Crime Down in Birmingham So Far in 2019
Birmingham is getting safer according to Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. He says the latest statistics show many crimes are down compared to a year ago. Overall, violent crime decreased almost 15%, homicides dropped by 11% and robberies are down about 20%. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with Mayor Woodfin.
Interview Highlights
One category that didn’t drop, breaking and entering vehicles:
“In 2018 we declared gun violence a public health crisis. And so we’ve been aggressive in attempting to decrease felony assaults with guns, taking guns off the street, [the] number of shots fired into the city and homicides by gun as well … the number one thing people are looking for when they break into your vehicle is a licensed pistol, pretty much a legal gun. That’s what people are breaking into cars for these days.”
What’s behind the drop in crime:
“I believe it’s a variety of things. I’ll start with our Chief of Police Patrick Smith and his leadership, which includes several things he changed with the police department. He allowed us to put more police officers on the street. It wasn’t just crowd the streets and flood the city with badges. It was more so to engage in smart policing. I think it addition to that, giving our detectives more resources and having the ability to solve crimes. Because we solved, in the past, when crime was not only high, if so many crimes were going unsolved, there was an element out here that just kept doing the same activity. So the ability to actually close and solve a case and bring someone to justice has been helpful.”
Whether this trend will continue:
“We can only hope crime continues to decrease. We want crime to continue to decrease. We’re going to remain vigilant. Part of what you want to see is the comparison to other similar-sized cities. In addition to that you want to see other cities who have the type of crimes we have too. If we decrease and they have remained the same or increased, it means our strategies are working and that gives me more confidence.”
Photo by Tex Texin
U.S. unexpectedly adds 130,000 jobs in January after a weak 2025
U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January as the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3% from 4.4% in December. Annual revisions show that job growth last year was far weaker than initially reported.
Greetings from Mexico City’s iconic boulevard, where a dog on a bike steals the show
Every week, more than 100,000 people ride bikes, skates and rollerblades past some of the best-known parts of Mexico's capital. And sometimes their dogs join them too.
February may be short on days — but it boasts a long list of new books
The shortest month of the year is packed with highly anticipated new releases, including books from Michael Pollan, Tayari Jones and the late Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa.
Shootings at school and home in British Columbia, Canada, leave 10 dead
A shooting at a school in British Columbia left seven people dead, while two more were found dead at a nearby home, authorities said. A woman who police believe to be the shooter also was killed.
Trump’s EPA plans to end a key climate pollution regulation
The Environmental Protection Agency is eliminating a Clean Air Act finding from 2009 that is the basis for much of the federal government's actions to rein in climate change.
The U.S. claims China is conducting secret nuclear tests. Here’s what that means
The allegations were leveled by U.S. officials late last week. Arms control experts worry that norms against nuclear testing are unraveling.
