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.
Four Spirits Statue, Memorial to 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Victims, Unveiled
City and civil rights leaders unveiled the “Four Spirits” statue in Kelly Ingram Park Saturday memorializing the victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, one day before the 50th anniversary of that tragedy. Other than a plaque on the side of the church, it's the first permanent memorial to the victims.
The Story Behind Newsweek’s 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Cover
Among many haunting images from the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham is a Newsweek magazine cover from 1963. It shows Maxine McNair, whose daughter Denise died in the blast, grieving with her sister. That photograph came about in an unexpected way. Birmingham resident Reggie Holder tells how he stumbled across the story.
John Archibald: How far has Birmingham come?
Birmingham is in the midst of what's been dubbed "Empowerment Week," a series of panels, concerts and commemorations leading up to Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The blast killed four girls and severely injured a fifth. On this anniversary AL.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald is considering how far Birmingham has come since the civil rights era.
Black Women Don’t Exercise
Have you heard the stereotype that black women don't exercise? African-American women are at an increased risk of obesity and more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than white women. While WBHM Race and Diversity Blogger Javacia Harris Bowser is big on fitness, she's also making sure her mother doesn't become a statistic.
John Archibald: Chris McNair Released from Prison
As Birmingham prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, one unexpected observer of the commemoration is Chris McNair. His daughter was one of the four girls killed in the bombing. It's expected though because until last week McNair was in federal prison serving a sentence for corruption. AL.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald talks about McNair's release under a new Justice Department policy.
Residents Upset by Plan for I-20/59 Redesign through Downtown Birmingham
Every day, about 160,000 drivers make their way along Interstate 20/59 through downtown Birmingham. It’s one of the most heavily traveled stretches of highway in the state, but it’s also accident prone and crumbling from age. The Alabama Department of Transportation is developing a plan to repair and expand the highway. But as WBHM intern Hollie Parrish reports, that plan has drawn a critical response from some residents.
Rivers: A Debut Novel
Eight years ago today Hurricane Katrina roared out of the Gulf of Mexico leaving more than 18-hundred people dead with an estimated 125 billion dollars in damage. Now imagine a series of storms of that intensity parked over the Gulf all the time and you have the setting for a first novel by a young Mississippi author.WBHM’s Greg Bass spoke with Michael Farras Smith about his debut novel Rivers
John Archibald: What the Birmingham Election Results Mean
Birmingham voters had their say this week as they went to the polls to select a mayor, city council and school board members. Many incumbents returned to office, with the exception of the Birmingham Board of Education, which will see a wave of new blood. We take a look at the post-election political scene with Al.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald.
Birmingham 2013 City Election Results
Birmingham Mayor William Bell easily won another term in office, while new faces are headed to the city council and board of education. We have unofficial results from Tuesday's election.
A Turnaround at Birmingham-Southern College
Classes start at Birmingham-Southern College Wednesday and for students returning to the school there’s a very different atmosphere than just a few years ago. In 2010, the college faced a financial crisis, leading to deep budget cuts and layoffs. But now the campus is on the rebound. As WBHM intern Pooja Gajare reports much of the credit is being given to the school’s president.
What do Birmingham Voters Want?
Birmingham voters go to the polls next Tuesday to pick a mayor, city council and school board members. The election comes at a time when the city is garnering positive headlines for a new downtown baseball stadium and entertainment district. But Birmingham’s schools also face the threat of losing accreditation due to a dysfunctional board. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager went to a recent candidates forum to hear what issues voters say are most important to them.
UAB Cancer Center Opens Renovated Facility
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Comprehensive Cancer Center will open the renovated Lurleen B. Wallace Tumor Institute this Friday. The expanded facility features increased lab space, offices designed to promote collaboration and a cyclotron.
What does Trinity’s move mean for Birmingham’s Eastside?
Construction crews will soon be scurrying about Trinity Medical Center’s new building on Highway 280, preparing for the hospital to move to that location in 2016. Work on the new hospital, recently named Grandview Medical Center, comes after a four-year legal battle. While Trinity officials say the move is long-overdue, some residents of the eastside Birmingham neighborhood the hospital is vacating worry what the change means for their community.
John Archibald: Discontent within the Birmingham Water Works
The split between management and workers can be a source of tension in many workplaces. But for employees of the Birmingham Water Works they seem to be particularly unhappy. AL.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald talks about a "no confidence" letter from employees, a sign criticism of the water works' leadership isn't just coming from the outside.
John Archibald: Coming Full Circle in Bankruptcy
As Jefferson County works toward leaving bankruptcy, the discussion around new sewer rates sounds rather familiar. We talk about coming full circle in the county's financial saga with AL.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald.
WBHM Wins Seven AP Awards
WBHM 90.3 FM/WSGN 91.5 FM has won a total of seven 2013 Alabama Associated Press awards. The awards were presented at a luncheon July 20 in Birmingham. Here's the list of the winners.
Alabama’s Mental Health Shift
Like many states, budget cuts have forced Alabama officials to take a good hard look at how the state cares for people with mental illness. Since 2008, the Department of Mental Health has lost $40 million in state funds. So they've opted for a less expensive form of treatment -- community-based mental health centers and apartment communities. Les Lovoy reports on the challenges of that options.
The Civil Wars: Dust to Dust
Fans of The Civil Wars were heartbroken when Alabama-native John Paul White and Joy Williams announced they were putting the group on indefinite hiatus last year. The pair’s rich harmonies and onstage chemistry garnered praise from critics and fans alike. And while they are barely able to talk to each other now, The Civil Wars will release their new album "The One that Got Away" August 6th. NPR has an exclusive preview with their song “Dust to Dust.”
John Archibald: A Sideshow over Power Rates
Government public hearings can sometimes be dry, perfunctory matters few people pay attention to. That not the case with a Wednesday hearing by Alabama's Public Service Commission. The panel is reviewing the rate structure that determines what Alabama Power charges its customers. AL.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald explains how contentious the process has becomes.
The Miss Mary Case
When the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling, its decisions can carry weight for generations. For instance, civil rights decisions to overturn schools segregation or to uphold the Montgomery bus boycott are just as significant today. But another Alabama case from that era had a subtle effect on how courts treat defendants. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
John Archibald: Coal Mine Hardball and Jackpot Justice
When you turn on the tap, you probably don't give much thought to where the water comes from. For some Birmingham residents it comes from the Black Warrior River. AL.com and The Birmingham News columnist John Archibald offers an update on a planned controversial mine along the river. He also talks about "jackpot justice" in the BP oil spill claims process.
John Archibald: A Wave of Murders in Birmingham
Birmingham has seen a violent crime drop in recent years, but a rash of homicides has police and city leaders scrambling to respond. It's a subject that's easy to gloss over if you live in a safe neighborhood or aren't directly affected. But AL.com and Birmingham News columnist John Archibald says it's something that should prompt outrage.
Supreme Court rules on Voting Rights Act and Same-Sex Marriage
Republican leaders in Alabama are hailing this week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning a portion of the Voting Rights Act. Democrats say it guts the historic civil rights legislation. AL.com and The Birmingham News' John Archibald says that's the wrong reaction. He also talks about the court turning back the Defense of Marriage Act
U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Portion of Voting Rights Act
In a five to four decision Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a part of the law that sets out a formula for determining which states are examined for voting discrimination. Shelby County, Alabama, challenged that section along with Section 5 which requires certain states, mostly in the south, gain prior approval from the federal government before changing voting laws.
From Foster Care to College: Part Two
Many high school graduates are enjoying their last summer before college. But new research shows most kids who grow up in foster care don't attend college and those who do are less likely to graduate. Yesterday, we met Briyana Dunn, who was attending college through a state program in Tennessee. Today, reporter Christine Jessel continues our Southern Education Desk series by catching up with Dunn to see how she's doing nearly a year after starting college.
From Foster Care to College: Part One
When foster care kids grow too old for the system, they're pretty much on their own. They're often unprepared for the basics of life such as finding a job, paying rent or buying insurance. Succeeding in college is a much higher bar. Many states have special programs to support foster care kids who want to go to college. Tuesday, we kick off a Southern Education Desk series "From Foster Care to College: Extra Help for Extra Hurdles."
Remembering the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
Some images from the civil rights era are indelibly etched on our collective memory. For instance, the rubble left by the bombing of the 16th St. Baptist Church or the dogs and fire hoses set upon marching children in downtown Birmingham. Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of a third -- Governor George Wallace’s stand in the Schoolhouse door. Greg Bass reports.
The Forgotten History of the Voting Rights Act
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on a challenge by Shelby County, Alabama, to a portion of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It’s legislation that in a certain sense was born in Alabama because of what’s known as Bloody Sunday. On March 7, 1965, police brutally beat protesters on Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge which spurred President Lyndon Johnson to push for the bill. But University of Delaware history professor Gary May says there’s much more to the Voting Rights Act. He writes about the law in his book Bending Toward Justice:The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with May.
John Archibald: Evaluating the Jefferson County’s Bankruptcy Deal
The latest chapter in the saga of Jefferson County's troubled finances appears to be on the way to a resolution. County commissioners approved a tentative deal Tuesday to end the county's $4.2 billion dollar bankruptcy, with an official plan to be filed by the end of the month. We talk about the agreement with The Birmingham News and AL.com's John Archibald.
Tentative Deal in Jefferson County’s Bankruptcy
A judge will hold a status conference Wednesday on Jefferson County’s $4.2 billion dollar municipal bankruptcy, one day after county commissioners approved a tentative deal that could end the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Commissioners backed the plan Tuesday afternoon in a 4 to 1 vote. The deal still must be approved by a judge and creditors.
Questions Surround JeffCo Bankruptcy Deal
The largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history could be coming to an end. Jefferson County has been saddled with more than $4.2 billion of debt. Wednesday a federal bankruptcy judge began reviewing a tentative agreement in the case. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
John Archibald: A Political Payoff on the JeffCo Commission?
An "I'll rub your back, you rub mine" attitude may be the grease that sometimes keeps the political process going, but it can create more squeaks. The hint of such a deal between Jefferson County Commission President David Carrington and Commissioner George Bowman is raising eyebrows. We talk about the situation with AL.com and The Birmingham News columnist John Archibald.
