🌱 Bluestone Coke To Pay Fine To Birmingham + Double Homicide Ruling

Good morning, neighbors. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Daily — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 51 Low: 28.

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Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. Bluestone Coke must pay a $925k fine to the Jefferson County Department of Health for air pollution violations at the facility in North Birmingham. A Jefferson County judge signed off on the settlement agreement, which boasts the largest fine ever assessed by the Jefferson County Department of Health. According to the health department, half the money will go to a special fund created to benefit the community, especially the nearby neighborhoods of Collegeville, Harriman Park, and Fairmont. (AL.com)
2. Last week's double homicide at a Birmingham gas station that was sparked by a stolen car was ruled justified. On Dec. 8, Timmeric Leshawn Bryant, 22, and Tobias Estrada McKinstry, 38, were shot to death at the Shell gas station in the 8300 block of First Avenue North. This double shooting marks Birmingham’s 135th and 136th homicides of 2022 — only 10 have been ruled justifiable and therefore aren’t deemed criminal. (AL.com)
3. On Friday, the Birmingham Housing Authority and residents gathered to push for better housing. A community meeting was held to discuss the rebuilding of the historic Smithfield neighborhood, where conditions are bad for many residents and those in surrounding areas. A final meeting was held on Friday before submitting an application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a $50 million grant. (WVTM13 Birmingham)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Cartoon Matinee Triple Feature At Alabama Theatre (8:00 AM)
• Christmas Ham Giveaway At Irondale City Hall (9:00 AM)
• Color Your Holidays At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Reindeer Games At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Scrollworks Solo Recital At Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Of Central Alabama (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Slice Pizza & Brew is opening its fourth location in Crestline Park Shopping Center, according to the Birmingham Business Journal. (Bham Now)
• Congratulations to Ramsay High Senior Anthony Miles who is Vanderbilt-bound next fall! (Birmingham City Schools)
• The Birmingham Police Department would like to congratulate Senior Community Service Officer Vickie Burnett on her retirement from the City of Birmingham after 25 years. Congratulations! (Birmingham Police Department, Alabama)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon!

— 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.