BW Recommends is a rundown of stories you might have missed this week. It offers insight into issues important to our area and sometimes tickles your curiosity.

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Trump Announces ‘Termination’ of ‘Illegal DEI’ Settlement Over Raw Sewage in Poor, Majority-Black Alabama Communities (Inside Climate News)

Residents of Alabama’s Black Belt fought for decades to get access to one of the most basic of modern conveniences – sewers that work. Two years ago, it looked like help was on its way. The Biden Administration settled a lawsuit in what was called the first time that federal civil rights laws had been used to alleviate an environmental injustice. Now, Trump has terminated that settlement, saying it was “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

A New Kind of High School Diploma Trades Chemistry for Carpentry (The Hechinger Report)

Starting this fall, Alabama high school students can choose to take career and technical education courses in place of upper level math and science. The state will offer two diplomas – the traditional “Option A” diploma and the new “Option B” workforce diploma. The workforce diploma will give students opportunities to get the kind of skills that can lead to jobs right after high school, but it could jeopardize the student’s chances of getting into college.

What Passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 8-10, 2025 (Alabama Reflector)

Legislators return to Goat Hill on Tuesday for the 22^nd day of their 30-day session.

Downtown Birmingham Econ Vitality Report, Q3-Q4 2024 (REV Birmingham)

REV Birmingham released its quarterly report on activity downtown last week. Among its findings, REV reported that employee visits were up more than 10% over the same period a year earlier; however, visits by people who don’t live or work in the area were down 6.5% year over year. The report also includes information on hotel occupancy, tourism, new businesses and other details about downtown.

Alabama Supreme Court Rules in Favor of City Council, Police Chief in Power Struggle With Mayor (AL.com)

Tarrant’s mayor and City Council have been in a power struggle for at least four years. On Friday, the state’s high court sided with the council in a dispute over whether the council or mayors appointed police chief was rightfully in office. But the rulings have not been one sided. Late last year, the high court ruled that the council was wrong to hire a city manager to take over most of the mayor’s duties.

Jefferson Co. Attorney Running for State Auditor (Alabama Daily News)

Vestavia Hills lawyer Derek Chen, a Republican, announced his bid for state auditor.

Alabama’s $60 Billion Question (Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama)

Alabama residents every year receive $60 billion in federal transfers, through programs such as Medicare, Social Security, and veteran’s and unemployment benefits. That’s almost 10 times as much as the auto industry pays in compensation every year. The report includes information such as transfers by county and comparisons to other states.

One-Third of Maternal Deaths Occur Long After Delivery, Study Finds (New York Times)

The rates of death among new mothers has risen nationwide, and a new report shows that about a third of those deaths occur between six weeks and one year after birth, a period not often studied by researchers. Alabama had the highest maternal death rate in the country.