Tornadoes Rip Through Alabama; School Closings and Delays

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/04/April_29_2014_Severe_Weather.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:516;s:6:"height";i:400;s:4:"file";s:40:"2014/04/April_29_2014_Severe_Weather.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"April_29_2014_Severe_Weather-336x260.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:260;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"April_29_2014_Severe_Weather-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:38:"April_29_2014_Severe_Weather-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"April_29_2014_Severe_Weather-401x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:401;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"April_29_2014_Severe_Weather-342x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:342;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"April_29_2014_Severe_Weather-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:424423;s:14:"optimized_size";i:100183;s:7:"percent";d:76.400000000000006;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/04/April_29_2014_Severe_Weather.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:424423;s:14:"optimized_size";i:100183;s:7:"percent";d:76.400000000000006;}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:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}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:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}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
        )

)
1667285049 
1398729600

Powerful storms blew through Alabama Monday afternoon and overnight, killing at least three people in the state, overturning cars and destroying homes. Possible tornadoes hit Limestone and Madison counties before plowing through parts of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties.

Governor Robert Bentley has declared a state of emergency for all Alabama counties. Bentley says 100 national guard members are on standby and ready to help if necessary.

North central Alabama is expecting another round of severe weather Tuesday afternoon. Strong storms will move through bringing the threat of strong winds, hail, heavy rain and more tornadoes. The storms are expected in the Birmingham area after 3 p.m.

School schedule changes on Tuesday include:

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute — Closing at 2pm

Birmingham Public Library — Closing at 3pm

UAB suspending campus operations at 2pm. The Kirklin Clinic closing at 3pm. UAB Hospital remains open. More at uab.edu/emergency

University of Montevallo — Closing at 1pm

Samford University — Closing at 1pm

Alabama School of Fine Arts — Dismissing at 1pm, Tuesday

Bessemer City Schools — Closed Tuesday

Birmingham City Schools — Elementary and Middle, Dismissing at 1pm, High Schools at 1:30pm, Tuesday

Briarwood Christian School – HIgh School will dismiss at 12:00, Jr. High will dismiss at 12:30, K4-TK Normal Carpool, Grades 1 – 6 will dismiss at 1:00 from classrooms, Tuesday

Creative Montessori School — closing at 1pm, Tuesday

Etowah County Schools — Closed Tuesday

Gadsden City Schools — Dismiss at 2pm, Tuesday

Homewood City Schools — Dismissing at 1pm, Tuesday

Hoover City Schools — Dismissing three hours early, Tuesday

Jefferson County Schools — Closed Tuesday

John Carroll Catholic High School – dismiss at 1:30 pm, Tuesday. After School Care and all after school activities have been cancelled

Leeds City Schools — Closing at 2pm, Tuesday

Shelby County Schools — Dismissing at 1pm, Tuesday

Vestavia Hills City Schools — Dismissing 2 hours early, Tuesday

 

You can find additional closing information here.

~ April 29, 2014

 

‘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.

What are your unique holiday traditions? NPR wants to know

The holiday season is full of traditions and we all celebrate them a bit differently. NPR wants to your most unique holiday traditions. What makes celebrating this time of year feel special for you?

More April 2014 Tornadoes Coverage