Andrew Yeager
WBHM 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.
Kyle Whitmire: Railroad Park Shooting
For those living in urban areas, it's sometimes possible to become callous or indifferent to the steady drip of crime. While murders in Birmingham are low by historic standards, a shooting this past Sunday in Railroad Park left a 15-year-old boy dead. That's bringing new attention to the issue. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire talk about the community response.
Kyle Whitmire: Fight Continues over School Bill
Alabama Republicans, Democrats and the education community are still in an uproar over the Alabama Accountability Act, almost two weeks after it was rushed through the state legislature. The bill would offer tax credits to parents for transferring their kids from a failing school to a non-failing public or private school. But now there are questions about differing versions of the bill. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire has details.
Kyle Whitmire: Controversial School Bill Blocked…For Now
A Montgomery judge is extending a temporary restraining order blocking Alabama's governor from signing a controversial school bill into law. But Republican leaders vow to appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. We hear about the political fallout from The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.
Bloody Sunday: A Commemoration and a Challenge
An estimated 15,000 thousand people, including members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden, marched across a bridge in Selma, Alabama, Sunday, to reenact what’s known as “Bloody Sunday.” In 1965, civil rights protesters attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery but were quickly met by police billy clubs and tear gas. Bloody Sunday galvanized support for the Voting Rights Act at that time. While the commemoration is an annual event, this year's comes just days after the U.S. Supreme Court heard a challenge to a portion of the law
Kyle Whitmire: Tough Questions for the Voting Rights Act
Conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court asked tough questions Wednesday about the need for portions of the Voting Rights Act. The court is hearing a challenge to the law filed by Shelby County, Alabama. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire talks about the case.
Kyle Whitmire: The Fight Over Gambling, Renewed
Alabama's on-again, off-again battle over gambling is definitely on-again this week as Attorney General Luther Strange took action to try and stop four casinos in the state. One is a familiar target -- VictoryLand. The other is newer -- The Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire has more.
Kyle Whitmire: A Bankruptcy Deal in the Works
Jefferson County commissioners say they have a deal to lower interest rates on a portion of the county's debt. It's a sign a plan to exit municipal bankruptcy could be on the way. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains.
New UAB President Ray Watts
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new president. The University of Alabama Systems Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Ray Watts as UAB’s seventh president Friday morning. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with Watts shortly after Friday's meeting .
Kyle Whitmire: A Penny Sales Tax for Another Five Years
No relief for Birmingham shoppers as the Birmingham City Council, reauthorizes a one percent sales tax for five years. We hear more from The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire
Kyle Whitmire: A Big Week for Bankruptcy
This week is an important one for Jefferson County's efforts to exit bankruptcy. Two county commissioners spent time in New York meeting with hedge fund managers. On Wednesday a trail gets underway on creditors' request to lift a stay preventing legal action against the county. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains the situation.
Kyle Whitmire: Why the Legion Field Box is so important?
Two Jefferson County Commissioner deny a report they're split over a proposed redistricting plan. But there's no denying that which district Legion Field ends up in has major political implications. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains.
A New Direction for Alabama’s Medicaid System
When Alabama lawmakers kick off the new legislative session next month, they’ll have to tackle Medicaid. The program provides healthcare for almost a million low income residents. It takes up about a third of Alabama’s non-education spending and the costs keep rising. As WBHM’s Andrew Yeager reports, a panel met this week to recommend changes to Medicaid, but whether they’ll work is still unclear.
Found Footage Festival
Meet the Instant Adoring Boyfriend, Blue Berry the Creepy Clown, and crowd favorite, the Sleazy Hypnotist. They didn't start out to be funny, but they are. These characters and others star in the Found Footage Festival that stops in Birmingham this weekend. WBHM's Greg Bass has the details.
Snow Arrives in Birmingham
Snow is falling in Birmingham and across north central Alabama, with forecasters predicting between one and four inches of accumulation. That's prompting many schools to close early and cancel activities. UAB will suspend normal operations and cancel classes after 3:30 pm today and will resume a regular schedule at 10 a.m. Friday.
Kyle Whitmire: Inching out of Bankruptcy
A big question this year is whether Jefferson County will exit municipal bankruptcy. County commissioners spent a good deal of time this week working toward that effort in closed door meetings. We talk about it with The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.
Kyle Whitmire: RSA vs. AEA
There's a battle playing out in Montgomery between the leaders of the Retirement Systems of Alabama and the Alabama Education Association. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains the talk of a board "power play."
Kyle Whitmire: A New Year for Cooper Green
With the new year comes a new set up for Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. The Jefferson County-owned facility turned its emergency room into an urgent care center on January 1st. The hospital also closed inpatient care and laid off more than 200 people. We talk about it with The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.
Two-Year College System Chancellor Mark Heinrich
Mark Heinrich is finishing 2012 in a much different place than he started it. The former president of Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa was selected in September as the new Chancellor of Alabama’s two-year college system. It’s a system that’s moving past a far reaching corruption scandal. It's also a system dealing with a revolving door of leaders.
Kyle Whitmire: A Subpoena for GOP Financial Records
Alabama's attorney general has subpoenaed financial records from the State Republican Party, ones that show a company co-owned by House Speaker Mike Hubbard benefited from party spending. We talk about that with the Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.
Kyle Whimtire: Birmingham’s Mayor Caught in a Shootout
It's not every day a city leader is in a roadside shootout. But that happened to Birmingham Mayor William Bell on Friday. And while the mayor is okay, The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire says police aren't being forthcoming with details.
Kyle Whitmire: The Fight over the BJCC Board
There are three open seats on the BJCC Board. The problem is four people have been appointed. It's a dispute that's embroiled the Jefferson County legislative delegation and is now spurring legal action. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire has details.
Appellate Court Declines to Review Immigration Ruling
A federal appeals court has handed a new victory to opponents of Alabama’s tough immigration law. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta turned down a request by the State of Alabama Tuesday for the full court to review the decision made in a challenge brought by a coalition of individuals and groups.
Jefferson County First Anniversary Bankruptcy Check-up
Friday is the first anniversary of Jefferson County filing the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. The $4.1 billion dollar filling last year, mostly debt on the county’s sewer system, attracted a lot of attention. But with the case now working through bankruptcy court, it’s fallen off the radar a bit. We have a check-up with Samford University law professor Michael Floyd.
Your Guide to Alabama’s Constitutional Amendments
Voters will see many candidate names on November's ballot. But they'll also see eleven statewide constitutional amendments -- ranging from reauthorizing a popular conservation program to changing how state lawmakers are paid. Here's your guide to those ballot issues.
Alabama 2012 Election Results
Watch for results here as WBHM updates statewide and federal election from Alabama.
Republican State Supreme Court Chief Justice Candidate Roy Moore
Voters will choose a new Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice next Tuesday. On the Republican side is a well-known name in Alabama. Roy Moore served as chief justice from 2001 to 2003. But he was ousted from that position when he refused to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama judicial building. Moore talks to WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.
Vance Responds to Allegations of Elections Violations
Democratic State Supreme Court Chief Justice candidate Bob Vance says allegations of elections violations are a distraction and a desperate effort by Republicans. Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead held a press conference Thursday accusing Vance of failing to disclose a donation to then Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.
Democratic State Supreme Court Chief Justice Candidate Bob Vance
Alabama isn’t much of a factor in the presidential election, but the race for state Supreme Court Chief Justice is shaping up to be an intriguing contest. For Democrats, Jefferson County circuit court judge Bob Vance is a late addition to the race. He spoke to WBHM's Andrew Yeager.
Cooper Green and UAB Reach Agreement on Inpatient Care
UAB Health Systems has agreed to help Cooper Green Mercy Hospital now that the county-owned facility is ending inpatient care. Jefferson County manager Tony Petelos announced at a press conference Thursday the county came to an agreement with UAB. That hospital will expand to take patients who need inpatient care.
Effort to Save Girl Scout Camp now a Legal Fight
The fight over the future of several Girl Scout camps around Alabama is entering the legal arena. WBHM has learned a former Girl Scout council president has filed a pre-suit discovery petition against the Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama. The move comes in response to the Girl Scouts’ announcement this summer that it plans to sell four of six camps, including the 87-year-old Camp Coleman near Trussville.
After Home Brewing Seizure, Confusion and Unease
Making your own beer in Alabama has always been an uneasy hobby. That’s because Alabama is one of only two states where it’s illegal to home brew. But a recent enforcement action by the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board is drawing attention to the apparent inconsistent application of the law.
NY Times Profiles Morning Edition
The New York Times has a behind the scene look at public radio's premiere program and the most-listened-to news program on the radio.
