Esther Ciammachilli
Host/Reporter
If you’re reading this then you now know how to spell Esther’s last name. That's the most asked question she’s received since she joined WBHM in 2015. (It's Italian, if you're wondering.)
Esther came to Birmingham from Reno Public Radio in Reno, Nevada, where she was the host of All Things Considered and a reporter, but wore many other hats. She spent a decade as a singer/actress in Las Vegas before returning to school to get her degree. As she tells it, she got tired of singing for her supper. She’s a graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, with no position on Alabama football.
You can hear Esther in the afternoons on WBHM as the host of All Things Considered, as well as in her stories about the people and places around Birmingham and North Central Alabama. Her background in the arts fuels her passion for arts and culture stories, but she doesn't shy away from hard news issues.
When she’s not on the airwaves at WBHM, Esther enjoys spending time with her family, eating at Alabama’s delicious restaurants, and hiking or going to the gym to work it all off.
AL Medical Boards Could Face Scrutiny from Federal Trade Commission
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision set a new precedent regarding federal antitrust laws and state medical agencies. The ruling means regulatory groups made up of members with private sector interests are subject to federal antitrust laws. Agencies like the Medical Association of Alabama - which is headed by several private medical practitioners - could potentially be affected.
Broken Gas Pipe Removed, Investigation Underway
An investigation is underway into what caused a gas pipeline to start leaking near Helena. Officials with Colonial Pipeline say the broken pipe was removed over the weekend and sent to an outside firm for investigation. Crews constructed a 500 foot bypass to circumvent the broken pipe before it was removed. Colonial says they identified […]
Attorney: Moore Decision Disregards “Rule of Law”
Lawyers for former Chief Justice Roy Moore are appealing his removal from office saying the move was a disregard for the “rule of law.” Attorneys with the Liberty Counsel, a conservative non-profit law firm out of Florida that represents Moore, filed the appeal yesterday. It once again comes down to semantics. Among other arguments, Moore’s […]
Roy Moore Calling His Second Ouster “Politically Motivated”
Moore is calling his punishment the result of a "politically motivated effort by radical homosexual and transgender groups," who targeted him because of what he calls his "outspoken opposition to their immoral agenda."
Urban Dwellers Making a Push to Save Disappearing Honeybee
A quote about the honeybee made famous by an anonymous thinker states, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.” As ominous as that sounds it’s not far from true. Bees play an extremely important role in the production of crops and the […]
Fate of Chief Justice Roy Moore Hangs in the Balance
Several children were among the overall peaceful protestors that gathered at the state Supreme Court Wednesday for the trial of yet another high-ranking Alabama official, Roy Moore.
Roy Moore Faces Removal from Bench for Second Time in 13 Years
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is facing removal from the bench for the second time in 13 years. Moore goes to trial Wednesday on judicial ethics charges for allegedly ignoring a U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
Alabama Joining Antitrust Lawsuit Over Drug Used to Treat Opioid Addiction
Attorney General Luther Strange is joining 35 other Attorneys General in an antitrust lawsuit against the makers of Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, now known as Indivior, is accused of conspiring with MonoSol Rx to switch Suboxone from a tablet to a film (that dissolves in the mouth) […]
A Look at the Struggling Neighborhoods of Birmingham’s West Side
Communities like Ensley, West End and Fairfield were commercial hubs during the industrial heyday of the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Gas Flowing Through Pipeline Again, Environmental Groups Following Cleanup
Gasoline is flowing once again through a pipeline that carries fuel to several southeastern states. But, it could still be several days until fuel delivery is back to normal. Crews worked day and night for nearly two weeks constructing a 500-foot bypass off a broken gas pipeline. Officials with Colonial Pipeline – the company that […]
Gas Leak Cleanup Going Well, Bentley Says
Colonial Pipeline, the company that owns and operates the gas pipeline, has deployed roughly 700 people to clean up about 300,000 gallons of gas. It spilled into a pond near Helena.
Paralympic Athlete Josh Roberts Going for Gold in Rio
Most of us expect to sweat when we get hot, but imagine if you couldn’t? This condition affects many people with spinal cord injuries – like Roberts.
What it’s Like Being “Out in Alabama”
Alabama native and 31-year-old Joshua Glenn talks about his role in the film and its significance to the LGBT people in Birmingham and the South.
How to Avoid Being the Victim of Violent Crime
Recent studies show that violent crime is on the rise in America, and 2016 homicide numbers in Birmingham are on pace with last year, the highest number of homicides the city has seen since 2008. But does this mean you have a higher chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime?
Birmingham’s Comprehensive Plan: Four Years After the Launch
Some feel Birmingham residents are worse off now than they were before the Comprehensive Plan was implemented.
UAB Launching New Solar Energy System
The $122,000 project atop the Campus Recreation Center is part of a larger plan at UAB to use buildings as incubators for new sustainable technology.
What’s Ailing Birmingham’s Public Transportation Industry?
There are several transformative projects many feel have lost momentum. We start this week's Magic City Marketplace asking, "Where do we go from here?
Hate-Filled Heckling in the Name of Religion
The hearing Monday for suspended Chief Justice Roy Moore sparked disturbing heckles directed at members of the LGBT community. Moore supporters chanted anti-gay slurs and mocked a speaker attempting to give an emotional testimony. For more on this and other news, we turn to John Archibald, columnist for the Alabama Media Group.
Medicaid Cuts Sending Shock Waves Through Alabama Medical Community
The first round of cuts to the state’s Medicaid program went into effect on August 1. Officials did away with the “primary care bump,” a payment incentive given to primary care providers in an effort to encourage them to accept Medicaid patients. The cuts are already sending shock waves through Alabama’s medical community, especially in […]
Gay Rights Group Calling for Moore’s Ouster Through Public Advertisement
The Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community put the sign up in downtown Montgomery. The sign went up just days before Moore’s hearing on judicial ethics charges. In January, he sent an order to probate judges saying the state’s gay marriage ban was still in effect even after a U.S. Supreme Court decision legalized same-sex marriage.
Iron Giant Percussion Takes Drumming to New Heights
Four guys plus a table full of random stuff that makes noise equals Iron Giant Percussion. The Birmingham natives take drumming to new heights, pounding out rhythms on everything from bongos to porcelain floor tiles.
Reducing Recidivism in Alabama, U.S.
People who have spent time in prison for non-violent felony offenses have a difficult time finding - and in some cases - keeping a job. This lack of opportunity can often force people into situations where the only option is to break the law and risk being sent back to prison. It's called recidivism.
How Alabama Ethics Laws Allow for Questionable Campaign Spending
A loophole in Alabama's campaign finance law allows for questionable contributions.
Why is Commercial Real Estate such a Hot Commodity in Birmingham?
Birmingham is attracting a lot of commercial investment. Since 2011, out-of-state investors have spent more than $3.8 billion on commercial property in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. This trend is said to have peaked in 2014, but experts say investor money is still flowing into the city. In this week’s Magic City Marketplace, Ty West, editor […]
Major Interstate Closure Through Downtown Birmingham this Weekend
Beginning tonight at 7 o’clock, the junction from I-65 southbound to I-20/59 eastbound will be closed as well as the eastbound exit to 17th street.
Finding a Way to Talk About Racial Inequality in Alabama, U.S.
It's time to speak of reparations. That's the headline of the latest column by AL.com's John Archibald. The piece comes following the turbulent and deadly events involving black men and law enforcement in Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota. A discussion about this controversial column.
Birmingham Job Market Near Peak Employment
There's good news regarding the Birmingham job market. Since 2011, the city has added more than 30,000 jobs, just shy of the 45,000 needed for peak employment.
AG Puts Foot Down on Alabama’s Open Carry Law
Attorney General Luther Strange orders removal of all "No Firearms Allowed" signs around Alabama.
Advocates Searching for Ways State can Improve Child Wellbeing
According to the report, Alabama ranks 46th in the country for overall child wellbeing, an area the state continues to fall in year over year. The state ranked in the bottom ten states in every category and VOICES analyzed what it would take to improve these numbers.
Birmingham City Leaders Discuss Race, Community After Dallas Shootings
The American flag that hangs outside Birmingham City Hall was already flying at half-mast to honor the 49 victims in the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened almost month ago. City officials say the flag will probably stay that way. The flag at City Hall was already flying at half-mast honoring the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened almost a month ago.
Corruption in Alabama: The Role of the State Ethics Commission
We continue our examination of corruption that appears to plague Alabama politics
What Makes Birmingham a “Food Town?”
People in Birmingham love their city’s food so much they write songs about it. We found Ja-Neen Gandy hanging out with her kids at Railroad Park eager to share her ode to Gus’ Hot Dogs. Musical tributes are just one way residents of the Magic City express their appreciation for Birmingham’s food culture. Others write […]
