Remembering Kathryn Tucker Windham
One of Alabama's most beloved storytellers has died. Kathryn Tucker Windham passed away over the weekend at the age of 93. Windham developed a love of reading and writing at an early age. She wrote more than 20 books along with scores of newspaper columns and radio commentaries.
Northern Beltline: The St. Clair Effect
St. Clair County is now one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama. Census figures show the county’s population grew by 29 percent from 2000 to 2010. Local leaders believe the nearby Northern Beltline will fuel even more growth.
Jefferson County Tax Ruled Unconstitutional
Jefferson County's Occupational Tax is unconstitutional. That's according to a unanimous ruling issued by the Alabama Supreme Court, which upholds a lower court's ruling.
Bariatric Ambulance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says over 30 percent of Alabamians are obese. Obesity can cause a whole host of health problems, from diabetes to high blood pressure. And treating obese patients can be a challenge too.
Stuff: Alabama’s Unclaimed Property
This week on WBHM, we're talking about stuff--how to manage it and what people do with it. One place to put valuable stuff is behind the steel doors of a bank vault, in a safe deposit box. But sometimes, people forget about those boxes, or they die before getting the valuables out of the bank. In Alabama, those items end up in the State Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division.
Remembering Virginia Samford Donovan
The namesake of Birmingham's Virginia Samford Theatre has died. Virginia Samford Donovan passed away Tuesday at the age of 90.
Bare Hands Closes
A fixture in Birmingham's art scene will soon close. This week, Bare Hands Gallery announced it will shut its doors at end of the year. The gallery opened 14 years ago as place for contemporary Alabama artists to show their work.
Bob Riley: The Exit Interview
Governor Bob Riley talks about his two terms in office with WBHM's Bradley George.
Election 2010: Attorney General
Next Tuesday, Alabama voters will choose a new Attorney General. Incumbent Troy King lost the Republican nomination to Birmingham Attorney Luther Strange. Strange's Democratic opponent is Montgomery lawyer James Anderson.
MASS Ensemble’s Earth Harp
Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Alys Stephens Center. These are places you go to see music performed. But what happens when a building becomes the instrument?
Michele Norris: The Grace of Silence
All of us have secrets--things in our past we'd rather not discuss. NPR's Michele Norris discovered a secret about her father, years after his death.
A Receiver for Jeffco’s Sewer: What Does It Mean?
Jefferson County's troubled sewer system will soon be run by a receiver. So, what exactly is a receiver? What power will he or she have?
Increasing Exports
Last year, Alabama companies exported more than 12 billion dollars of goods and services to other countries. While that number might sound impressive, it's actually a 20 percent DECREASE from 2008.
Remembering Cecil Whitmire
Cecil Whitmire, the general manager of the Alabama Theatre in downtown Birmingham, has died. He was 74 years old. Whitmire's work at the Alabama was source of civic pride and passion for many in Birmingham.
David Pollick Resigns
Birmingham-Southern College President David Pollick has resigned. The college's board of trustees accepted his resignation after revelations of overspending and accounting errors at the school.
Jefferson County Commission Runoff
'Vote early, vote often' is one of the more cynical sayings in politics. But those words have a ring of truth for voters in Jefferson County Commission District 1.
The Future of the Jefferson County Commission
Next Tuesday, voters will whittle down a field of nearly 40 candidates running for Jefferson County Commission.
An Alternative Plan For 280
The Alabama Department of Transportation has a plan they say will ease congestion along the highway with an elevated toll road. A group called Re-Think 280 is opposed to the idea and they've put forth an alternative plan.
2010 Legislative Interviews
Fridays during the legislative session, WBHM's Bradley George speaks with an Alabama lawmaker
Legislature Mid-Session Progress Report
This week is spring break for school children and college students throughout Alabama. The state's lawmakers are taking a break, too. After dealing with the legality of electronic bingo, funding for road projects, and charter schools, legislators return to Montgomery next week for the second half of the 2010 session.
Charter Schools: The Texas Example
Alabama is one of only ten states that don't allow charter schools. Many states, including Texas, adopted charter schools in the 90s. Today, more than 113-thousand Texas children attend charter schools.
Open Secret
The Alabama Legislature is about to reach the two month mark of its 2010 session. So far, lawmakers have devoted much of their time to the legality of gambling and the future of the state's prepaid college tuition program. This week, another big issue got some attention in the House--reform of Alabama's 1901 Constitution.
The Race for Mayor: The Runoff
Birmingham voters elected a new new mayor on Tuesday. William Bell won the runoff election with 54% of the vote.
Birmingham’s Airport To Expand
Look closely at Birmingham's city seal, and you'll see an airplane, along with Vulcan and the downtown skyline. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport has been a part of the Magic City for nearly eight decades, but airport leaders say it's time to grow.
Musical Examines Atlanta Lynching
The Civil War left Atlanta in ruins, but after the war the city quickly rebuilt and became a dynamo for the New South. But the tensions between the old and new boiled over in 1913. That's when frenzy erupted over the rape and murder of a young girl. Accused of that murder: a Jewish businessman from New York named Leo Frank.
JP Morgan Settles with Jefferson County
JP Morgan is paying more than 700 million dollars to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission it made unlawful payments to friends of Jefferson County commissioners in order to win municipal bond business.
If He’s Found Guilty, Who Succeeds Langford?
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford's trial is underway. As Langford's fate hangs in the balance at the Tuscaloosa federal courthouse, many in Birmingham wonder what will happen to his job as mayor if he's convicted. WBHM's Bradley George takes a look at some of the possibilities.
What’s The Deal: Ethics Commission
Ethics is something that usually comes from within, but sometimes public officials need a little outside coercion to keep their ethics in check. For nearly 40 years, the Alabama Ethics Commission has worked to keep state employees and elected officials honest. As we begin a week of reports on corruption in Alabama, WBHM's Bradley George examines some of the challenges facing the commission and some of the proposal for ethics reform.
Alabama Making Progress in Child Well Being, But Still Lags Behind
Alabama ranks 48th in child well-being. That's according to the annual Kids Count report, released this week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The reports measures well-being through a number of benchmarks--from babies with low birthweight to the number of children in single parent families.
Tornado Sirens: Anyone Listening?
When you think of the sounds of summer in Alabama, what comes to mind? Maybe it's a barbecue or kids playing by the pool. Or, how about a summer thunderstorm? With these storms there's sometimes another sound--tornado warning sirens.
Obama Picks Alabama Doctor for Surgeon General
Today, President Obama named Dr. Regina Benjamin as his nominee for Surgeon General. Dr Benjamin makes her home in Bayou La Batre, where she runs a clinic that treats all patients-regardless of their ability to pay.
Jefferson County Sheriff Resistant to Budget Cuts
Jefferson County Commissioners have asked all county departments to cut their budgets by 33 percent. This is due to the possible loss of revenue from the county's occupational tax. Most departments have complied, but notable exception is the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
