Gigi Douban has reported for public radio since 2006. She’s filed stories for WBHM, NPR, Studio 360, and Public Radio International’s The World. Most recently, Gigi reported for Marketplace, bringing the country stories about toxic landfills, debtors prisons, and lighter fare, like why urinals are ubiquitous in public bathrooms, but not in homes. She's also written for Bloomberg News and Runner’s World, and on occasion, actually runs.
House members passed one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation this week. And the Alabama Senate passed a hefty education spending plan.
Alabama Senators voted 21-12 to approve a lottery bill. The measure would limit a lottery to paper tickets. It now goes to the House of Representatives.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling allowing same-sex marriage was a hard pill to swallow for some Alabama probate judges. Some still refuse to issue marriage licenses in their counties. But a proposed bill could force them to comply with federal law.
This week Alabama lawmakers considered a bill that would make abortions a felony unless the mother's health is at risk. And it wrestled with a solution to the state's prisons crisis.
Medical marijuana, a repeal of the Common Core, and a lottery bill were all on the legislative agenda this past week. We take a look at these and other measures lawmakers considered.
The Alabama House of Representatives on Friday approved legislation to increase the state gas tax by 10 cents per gallon. The tax increase would be phased in over three years
It's hard to know how much consensus there will be among Alabama House members on a proposed gas tax increase. The House is set to consider the bill Friday.
A gas tax increase, more money for prisons, and a pre-kindergarten expansion were among the legislative priorities Gov. Kay Ivey highlighted in her State of the State address on Tuesday.
Crews in Lee County Monday kicked the search and recovery efforts into high gear, as officials expect the injury and death toll to rise.
Protesters talk about how they still don’t have answers for the police shooting of #EmanticBradfordJr Protesters talk about how they still don’t have answers for the police shooting of #EmanticBradfordJr https://t.co/lt0QBvsDpI — WBHM 90.3 FM (@WBHM) November 27, 2018 Police line the sidewalk outside Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato’s house. Protestors are here for #EmanticBradfordJr Police […]
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill plans to testify Wednesday before a congressional committee looking into election security. Merrill is one of a handful of state and local election officials giving feedback on a bill meant to improve the nation’s voting laws. He has issues with some of the provisions in the proposed legislation.
A federal judge ruled the Alabama prison system has failed to monitor the mental health of prisoners isolated in segregation cells, a failure to which the Alabama Department of Corrections is “deliberately indifferent,” the order says.
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the case of the Hoover police officer who shot and killed 21-year-old Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr. on Thanksgiving. To help us unpack this, we turned to former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Joyce White Vance.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's office spent more than two months investigating the shooting death of Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr. at the hands of a Hoover police officer. Marshall released the findings of his investigation and explained to WBHM why he won't prosecute the officer.
Andrew Yeager’s newscast on a regular news day
Alabama has more Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCU’s, than any state in the nation. Many of those schools struggle financially. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones has worked to boost federal funding of HBCU’s. On Friday he holds the first annual HBCU summit at Lawson State Community College.
Here are a few spots by reporter Janae Pierre. They’re part of our continuing coverage of the fatal police shooting of a 21-year-old at an Alabama mall.
Our reporters delivered thorough, incisive coverage of the 2018 elections. Our audience heard candidates outline their priorities. We spoke with voters who were worried that since hundreds of thousands were purged from state voter rolls, perhaps their votes wouldn’t count. We reported on questions surrounding Secretary of State John Merrill’s partisanship and, more specifically, his ability to oversee an […]
Our listeners often tell us how much they appreciate Andrew Yeager’s morning newscasts. As WBHM’s host of NPR’s Morning Edition, his reports are informative, dynamic, and rich with sound from the latest news, whether it’s a new development in an ongoing story or an election recap. He projects authority in his writing, which […]
Wetumpka began what will likely be a long road to recovery on Sunday, one day after a powerful tornado ripped through the town causing extensive damage to a number of buildings and homes.
A Birmingham police officer was fatally shot downtown Sunday morning and another critically wounded. The slain officer has been identified as Sgt. Wytasha Carter, 44, of Birmingham.
Eighteen days after a young black man was shot and killed by a Hoover police officer at a busy mall, many unanswered questions remain. For more on why so little is known, WBHM’s Gigi Douban spoke with Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato and City Manager Allan Rice about the aftermath of the shooting, including the investigation, claims that city police are racist, and the healing process ahead.
The UAB Blazers football team is on a roll. And commentators call it one of the biggest comeback stories of our time. Can the team keep it up and keep their coach?
A shooting at the Riverchase Galleria mall on Thanksgiving night left the gunman dead and at least two wounded on one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
Airlines don't lose passenger luggage often. But it happens enough to keep the Unclaimed Baggage Center in business. That's a private company in Scottsboro that sells lost bags that aren't claimed for 90 days .
He was a bulldog and an outspoken defender of ethics in state politics. As deputy attorney general, Matt Hart indicted several state and local leaders on corruption charges. Now Hart is out of a job. Attorney General Steve Marshall has already appointed Hart's replacement. What does this mean for the state's efforts to keep corrupt politicians in check?
Birmingham is getting a pro basketball team. The NBA Pelicans are bringing a minor league affiliate, and they'll play at the BJCC Legacy Arena.
A statewide DMV computer outage Thursday morning prohibited some residents from updating their driver’s licenses just days ahead of Monday’s voter registration deadline. But it’s unclear how many were affected.
Alabama Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall defeated former Attorney General Troy King in Tuesday's primary runoffs. State Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh lost her bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor to state Rep. Will Ainsworth. Here's your election results roundup.
