Andrew Yeager
Managing Editor
It was probably inevitable that Andrew Yeager would end up working in public radio. The son of two teachers, NPR News programs often formed the backdrop to car rides growing up. And it was probably inevitable that Andrew would end up in news after discovering the record button on his tape recorder. He still remembers his first attempted interview - his uncooperative 2-year-old sister.
Originally from east central Indiana, Andrew earned degrees in broadcasting and political science from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. While there he spent more than his fair share of time at WOBN, the student-run radio station. After college Andrew worked for an educational non-profit and volunteered at WMUB in Oxford, Ohio. He ventured into public radio full-time as a reporter for WNIN in Evansville, Ind. Besides covering an array of local stories, Andrew's work has been heard on many public radio programs.
Andrew lives with his wife and two children in Birmingham. When not consumed by public radio work, he's often picking up items strewn about the house by said children, reading or heading out on a bike ride when not enveloped by the Alabama heat.
Suspended Jefferson County District Attorney Claims Innocence On Perjury Charge
Suspended Jefferson County District Attorney Charles Todd Henderson said Tuesday a perjury charge that came days before he was set to take office is baseless and politically motivated.
How Birmingham Stacks Up to Other Southern Metros
We explain how Birmingham compares to other southern metros in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
New National Monument Connects Birmingham’s Past to Today
President Obama establishes the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument place many notable civil rights sites under the banner of the National Park Service.
Digging into the Birmingham City Schools
Weld editor Nick Patterson discusses what's behind some of the Birmingham City Schools' struggles.
Municipal Judges Disciplined for Modern-Day Debtors’ Prisons
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discuss the waning use of "debtor prison" tactics that find poor residents buried under municipal fines.
Birmingham Awaiting Announcement on Civil Rights National Monument
In his State of the City address Tuesday, Birmingham Mayor William Bell said he’s optimistic President Obama will declare the Birmingham Civil Rights District a national monument.
Trump’s Infrastructure Plan Might Not Benefit Alabama Much
In this week's Magic City Marketplace we hear why President-elect Donald Trump's infrastructure plan might not benefit Alabama that much.
The Year Ahead in Birmingham Politics
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the year ahead in Birmingham politics. He also remembers former Alabama Governor Albert Brewer.
Birmingham Area Under Winter Storm Watch
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the Birmingham area.
NAACP Stages Sit-in to Protest Sessions’ Nomination as Attorney General
Leaders with the NAACP are calling on the Senate to reject President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, and staging a sit-in in Sessions' Mobile office in protest.
What will 2017 Bring for Birmingham’s Economy?
The new year is just two days old but businesses are eager to see what 2017 brings. We talk about what is expected in the Birmingham area economy this year in Magic City Marketplace.
The Year in Alabama Politics
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the big stories of the year in Alabama politics.
The Year Ahead for Transit in Birmingham
In this week's Magic City Marketplace, what to expect from Birmingham transit in 2017 and the effect of an interest rate hike on Birmingham banks.
Alabama Execution Puts Judicial Override in the Spotlight
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses judicial override. Alabama executed an inmate last week whose death penalty was given by a judge over the recommendation of a jury.
Historic Marker Commemorates Gadsden Lynching
Tuesday, a historic marker will go up in Gadsden, Alabama, commemorating the 1906 lynching of a black man, Bunk Richardson, by a white mob.
What Trump Could Mean for the Steel and Coal Industries
We look at what a President Trump could mean for the struggling steel and coal industries.
UAB Breaks Ground on a new Business School
UAB leaders broke ground Friday on a new home for the university’s Collat School of Business.
Questions Surround Mayor’s Plan for Ensley Tower
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses plans to renovate a vacant building in downtown Ensley.
Birmingham Expects a Boost from National Civil Rights Designation
What a national historic monument designation for Birmingham's Civil Rights District could mean for tourism
Lawsuit Adds Sordid Details to Alleged Bentley Affair
A lawsuit offers sordid details about Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's alleged affair.
How Birmingham is Doing Attracting Millennials
As Birmingham works to keep its post-recession economic rebound going, a part of that is Millennials. As these people born roughly between 1980 and 2000 enter the job market or advance in their careers, they’ll rent apartments, buy homes, spend money that will fuel future growth. So business leaders are keen to attract and keep Millennials in Birmingham. That’s where we start in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Provider Withdrawals Spark Uncertainty About Alabama’s Medicaid Overhaul
Alabama’s effort to transform its Medicaid system took a hit last month as several major providers decided to withdraw from the effort. More than a million people in the state depend on Medicaid for healthcare. The pull out is adding uncertainty to what’s already been a troubled process.
Who Replaces Senator Jeff Sessions?
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was an early backer of President-elect Donald Trump and as a result Sessions is expected to get a prime spot in a Trump Administration. If that happens, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley would name a successor. That opens up a new horse race. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
What a President Trump Means for Business
President-elect Donald Trump won the election on a promise to make America the best place in the world to do business. But apart from backing away from trade deals, the specifics of what a Trump Administration would do for the business community are still unclear. We get a sense of what might be coming in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
A Trump Victory Leaves Deep Divides
Political watchers and the public are waiting to see what a Trump presidency will look like. Republican Donald Trump’s stunning victory Tuesday caps an election season that was raucous, divisive and unlike any other in the modern era. After such a campaign, a key question is can the country come together? We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
New “Nutritional Labels” For Trails Go Up At Oak Mountain
Hikers and runners who use trails at Oak Mountain State Park south of Birmingham have a new tool to help guide their outdoor fun. They’re trail signs, but they’re more than simple markers.
A Birmingham/NASA Connection and Amendment 11
Alabama has a long history with space exploration thanks to the Marshal Space Flight Center and other NASA facilities in Huntsville. But Birmingham is taking a small step toward that space industry through a project at UAB. We hear about it along with Amendment 11, a ballot proposal economic development leaders want to see passed, in this week’s Magic City Marketplace
“What’s Lost is Found” — Photographs of Hale County
For decades, photographers have captured Hale County in Alabama’s Black Belt. Photojournalist Walker Evans documented families there suffering from the Great Depression. Starting in the 1960s, Alabama-native William Christenberry took pictures of decaying buildings. Now photographer Lauren Henkin can add her work to the tradition. Last year, Henkin spent a month in Hale County as an artist-in-residence sponsored by the Do Good Fund, which supports photography of the South. Some of those pictures will be displayed in an exhibit called “What’s Lost is Found.” It opens Friday at the Birmingham Museum of Art where she’ll also talk about the project. Henkin spoke with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.
Fear and Division on the Eve of the Election
On Tuesday, millions of voters across the country will head to the polls and make their picks for president. It will be the end of a campaign season that's been nasty, brutish and long. It's also a season in which the campaign rhetoric has been driven at many points by fear. But Birmingham Media Group columnist John Archibald has a different message -- fear not!
U.S. 280 Becoming a Second City Center
There’s been plenty of attention showered on downtown Birmingham for its building boom and growth in restaurants and attractions. But there’s another area that’s been expanding too into almost another economic hub. That’s the U.S. 280 corridor from Jefferson to Shelby counties. We talk about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
A Prison Drama Written and Performed by Prisoners
Prisons have been used as a setting for popular entertainment. The Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” is just one example. But a new radio drama is taking that a step further. “Corrections” is a health-themed drama produced by UAB that’s written by and performed by inmates at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in western Jefferson County. The first episode airs Saturday morning on WJLD AM 1400.
Attorney General Statement Casts Doubt on Governor’s Version of Events
The split between Governor Robert Bentley and the former head of the state's law enforcement office has taken an interesting turn and one that doesn't exactly put the governor in the best light. Earlier this year, former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency director Spencer Collier, one day after being fired, accused the governor of an affair with his top aide. Bentley denied the accusation and instead turned attention to an internal ALEA report that showed financial mismanagement. But as information about the report dripped out, it appeared far less than purported to be. Last week, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange weighed in. We hear about that from Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald
