Sherrel Stewart
Reporter
Sherrel Wheeler Stewart is a veteran journalist with experience in print, digital, and broadcasting. She began her work in professional media in 1982 after graduating from the University of Alabama where she was an editor at The Crimson White student newspaper and also an associate producer with University Television Services.
At The Birmingham News she covered communities, education, and local government before moving to Nashville, Tennessee and working as education editor at The Tennessean. She has also worked in corporate communications and as a visiting professor of journalism at the University of Alabama. In 1998, she returned to The Birmingham News and was the breaking news editor before leaving in 2012.
A founding member of the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists, Sherrell is active in several community organizations. She is on the board of Special Equestrians and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Down Syndrome Alabama, and the Echo Highlands Neighborhood Association.
Two Charged in Death of 3-Year-Old Kamille McKinney
Patrick Devone Stallworth and Derick Irisha Brown were charged with capital murder Thursday in the death of 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney.
Legion Field’s Future Big Topic During Magic City Classic Week
The McDonald’s Magic City Classic brings bragging rights about the best band and football team. But some connected to the Classic wonder what happens to the annual matchup and Legion Field once Birmingham’s new downtown stadium is completed?
Birmingham Special Election Draws Crowded Candidate Field in District 6
Birmingham voters go to the polls Tuesday to elect council members in three districts. Turnout in the special election is expected to be low, but interest is high in District 6, an area that covers UAB, Titusville, and parts of west Birmingham.
Birmingham to Pilot Ridesharing Service
Birmingham will try a new ridesharing service to offer area residents more public transit options.
Megachurch Presence in Birmingham Schools Sparks Tension
Church of the Highlands, Alabama’s biggest megachurch, has expanded into the inner city, leasing space at two Birmingham schools. But there’s been pushback in the community, some of it highlighting a racial divide.
Transit Board Approves Fare Increase and Service Cuts
The MAX Transit Board approved its $34 million budget Wednesday, including a fare increase and some service cuts.
Opportunity Zone Apartments Aim for Affordability Downtown. Will They Be?
Many people can’t afford to live in downtown Birmingham’s high-end lofts and condos. They city’s first Opportunity Zone development aims to change that. But some question how effective it will be.
Democrat Doug Jones Launches Re-election Campaign
Doug Jones launched his re-election campaign Sunday, challenging voters to look at his record instead of the labels cast on him by his opponents.
Transit Board Rejects Budget With Proposed Route and Fare Changes
The Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority rejected a proposed budget today that would have increased fares and cut some bus routes.
BCRI Board Gets 12 New Members, 5 Reappointed
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Board received a makeover Tuesday with the City Council’s appointment of a dozen new members and reappointment of five current members.
Alabama Charter Schools Group Awarded $25 Million Federal Grant
The U.S. Department of Education announced a $25 million grant today to support charter schools in Alabama.
MAX Transit Weighs Cuts, Fare Increases
The Birmingham Jefferson Transit Authority (BJCTA) is considering cuts and fare increases to the MAX bus system. Many bus riders around Birmingham say the buses are unreliable and inefficient.
Revitalization Planned for Historic Black Business District
The Fourth Avenue Business District in downtown Birmingham once teemed with life. But over decades, the area’s experienced a decline. Many hope a revitalization effort underway could breathe new life into the district.
Avondale Elementary Climate Frustrates Parents and Teachers
Next month, many area students go back to school. But at Birmingham’s Avondale Elementary School, several teachers and students won’t be returning after what they say was a chaotic year.
Birmingham Celebrates Historic A.G. Gaston Motel Anniversary
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. often planned strategy for the civil rights movement in room 30 at the A.G. Gaston Motel. For others, it was a place for wedding receptions and fancy dances. As restoration of the famed but deteriorating structure begins, Birmingham celebrated the motel’s anniversary and its founder on Monday.
Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Birmingham Minimum Wage Case
Last summer, a three-judge panel said in its ruling that the “plaintiffs have stated a plausible claim that the Minimum Wage Act had the purpose and effect of depriving Birmingham’s black citizens equal economic opportunities on the basis of race.”
Two Homewood Dispatchers Claim Discrimination in Lawsuit
The City of Homewood is facing a federal lawsuit after two police dispatchers say department leaders discriminated against them at work.
Southern Baptists Apologize for Sex Abuse Coverups
In the last day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Birmingham, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination apologized for decades of sexual abuse and cover ups in the church.
Southern Baptists Vote to Address Sex Abuse in Churches
Thousands of Southern Baptists are in Birmingham this week for the denomination’s annual meeting. In the first day of business, the convention voted to amend its constitution to take steps against sex abuse.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Campaigns in Birmingham
In her Friday speech in Birmingham, Sen. Kamala Harris promised to stand up for women’s access to reproductive care, take on gun control and work to give all Americans quality healthcare.
Proposed Charter School Plans to Serve LGBTQ Youth
Many students who identify as LGBTQ here in Alabama say they’ve been harassed or assaulted because of their sexuality. A new charter school proposed in Birmingham aims to make these young people feel safe in the classroom.
Former Jefferson County Commissioner Chris McNair Dies
For most of her life, WBHM reporter Sherrell Stewart has had a close up view of McNair’s triumphs and heartbreaks. She shares this remembrance, including what they discussed just days before his death.
Bill Would Hold Back Third Graders Who Don’t Read Proficiently
A bill making its way through the Alabama Legislature requires that third graders read proficiently by the end of third grade or else be held back. The state consistently ranks near the bottom on national achievement tests in reading.
Momentum Shifts on Bill to Repeal Common Core
State Sen. Del Marsh wants to repeal the nationwide academic standards known as Common Core this legislative session. But the proposal seems to have lost some momentum.
Trash Talk: Abandoned Cars Dot Area Roadsides
Ever wonder where all these abandoned cars on the side of the road come from? Here’s your answer.
Restoration Work Begins on Historic A.G. Gaston Motel
Work has begun to restore the motel that was a headquarters for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.
State Commission Approves Birmingham Charter School
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission approved plans for a new charter school in Birmingham. The development comes two months after Birmingham school officials rejected the i3 Academy application. Organizers of the charter school appealed to the state.
State Commission to Hear Birmingham Charter School Appeal
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission is scheduled to vote Monday on a proposed charter school in Woodlawn. The Birmingham school board recently rejected i3 Academy’s bid to open in the city, and organizers appealed to the state.
Hoover Parents, School Leaders Speak Out on Diversity
Hoover parents had their say on discrimination in city schools Thursday night, and their words could help shape how school leaders in Hoover deal with race issues.
Southern Poverty Law Center Dismisses Founder
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery-based civil rights watch dog group, dismissed its founder Morris Dees, with little detail on what led to the ouster.
Hoover School Officials, Lawyers Seek Feedback on Discrimination for Ongoing Case
Tonight, Hoover school officials and lawyers representing black students in the system want to get community feedback on plans that would show various school policies and practices are not discriminatory. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Trace Crossings Elementary.
Dozens Being Treated After Water Treatment Chemical Spill
A chemical spill at a Birmingham water treatment plant sent dozens of workers to area hospitals with respiratory problems. Officials say the water supply hasn’t been affected.
