The Year Ahead in Birmingham Politics

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There was plenty of political conflict last year between Birmingham Mayor William Bell and the City Council, plus fights surrounding the Birmingham Water Works Board. This year looks to offer up more of the same with a mayoral election coming up in August. We talk about what to expect in 2017 with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He also remembers Alabama Governor Albert Brewer, who died this week at age 88.

 

A zoo in Denmark asked patrons to donate their pets. Not as attractions, but for food

The Aalborg Zoo in Denmark said it would take certain surplus pets such as chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs to be "gently euthanized" and fed to its captive predators.

A Texas Republican state lawmaker on the fight for redistricting

Texas Republican Tom Oliverson about what's next in the redistricting fight that is going down in the Lone Star state.

Public health experts dismayed by RFK Jr.’s defunding of mRNA vaccine research

The Trump administration cancelled about $500 million for research into mRNA vaccines. The move slows progress in using the technology to prevent a future pandemic or treat disease, experts say.

5 soldiers are shot at Georgia’s Fort Stewart. A suspect is in custody

The Army says that law enforcement was dispatched to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area at 10:56 a.m. local time and that the "shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m." No fatalities were reported.

The quest to create gene-edited babies gets a reboot 

There's a fresh push to edit the genes of human embryos to prevent diseases and enhance characteristics that parents value. Bioethicists say just because it's possible doesn't mean it should be done.

Claire’s, the ear-piercing tween mall staple, is bankrupt — again

The chain's bankruptcy filing is the second in seven years. Its troubles include unwieldy debt, shoppers' changing habits and new tariff costs.

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