A History Of Tuberculosis In Alabama
Homewood residents were startled late last month when Homewood City Schools announced that a freshmen at Homewood High School was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). For most people, the respiratory disease tuberculosis is an anachronism, but it still kills more than a million people each year, mostly in developing countries.
“Not surprisingly, TB has a long history in Alabama as well,” says Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD. Patterson recently wrote about TB’s history in Alabama. He says, in the 50’s, TB was a leading cause of death in Jefferson County.
“In 1964, lights in the shape of a Christmas tree decorated the side of the Vulcan tower and would glow red whenever there was a new TB diagnosis — like the statue’s torch did at the time for traffic fatalities,” says Patterson.
Patterson joins WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about TB’s legacy, and his interview with Dr. Edward Khan, medical director for disease control at the Jefferson County Department of Health, on the Homewood TB case.
Trump freezes $18 billion in funding for NYC, home to key Democratic leaders
On the first day of the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration froze "roughly $18 billion" in infrastructure projects for New York City, home to two of Trump's Democratic congressional opponents. It's not the first time Trump has threatened city funding over politics.
When will the government reopen? Here’s how long past shutdowns lasted
Government shutdowns lasting more than a few days were relatively rare — until recently. The 2018-2019 shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, stretching on for five weeks.
Lawsuit filed against immigration authorities after U.S. citizen’s arrests in raids
An Alabama construction worker and U.S. citizen who says he was detained twice by immigration agents within just a few weeks has filed a lawsuit in federal court demanding an end to Trump administration workplace raids targeting industries with large immigrant workforces.
What will Congress do after the shutdown? We asked a Republican and a Democrat
Most of the federal government is shut down after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement. We asked two House members — a Democrat and Republican — where they think talks go from here
The BET Hip Hop Awards cut the cord as DEI dies
The show's suspension comes amid broader efforts to curb diversity at the institutional level. The next attempt to canonize the movement must learn lessons from its successes — and its missteps.
Trump’s controversial nominee drops bid to head vital data-gathering agency
Trump's pick to lead the agency tracking unemployment and inflation has withdrawn after withering criticism from across the political spectrum. The White House says a new nominee will be named soon.