🌱 Local Business Sues For Discrimination + BPD $5K Sign-On Bonus

Hey, everybody. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Low clouds breaking. High: 60 Low: 55.

⚡️ Attention, local business owners and marketers in Birmingham! I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to secure your spot now. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. Garden Galley, LLC has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Small Business Administration over alleged discrimination. The owner of the business says that he is being discriminated against as a white man because the SBA prioritized women and the socially and economically disadvantaged with pandemic relief funds. The business owner and his attorneys are citing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
2. The Birmingham Police Department is offering a $5,000 hiring bonus to recruit new and lateral entry officers. Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond said, "As our nation, state, and city work to combat the shortage of law enforcement officers, the city of Birmingham and the Birmingham Police Department will utilize this hiring bonus to attract new officers. " Four new officers graduated from the academy on Friday, and a new group will begin in February. (AL.com)
3. On Monday morning, three people were shot in nearby Bessemer at a home on Southgate Lane. According to police, there was an altercation in the garage before the shooting. All three victims are believed to have been involved in the shooting, and they are all in stable condition. (WBRC)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Birmingham:

• Jigsaw Puzzle Club At Birmingham Public Library (All Day)
• Grab 'N' Go: Christmas Tree Craft At Birmingham Public Library (All Day)
• Basketball Open Play At Levite Jewish Community Center (6:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Alabama Theatre still has some tickets available for its holiday showings. You can watch It's A Wonderful Life on Dec. 13 and Dec. 18, Nightmare Before Christmas on Dec. 15, and Die Hard on Dec. 21. (Alabama Theatre via Facebook)
• Looking for a new job or trying to make a career change? There are currently multiple full-time openings in and around Birmingham. Available openings include customer service representative, advertising traffic coordinator, and administrative assistant. (Birmingham Patch)
• Janet Jackson is coming to Birmingham to perform at Legacy Arena in April. The pop star will be joined by Ludacris, and you can find ticket info here. (AL.com)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (December 13)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (December 15)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. 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.