🌱 $20,000 Reward For Tips + $14M Outstanding World Games Debt

Hello and happy Saturday! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through the most important things happening these days in Birmingham. Here's the lowdown...

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First, today's weather:

A thunderstorm in the p.m. High: 86 Low: 73.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. The former president of the International World Games Association is claiming a lack of federal support is the reason for the mounting vendor debt for the event. Organizers still owe vendors a total of about $14 million. Ron Froelich, a 25-year veteran of the World Games, says that the games rely on government funding to continue, while the Birmingham World Games were primarily funded by private sponsors. A plan to pay off the outstanding debt is expected to be announced next week. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
2. After nearly three months with no leads, a grieving family is offering up to $20,000 to anyone who can help police find the killer of 50-year-old David Gibbs Westbrook Jr. On the day of the murder, police were dispatched to 135 54th Street North where they found an SUV that had crashed into a utility pole. It was determined that Westbrook, the driver of the SUV, had been shot. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. (AL.com)
3. Are you planning to host an event in the future? For Black Business Month, you could support one of these four black-owned venues. Ensley Soho in the Ensley Historic District offers space for reunions, banquets, weddings, and parties. Another spot with unique decorations (are you a Golden Girls Fan?) to check out is Avenue D Events. With a different theme in each bathroom, this place is a party all on its own. Click the link to see all four. (Bham Now)

Today in Birmingham:

• District 9 Clean Up at Smithfield Estates (7:30 AM)
• Giant Inflatable In The Outdoor Pool at Levite Jewish Community Center (10:00 AM)
• Ukrainian Food Festival at Independent Presbyterian Church (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Yesterday was World Orangutan Day! The Birmingham Zoo shared photos and videos of Oliver and Lipz hanging out at the zoo. To protect orangutans like Oliver and Lipz, the Zoo asks you to cut down on your use of palm oil, which is in everyday items like soap, cleaning products, and ice cream. (Birmingham Zoo via Facebook)
• City of Birmingham Government's Magic City Spotlight radio show is coming up today at 9:00 a.m. Listen on V 94.9 to hear the conversation about neighborhood revitalization. (City of Birmingham Government via Instagram)
• Birmingham City Schools's Parent and Family Engagement Program is hosting a welcome back party! Parents and families are encouraged to come by next Friday, Aug. 26 at 10:00 a.m. and also at 5:30 p.m. over Zoom. Click the link to see Zoom information. (Birmingham City Schools via Facebook)

That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.