March Storms
A weather service meteorologist says Enterprise High was right in the path of what turned out to be a “very bad storm”. The apparent tornado ripped off the roof of the high school, trapping students inside. The school had originally planned to release the teenagers early, but decided against that, thinking the students would be safer in the building than on buses headed home.
The same storm also caused major damage in downtown Enterprise. More than forty people were rushed to the town hospital for injuries received during the twister. One other Enterprise resident died in the tornado.
The other storm death (the tenth) happened in Miller’s Ferry in Wilcox County. There an apparent tornado uprooted trees, flipped over trailer homes and caused extensive damage. There are reports of a tornado also touching down in Adamsville, in Jefferson County, but that has yet to be confirmed. And no injuries have been reported there.
Late yesterday afternoon Governor Bob Riley declared a state of emergency for Alabama because of the severe weather. This paves the way for any state or federal aid needed in the rebuilding of the communities torn apart by the storms. The governor was expected to tour the damage in Enterprise Friday. President Bush visited the area Saturday.
Including the Alabama death toll, the band of storms is blamed for 20 deaths in the Midwest and Southeast. Nine people in Georgia died when the weather system moved into that state. Earlier in the day a seven-year-old Missouri girl died when a tornado ripped apart the mobile home she shared with her family in a rural, wooded part of Missouri.
Because of the severe weather WBHM was forced to interrupt its regular programming to bring you updates on warnings and watches. If there’s something you would like to listen to in its entirety you can find it at the show’s website.
Justice Department opens investigation into Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor
Federal prosecutors are investigating Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey.
No sign of new protests in Iran as a hard-line cleric calls for executions
A Iran returns to an uneasy calm after protests led to a violent crackdown, a senior cleric is calling for the death penalty for detained demonstrators. His sermon Friday also threatened U.S. President Trump.
Gulf South food banks look back on a challenging year as another shutdown looms
Federal funding cuts and a 43-day government shutdown made 2025 a chaotic year for Gulf South food banks. For many, the challenges provide a road map for 2026.
Measles is spreading fast in S.C. Here’s what it says about vaccine exemptions
More than 550 people have contracted measles in Spartanburg County, S.C., in a fast-growing outbreak. Like a majority of U.S. counties, nonmedical exemptions to school vaccination are also rising.
It took 75 governors to elect a woman. Spanberger will soon be at Virginia’s helm
Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, is breaking long-held traditions on inauguration day. She says she wants her swearing-in to showcase the state's modern vibrancy.
For those with addiction, going into and coming out of prison can be a minefield.
Many jails and prisons around the country don't provide medication treatment for opioid use disorder. Studies show that medication makes recovery more likely and reduces the risk of overdose death.
