Living in Birmingham and Liking it — 30 Years On

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2007/08/Birmingham_Alabama_Night.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:900;s:6:"height";i:439;s:4:"file";s:36:"2007/08/Birmingham_Alabama_Night.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-336x164.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:164;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-771x376.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:376;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-768x375.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:375;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:34:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-80x80.jpg";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:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-800x439.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:439;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-600x439.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:439;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-638x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:638;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-470x229.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:229;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-600x439.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:439;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:36:"Birmingham_Alabama_Night-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:284585;s:14:"optimized_size";i:146664;s:7:"percent";d:48.460000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/08/Birmingham_Alabama_Night.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:280778;s:14:"optimized_size";i:142884;s:7:"percent";d:49.109999999999999;}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:5:"large";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:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:70:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/08/Birmingham_Alabama_Night-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3807;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3780;s:7:"percent";d:0.70999999999999996;}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
        )

)
1676370273 
1472716717

UAB students started classes this week. But for students stepping onto campus 30 years ago in 1986, they had the opportunity to take a class that might sound a little odd. The course was called “Living in Birmingham and Liking it.” Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald ran across this tidbit recently. He reflects on it and on Birmingham’s changes over the last three decades.

 

Ilia Malinin, figure skater favored for gold, finishes 8th

Malinin, undefeated since 2023, stumbled and fell multiple times, landing far off the podium. Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan won gold in an upset that shocked even himself.

DHS says immigration agents appear to have lied about shooting in Minnesota

Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis was shot in the leg during the incident. Another Venezuelan man was also accused of attacking an immigration officer.

Venezuela debates sweeping amnesty for political prisoners

After the fall of Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan regime promise amnesty and reconciliation — but for hundreds still jailed and thousands facing charges, justice remains uncertain.

It’s been five years since catastrophic Texas blackouts. How much has changed?

Power companies say they're better prepared for extreme weather, but challenges remain to electricity production as the state's demand grows

FBI releases description of suspect, increases reward in Nancy Guthrie case

The FBI describes the armed man caught on Nancy Guthrie's camera as 5-foot-9-inches to 5-foot-10 and of average build. The 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie has been missing since Feb. 1.

Virginia court allows Democrats’ redistricting vote in their plan to counter to Trump

The ruling allows an April election where voters can let the legislature draw a new congressional map. It could help Democrats win more House seats. Republicans might still fight it in court.

More Arts and Culture Coverage