State Looking at Plans to Fix or Replace Crowded, Crumbling Prisons; Lawmakers Don’t Expect to Be Part of Infrastructure Plan
Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Corrections aren’t yet talking publicly about possible fixes for the state’s crowded and aging prisons, but they are extending a multimillion-dollar contract with an outside project manager to study construction needs.
As Alabama’s Unemployment Rate Decreases, Medicaid Enrollment Does Not
Alabama’s unemployment rate hit record lows in the past year, falling below 4 percent, but the number of people enrolled in Medicaid hasn’t decreased.
Written in Black and White: In Alabama’s Statehouse, the Parties Are Split Almost Entirely by Race
When newly elected Neil Rafferty takes his place in the Alabama House of Representatives next year, he will be the only white Democrat in the 105-seat chamber
Alabama’s Wave of Women Candidates Won About Half of Offices Sought
Alabama, not unlike the rest of the country, had a wave of women on the ballot in this year’s primary election and in Tuesday’s general election.
Two New Lawmakers to Join Incumbents in Jefferson Legislative Delegation
Incumbent Alabama lawmakers serving Jefferson County all won re-election in Tuesday’s general election voting, and two new members who ran for open seats, will join the Jefferson County delegation.
Alabama Key Results
Follow Alabama's 2018 Midterm Election results.
Sample Ballots: Review and Print Your Ballot Before You Go to the Polls
Are you headed to the polls Tuesday? Check out a blank sample ballot for elections in Shelby and Jefferson Counties.
Facebook, Twitter, Other Social Media Play Roles in Elections. But Handshakes Remain a Factor Too
Recently, Alabama’s Republican secretary of state, John Merrill, got into a Twitter spat with Mallory Hagan, a Democrat running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, over whether Merrill is suppressing the vote in the state. To have candidates for political office, one of them an incumbent office holder, debate such a contentious issue on Twitter demonstrates how much social media has become a part of the conversations surrounding elections, including the upcoming midterms.
WBHM Will Bring the Voices of the Heart of Alabama to National NPR Audiences Through ‘1A Across America’ Collaboration
WBHM is happy to announce that it will bring more stories from the heart of Alabama to the national audience of the daily weekday public radio program 1A through 1A […]
As Alabama Goes to the Polls, Worries Emerge That Some Are Denied Voting Rights
Since last year, Lorenzo French says he’s helped about 50 people in rural Greene County regain their ability to vote. Many of them were improperly removed from voter rolls because they had a felony conviction, though not the type that should have banned them from voting, French said. Others didn’t have photo identification, a requirement to vote in Alabama since 2014.
The Year of Firsts: Freshman Candidates Find the Campaign Trail Grueling, Expensive and Rewarding
Just before the deadline closed, Cara McClure and Kari Powell submitted the paperwork to run for the Public Service Commission. They didn’t know one another beforehand, but they ended up on a phone call just after the midnight deadline talking about their similar platforms and how, despite having never run for political office, they would each need to hit the ground running.
Despite Immigration Law, 40 Percent of New Hires Are Not Checked Through E-Verify
Many Alabama employees aren’t being screened to confirm their legal status to work in the United States, despite a 2011 state law requiring businesses to use the federal E-Verity system.
APM Reports: Education Documentaries
In a new series of hour-long education documentaries, APM Reports visits first generation students a decade later, asks tough questions about why kids aren’t being taught to read, and discovers […]
Legal Services Alabama Serves Thousands In State. Program, a Partisan Battleground, on President Trump’s Budget-Cut List
Army veteran Ronald Whitson gives credit to Legal Services Alabama for keeping his family home in Birmingham. However, the program that Whitson praises has been controversial, the frequent target of partisan political battles since its start in the mid-1970s, with roots in the nation’s War on Poverty. Now the Alabama program’s federal parent, Legal Services Corporation, once again faces defunding, this time in President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal.
Don’t Swat! Alabama’s Bugs May Be Disappearing
The insect population has declined worldwide. Getting a grasp on Alabama's bug population has been tough. Here's why.
Unpaid Debts: Cities Owe Jefferson County More Than $800,000 for EMA and Personnel Board Costs
Cities and towns in Jefferson County owe the county more than $800,000, according to a report given at the County Commission meeting Thursday in Bessemer.
Alabama Leaders Oppose Clean Car Standards Rollback
Elected leaders and others gathered in Birmingham to oppose to Trump administration's plan to roll back clean car standards, including those setting targets for fuel efficiency.
Relatives of Unaccompanied Minors Fear Deportation
As the court-imposed deadline for the Trump administration to reunite unaccompanied minors with their parents nears, relatives across the U.S. including Alabama are reluctant to step up.
It’s Back to the Polls Across Alabama. Voters to Decide Party Nominees
Alabama's primary runoffs include statewide races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, and a number of local races. Here's everything you need to know.
2018 Runoff Voter Guide: What Races Are up in the Air and Who’s on the Ballot?
In this edition of the BirminghamWatch Voter Guide, you will find lists of candidates on the ballot and their profiles, which include basic information about each of the candidates such as the top contributors to their campaigns, the main issues they’re citing in their campaigns and links to their web or social media sites.
WBHM Wins Five Regional Murrow Awards
WBHM has won five 2018 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for the region including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The awards […]
Watch Live: Zuckerberg Testimony Before House Lawmakers
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is appearing on Capitol Hill for a second day of hearings about protecting its users’ data. The House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing follows hours of […]
Watch Live: Zuckerberg’s Testimony to Congress
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is testifying on Capitol Hill to answer questions about protecting user data. The hearing held by the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees follows news that the […]
WBHM’s Privacy Policy
WBHM recognizes that privacy is important to wbhm.org users and does not collect personally identifying information from the WBHM website unless you choose to provide that information to us. WBHM […]
Hurricane Irma and Alabama
Resources and news items complied by the WBHM news team
School Closures Due to Irma
School closings due to anticipated severe weather from Hurricane Irma
FAQ: How Would The Republican Health Care Bills Affect You?
This week, Republicans in Congress will try to rally votes for a bill that proposes major changes to the way Americans get health care and how much they pay. In Alabama, many thousands could be affected.
Special Coverage: Attorney General Jeff Sessions Testifies on Capitol Hill
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee in an open hearing on Tuesday. Senators will likely ask about his recusal from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and what if anything he knew about President Trump reportedly asking former FBI Director James Comey to ease off the inquiry into onetime national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Special Coverage of James Comey’s Senate Testimony
Former FBI Director James Comey is testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence this week, speaking publicly for the first time since he was fired by President Trump nearly a month ago. Thursday's public hearing begins at 9 am CT. NPR journalists covering national security and politics have annotated Comey's opening remarks, which the Senate Intelligence Committee released in advance.
Steve Beshear Delivers the Democratic Response to President Trump’s Address
Former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will deliver the Democratic Response to President Trump’s address. Beshear was chosen by Democratic Party leaders for his record, expanding affordable health care. NPR will […]
President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress, Annotated
President Trump will address a joint session of Congress for the first time on Tuesday evening at the Capitol, around 8 p.m., Central time. House Speaker Paul Ryan, following tradition, invited the president to make the speech to lay out his agenda in the early days of his new administration.
Trump’s Thursday Press Conference, Annotated
President Trump began his press conference Thursday afternoon naming his new nominee for labor secretary, R. Alexander Acosta, a law school dean and former US Attorney. He made an extended […]
