Noelle Annonen
WBHM General Assignment Reporter
Noelle Annonen is a general assignment reporter for WBHM
Birmingham, covering news from across the region. She got her start
reporting at the Falmouth Enterprise, a newspaper on Cape Cod,
Massachusetts.
While working for the Enterprise, Noelle co-founded, hosted and
produced a news podcast on the most pressing issues in the region,
ranging from pickle ball to climate change, including the affordable
housing crisis, domestic violence, and substance use disorder. Two of
her episodes of the Upper Cape Catch won Best Podcast at the New
England Newspaper Association Awards in 2024.
Noelle grew up in a military family and has lived around the world,
including France and Ireland. Her relocation to Birmingham marked her
21st cross-border move, although after her time studying at the
University of Montana, she calls Missoula “home.” In her free time, she
enjoys running, dancing to Taylor Swift music and catching up with her
many long-distance friends.
Birmingham names new police chief
After a four month wait, Birmingham has a new police chief. Tuesday morning, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced that interim chief Michael Pickett is taking on the role permanently.
Email shows senator did receive town hall invite, despite Tuberville saying otherwise
Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s office said he never received an invitation to a town hall in Birmingham held for his constituents last month. The organizers beg to differ.
Cardboard cutouts stand in for elected leaders at town halls
In cities across Alabama, voters have been inviting their elected representatives to town halls. They hope to air their grievances and pose their questions about federal funding and staff cuts.
Crime victims come together to raise awareness of resources
Alabama, like all states, has a program to compensate victims of violence. But very few survivors take advantage of such programs
How Alabama’s first commuted death sentence this century came about
Robin "Rocky" Myers has been on Alabama’s death row for more than 30 years. Then, on February 28, he became the first Alabamian this century to have his death sentence commuted.
Hanceville suspends police department, begins search for new chief
The Hanceville City Council voted Monday night to suspend its police department until a new police chief can be hired. That chief will be tasked with building a new police department from the ground up.
Birmingham VA worker caught in the crosshairs of federal funding cuts
Brandy Lee was in the middle of her work day with the Birmingham VA Medical Center in February when she got a memo from the federal Office of Personnel Management. After four months in her dream job, she was fired along with thousands of other federal employees across the country.
Bill would ban drag performances in public schools and libraries
Some Alabama lawmakers want to ban drag performances in public libraries and schools. But opponents fear the bill might have broader implications when it comes to self-expression and First Amendment rights.
Hanceville delays decision on the future of its police force after corruption allegations
Hanceville residents filled the city council chambers, lined the walls and spilled into the hallway Thursday night at the council’s first meeting since a grand jury called for the city to abolish its police department.
Bill advances which would further protect police from criminal, civil prosecution
A recent bill in Alabama’s legislature would establish new legal protections for police officers who use physical or deadly force on a person while in the line of duty. Bill supporters say it will improve police safety, recruitment and retention. But critics worry it would give police officers immunity from criminal prosecution.
Cullman County grand jury calls for the Hanceville Police Department to be abolished
The indictment from the grand jury alleges that five officers including the police chief of the Hanceville Police Department tampered with physical evidence, sold and distributed illegal drugs and used an official position for personal gain.
‘Our rights are under attack’: residents protest the Trump administration
A crowd of people carried homemade signs and American flags as they marched toward Birmingham City Hall through Linn Park on Monday afternoon. They chanted slogans, voicing opposition to various actions taken by the Trump administration.
What is your best or your worst date?
It’s the season of love and we asked attendees at WBHM’s most recent News and Brews community pop-up event to tell us their stories of love or lack thereof.
Steel City Men’s Chorus brings music and friendship to LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham
The Steel City Men's Chorus, formed in 2013, is the only queer identified chorus of its kind in Alabama.
Alabama’s foster care caseworker turnover is at 50%. What can be done?
Alabama is struggling to keep foster care caseworkers on the job. The state reports a turnover rate of 50%in 2024. Why does the state have such a high turnover rate and what is being done to fix this?
Birmingham braces for winter storm: here’s what to do
Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency for 37 Alabaman counties Thursday, including the Birmingham metro area, ahead of a weekend winter storm. Forecasters expect icy weather to sweep through the region from Thursday night through Friday night.
Homicide commission report offers strategies to reduce gun violence
Following a record breaking year of homicides in Birmingham, a city commission submitted a report on potential solutions for the crisis to the mayor’s office on Monday. The report lays out strategies for how the city can reduce its homicide rate, particularly those stemming from gun violence.
Birmingham begins new curbside waste collection schedule
Birmingham’s new trash, recycling and bulk waste collection schedule kicks off on Monday, January 6. Residents can expect regular trash pickup on one specific day each week and recycling collection on the same day every other week.
What are your hopes for 2025?
With 2024 coming to a close, we have a whole new year to look forward to. What are your hopes for 2025? We put that question to attendees of our recent News and Brews community pop-up.
Share your thoughts on gun violence in Birmingham
Anyone in Birmingham who wants to weigh in on how to address the city’s gun violence can do so through a survey offered by an independent gun violence commission. The commission has been working since October to find ways to reduce Birmingham’s homicide rates.
Alabama wants to lower recidivism rates by 2030. What are the obstacles?
Last year, Alabama set an ambitious goal for itself: lower recidivism by 25% and increase post-incarceration employment rates by 50% by 2030. But a recent study on the state's criminal justice re-entry programming shows that many formerly incarcerated people are falling through the cracks.
Girls Rock Birmingham gives future artists the spotlight
Picture a rock band and chances are it’s a bunch of men. But Girls Rock Birmingham, a local youth organization, is fixing that spotlight on girls by giving them the chance to take the stage to rock out.
What is your favorite holiday scent and memory?
The holidays are rife with tradition and memories, with more than a few seasonal cookies, coffees and festivities sprinkled in between. So we asked visitors to our recent News and Brews community pop-up in Trussville: what is your favorite holiday scent and memory?
‘Iced Cherries’: Joe D. Nelson’s take on modern folk and age old tropes
It may be unusual for a musician to refer to his own music as a trope. But that’s what Birmingham singer-songwriter Joe D. Nelson does with his latest album Iced Cherries.
Why this winter could bring more tornadoes to Alabama
Scientists are finding the tornado map of the United States is changing. In recent years, the Tornado Alley of the Great Plains has twisted into the southeast, a region known as Dixie Alley.
It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time in McCalla: Smuckers opens biggest Uncrustables factory in the country
The facility represents a more than $1 billion capital investment from Smuckers and is predicted to bring in 750 jobs to the community.
Birmingham’s newest voters: how the latest generation is approaching politics
While Alabama is not a swing state, these students represent an up and coming generation whose voices have not yet been heard in the political world. And this demographic of voters has already proven that they can make an impact.
16th Street Baptist Church wins national historic stewardship award
The 16th Street Baptist Church received national recognition on Monday for its historic site stewardship from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This comes after years of church staff and community members working hard to restore and preserve the structure as it looked in 1963.
‘Five Points South is so much more than that’: residents reflect one month after mass shooting
How is the neighborhood holding up in the weeks since a mass shooting left four people dead and 17 wounded.
Woodfin tasks new commission with reducing homicides
Leaders in law enforcement, the business sector, religious groups and others will draw inspiration from violence reduction methods proven by cities from around the country.
