🌱 Scammer Mailing Counterfeit Checks + Gate City Shooting Victim ID'd

Hello, neighbors! I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening in Birmingham. Keep scrolling for the scoop...

First, today's weather:

Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 85 Low: 69.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. Police have released the identity of the victim of Saturday night's Gate City shooting. 18-year-old Jaylan Bloxom was found injured at the 7500 block of 67th Court Way South. Police were called to the scene at about 7:00 p.m. According to officers, Bloxom was taken from the scene to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead. As of Sunday evening, police have not arrested a suspect. (AL.com)
2. The mayor's proposed budget is coming up short for libraries. Birmingham libraries are seeing their lowest level of funding since the election of Mayor Woodfin, which is set to fall $4 million short of their stated need. Library advocates worry that this shortfall might cause library services to be cut or to become insufficient to support their neighborhood. As of Sunday evening, Mayor Woodfin's office has not made a statement on the matter. (AL.com)
3. Catch them if we can: according to postal inspectors, someone in Birmingham is mailing thousands of counterfeit checks. Local US Postal Inspector Tony Robinson discovered four tubs filled with counterfeit postage and checks. According to Robinson, the mailing is a scam, and while they discovered much of the mail, some of it may have slipped through the cracks. Inside the scam mail, there is a letter that says "congratulations," and includes a check which is counterfeit and allows the scammer to gain access to your bank account. (WBRC)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Monday Matinee at Levite Jewish Community Center (1:30 PM)
• Lee Bryan, That Puppet Guy at Mt. Laurel Library (2:00 PM)
• How Do I Turn This Thing On? at Birmingham Public Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• James Spann shared a striking photo of the storm rolling into the Gulf Coast. Click the link to see the waves, clouds, and shoreline. (James Spann via Instagram)
• Farmers Market at Pepper Place shared a photo from Saturday's market. You can come to see the fresh produce every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Pepper Place. (Farmers Market at Pepper Place via Instagram)
• Greater Birmingham Humane Society shared a photo of Eleanor. The two-year-old cat loves to chill out and cuddle - stop by the Humane Society to meet her today. (Greater Birmingham Humane Society via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update!

— 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.