Election Fear…Over the Candidates
Surveys show voters are anxious this election cycle. NPR’s Mara Liasson reported earlier this week that issues such as stalled economic progress, terrorism and demographic shifts have people on edge.
Seems the candidates themselves could be added to the list.
In WBHM’s small, unscientific survey via social media this week several people expressed their concerns over the field of candidates.
“Very anxious. Petrified by our choices,” wrote Riva Bard of Birmingham on the WBHM Facebook page.
This year’s election features candidates ranging from the self-described Democratic-Socialist Bernie Sanders to Republicans Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, who have positioned themselves as outsiders to the conservative establishment.
Homewood resident Samantha Lalak suggests those extremes contribute to the anxiety.
“I think when people grasp onto fears…then they grasp onto their particular parties be it very Democratic or very Republican,” said Lalak. “I think that we are forgetting there is a middle ground.”
The Pew Research Center has been tracking voters’ satisfaction with presidential candidates in the general election. Voter satisfaction rose from 1992 to 2008 before taking a dive 2012. There are many caucus and primary votes yet to be cast to determine if 2016 continues that trend.
Photo by Theresa Thompson, FLICKR 
Middle schoolers are lauded for protecting younger kids during church shooting
Two children were killed, and 18 children between the ages 6 and 15 were injured by a shooter. Middle schoolers acted heroically to protect others, a parent said.
Federal judge says Kari Lake can’t fire Voice of America director
A federal judge has ruled that Trump administration official Kari Lake can't unilaterally fire the director of Voice of America.
Public media stations in rural America say emergency-alert funding is in jeopardy
Without Congressionally-approved funding, public media stations say communities will be left with aging infrastructure amid growing risks from extreme weather.
Video: Echoes of Katrina – Two decades of struggle and strength
NPR station photographer and New Orleans native Tyrone Turner travelled back to Louisiana to document the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The federal government is taking over D.C.’s Union Station. What does that mean?
The Department of Transportation says it will be "reclaiming management" of the transportation hub, which it has owned since the 1980s. D.C.'s mayor says that would be an "amazing initiative."
Whatever happened to the women in the ‘No Sex for Fish’ group?
NPR first wrote about the group "No Sex for Fish" in 2019 — Kenyan women out to end the practice of trading sex to a fisherman in exchange for his catch to sell. Since then they're faced tribulations.
