Sam Prickett
BirminghamWatch
Sam Prickett is a reporter with BirminghamWatch, a nonprofit, independent news site. WBHM and BirminghamWatch collaborate through a content-sharing partnership.
Birmingham budget passed after compromise with councilors
Birmingham’s most contentious budgeting process in years ended Tuesday with the city council’s unanimous approval of Mayor Randall Woodfin’s nearly $555 million budget.
Ride the Birmingham Xpress for free, at least for now
The Birmingham Bus Rapid Transit system, also known as Birmingham Xpress, will be free for riders for at least the next few months — though exactly how long remains up in the air.
Birmingham City Council opposes water works bill that would dilute its influence
The bill would reduce the number of Birmingham Water Works Board seats from nine to seven, removing two of the four currently appointed by the council.
Birmingham City Council working on a plan for overhaul of water works board
As the Alabama Legislature considers a complete overhaul of the Birmingham Water Works Board, the Birmingham City Council is mulling its own legislation to meet state lawmakers halfway.
Birmingham City Council delays BSC funding decision until at least mid-April
The struggling college is seeking $30 million from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund, as well as $5 million from Birmingham and $2.5 million from Jefferson County.
Old Carraway complex to be demolished all at once under new deal with city
The former hospital site will be turned into a mixed-use development, Star at Uptown, which is to include residential, retail and dining spaces, as well as an amphitheater.
Cameras, iPads part of plan to improve garbage collection
The City Council approved a software that they say will streamline garbage routes and and improve accountability.
Birmingham City Council approves violence-reduction effort for city high schools
The program involves community mentors, called “coaches,” meeting with groups of at-risk students twice a week.
New bike- and scooter-sharing service approved in Birmingham
Lime received unanimous approval from the Birmingham City Council, though council members had concerns about misplaced bikes and scooters becoming a nuisance.
Childhood literacy program to expand after Birmingham approves funding
The $1 million will help Birmingham Talks, more than triple its reach to 3,500 students across all 99 neighborhoods over the next three years.
Birmingham City Council moves toward approval of cannabis dispensaries
Birmingham has taken “the first step” on the road to legalizing medical marijuana. The City Council voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance authorizing medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within Birmingham city limits.
Birmingham councilors allege promises broken but city still renews Via contract
Under the contract, the city will pay the Via ridesharing service up to $2.64 million per year to provide transit services.
Birmingham Modernizing Garbage Pickup
Birmingham will spend just over $6.5 million to give each household in Birmingham a new, 96-gallon garbage receptacle that Mayor Randall Woodfin said will modernize the way the city picks up garbage.
Birmingham Council Approves $5 Million for World Games Debt
The decision during Tuesday’s council meeting came amid an atmosphere of bitterness from city officials who felt they’d been misled by the Games’ organizers.
Birmingham City Council passes Woodfin’s budget untouched
Police, public works and youth programs were the biggest winners in the $517 million budget, the largest ever for the city.
Birmingham Council OKs New Districts Despite Dissent
Councilors sparred Tuesday over the maps which were redrawn based on numbers from the 2020 census.
Birmingham delays ICE agreement, wants to assure it won’t lead to police involvement in deportations
The Birmingham City Council has delayed approving an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would allow several city police officers to act as officers for the federal agency’s Homeland Security Investigations division.
The Birmingham Library delays plans to close four branches after city officials protest
The Birmingham Public Library Board of Trustees has delayed a proposed vote to shut down four library branches after receiving criticism from city leaders, including Mayor Randall Woodfin.
No more Euphoria. The Birmingham City Council revokes license of infamous club
The Birmingham City Council has revoked the business license of Club Euphoria, an Ensley nightclub deemed a “nuisance” by the surrounding neighborhood.
A bad day for incumbents: 2 Birmingham councilors, 1 BOE member defeated in runoffs
Two incumbent city councilors and one incumbent school board member were unseated during Birmingham’s municipal runoff election Tuesday.
Birmingham Council Backing UAB Football With Ticket Buy
The city of Birmingham will purchase 1,000 tickets to every UAB football home game for a total cost of $100,000, the City Council decided Tuesday.
Crestwood Blvd Hotel Has Eight Weeks To Clean Up Its Act, Council Says
A crime-plagued motel on Crestwood Boulevard will have eight weeks to clean up its act, the Birmingham City Council decided Tuesday.
Birmingham Applies For Grants To Beef Up Surveillance, Readies To Open Real-Time Crime Center
The city of Birmingham will apply for a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to purchase and maintain license plate readers in an effort “to improve the [Birmingham Police Department’s] response to violent crime.”
Birmingham Council OKs Rezoning To Allow Event Venue In Kingston
The city’s long-range land-use plan for the area states that the property should transition “toward a more mixed-use low designation” because of its proximity to residential areas, said Katrina Thomas, the city’s interim deputy director of planning, engineering and permits.
Project To Turn Old Ensley High Project Into Apartment Complex Moves Forward
Plans to redevelop the former Ensley High School into a 244-unit apartment complex took another step forward Tuesday, despite pushback from one councilor.
Birmingham Council OKs Extra Funds For Bus Rapid Transit System
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to approve using $18 million in American Rescue Plan funds to cover unexpected extra costs in construction of the city’s Bus Rapid Transit System. The BRT project, which will create a 10-mile, higher-speed public transit corridor through 25 neighborhoods, broke ground in December. But last week, Charlotte Shaw, the […]
Birmingham Council Set To Fund Rapid Transit Project Next Week
The Birmingham City Council will vote on Tuesday whether to allocate $18 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan funding toward the construction of the city’s Bus Rapid Transit system. The project will create a 10-mile, higher-speed public transit corridor through 25 neighborhoods.
Impasse Between City Council, Mayor’s Office On Scheduling Delays Spending Of City Relief Funds
The city of Birmingham hasn't made any more headway on spending the $74 million it received from the American Rescue Plan. The problem? Scheduling, according to Council President William Parker. That's because the city council, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the finance director need to meet again to discuss logistics.
Delta Strikes Birmingham Public Works, But Mayor Says The City Will Get To Your Trash
Your trash will be picked up, said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin at a press conference Tuesday.
Come Back With More Detail And We’ll Talk: Council Delays Plan For Rescue Money
Birmingham’s efforts to distribute millions of dollars of federal American Rescue Plan funding hit a snag Tuesday after councilors took issue with the vagueness of Mayor Randall Woodfin’s proposed allocations.
Offering A Carrot Won’t Get People Vaccinated, Maybe It’s Time To Talk About The Stick, Health Official Tells Birmingham Council
One health professional says incentivizing vaccines is not working and that it may be time for businesses to start requiring it.
Birmingham Recycling Kicked Up To Twice A Month, City Buys Refuse Equipment
Residents in the city of Birmingham will soon start having their recycling picked up twice a month. The city’s recycling program was temporarily halted by COVID-19 last April.
