Issues
From painting to producing: Birmingham DJ Andrea Really releases first album
Birmingham DJ Andrea Really wasn't always a music producer. She used to be a prolific painter. But when her art studio burned down in 2017, she pivoted careers. Really spoke with WBHM about that journey upon the release of her first album this summer, called Zeitgeist.
Latin superstar Bad Bunny will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show
The National Football League, Apple Music and Roc Nation made the announcement during halftime of Sunday night's game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.
Ryder Cup MC steps down over foul-mouthed chant aimed at golfer Rory McIlroy
Some of the golf at this year's Ryder Cup has been overshadowed by interventions from passionate and unruly fans, as Americans tee off against Europeans in one of the sport's biggest events.
The endangered cactus behind Mexico’s sweet secret
In Mexico, September means chiles en nogada season. But one key ingredient, a candied barrel cactus called biznaga, is now illegal because it's vanishing in the wild.
Why friends are teaming up to buy homes
Buying a home is a conventional milestone for couples. But as home prices skyrocket, many Americans are buying homes with someone who isn't their romantic partner.
Southeast U.S. braces for heavy rains from a potential tropical storm
The National Hurricane Center said a tropical depression currently hovering over the Caribbean could intensify as it approaches the East Coast. South Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency.
Random act of kindness: Mariners fan gifts historic ball to young stranger
A fan caught Cal Raleigh's history-making 60th home run ball. He promptly turned the valuable memento over to 12-year-old Marcus Ruelos.
Gulf South pharmacies make their own rules amid confusing COVID guidance: ‘It’s clear as mud’
Unclear rules and inconsistent interpretations of federal and state COVID-19 vaccination rules leave families confused and vulnerable patients unprotected.
What schools stand to lose in the battle over the next federal education budget
Education researchers warn budget proposals from the White House and House Republicans would impose steep cuts on some of the nation's most vulnerable students and disadvantaged school communities.
Trump to place import taxes on drugs, home furnishings and heavy trucks
President Trump said he will put import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1.
Alabama executes Geoffrey Todd West for the murder of Margaret Parrish Berry
The execution took place despite Berry's son's opposition to it and was marked by less movement than other nitrogen gas executions.
Latest update of 1844 American songbook reflects new generation of ‘Sacred Harp’ singers
An 1844 religiously inspired songbook that uses shape notes to help people read music got a major update recently and it attracting younger singers.
Starbucks is closing more stores and laying off 900 workers
The coffee giant plans to cut 900 corporate jobs and shut down about 1% of its stores as the chain's turnaround plan approaches a one-year mark.
Strict rules can foster calm classrooms. But some students pay the price
An Indiana charter school network has won praise for its strong academics. But some students with disabilities struggle to follow the school system's discipline policies.
Over rocky terrain, Birmingham’s Muslim women find sisterhood
On a recent Sunday morning, a group of about ten women gathered in front of the entrance to Red Mountain Park in Birmingham. The women, dressed in hijabs and flowing athletic gear, laughed, chatted and prepared to take on the occasionally challenging terrain. It’s a monthly event connecting women from Birmingham’s greater Muslim community.
A student’s winning podcast looks back to a way of life she never knew
Avani Yaltho, this year's high school winner in NPR's Student Podcast Challenge, brought three generations of her family together to talk about their shared history.
NPR’s middle school champion: A moving podcast about Japanese incarceration
For the first time, NPR's Student Podcast Challenge has a returning champion: a California fifth grader who explored a dark chapter in U.S. history during World War II.
Want a seat at this synagogue for the High Holidays? You have to register to vote first
A Brooklyn synagogue has taken an unusual step by requiring congregants to show proof of voter registration in order to secure seats for High Holidays. Their biggest concern? The city's mayoral seat.
MLB will allow players to challenge balls and strikes starting in 2026
With a tap of their head, players will be able to trigger an automated review when they disagree with an umpire's call. In spring training this year, just over half of challenges were successful.
Americans are crazy for shrimp. Much of it came from India — until now
India's shrimp exports to the U.S. were once a success story. Now the industry faces ruin amid President Trump's 50% tariff on imports from the country.
Son of woman murdered by man now on death row asks Alabama to stop his execution
Will Berry was 11 when his mother was murdered. Geoffrey West was 21 when he pulled the trigger. Berry and West exchanged letters ahead of West’s scheduled execution by nitrogen gas Thursday in Alabama. West expressed his remorse, and Berry offered forgiveness.
Judge orders Trump administration to restore $500 million in grant funding to UCLA
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding that it froze at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Bruce Pearl, winningest men’s basketball coach in Auburn history, announces retirement
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl announced his retirement Monday less than six months after finishing the Tigers' best season in program history with another trip to the Final Four. Pearl's 38-year-old son Steven Pearl, who has been on his father's coaching staff for all 11 seasons at Auburn, will take over as coach.
Climate change is delaying peak fall foliage. Here’s what to expect this year
Leaves typically start to peak in northern states by early October, but projecting peak foliage isn't an exact science. Here are some things you can do to get the most out of fall's colors.
This small Virginia island could be underwater before the next century
Tangier Island in Virginia — one of the last inhabited islands in the Chesapeake Bay — is under threat from rising sea levels and climate change.
Colleges pull back as Trump cuts programs that help migrant students
Since 1972, the CAMP program has helped tens of thousands of migrant students succeed in college. The Trump administration has cut off funding for it, forcing some colleges to reduce or eliminate services.
The evangelical Christian faith on display at Kirk’s memorial shaped his politics
Charlie Kirk's evangelical faith was on display at his memorial, where supporters remembered him as a "martyr." Christianity shaped Kirk's politics and the two became more intertwined as he got older.
A’ja Wilson snags a record fourth WNBA MVP
Wilson, a 6-foot-4 center for the Las Vegas Aces, has dominated this year. In her eighth season, she finished in the top five in points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
Lawyers vs. engineers: Dan Wang sees U.S.-China dynamics in a new paradigm
In a new book, analyst Dan Wang uses "engineering state" vs. "lawyerly society" to explain how China got ahead and America stagnated.
5 lessons from a house that generates more energy than it uses
With higher utility bills, a house that produces more energy than it uses may be appealing. In southern California, one such house has existed for more than a decade. NPR's Jeff Brady visited the "Green Idea House" in Hermosa Beach, California.
‘Monster Madness’: A sixth grader sent us this delightful podcast about Bigfoot
With help from his brother and some creative sound effects, an 11-year-old made us smile with his podcast. It's a finalist in this year's NPR Student Podcast Challenge.
Ted Cruz claims without evidence that China is funding U.S. climate lawsuits
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has said China is funding climate lawsuits against American oil and gas companies to weaken the U.S. He hasn't provided evidence to support the claim.
