WATCH LIVE: Justice Department Inspector General Testifies Before Senate Judiciary

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is answering lawmakers' questions about his report on the Russia investigation, which was released on Monday. Watch the hearing live, Wednesday, December 11th starting at 10 a.m. Central.

Alabama Broadband Expansion to Improve High-Speed Internet Access

Alabamians, especially in rural areas, will see improvements in their internet access. A new partnership announced today plans to expand current broadband infrastructure and provide faster fiber optic cables throughout the state.

Birmingham Initiative Pardons Low-Level Marijuana Convictions

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin launched a new initiative to pardon thousands of people with misdemeanor marijuana convictions, a move meant to ease a significant barrier to employment.

Jeff Sessions Wants To Return To The Senate, GOP Sources Say

Republican sources say ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants to return to the Senate. He was a key Trump supporter but the relationship soured when Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe.

Most Birmingham-Area Schools Improve From Last Year in Latest Report Card, But Work Still Needed

Two Birmingham-area school systems scored better than last year on the 2018-2019 annual Education Report Card issued by the Alabama State Department of Education.

New Grocery Delivery Program Aims to Curb Senior Hunger

Many seniors have health issues that prevent them from getting to the grocery store. Others can't afford or have limited access to nutritious food. A new program delivers healthy groceries to their doorstep.

Birmingham School Officials Say Schools Can Work Around Woodfin’s Proposed Budget Cut

Birmingham school officials say it's unclear how they'll make up a proposed $2 million funding gap from the city, but it won't put a huge burden on the school system.

FBI Records Could Have Solved A Civil Rights Cold Case. Now It’s Too Late

The murder of the Rev. James Reeb was unsolved for more than 50 years. Now, Alabama officials who might have pursued prosecution tell NPR that if the FBI had shared its case file with them, they would have investigated Reeb's murder years earlier.

Attorney Explains Motion To Dismiss In Case Of Alabama Woman Indicted In Death Of Her Fetus

Marshae Jones is facing a manslaughter charge for "intentionally causing the death of her fetus."

Alabama Woman Charged with Manslaughter in the Death of Her Own Fetus Awaits District Attorney Decision

Marshae Jones has been charged with manslaughter for the death of her own fetus, even though a different woman shot Jones in the stomach. Police say Jones was endangering her fetus by starting the fight.

Brittany Howard Announces First Solo Album, Shares ‘History Repeats’

Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard will release her first-ever solo album later this summer.

Supreme Court Orders Documents Unsealed In Death Penalty Case

The U.S. Supreme Court ordered documents unsealed Monday in a death penalty case out of Alabama after a motion was filed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and NPR.

Birmingham Councilor Suggests Calling in the Guard If Nothing Else Curbs Crime in the City

Birmingham City Councilor Steven Hoyt called on Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to change his strategies for fighting crime in Birmingham, even if it means calling in the National Guard.

University Of Alabama Returns $21.5 Million To Hugh Culverhouse

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with attorney Hugh Culverhouse, who pledged $26.5 million to the university. The $21.5 million he had given so far was returned and his name removed from the law school.

Justice Department Forces Alabama To Address Deadly Prison Conditions

Alabama must rectify the dangerous conditions this week or face a Justice Department lawsuit. Critics say plans to build new prisons won't solve issues that have been found to be unconstitutional.

Alabama Governor Signs Near-total Abortion Ban Into Law

Alabama’s Republican governor signed the most stringent abortion legislation in the nation Wednesday, making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases.

Alabama Lawmakers Pass Bill Banning Nearly All Abortions

The Alabama Senate passed a bill Tuesday evening to ban nearly all abortions. The state House had already overwhelmingly approved the legislation. It's part of a broader anti-abortion strategy to prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider the right to abortion.

Alabama House Approves Near Total Abortion Ban

The Alabama House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to outlaw almost all abortions in the state as conservatives took aim at the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

Alabama Committee Advances Bill to Outlaw Abortion

Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday advanced one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation, a measure that would make performing an abortion a felony with almost no exceptions.

PARCA Survey Says Alabamians Want Fewer Non-Violent Criminals in Prison, More Money for Education

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama in a new survey said Alabamians favor supervising non-violent criminals in the community and giving them more rehabilitation opportunities rather than sending them to prison.

Fed’s Report Condemning Alabama Prisons: State Vows Action

Alabama authorities vowed Thursday to begin the monumental task of fixing their troubling prison problems, responding to a U.S. Department of Justice report that condemned excessive violence, inmate deaths and a critical staffing shortage in the state correctional system.

Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. But Data Shows it’s Still a Huge Problem.

Despite legal protections, most workers who face discrimination are on their own. Thousands of people report workplace discrimination to the government each year. Employers are rarely held accountable.

Special Coverage: Michael Cohen’s Testimony to Congress

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer, testifies today on Capitol Hill. Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) has signaled that the committee will question Cohen about topics including “debts and payments relating to efforts to influence the 2016 US Presidential election” as well as the president’s compliance with campaign finance and tax laws. Cohen pleaded guilty last […]

Behind Teacher Shortage: Fewer New Educators Graduating From Alabama Schools

The number of new teachers coming out of education colleges and programs in Alabama fell by about 40 percent comparing 2010-2011 and 2015-2016, according to the latest available federal data. The decrease could be worse nearly three years later.

Auburn Yearbook Photo Shows Ivey’s Sorority Sisters in Minstrel Show; Governor Is Not in the Picture

The Auburn Plainsman reported Monday that a photo in the 1967 yearbook shows members of Gov. Kay Ivey’s sorority putting on a minstrel show that appears to have been taken during Rush that year.

Alabama’s Teacher Shortages Reach ‘Crisis’ Level

Alabama’s teacher shortages are reaching crisis level, education leaders say.

State of the Union: Democrats’ Response

Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the Georgia governor’s race in November, is delivering the Democrats’ response to President Trump’s State of the Union address. Reporters across the NPR newsroom are annotating her remarks, adding context and analysis. Loading…

Trump’s State of the Union Address

President Trump is delivering his State of the Union address, which the White House says will outline a “policy agenda both parties can rally behind.” Yet the speech follows the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and the deadline to avoid another one is in less than two weeks. NPR reporters covering the White House, Congress, […]

Gospel Music’s Impact on Rock and Soul Music is Focus of New Radio Documentary to Air During Black History Month

A new radio documentary that explores the history of black gospel music and illustrates its significant influence on the formation of rock and soul music will be broadcast by WBHM on February 11th through February 14th starting every evening at 7 p.m., during Black History Month. Hosted by GRAMMY award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans, Gospel Roots […]

Alabama’s Federal Employees Return to Work as Federal Shutdown Is Temporarily Ended

Federal employees in Birmingham and across the state returned to work Monday after a record-setting, five-week partial federal shutdown that affected about 5,500 workers, almost 10 percent of the state’s 50,000 federal employees.

Alabama Lawmakers’ Pay up 4% in 2019

Alabamians’ median household income increased in 2017, which means Alabama lawmakers received a corresponding 4.03 percent pay increase this year. Their annual salary is now $48,123. This is the third raise for lawmakers since 2014, when their pay was tied to household incomes through a voter-approved constitutional amendment.