Counting the Uncounted
People all over the state have been roaming alleys, county roads, homeless shelters and even jails in an attempt to get an accurate count of the homeless population. Doing so will allow Alabama to take advantage of some federal funding it’s lost years past. That money, in turn, will pay for emergency shelters, job training and other services.
Michelle Farley is the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Birmingham Services for the Homeless. Her agency began its count Thursday night and wrapped things up around 7 o?clock Friday morning.
Farley says they don’t have any solid numbers yet, but she expects the city’s homeless population to have increased over the 1,489 counted last year. The rural count, she says, will be trickier. She says rural homeless aren’t as easy to identify as those in urban areas. Farley says there aren’t the shelters out in rural areas you find in cities like Birmingham.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers
While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home?
Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting
The litigation announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser asks a federal judge to block the move as unconstitutional.
Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act
It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.
Huntsville is growing fast. Here’s how it’s stayed affordable
Home prices are rising in Huntsville, but so far, the city’s avoided the skyrocketing costs in other boom towns.

