Sherrel Stewart
Reporter
Sherrel Wheeler Stewart is a reporter with BirminghamWatch, a nonprofit, independent news site. WBHM and BirminghamWatch collaborate through a content-sharing partnership.
Black Women Boosted Doug Jones to Victory. Now What?
To black women in Alabama who propelled U.S. Sen. Doug Jones to victory in the Dec. 12 special election, it was a way to make a powerful statement about the need for greater focus on their priorities.
City Offers Emergency Shelter For Hundreds Escaping Cold
Brutal cold prompted the City of Birmingham to open an emergency warming shelter over the weekend. City officials say they’ll keep it open through Friday, but they need more volunteers and supplies. Hundreds of Birmingham’s homeless found food and warm refuge inside the South Exhibition Hall at the BJCC. They spent the night in the […]
Apathy and a Divide Among Some Black Voters
If he has a chance at defeating conservative Republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s US Senate election, Democrat Doug Jones needs lots of votes, especially from African Americans. But some in the black community say it’ll take more than a history of prosecuting the KKK members responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to energize them to support Jones.
Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper Steps Down
After weeks of speculation, Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper is stepping down. Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office released a statement from the chief today confirming that Roper did not reapply for his position in the new mayor’s administration.
Woodfin Inaugurated as Birmingham’s 30th Mayor
Randall Woodfin, a 36-year-old former Birmingham school board member, was inaugurated Tuesday as Birmingham's 30th mayor.
Birmingham’s Millennial Mayor Moves to a Different Beat
One week from today, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s 30th mayor. His rise to the big office on third floor of City Hall is a move Woodfin has calculated for years, even though he’s just 36.
Roy Moore, Faith Leaders Say GOP Establishment Is Behind Allegations
Pastors and faith leaders from around the country stood with embattled GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore in Birmingham Thursday, castigating the media and denying charges of Moore’s sexual misconduct decades ago.
Moore Campaign Says Yearbook Signature Could Be Fake
Officials with Roy Moore’s campaign late Wednesday afternoon continued to deny the sexual assault claims of his latest accuser, Beverly Nelson Young. Campaign Chairman Bill Armistead said Moore doesn’t recall ever signing Nelson Young’s high school yearbook.
Support Mixed For Roy Moore in Gadsden Following Allegations
The chorus of calls is growing for Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore to step aside following additional allegations of sexual misconduct years ago. Near his home base in Etowah County, the former Alabama chief Supreme Court justice still has support among some but questions from others.
Friends And A Few Protestors Greet Roy Moore In Vestavia
Judge Roy Moore saluted veterans and defended himself against allegations of sexual misconduct 40 years ago, during a speech Saturday morning in Vestavia Hills. He found a lot of support, some protestors also were on hand.
Woodfin Shocked the Old Guard. Now What?
In about three weeks, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s next mayor. Woodfin worked for years as an attorney at City Hall. During his year-long campaign for mayor, Woodfin shined a light on the city’s problems and sold most Birmingham voters on his ability to fix them. Recently he spoke with WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart about what’s next and how he won.
New Birmingham Council Pledges To Work Together
Birmingham has a new city council – six returning members and three new ones. They took office this morning, pledging to do things differently --– mainly working with the new mayor and working together.
Voters Hope Woodfin Fulfills Promises For Better Birmingham
Randall Woodfin takes over as mayor of Birmingham on Nov. 28. He overwhelmingly beat incumbent Mayor William Bell in this month’s runoff. On the campaign trail, the 36-year-old Woodfin promised a better Birmingham. Now residents say they expect him to deliver on those promises.
Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin Announces Transition Leaders, Inauguration Date
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin began his transition into office today with a press conference at Vulcan, echoing some of the same themes from his campaign.
Birmingham Mayor, Council To Start Terms On Different Dates
Birmingham’s mayor and council were elected at the same time, but they will not take office the same day because of state law.
Birmingham Voters Fill Seats for Mayor, City Council, School Board Today
Birmingham voters will elect a mayor, city council and school board members in a municipal runoff today. Mayor William Bell faces a challenge from city attorney Randall Woodfin for the mayor’s seat. Three Birmingham City Council seats are up for grabs in districts 2, 5, and 9. And five Birmingham Board of Education slots will be […]
In Tuesday’s Mayoral Runoff, Bell Touts Experience, Woodfin Pushes Change
There’s a runoff election in Birmingham Tuesday. A few school board seats and city council places are on the line. And there’s the big race for mayor – a runoff between incumbent William Bell and Randall Woodfin, an assistant city attorney.
Regional Governments Team Up to Lure Amazon to Birmingham
Government and corporate leaders from throughout Jefferson County announced a joint effort today to lure a proposed Amazon headquarters to Birmingham.
Dueling Endorsements for Mayor Among Birmingham Police
Talk about choosing sides -- Birmingham police are split on who they support for mayor in the upcoming runoff election on Oct. 3.
Selfies and Handshakes and Smiles, Oh My! Birmingham Mayor’s Race Heats Up
The Birmingham city election runoff is less than two weeks away, and in the mayor’s race, almost any street, coffee shop, boutique or park can turn into a battleground for votes.
Preview of the Birmingham Mayor’s Race: The Woodfin-Bell Divide
The results are in for the Birmingham Municipal Election. But while these numbers don’t lie, they do leave lots of questions
Roland Martin: ‘Is School Choice The Black Choice?’
Two years ago, Alabama passed a law authorizing charter schools to operate in the state but the concept has been slow to catch on. Alabama has only one charter school so far in Mobile and the state earlier this year approved a second to open in Birmingham. These schools are meant to offer access to better quality public education but many black families have been resistant to the idea. Washington based television host Roland Martin is trying to change that.
The Breakdown: How Woodfin and Bell Fared Around the City
If you want to know how 36-year-old former school board President Randall Woodfin captured the largest percentage of votes in his bid to win out over incumbent Mayor William Bell, just look at the numbers.
Your Birmingham Election Roundup
WBHM’s city government reporter Sherrel Wheeler Stewart offers an overview of Tuesday's municipal elections in Birmingham.
Low Voter Turnout So Far at Some Birmingham Polls
Turnout appears low at several Birmingham polling places as voters go to the polls to elect a mayor, city council and school board.
Has Your Birmingham Polling Place Changed?
Polls open for voting in Birmingham at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, as Birmingham voters cast their ballots for mayor, city council and school board.
Trudy Hunter Wants To Tackle Education, Poverty
For Trudy Hunter, a law school grad and a social worker from southwest Birmingham, this run for the city’s top job has been 10 years in the making. She says she wrestled with God about whether to step out on faith and run.
Patricia Bell Wants a Better City For Future Generations
Patricia Bell, no relation to William Bell, has run for mayor several times. But she isn’t discouraged. She's one of 12 candidates vying for the office in Tuesday's election. The community activist and marketer says the city still needs good leadership.
Bell Calls Birmingham’s Revitalizing Neighborhoods the Next Challenge
Birmingham Mayor William Bell has been a Xerox marketer and a probation officer, but since 1979, he’s been somewhere in local government. Voters will decide Tuesday during municipal elections whether he'll continue to serve in his position. After almost eight years as mayor, Bell tells WBHM’s Sherrel Stewart he wants to do it again.
Birmingham Council District 5: A Tale Of Two Cities
Seven people are vying for the District 5 seat on the Birmingham City Council in the August 22 elections. That’s the area representing most of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods from Crestwood to Smithfield. Managing this district won’t be easy. Some parts stand out as hip places to be in Birmingham, while others languish in extreme poverty and blight.
Philemon Hill: Birmingham Needs Economic Development and Strong Schools
Philemon Hill is a sports marketer. He’s promoted sporting events from baseball to golf around the Southeast. But he’s also become a fixture at Birmingham City Council and School Board meetings. Now, he’d like to make the leap from gadfly to mayor.
Bell, Woods, and Woodfin Top Poll and Fundraising in Birmingham Mayor’s Race
A WBRC Fox 6 News poll in the Birmingham mayor’s race shows incumbent William Bell, building contractor Chris Woods and Birmingham school board member Randall Woodfin leading the race as the Aug. 22 election approaches. Those same three candidates are leading in fundraising, according to a WBHM analysis.
