Monthly Archives:
Issues and Ales Extra: Best Teacher Advice
WBHM’s recent Issues and Ales forum delved into the future of education in Alabama. Panelist and Jemison High School teacher Brooke Elliott took a moment away from the discussion to answer a simple question: “What’s the best piece of advice you received about becoming a teacher?” Listen to excerpts from Issues and Ales: The […]
StoryCorps: “I need to get my last name legally changed, please.”
Gregory and Joshua Laning share their experiences getting their names changed and talk about being one of the first legally gay married couples in Alabama. They had a conversation at Storycorp’s mobile booth in Birmingham, AL
Interview: UAB Space Archaeologist and TED Prize Winner Sarah Parcak
To some, the fact that “space archaeology” is actually a thing will come as news. Practitioners use satellite imagery to discover and analyze ancient ruins, and increasingly, to spot looting. University of Alabama at Birmingham archaeologist Sarah Parcak is a leader in the field, and she’s just been named winner of the 2016 million-dollar TED Prize, […]
Agencies Work to Reduce Alabama’s Infant Mortality Rate
Recently, Alabama saw national attention for the high numbers of women it prosecutes for drug abuse during pregnancy. While critics say drug testing new and expectant mothers may be illegal or unconstitutional, most realize why it’s an issue. Alabama’s infant mortality rate is one of the highest in the nation 49th, right after Mississippi. In 2013, Alabama lost approximately more than 500 infants.
Blueprint Birmingham After Five Years
Five years ago this fall, the economic development group Birmingham Business Alliance announced Blueprint Birmingham. With a big marketing push it was hailed as five-year strategic plan that would change a region that so often lags behind. With that time frame over we talk about what the plan did in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
StoryCorps: “Because I love him.”
Neil Rafferty talks to his partner Mike Rudulph about their emotions before Mikes deployment to Iraq. They had a conversation at Storycorp's mobile booth in Birmingham, AL
Conversation vs. Conversion in LGBT Issues
Members from a range of religious traditions are meeting in Birmingham Friday for a conference that puts the issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people alongside faith. The conference by the Magic City Acceptance Project and Human Rights Campaign Alabama aims to help religious communities accept and advocate for such individuals. Participates are hearing from Reverend Roland Stringfellow. He’s pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit. He tells WBHM’s Andrew Yeager the conference is about equipping participants with tools to have conversations.
Issues & Ales: The Future of Education in Alabama
This year, the Alabama Legislature voted to allow charter schools in the state and expanded the Alabama Accountability Act. What does this mean for the future of Alabama’s public and private schools? Can public education adequately prepare all Alabama children for career success? Join WBHM for Issues & Ales: The Future of Education in Alabama, […]
Grant for BJCTA-MAX Buses, Birmingham and UBER Negotiate
It’s been a busy time for the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority. They were recently awarded a $20 million TIGER grant to improve buses, just weeks after they controversially parted ways with their then-executive director, Ann August. For more on this and other regional transportation news, we turn to Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD.
Dash Cam Video Raises Questions in Birmingham Police Shooting
Birmingham police are reviewing an incident in which an officer shot a suspect on a street in East Lake after dash cam video released this week shows the situation isn't exactly as police reported. The two officers involved say the man pointed a gun at them prompting one to shoot. That officer, Daniel Aguirre, received a departmental award for his actions. The man, Aubrey Williams, survived but faces attempted murder charges. His attorney says the video shows he did not point a gun at the officers. We talk about the situation with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He also talks about a second mistrial in the case of a Madison police officer accused of using excessive force against an Indian man.
Phil Hammonds on Bold Goals for Alabama Education’s Future
In advance of WBHM's and the Southern Education Desk's "Issues and Ales" education forum this evening, former Jefferson County School Superintendent Phil Hammonds joined WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about his prescriptions for improving Alabama’s schools and what Bold Goals Education aims to do.
Artur Davis files suit against AL Democratic Party
A judge will hear arguments on former congressmen Artur Davis’ lawsuit against the Alabama Democratic Party; the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency reopens some satellite driver’s license offices; and an update on Alabama keeping open money losing, state run liquor stores. Kyle Whitmire is state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL.com, he spoke with […]
Trisha Powell Crain Talks Money, Politics, and More in Alabama Education
There's never a shortage of stories coming from Alabama's schools. But before WBHM's and the Southern Education Desk's "Issues and Ales" education forum Thursday evening, we wanted to shed as much light as possible on the big picture behind the headlines. For better or worse, that backdrop always includes money and therefore politics. So our education reporter Dan Carsen sat down with Alabama School Connection founder and BirminghamWatch contributor Trisha Powell Crain to talk about that and more.
Dr. Tondra Loder-Jackson, Discusses Impact of Civil Rights On Education
In advance of the WBHM/Southern Education Desk Issues and Ales forum on the future of Education in Alabama, Dr. Loder-Jackson discussed her research on civil rights in Birmingham schools.
StoryCorps: “We’re just people too.”
Jennifer Sumner and her 12-year-old son Rae talk about the challenges of being transgender. They had a conversation at Storycorp's mobile booth in Birmingham, AL
Musician Chris Thile on Playing Birmingham, Replacing Garrison Keillor
Virtuoso mandolin player Chris Thile performs in Birmingham Monday at UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. He spoke with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley about his varied musical career, why he loves performing in Birmingham and how he feels about his next job: replacing Garrison Keillor as the host of A Prairie Home Companion.
The Financial Confidence Gap
Surveys show women make the majority of purchasing decisions in any given household. But when it comes to confidence with money, they trail men. We talk about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace. Birmingham Business Journal editor Cindy Fisher Crawford tells WBHM’s Andrew Yeager about this Vanderbilt University study and what it reveals about a financial confidence gap.
