DEPOSITS lease terms eligibility exclusions reservation of rights, and payment of appraisal and advertisement fees For copies of the Complete Announcement, Complete Tract Listing Tract Maps and Sample Lease go to h t t p s : / / w w w o u t d o o r a la b a m a c o m / p u b l i c - n otices/hunting-leases or call the State Lands Division at (334) 242-3484
A Bid Deposit is required for each separate WAB (enclosed separately with each WAB submission) WABs submitted without such Bid Deposit will not be considered Unsuccessful bidders deposits will be returned as soon as possible following the Auction To be declared the oral high bidder at the Auction, the highest oral bidder for each tract must immediately deliver the Bid Deposit If the highest oral bidder fails to immediately present such bid deposit satisfactory to the State Lands Division, the bidder will be disqualified for that tract and bidding for the tract will resume Upon completion of the lease transaction a successful bidder s Bid Deposit will be applied to the lease rental amount
ALL BID DEPOSITS must be in the form of a CERTIFIED or CASHIER S CHECK (NO PERSONAL CHECKS OR CASH ACCEPTED) made payable to the State Lands Division for no less than the amount identified as the BID DEPOSIT for that individual tract below and in the Complete Tract Listing
A potential bidder desiring to schedule a tract inspection (as State Lands staff availability and scheduling allows on a workday) should also call the above number No inspections will be conducted after Friday, May 23, 2025
STATE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS
LOCATION OF PROPERTIES SUBJECT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT:
Only tracts required to be published pursuant to the Land Sales and Leasing Act, Code of Alabama, 1975, §9-15-70 et seq (LSLA) are listed below The listing of certain tracts below and in the Complete Tract Listing specifically identified as having no public access does not constitute any representation or guarantee that other tracts do have public access
#2 Choctaw County – T9N, R3W, the E2, the N2NW, and the S2SW of Section 16; containing 481± acres Minimum Bid - $4,612 79 (Bid Deposit shall be $922 07 )
#14 Fayette County –T13S, R11W, the E2SE of Section 22; the SW the NWSE and the NE lying southwest of Eldridge Road in Section 23; containing 379± acres Minimum Bid$4,275 12 (Bid Deposit shall be $854 53 )
#16 Fayette County –T13S, R11W, the SWNE lying southeast of Castleberry Road, the W2SE, the SW, and S2S2NW lying south of Castleberry Road in Section 25; the E2SE lying east of Castleberry Road in Section 26; containing 321± acres Minimum Bid - $4,076 70 (Bid Deposit shall be $814 85 )
#19 Fayette and Marion Counties –T13S, R11W, the SE lying south of SR118 in Section 11; the E2E2 of Section 14; the NE lying northeast of Eldridge Road in Section 23;
and the N2N2 and the SWNW of Section 24; containing 514± acres Minimum Bid - $4 656 84 (Bid Deposit shall be $930 88 )
#23 Lowndes County – T13N R15E the S2 east of Dickie Road in Section 19 less N2NESE; the W2SWNWSW of Section 20; the S2NWNW and the SWNW of Section 29; and the N2 east of Salem Road in Section 30; containing 514± acres Minimum Bid - $10,691 20 (Bid Deposit shall be $2 137 75 )
#25 Marion County –T10S R13W entire Section 16; containing 640± acres Minimum Bid$5,062 40 (Bid Deposit shall be $1 011 99 )
#26 Marion County –T10S, R14W, entire Section 16; containing 640± acres Minimum Bid$4,960 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $991 51 )
#29 Mobile County –T1N, R4W, the NW4, the W2 of the NE4 of Section 5; the NE4 of Section 6; T2N, R4W, all of Section 29 lying south and west of Nobodies Creek; and a 60 foot roadway between Nobodies Creek and Beverly Jefferies Highway being 30 feet on each side of the following described centerline: Commencing at a concrete monument for the existing SW corner of Section 29, T2N, R4W, Mobile County Alabama and run S89°55'E along the existing south line of said Section 29 for a distance of 1232 26 feet; thence run N00 05 E for a distance of 216 97 feet to the Point of Beginning; thence run N11°56'18"E for a distance of 435 80 feet to the Point of Curvature of a curve to the right; thence run along said curve to the right having a Radius of 670 00 feet, Chord Bearing and distance of N27°54'25"E and 368 65 feet, for a distance of 373 46 Feet to the Point of Tangency of said curve; thence run N43°52'32"E for a distance of 364 85 feet to the Point of Curvature of a curve to the left; thence run along said curve to the left having a Radius of 830 00 feet Chord Bearing and distance of N28°25'40"E and 442 15 feet for a distance of 447 55 feet to the Point of Tangency of said curve; thence run N12°58'49"E for a distance of 62 92 feet to the South Right-of-Way line of Beverly Jefferies Highway (80' R/W) for the Point of Ending; T2N R4W, the SE4; all of the SW4 lying East of the Mississippi State Line; the S2 of the NE4; the S2 of the N2 of the NE4; and all of the W2 of the NW4 lying East of the Mississippi State Line, in Section 31; T2N, R4W, the W3/4 of Section 32 lying south and west of Nobodies Creek the W2 of the SE4 of Section 32 East of Nobodies Creek less and except the N400' of said W2 of the SE4 of said Section 32, East of Nobodies Creek containing 1 308± acres Minimum Bid$14,728 08 (Bid Deposit shall be $2 945 13 )
#43 T u s c a l o o s a County – T19S R7W the S2 of Section 34; the W2SW of Section 35; T20S, R7W, the N2NE, the SWNE the E2NW the NWSE, the SESW and the N2SW of Section 3; the entire Section 4; containing 1400± acres Minimum Bid - $9,800 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $1,959 51 )
#44 T u s c a l o o s a County – Alabama Department of Mental Health Institutional land within T20S, R11W, part of the W2SW west of Upper Columbus Road in Section 17; the S2SE, the NWSE, the E2SW and the SWSW of Section 18; the NE, the
N2SE the SESE and the NENW of Section 19; the W2NW excluding a 10 acre out parcel the W2SWSW, the NWSW, the N2NE, the N2SENE, and the NENW of Section 20; containing 883± acres Minimum Bid - $6,401 75 (Bid Deposit shall be $1 279 86 ) Note: Officers and employees of the Alabama Department of Mental Health as well as members of their families shall be excluded from submitting bids for this tract
#57 Walker County –T14S R8W the W2SW of Section 29; the SWSE and the SWSW of Section 30; the NE, the N2SE, the S2NW and the NWNW of Section 31; the N2NW the SWNW, the N2SW, the SESW and the S2SE of Section 32; the SWSW of Section 33; and T15S, R8W, the NENE of Section 5; containing 920± acres Minimum Bid - $9 696 80 (Bid Deposit shall be $1,938 87 )
The following tracts have no public access:
#88 Greene County –T19N, R1E, the entire Section 16; containing 640± acres Minimum Bid$11,264 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $2,252 31)
#90 Greene County –T22N, R2E, the NE and the E2SE of Section 16; containing 250± acres Minimum Bid - $4,300 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $859 51)
#95 Jackson and Madison Counties – T1S, R3E, the S2SE of Section 17; the N2NE of Section 20 and the SENW, the S2NE, and the N2SE of Section 21; all along the Jackson/Madison County boundary; containing 360± acres Minimum Bid$5 803 20 (Bid Deposit shall be $1 160 15 ) #96 Jackson and Madison Counties – T2S, R3E the N2SE and the E2SW of Section 18; the N2NE, the E2NW and the NESW of Section 19; and the NWNW of Section 20; all along the Madison/Jackson County boundary; containing 400± acres Minimum Bid$8,140 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $1 627 51 )
#100 Madison County – T1S, R2E, the NENE, the SW and the S2SE of Section 1; the SENE and the SWSE of Section 11; the NWNW the S2NW the E2SW and the NENE of Section 12; the N2NW of Section 13; the W2NE and the SENE of Section 14; containing 800± acres Minimum Bid$11 264 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $2 252 31 )
#114 T u s c a l o o s a County – Alabama Department of Mental Health Institutional land within T21S, R11W, the S2SE of Section 20 excluding the 5 acres south of Commerce Road; the NE excluding the 15 acres south of Commerce Road the N2SE the SESE, the SENW east of the north fork of Taylor Gulch and the N2SW east of the north fork of Taylor Gulch, of Section 29; containing 426± acres Minimum Bid - $5 853 24 (Bid Deposit shall be $1,170 16 ) Note: Officers and employees of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, as well as members of their families shall be excluded from submitting bids for this tract
#115 T u s c a l o o s a County – Alabama Department of Mental Health Institutional land within T21S, R11W, the W2NW, the SENW west of the north fork of Taylor Gulch and the N2SW west of the north fork of Taylor Gulch, of Section 29; the NE, the
N2SE and 32 acres of SENW east of Romulus Road, of Section 30; containing 401± acres Minimum Bid - $4,671 65 (Bid Deposit shall be $933 84 )
Note: Officers and employees of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, as well as members of their families shall be excluded from submitting bids for this tract
#136 W a s h i n g t o n County – T4N, R1E, the N2 and part of the S2 of Section 16; containing 536± acres Minimum Bid - $10,720 00 (Bid Deposit shall be $2 143 51 )
#137 W a s h i n g t o n County – T4N, R1W, the entire fractional Section 16; containing 640± acres Minimum Bid - $7,206 40 (Bid Deposit shall be $1 440 79 ) Patricia Powell McCurdy
State Lands Director DATE: April 17, 2025 4tcg 4/23,30, 5/7,14 IN THE MATTER OF IN THE PROBATE COURT OF THE ESTATE OF
GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA SINNIE NEAL RICHARDSON, DECEASED
CASE NUMBER: 2023067
NOTICE OF SALE OF PROPERTY REAL PROPERTY
Pursuant to an Order of the Probate Office of Greene County Alabama the following real property will be sold at public auction at 11:00 a m on the 17th day of June 2025 at the Greene County Courthouse, Eutaw, Alabama
Parcel One (House and Lots): Lots 2 3 4 and 5 of Block C of Rosedale Subdivision as shown by map or plat of said Rosedale Subdivision recorded in Map Book 1, page 41, in the Probate Office of Greene County Alabama Revenue Commissioner Parcel Nos 18-08-34-4012-003 000 and 18-0834-4-012-003 001
Parcel Two: From the right-of-way marker 8 + 72 5 on U S Highway No 11, run Easterly along the centerline of said U S Highway 11 a distance of 446 feet; thence N 1º27’ E along the West side of an alley (Old Springfield Road) a distance of 296 feet to the Southeast corner of that parcel of land described in Deed Book 125 Page 465 Probate Office of Green County, Alabama; thence run S 87º55’ W for 100 feet to the point of beginning of herein described property; thence from the said point of beginning run N 88 37 W for 234 8 feet; thence N 17º00’ W for 93 2 feet to a point on the South bank of Barnes Branch; thence along the South bank of said branch a chord of which is S 88 41 E for 207 feet to the Northwest corner of said lot described in Deed Book 125 Page 465; thence South for 90 feet to the point of beginning Said property lies in Section 34, Township 22 North, Range 2 East, Greene County Alabama and contains 0 45 acres, more or less Revenue Commissioner Parcel No 18-08-34-2001-076 000
Parcel Three: From ROW marker 8º 72 5 on Highway 11, run easterly along the center
line of said Highway 11 a distance of 446 feet; thence north 1º27’ east along the west side of an alley for a distance of 296 feet to the point of beginning and the Northeast corner of the lot herein described; thence south 87 55 west a distance of 336 feet to the northwest corner of the lot herein described; thence south 0º30’ west a distance of 138 5 feet to the southwest corner of the lot herein described; thence run in an easterly direction a distance of 343 feet along the north boundary of the O R Brown lot to the west boundary of said alley; thence north 1º27 east along the west boundary of said alley a distance of 120 feet to the point of beginning
LESS AND EXCEPT: Commence at a point in the centerline of U S Highway No 11 at State 8+72 5, thence run in an easterly direction along said centerline for 446 0 feet to a point on the west right-of-way line of an alley or street thence run north 1º27 east along said right-of-way of 211 0 feet to the point of beginning; thence continue along same line for 85 0 feet to a point on the north line of the former Augusta Cockrell property (now William H Frederick) and which is the northeast corner of the lot herein described thence turn 93 32 to the left and run south 87º28’ to the left and run south 1º27’ west for 85 0 feet, thence turn 93º32’ to the left and run north 87º55’ east for 115 0 feet to the point of beginning
Revenue Commissioner Parcel No 18-08-34-2001-074 000 Parcel Four: Begin at the North line of the new U S Highway No 11 and the Western line of the old Springfield Road; thence run in a Northwesterly direction along the West line of the old Springfield Road 137 feet and 7 inches; thence turn an angle to the left 95º and 3”; thence run in a Westerly direction 164 feet and 3 inches; thence turn an angle to the left 87º and 2”; thence run in a Southerly direction 171 feet and 9 inches to the North right of way line of the new U S Highway No 11 on a curve to the left of 3º36”, to a distance of 164 feet to the point of beginning; being in Section 34, Township 22 North, Range 2 East
Revenue Commissioner Parcel No 18-08-34-2001-073 000
Parcel Five: Commence at the Northwest corner of Section 4 Township 22 North Range 2 East, also known as the Point of Commencement; thence run N 87 45’ E 310 0 feet to a point; thence run S 46 17
SPOT and YLI students plant r ose bushes at King V illa ge Complex
The terms of sale are as follows: the parcels will be auctioned off individually and in total The total of the individual bids will be compared to bid(s) for all of the property The higher total shall be presented to the Court for its approval If approved the successful bidder(s) shall close within 60 days from the date of approval On or before 12:00 p m , June 23, 2025, the high bidders shall pay a $1 000 00 deposit for Parcel One and a deposit of 5% of the bid amount for Parcels Two through Five
Rolonda M Wedgeworth Probate Judge
Richard G Cross Watkins Cross, LLC Post Office Box 1528 Livingston Alabama 35470
3tcg 5/14, 21, 28 SECTION 00020 INVITATION FOR BIDS
The Housing Authority of Greene County, Eutaw, Alabama will receive bids for the Modernization of Public Housing Sites AL190-1 VII and AL190-2, VIII, HUD Modernization Project No AL09-P190-501-23, until 2:00 PM (Central Time) on Thursday May 22 2025 at the central office of the Authority, 429 William Branch Heights Drive, Eutaw, Alabama 36442 at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud
The project consists of furnishing all plant labor materials, equipment and all services and performing and coordinating all operations for the Modernization of Public Housing Sites AL190-1, VII and AL1902, VIII, HUD Modernization Project No AL09-P190-501-23 The Work of the base bid shall include, but is not necessarily limited to replacement exterior doors frames and hardware and work incidental thereunto Attention and reference is directed to the General Notes of the drawings Contract documents including drawings and technical specifications, are on file at the office of The Housing Authority of Greene County, 429 William Branch Heights Drive, Eutaw, Alabama 36442 and The Architectural Office of William J Peek, 908 S Hull St , Suite 210, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Copies of contract documents may be obtained by depositing $200 00 with The Architectural Office of William J Peek for each set of documents so obtained Each such deposit will be refunded if the drawings and specifications are returned in good condition within ten days after bid opening
Plans and specifications
Le gal Notices
will be issued only to qualified contractors licensed by the State Licensing Board of General Contractors of Alabama as required by Title 34 Chapter 8 Code of Alabama 1975 as amended
Only bids of such contractors who are duly licensed will be considered Current license number must be displayed on the sealed envelope in which the bid is delivered or the bid WILL NOT be accepted
Bidders are requested to inspect the property and the buildings themselves as well as operations and conditions that may be affected
A certified check or bank draft payable to the order of The Housing Authority of Greene County or a satisfactory bid bond executed by the bidder and an acceptable surety company in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid shall be submitted with each bid
Acceptable
Surety Companies are listed in the current issue of the U S Department of the Treasury, Circular 570
Attention is called to the fact that not less than the minimum salaries and wages as set forth in the contract documents must be paid on this project, and that the contractor must ensure that employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
Contractors are reminded that in accordance with State Law, Alabama General Contractor ’s licensing number shall be displayed on the sealed envelope in which the bid is delivered or the bid will not be accepted
Each bid must include the Representations Certifications and Other Statements of Bidders, 1992 Edition, Non-Collusive Affidavit and the Previous Participation Certificate signed by the bidder and on the correct HUD forms
The Housing Authority of Greene County reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informality in the bidding
Bids may be held by The Housing Authority of Greene County for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from the date of opening of bids for the purpose of reviewing them and investigating the qualifications of the bidders, prior to awarding the contract
The Housing Authority of Greene County
By: Anita D Lewis
Title: Executive Director
3tcg 5/14, 21, 28
STATE OF ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
COLLECTION SERVICES DIVISION
INVITATION FOR BIDS FOR THE SALE OF PROPERTY LOCATED IN GREENE COUNTY ALABAMA
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 40-2923(b) Code of Alabama 1975 that the Alabama Department of Revenue is accepting sealed bids for the sale of the following real properties described below acquired as a result of a Levy Sale Sealed bids shall be submitted online at: h
abama gov until the closing date and time of 11:59 p m , Friday, June 13, 2025, at which time all bids will be opened and read in the Collection Services Division Bids will not be accepted after the above stated date and time
Brief Description of property offered:
THE E ½ OF THE NW ¼ OF SECTION 2 TOWNSHIP 22 NORTH, RANGE 2 EAST IN GREENE COUNTY, ALABAMA, CONTAINING EIGHTY (80) ACRES MORE OR LESS SOURCE OF TITLE: DEED BOOK 136 PAGE 400
The property is located at or near Lamb Road, Eutaw, Alabama 35462; Parcel Identification Number: 1801-02-0-000-002 000#0; as described in Inst Num: 54116- Deed Book 208, Page 434
The parcels are being offered as is and where is without recourse against the State of Alabama Department of Revenue It is the responsibility of the bidder to inspect the property conditions before submitting a bid by drive-by only, without trespassing on the property in any manner Bidders must agree to all terms listed online before submitting a bid If you wish to bid on this property please complete the Sealed Bid Form online
The minimum bid for this parcel is $100 000 00
EACH bid submitted online must be accompanied by an EFT bid deposit payment of ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the
bid Any bid submitted without payment of the bid deposit will not be considered The deposits of unsuccessful bidders will be returned following the bid closing date
NO BID SHALL BE RECEIVED FOR ANY REASON ANY TIME AFTER THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE IT SHALL BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BIDDER TO ENSURE ACTUAL RECEIPT OF THE BID BY THE COLLECTION SERVICES DIVISION PRIOR TO THE ADVERTISED DEADLINE
The Alabama Department of Revenue reserves the right to withdraw the property from sale at any time and the right to reject any or all bids
For more information about the sale contact: Alabama Department of Revenue
Collection Services Division-Sealed Bid Sale
P O Box 327820
Montgomery AL 361327820
Telephone: (334) 2421229
3tcg 14 21 28
Legal Notice In Re: Johnnie Wayne Cleckler deceased Letters Testamentary having been granted to Shirley Faye Pigg on the 5th day of May, 2025, by the Honorable Rolonda M Wedgeworth Judge of Probate for Greene County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said Estate are required to present same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred
Shirley Faye Pigg
Executor
Zane L Willingham
Attorney at Law
Griess, Shaw & Willingham, P C 315 Main Street
P O Box 528
Eutaw AL 35462
Phone: 205-372-9333
Fax: 05-372-4027
www eutawlaw com
See Legal Notices, p 9
On April 21, 2025, SPOT and YLI students planted rose bushes at the entrance to the King Village Complex Each year, YLI students across the United States and abroad plant trees to help enhance their environment The students selected King Village for this year ’s project The students also planted a rose bush in the yard of Mrs DeCharo Rice in memory of her husband, Mr Tony Rice In 2023, Mr Rice assisted the students with their first tree planting at Robert Brown Middle School On last year, the students planted trees at the Boligee Community Center The students would like to thank Greene County Children’s Policy Council, members of Alpha Beta Nu Omega Chapter, Judge Lillie Jones-Osborne, and their parents for assisting them in planting the trees YLI (Youth Leadership Institute) is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc® , Alpha Beta Nu Omega Chapter YLI is open to students ages 11-13 (boys and girls) and is a youth-led leadership development program designed to empower and engage youth The SPOT is a mentoring program sponsored by the Greene County Children’s Policy Council
LEGAL NOTICE
S T Bunn Construction Co Inc hereby gives Notice of Completion of contract with S T P N U - H S I P - 0 0 0 7 ( 5 5 5 ) Greene County
This notice will appear for three (3) consecutive weeks beginning on April 30 2025 and ending on May 14, 2025 All claims shall be filed at 611 Helen Keller Blvd Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 during this period
S T Bunn Construction Co Inc 4tcg 4/30, 7,14 21
SECTION 00020
A D V E R T I S E M E N T FOR BIDS
Separate sealed bids for the construction of Greene Track Lagoon Project Project No
CS010941-01 will be received at 639 Black Bears Way Tuscaloosa Alabama 35401 until 10:00 oclock A M C D S T JUNE 10 2025 and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud
The Notice to Bidders, Form of Bid Form of Contract, Plans, Specifications, and Forms of Bid Bond, Performance and Payment Bond, and other Contract Documents are open to public inspection at the office of SENTELL ENGINEERING, INC , 639 Black Bears Way Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Copies may be obtained by calling Tuscaloosa Blueprint at (205) 752-9825 and request the plans and upon a payment of Eighty Five Dollars ($ 85 00 ) All checks shall be made payable to Tuscaloosa Blueprint No refunds will be given for plans
Each bidder must deposit with his bid security in the amount form and subject to the conditions provided in the Notice to Bidders
Pre-Bid Conference
A pre-bid conference for the project will be held on, MAY 20 2025 at 10:00 A M located at Sentell Engineering, Inc 639 Black Bears Way Alabama 65401
The successful bidder will be required to furnish in satisfactory form, within ten (10) days of Notice of Award to Contract:
(a) A Performance Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount of the contract price
(b) A Payment Bond for one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount of the contract price
(c) Adequate Public Liability and Workmen's Compensation Insurance
The attention of all bidders is called to the provisions of State Law governing "General Contractors" as set forth in Chapter Eight of Title Thirty Four of the 1975 code of Alabama as amended
All BIDDERS must comply with the requirement of the Contractor s Licensing Law of the State of Alabama and be certified for the type of work for which a proposal is submitted The submission of the BIDDER’s current State of Alabama License number will be required before his/her BID will be received or considered and shall be written on the outside of the envelope in which Bid is submitted
All Bids must be plainly marked on the outside of the envelope:
BID FOR: Greene County Water & Sewer
Authority Greene Track Lagoon Project
Le gal Notice
Project No : CS01094101
Opening on JUNE 10, 2025 @ 10:00 AM
No Bidder may withdraw his bid within 60 days after the actual date of the opening thereof
The owner reserves the right to waive any informalities or to reject any and all bids
Greene County Water and Sewer Authority 3tcg 5/8 15 22
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
The Town of Boligee is soliciting proposals from qualified firms and individuals interested in providing professional services related to the preparation and implementation of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds available from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
PROGRAM ADMINIS-
TRATION: These tasks shall include but not be limited to, preparation of a grant application to be submitted to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and then if the grant is awarded by ADECA, the preparation of an environmental review record; preparation of all necessary documents to remove grant conditions; preparation of requests for state funds to ensure consistency with all Federal and State Accounting procedures; establish and maintain project files; monitor program progress; monitor compliance with all applicable Federal and State requirements; assist with the preparation of bid and contract documents; and preparation of all reports as required by ADECA inclusive of preparation of close-out documents for submission to ADECA upon project completion All applicants must submit their qualifications, list any prior experience with Community Development Projects in the State of Alabama, list any experience with other federally funded projects and list any previous experience within the Town of Boligee All applicants must include a lump sum fee for all services to be provided from project initiation through project close-out
Proposals will be rated according to the following criteria:
Experience with the Community Development Block Grant Program-30 points
Professional qualifications-20 points
Knowledge and familiarity with the community-20 points
Experience with Federally funded projects-20 points
Cost of services to be provided 10 points
These proposals are being requested in accordance with 2 CFR 200 UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS COST PRINCIPLES AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FEDERAL AWARDS and the modified” Common Rule as adopted by the State of Alabama A contract will be awarded to the qualified applicant whose proposal is determined to be the most appropriate The Town reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any irregularities or informalities in the proposal process
Envelopes containing proposals must be sealed
and labeled on the outside as follows: Statement of Qualifications for Grant Administration Services Town of Boligee Community Development Block Grant and be mailed or hand-delivered to Sharon Washington Town Clerk Town of Boligee 17404 CR 20, Boligee, AL 35443
All proposals shall contain original signatures facsimile copies will not be accepted Statements of Qualifications must be received no later than 4:00 pm on Thursday June 5 2025 The Town of Boligee is an Equal Opportunity Employer Funding for this project will be provided by the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program and all applicable federal requirements shall be met Minority and women owned business enterprises, as well as Section 3 persons and businesses are encouraged to submit proposals All firms shall be active in sam gov
Hattie Samuels Mayor Town of Boligee 3tcg 4/7,15, 22
NOTICE TO PUBLIC REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
ENGINEERING SERVICES
The Town of Boligee is soliciting statements of qualifications from qualified firms and individuals interested in providing professional services related to the preparation and implementation of a Community Development Block Grant funds available from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs
ENGINEERING SERVICES: These tasks shall include but not be limited to assistance with preparation of a grant application to be submitted to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), and then, if the grant is awarded by ADECA the level and scope of services to be provided by the consultant will be determined by the Town A lump sum, fixed price fee will be required Engineering services for all stages of design, bidding and construction of the project are required Examples of services which firm must be prepared and qualified to provide shall include but not be limited to the following: The preparation of all necessary construction plans and specifications the preparation of all bid documents and supervision of the bidding process that is consistent with Local, State and Federal regulations, the provision of on-site resident inspection services during the construction process in addition to regular progress reports to the Town At the completion
of construction the project engineer shall conduct a final construction inspection and issue a final certificate of completion As-built drawings shall be delivered to the Town Statements of qualifications will be evaluated and ranked on the basis of the following criteria:
Knowledge of the CDBG program- 20 points
Resources and availability- 20 points
Experience of proposed personnel- 20 points
Understanding and familiarity with the needs and environment of the community20 points
Previous experience in working with locality or localities similar to Boligee20 points
Total possible points to be achieved: 100
These statements of qualificiations are being requested in accordance with 2 CFR 200 UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS and the “modified Common Rule as adopted by the State of Alabama A contract will be awarded to the qualified applicant whose statement of qualificaiton is determined to be the most appropriate The Town reserves the right to reject any or all statements of qualifications, and to waive any irregularities or informalities in the qualifications solicitation process
Envelopes containing statements of qualifications must be sealed and labeled on the outside as follows: “Statement of Qualifications for Engineering Services Town of Boligee Community Development Block Grant and be mailed or hand-delivered to Sharon Washington Town Clerk, Town of Boligee, 17404 CR 20, Boligee AL 35443 All proposals shall contain original signatures, facsimile copies will not be accepted Statements of Qualifications must be received no later than 4:00 pm on Thursday June 5, 2025 All statements of qualifications will be evaluated and an award decision will be made by the Town of Boligee The Town of Boligee is an Equal Opportunity Employer Funding for this project will be provided by the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program and all applicable federal requirements shall be met Minority and women owned business enterprises, as well as Section 3 persons and businesses are encouraged to submit statements of qualifications All firms shall be active in sam gov
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