Government
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.
Alabama Says its $900 Million Prisons Plan Can Help Fix Mental Health Crisis. Some Disagree.
As Alabama prisons continue to grapple with a federal lawsuit over mental health care, officials say they have a plan: they want to build three big regional prisons for men.
Alabama House Approves Gas Tax Increase
The Alabama House of Representatives on Friday approved legislation to increase the state gas tax by 10 cents per gallon. The tax increase would be phased in over three years
Alabama House Set to Consider Gas Tax Increase
It's hard to know how much consensus there will be among Alabama House members on a proposed gas tax increase. The House is set to consider the bill Friday.
State’s Proposed Gas Tax Bill Places Fees on Electric, Hybrid Car Owners
State lawmakers went into special session today to consider a proposed gas tax increase to fund road and bridge construction. The bill would impact all motorists -- but some would pay significantly more than others.
Support for Gas Tax Increase Uncertain Among State Lawmakers
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s State of the State address Tuesday was typical. But shortly after finishing her speech, she issued a call for a special session around her proposed increase to the state's gasoline tax. That special session starts Wednesday morning.
Gov. Ivey Calls Special Session Around Gas Tax Proposal
A gas tax increase, more money for prisons, and a pre-kindergarten expansion were among the legislative priorities Gov. Kay Ivey highlighted in her State of the State address on Tuesday.
MLB Youth Foundation Reassessing Plans for Youth Academy at George Ward Park
Update – March 6, 2019 The City of Birmingham later provided to WBHM the mayor’s full comment, a portion of which appeared in the BirminghamWatch story below. “I’ll try to make this short. I received a lot of emails and calls and texts and I think I saw the word ‘my,’ ‘our’ more than […]
Weather Service Surveys Tornado Damage in Southeast Alabama
Teams from the National Weather Service in Birmingham are evaluating the damage from six potential tornadoes that touched down across parts of Alabama Monday. The storms killed at least 23 people in Lee County Sunday.
Dozens Still Missing In Alabama After Deadly Tornadoes Hit
In Alabama, Lee County was hardest hit by the series of tornadoes that devastated the state. Authorities put the death toll at 23 so far, with dozens still missing.
Supreme Court Justice Questions Landmark Ruling from Alabama
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently called for review of a landmark First Amendment case that originated in Alabama. It was New York Times Company v. Sullivan, and it raised the bar for public officials claiming libel.
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.
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.
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 […]
Council Delays Vote on MLB Youth Academy
The Birmingham City Council delayed a scheduled vote Tuesday on an agreement for a Major League Baseball-supported youth academy in the city. The program was planned for George Ward Park, but the council passed a separate resolution asking the park board to consider other locations instead.
Report Highlights Alabama’s Poor Roads as Officials Consider the ‘T Word’
The state’s roads are in bad shape. Those potholes and accidents costs the average driver in the Birmingham area about $1,800 a year, according to a new report from a Washington-D-C-based transportation group. State lawmakers are expected to discuss a proposed tax increase to fund road and bridge construction.
Reaching Everyone in the 2020 Census Might be Harder in Alabama
We’re not far into 2019, but those at the U.S. Census Bureau have long been focused on 2020. That’s when the next national census will take place. Many in Alabama say this census is especially critical for the state.
Judge Delays Decision on Whether Ed May Remains Fairfield’s Mayor, Orders May to Include Council in His Lawsuit
The question of who is Fairfield’s rightful mayor won’t be answered definitively any time soon, as Circuit Court Judge Pat Ballard ordered Ed May II, who was elected mayor, to add members of the City Council to his suit against the Jefferson County Personnel Board.
Plant Gorgas Latest Coal Giant to Fall as Power Companies Turn Toward Natural Gas, Renewables
By Hank Black The Alabama Power Co. announcement that it will retire its three coal-fired units at the William Crawford Gorgas Electric Generating Plant on April 15 is just the latest blow to coal power as economic realities pile up on the industry. In the past four years, Alabama Power has reduced its coal-fired units […]
Family of Emantic Bradford Jr. Renews Calls for Transparency
The family of a man killed by police in a Thanksgiving mall shooting wants authorities to release all video footage and the name of the officer involved.
PowerSouth CEO Blames ‘Extremist Environmental Ideology’ for Shuttering a Coal-Fired Plant in South Alabama
One of Alabama’s oldest coal-fired power plants will close next year. PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s chief executive blamed the closure on “extremist environmental ideologies” and “environmental activists” in announcing that the Charles R. Lowman electrical generation plant on the Tombigbee River would be shuttered.
African-American Men and Law Enforcement Discuss Lowering Crime and Saving Young Men
Danny Carr didn’t stammer as he provided closing thoughts to a gathering Thursday night in downtown Birmingham. The Jefferson County district attorney was making a point to reduce the deaths of young African-American men and boys.
Fairfield Council Gives Mayor the Boot, but Ed May II Isn’t Backing Down
The long-running feud between Fairfield Mayor Ed May II and the City Council has reached a boiling point, as the council voted to remove May from office because he was continually absent from council meetings.
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.
Gov. Ivey Says Infrastructure is Top Priority
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says infrastructure is her administration’s top priority. Ivey made the comments in a speech Friday at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama’s annual meeting in Birmingham.
Birmingham Council Supports Renaming CrossPlex for Langford, Question Parker’s Bid to Bring Oakland Raiders to Legion Field
Mayor Randall Woodfin and members of the Birmingham City Council announced Tuesday that they would support changing the name of the Birmingham CrossPlex to honor former Mayor Larry Langford, who died last month.
Drummond to Pay $775,000 Penalty to EPA, Jefferson County Health Department
Drummond Company has agreed to pay a $775,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement contained in a consent decree relating to alleged violations of environmental laws at its ABC Coke Plant in Tarrant.
Merrill to Testify Before Congressional Committee
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill plans to testify Wednesday before a congressional committee looking into election security. Merrill is one of a handful of state and local election officials giving feedback on a bill meant to improve the nation’s voting laws. He has issues with some of the provisions in the proposed legislation.
Governor Announces Plan to Build Three Prisons for Men
Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday a plan to replace existing prison facilities with three regional men's prisons to address "violence, poor living conditions and mental illness" in Alabama's corrections system.
U.S. Steel Revives Furnace Project in Fairfield
U.S. Steel Corporation will restart work on its electric arc furnace in Fairfield. The $215 million initiative will replace the former blast furnace at Fairfield Works.
Alabama Prison Officials “Deliberately Indifferent” to Mental Health Needs
A federal judge ruled the Alabama prison system has failed to monitor the mental health of prisoners isolated in segregation cells, a failure to which the Alabama Department of Corrections is “deliberately indifferent,” the order says.
Alabama’s Teacher Shortages Reach ‘Crisis’ Level
Alabama’s teacher shortages are reaching crisis level, education leaders say.
