Birmingham’s Forgotten Innovation District

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:360;s:4:"file";s:37:"2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"Innovation-District-Sign-336x202.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:202;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"Innovation-District-Sign-140x140.jpeg";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:35:"Innovation-District-Sign-80x80.jpeg";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:37:"Innovation-District-Sign-600x338.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"Innovation-District-Sign-518x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:518;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"Innovation-District-Sign-442x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:442;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"Innovation-District-Sign-125x125.jpeg";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:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Andrew Yeager
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

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

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:234066;s:14:"optimized_size";i:137835;s:7:"percent";d:41.109999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:92826;s:14:"optimized_size";i:48111;s:7:"percent";d:48.170000000000002;}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:73:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign-336x202.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:15569;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10412;s:7:"percent";d:33.119999999999997;}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:73:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign-600x338.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:45231;s:14:"optimized_size";i:29837;s:7:"percent";d:34.030000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:73:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign-300x300.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:23334;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16350;s:7:"percent";d:29.93;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:73:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign-518x311.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:32450;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18775;s:7:"percent";d:42.140000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:73:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/Innovation-District-Sign-442x265.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:24656;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14350;s:7:"percent";d:41.799999999999997;}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
        )

)
1673496222 
1450674162

Drive along First Avenue North, just on the other side of the railroad tracks from Regions Field downtown, and you might notice Innovation Depot. This is a business incubator that’s done a lot in recent years to spur entrepreneurship in Birmingham. But it’s actually part of a larger innovation district.  Most people haven’t heard of Birmingham’s innovation district, but some city boosters say it is finally ready to take off. We talk about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

 

 

Arson engulfs Mississippi synagogue, a congregation once bombed by Ku Klux Klan

A suspect is charged with arson in a fire that burned through a synagogue in Mississippi. Flames and smoke destroyed its library, housing Torahs.

DOJ subpoenas Federal Reserve in escalating pressure campaign

The Justice Department has subpoenaed the Fed over chair Jerome Powell's testimony over the central bank's headquarters renovation. Powell calls it part of a pressure campaign over interest rates.

The 2026 Golden Globe awards are Sunday. Here’s how to watch

The 2026 Golden Globes air on Sunday night starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

National Portrait Gallery removes impeachment references next to Trump photo

A new portrait of President Trump is on display at the National Portrait Gallery's "America's Presidents" exhibition. Text accompanying the portrait removes references to Trump's impeachments.

America’s top figure skaters dazzled St. Louis. I left with a new love for the sport.

The U.S. Figure Skating National Championships brought the who's who of the sport to St. Louis. St. Louis Public Radio Visuals Editor Brian Munoz left a new fan of the Olympic sport.

DHS restricts congressional visits to ICE facilities in Minneapolis with new policy

A memo from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, obtained by NPR, instructs her staff that visits should be requested at least seven days in advance.

More Economy Coverage