Blueprint Birmingham

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2010/09/blueprint.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:480;s:4:"file";s:21:"2010/09/blueprint.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"blueprint-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-640x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-600x480.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:480;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-600x480.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:480;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"blueprint-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:239066;s:14:"optimized_size";i:142090;s:7:"percent";d:40.560000000000002;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/09/blueprint.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:84753;s:14:"optimized_size";i:40311;s:7:"percent";d:52.439999999999998;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/09/blueprint-336x252.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23840;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16147;s:7:"percent";d:32.270000000000003;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/09/blueprint-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:47039;s:14:"optimized_size";i:29347;s:7:"percent";d:37.609999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/09/blueprint-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24581;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16624;s:7:"percent";d:32.369999999999997;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/09/blueprint-415x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:32816;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22023;s:7:"percent";d:32.890000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/09/blueprint-353x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26037;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17638;s:7:"percent";d:32.259999999999998;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1664811733 
1285804800

WBHM continues a series of conversations reacting to Blueprint Birmingham. That’s the regional economic development plan announced last week by the Birmingham Business Alliance. It offers a five-year framework for addressing issues from leadership to education to economic growth.

“Birmingham” may be in the title of the plan, but it’s intended to cover a seven county region. Mike Robertson heads the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce. He tells WBHM’s Andrew Yeager it’s not exactly “as Birmingham goes, so goes Chilton County.” But people from his area are connected through jobs, shopping and entertainment.

 

A portion of the plan deals with education, so we hear from one educator, Gardendale High School Principal Anna Vacca. She tells WBHM’s Andrew Yeager that while Blueprint Birmingham has good concepts, it struck her as very Birmingham-centric.

 

Johnnie Wyatt is the general manager of the Fairfield Civic Center. He says he feels Blueprint Birmingham is not that different from previous regional planning efforts. Wyatt tells WBHM’s Andrew Yeager he’s skeptical that people will actually work together.

The Birmingham Association of Black Journalists will host a public forum on Blueprint Birmingham on Tuesday, September 28th at 6:00 p.m. Panelists include Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos and area business leaders. The forum will be held in the Alabama Power Auditorium, 600 North 18th Street, Birmingham.

 

Thursday the Birmingham Business Alliance unveils Blueprint Birmingham. It’s a five year, economic development plan for the Birmingham metro area. BBA Interim President Barry Copeland spoke with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager about Blueprint Birmingham. Copeland says the first of four parts of the plan encourages public and private leaders to collaborate on issues and not “go it alone.” Next, is workforce development.

 

 

 

Mexico: The cumbia DJs of the streets

One of the most listened-to genres in the Americas, photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

AI’s getting better at faking crowds. Here’s why that’s cause for concern

Odd fingers and faces in the crowd of a recent Will Smith concert video led to suspicions of AI. But AI is improving fast, and there are serious implications for how "fake" crowds might be coopted.

Sarah Mullally named first woman Archbishop of Canterbury

Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to be chosen to lead the world's 85 million Anglicans.

One of 2 victims in Manchester synagogue attack was accidentally shot by police

Greater Manchester Police named Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66 as the victims of Thursday's attack. Three more remain hospitalized in serious condition.

What to know about former U.K. leader Tony Blair, tapped by Trump for postwar Gaza role

As Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair succeeded in negotiating peace in Northern Ireland in 1998. Five years later, he joined the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq — sullying his reputation ever since.

A public broadcaster’s path after losing U.S. funds: Youth sports and less local news

South Dakota Public Broadcasting says there's an ironic result to President Trump's successful attack on public media: It will have to rely more on NPR programs.

More Education Coverage