Revisiting Birmingham’s Bid to Host the Democratic National Convention

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/07/dncpitchparty.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:608;s:6:"height";i:605;s:4:"file";s:25:"2014/07/dncpitchparty.png";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-336x334.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:334;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"dncpitchparty-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-608x450.png";s:5:"width";i:608;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-600x600.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-313x311.png";s:5:"width";i:313;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-266x265.png";s:5:"width";i:266;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-600x400.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-600x600.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"dncpitchparty-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}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:1647928;s:14:"optimized_size";i:565999;s:7:"percent";d:65.650000000000006;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty.png";s:13:"original_size";i:578315;s:14:"optimized_size";i:196622;s:7:"percent";d:66;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-140x140.png";s:13:"original_size";i:39826;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14368;s:7:"percent";d:63.920000000000002;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-336x334.png";s:13:"original_size";i:195416;s:14:"optimized_size";i:66282;s:7:"percent";d:66.079999999999998;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-80x80.png";s:13:"original_size";i:14226;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6018;s:7:"percent";d:57.700000000000003;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-600x338.png";s:13:"original_size";i:328493;s:14:"optimized_size";i:115771;s:7:"percent";d:64.760000000000005;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-300x300.png";s:13:"original_size";i:159579;s:14:"optimized_size";i:53537;s:7:"percent";d:66.450000000000003;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-313x311.png";s:13:"original_size";i:171641;s:14:"optimized_size";i:57846;s:7:"percent";d:66.299999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-266x265.png";s:13:"original_size";i:128109;s:14:"optimized_size";i:43616;s:7:"percent";d:65.950000000000003;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/07/dncpitchparty-125x125.png";s:13:"original_size";i:32323;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11939;s:7:"percent";d:63.060000000000002;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Kyle Whitmire
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Al.com
        )

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

)
1675946271 
1499932378

There’s the adage that hindsight is 20-20. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald is applying this idea to a bid the City of Birmingham made a few years ago to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Birmingham didn’t win, but Archibald says it wasn’t really about winning a convention in the first place.

 

Four top U.S. speedskaters to watch at the Olympics

U.S. speed skaters set to compete in Milan are drawing comparisons to past greats like Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair, and Apolo Ohno. Here are four to watch in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Need a new path in midlife? There’s a school for that and a quiz to kickstart it

Schools across the country are offering courses and retreats for people 50+ who want to reinvent themselves and embrace lifelong learning and discovery.

A ‘Shark Tank’ alum needed cash to pay tariffs. This shadowy lending world was ready

How about $350,000 within hours? The pitches flood small businesses: "No hidden fees, No BS." These financial lifelines are barely regulated and can turn into trip wires.

U.S. skater Connor McDermott-Mostowy joins record number of out LGBTQ Winter Olympians

When U.S. speedskater Connor McDermott-Mostowy makes his Winter Olympic debut in Milan, he'll join a record number of out LGBTQ athletes. But of the 46 out athletes, only 11 are men.

5 glaring warning signs for Republicans in this year’s midterm elections

Here's why Republicans are facing an uphill battle, particularly for retaining control of the House.

Crackdown on dissent after nationwide protests in Iran widens to ensnare reformist figures

Detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has received another prison sentence of over seven years.

More Front Page Coverage