Latest news with #MagicCityClassic
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greater Birmingham area experienced big tourism boost in 2024: report
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau announced historic tourism data at the organization's annual luncheon Thursday. In 2024, Jefferson County tourism generated the following: A record-breaking $2.57 billion in 2024 economic impact More than 51,000 jobs $302 million in tax revenue 4+ million overnight visitors 'In 2024, major events like MLB at Rickwood Field and the second annual Food + Culture festival put Birmingham in the national spotlight and delivered significant economic impact,' Oros added. 'This new momentum, combined with impact from our celebrated annual events such as the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, SEC Baseball Tournament, Magic City Classic and Birmingham Bowl, produced a strong year of tourism that has positioned us for continued success in 2025.' Taxes generated for the state by tourism in Jefferson County totaled more than $195 million, while local government received $107 million in 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
News 19's Tamika Alexander sits down with Representative Rex Reynolds
(WHNT) — With only one month left in the 2025 Legislative Session in Montgomery, News 19's Tamika Alexander spoke with Rex Reynolds, who has big plans for Alabama. Reynolds plays a key role in overseeing the state's budget, serving as the House Chair of the Ways and Means General Fund Committee. Man from Arab dies following hatchet attack in Arizona Over the last few months, Reynolds, along with other state lawmakers, have been debating bills including gambling, grocery tax and Medicaid expansion. 'My year stats long before the session, but you know, you're meeting with associations that they're typically in the General Fund Budget, but then you're meeting with the department heads, understanding their budget needs,' Reynolds said. 'I work very closely with the Executive Budget Office, or the Governor's Office.' One bill he sponsored has generated plenty of debate. Reynolds' 'Back the Blue' bill provides more protection for police officers by granting them a hearing if they are indicted for any wrongdoing. And in deadly police shooting cases, it gives the officer time to argue that they acted in self-defence much earlier in the process than under the current law. 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. 'There's been liability protections for law enforcement for over 50 years,' Reynolds said. 'But that bill needed to be upgraded based on a couple of Supreme Court Rulings. So we did all that in that piece of legislation. And I think that just, and I told the members this, it better clarifies when an officer does have coverage and when he does not,' Reynolds said. 'Because if they act within the scope of their duty, then they should have protection. If they act recklessly and outside the scope of their duties, then they shouldn't have protection,' Reynolds said. Reynolds has found that balancing the budget comes with both challenges and cuts. Some lawmakers voiced concerns when they noticed the elimination of funding for line items that included the Magic City Classic, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame. When asked what he had to say to people who feel like it was a race issue with those items being taken out of the budget, Reynolds said, 'It was unfortunate it was taken that way.' 'We're having to be a little tighter in the general fund. And so those items, we're just left out, you know, and it was considered to be a racial thing because there were many more, I think I think one line item right below that is, is a black women's mental health line item that was funded.' Reynolds said the Senate budget chairman, Greg Albritton, has assured him that those items will be restored to the budget. Meanwhile, something that won't be restored is the overtime pay tax break that expires in June. This exemption applies to full-time, hourly-wage employees who work more than 40 hours in a week. But Reynolds said the state can't afford to continue it. 'That was a great bill when it went passed its first time, and in fact, I co-sponsored that bill with minority leader, Anthony Daniels. But this time with the package that we've just done, but over $1.2 billion in tax cuts, just this session, we can't do that,' Reynolds said. Alabama became the first state to exempt overtime pay from state income tax. So far, more than 800 bills have been introduced in this session, which is set to wrap up on May 13. The House has already approved the $3.7 billion general fund budget. It now heads to the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why funding was cut in the state budget for Magic City Classic, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — In her budget recommendation, Gov. Kay Ivey cut funding for some line items. This includes money for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Magic City Classic, and Jazz Hall of Fame. Some see it as an attempt to suppress conversations about race. But, others reassure funding will be restored. The state's General Fund made it's way through the House of Representatives this week. Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) said a software program determines what cuts are made. And, some have to be reinstated. He said some were one time appropriations made with COVID relief money and that's why they didn't appear in this year's budget. Sen. Bobby Singleton said he's been assured funding will be restored. 'We thought that was just a stomp in the face to those events that's there, that's most important to those of us in the African American community,' said Singleton. 'Because, it seems like those were the only ones that got struck.' New book on 'Saturday Night Live' creator Lorne Michaels touches on Chris Farley's time in Alabama trying to get clean But, Reynolds said funding for the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Awards also had to be restored. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R) commended Reynolds for his work on the budget this year. He described in a statement that the budget process is calculated and transparent. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is urging Alabamians to call their lawmakers. In a statement, they said in part quote, 'The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will continue to be a beacon of truth, a space for courageous dialogue, and a guardian of the stories that shape our democracy.' Sen. Singleton said they will continue to keep a watchful eye on the budgets. 'We've been seeing how we've been hit over at UAB, and research dollars,' he said of federal cuts. 'And, we're possibly losing doctors, and things of that nature. And, no one in our state is stepping up and talking about it. So, we gotta be the voice for those who need to understand. Because, it's hurting people.' The General Fund passed in the House yesterday without allocations for the Magic City Classic, and those other line items. Reynolds said Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), budget chairman in the Senate, will make the changes when they get the budget sometime next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama House approves $3.7 billion General Fund budget for 2026
Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, the chair of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, listens to a speaker during debate over the fiscal year 2026 General Fund budget on April 3, 2025. The House approved the $3.7 billion budget on a 95-3 vote. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives approved a $3.7 billion 2026 General Fund budget 95-3 on Thursday morning. HB 186, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, is $347 million more than the current budget, about a 10% increase. Black Democrats criticized the budget for cutting appropriations for the Magic City Classic; Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and Jazz Hall of Fame. Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden, said the programs were part of diversity, equity and inclusion and needed to be funded. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'If we don't bring all of the minds, all of the cultures and all of the people together to work on things that affect all of the people, then we develop things in silos,' McCampbell said. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said a senator held a luncheon at the Jazz Hall of fame last week and wondered what happened in a week to the support of the museum in Birmingham. 'A couple of days later, we find out that the small funds that they would be receiving would be cut,' she said. The programs get a total of $2.2 million (0.06%) in the current budget. Reynolds told Givan that the programs would be funded through a Senate amendment. He said the budget was run through a computer program that cut one-time appropriations and that he would be willing to add funds back in for programs that needed it. 'When members came to me and asked me to reinsert those, we often did,' Reynolds said. 'But nobody had requested that those get put back in there.' The House version of the budget is about $6 million higher than Gov. Kay Ivey's proposed budget, filed in February. The chamber also adopted a committee amendment that appropriates money for a statue of Helen Keller on the Alabama State Capitol grounds. Reynolds also offered a floor amendment that added $425,000 for a Transportation Pilot Program under the Alabama Department of Human Resources. It passed 97-0. 'The $425,000 is for SAFE, Mary Hill Family Services Center and Circle of Care Center for Families,' Reynolds said. The Alabama Medicaid Agency, which provides health insurance for over 1 million Alabamians, nearly all children, elderly citizens and those with disabilities, will get $1.179 billion from the state, a $223.8 million (19%) increase over this year. Ivey requested $1.184 billion in February, about $5 million than what the House approved. The Alabama Department of Corrections, which administers the state prisons, will get a $90.1 million increase (11%) to $826.7 million. The Alabama Department of Human Resources, which provides child and adult protective services, enforces child support payments and administers food and family assistance, will get $148.9 million from the state in 2026, a $4.7 million (3%) increase from the current budget. The Alabama Department of Mental Health, which provides mental health care services in the state, will get a $4.7 million increase (2%) to $244 million. The Legislature cut the funding from Ivey's recommendation by $3.7 million. 'Sustainability is always my priority when developing the budget—we must make decisions that the state can afford not only now but, in the future, as well,' Reynolds said in a statement. 'While high interest rates are driving revenue growth in state accounts, that will not always be the case, which is why we must continue to approach this process from a fiscally conservative standpoint.' House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, applauded Reynolds and the committee for their work on the budget. 'Our budgeting process is calculated, transparent, and guided by the principle of not spending every dollar that comes in,' he said in a statement. 'I commend Rep. Reynolds and the members of the House for their work in developing the state's financial plan for 2026 and setting Alabama up for continued success.' The budget now goes to the Senate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon announced as new title sponsor for Magic City Classic game in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The 84th Magic City Classic will be played in late October and will feature a new big-name title sponsor. Officials announced that the big game between Alabama State and Alabama A&M, two historic Black universities, will now be called the Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola. Condon helps No. 5 Florida top No. 7 Alabama 99-94 in key SEC matchup 'We are thrilled to welcome Amazon as the new title sponsor of the Magic City Classic,' said Perren King, Executive Director of the Magic City Classic. 'This partnership represents a shared commitment to education, diversity and economic growth in our community. We look forward to working with Amazon to elevate the Classic experience for our fans and the broader HBCU family.' In 2023 the Alabama Sports Council announced that they signed a four-year agreement with Alabama A&M to manage the McDonald's Magic City Classic for the 2023-2026 events following tense negotiations. McDonald's was the previous sponsor of the game between the two HBCU's. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
