Government
Eric Mackey Named State School Superintendent
Eric Mackey is Alabama’s new state superintendent of education. The state Board of Education selected Mackey today after interviewing three finalists. Craig Pouncey of Jefferson County Schools and Kathy Murphy of Hoover City Schools were finalists.
2018 Governor’s Race: Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle
Huntsville is Alabama’s third largest city, but it’s projected to surpass Montgomery and Birmingham in the coming years. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle says he can expand that kind of growth to the entire state and that’s why he’s running for governor.
Lack of Guidance Leads to Web Access Lawsuits
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act required public places to accommodate people with disabilities. But back then, before the Internet grew into what it is now, the law didn’t address the accessibility of websites. Now, with a proliferation of lawsuits, many companies are racing to bring their sites into compliance with industry standards.
2018 Governor’s Race: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is best known for rebuilding that city after a devastating tornado hit in 2011. In his bid to become the Democratic nominee for governor in the June 5 primary, he's pushing for an education lottery, expansion of Medicaid, and an end to proposals that would have teachers carry guns.
No Decision in the Case of the Covered Confederate Monument
The base of a Confederate monument in Linn Park will remain covered for now. Jefferson County Judge Mike Graffeo did not make a decision after hearing arguments from the City of Birmingham and the state Attorney General’s Office. The state sued Birmingham last year, saying that the city violated the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act in […]
WBHM Politics: Election Season Overview
Election season is underway in Alabama with party primaries June 5th and the general election in November. We'll talk about the upcoming elections, some of the dynamics at play and a few key races.
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 questioning by lawmakers in the Senate. Facebook is under scrutiny after revelations that the data-mining and political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica obtained the data 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 data-mining and political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica obtained personal information of up to 87 million Facebook users. The firm is accused of using that information […]
50 Years After King’s Death, Birmingham Remembers
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a civil rights movement that changed America. His assassination on April 4, 1968, set off deadly riots and protests in places like Chicago and Washington. But Birmingham didn’t have a prolonged violent response, even though some of King’s most noted victories were launched here.
The Story Behind Alabama’s Latest Public Corruption Case
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses a corruption case involving two state lawmakers, a lobbyist and a California healthcare company.
State Lawmaker, Former State GOP Head Charged in Corruption Scheme
An Alabama state lawmaker and the former head of the state Republican party have each been arrested in connection with a public corruption scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Birmingham Council Approves $90 Million For Stadium, BJCC Expansion
The City of Birmingham will contribute $90 million over the next 30 years toward a new downtown and an expansion of the BJCC. The council voted 6 to 3 on Monday for the plan following a four-hour and at times contentious debate.
Crowd Packs Railroad Park For March For Our Lives
Railroad Park was transformed today into a sea of signs, sparked by the energy of young people and lots of supporters in the #March4OurLives. The event, one of hundreds across the country, drew more than a thousand people.
Severe Storms Bring Extensive Damage to North and East Alabama
Crews with the National Weather Service are assessing the damage Tuesday morning after severe storms tore through the area.
Some Schools Closing Early Ahead of Predicted Severe Weather
With severe weather including tornadoes and large hail in the forecast for much of Alabama today, Monday, March 19, some area schools systems have announced early closings.
WBHM Politics: Guns, Schools and Safety
The issue of guns and schools has been in the news the past month after a gunman walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people. In Birmingham these issues became very real when a student was shot and killed at Huffman High School earlier this month. We explore the topic through a series of conversations.
“Opportunity” the Key Word for Birmingham’s New Economic Development Director
Josh Carpenter, Birmingham's new director of economic development, says his focus is to create opportunity for people to become empowered.
Make Medicaid Recipients Work? Speakers at Public Hearing Say No
Governor Kay Ivey and other state leaders want Alabama to join a handful of states that require some able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work or go to school. But when the Alabama Medicaid Agency held a hearing on the plan Tuesday, the crowd strongly disagreed.
Legislative Wrap-Up: State Ethics Law Revisions and the Ten Commandments
The Alabama legislature considers tightening up the state ethics law and a bill that would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public buildings, including schools. The bill's sponsor says it can deter a school shooter from carrying out an attack.
WBHM Politics: When Retailers Close, Taxes Go Too
When a big-box store closes in a smaller community, that drop in tax revenue can be a big hit to the town. That's a situation Fairfield and Irondale are working through.
Gwen Webb: From the Children’s March to the Police Force
Gwen Cook Webb was a feisty, freshman cheerleader at Western High School when she was arrested for protesting downtown near Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park in the 1963 Children’s Marches. That same spirit propelled Webb to become the second female African American Birmingham police officer.
Attorney: Death Row Inmate’s Injuries Worse Than Expected
Attorney Bernard Harcourt, lawyer for Alabama death row inmate Doyle Lee Hamm, says Hamm’s injuries following Thursday’s botched execution were worse than expected.
Attorney to Document Inmate’s Injuries Following Failed Execution
An attorney and medical expert will visit Holman Correctional Facility on Sunday to document injuries following the botched execution of Doyle Lee Hamm. Bernard Harcourt, Hamm's lawyer, will take Mark Heath, a cardiac anesthesiologist, to do a full medical evaluation on Hamm's injuries. Hamm, the prisoner who was set to be executed Thursday, suffered serious injuries when the attempted lethal injection failed Harcourt said Saturday.
Legislative Wrap-Up: Marijuana Penalties, Religious Daycares, and Execution Methods
Alabama lawmakers debated a controversial measure this week that would ease the penalties for marijuana possession. And for prison inmates on death row, they debated an alternative execution method with nitrogen gas.
Committee Probes Whether Laws Limit Access for Voters
An Alabama advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights holds its first hearing Thursday in Montgomery. It’s the first of a series of discussions looking into the ways Alabama’s voting regulations affect people’s ability to vote. There will be testimony from academics and policy makers, and members of the public will be invited to comment.
How a Small Alabama Town Pioneered the First 9-1-1 Call
In January 1968, the FCC and AT&T announced a plan for an emergency telephone number. But the Alabama Telephone Company decided to get out ahead of the feds and set up its own system.
More Alabama Women Putting their Names on the Ballot
At least 90 women are running for Congressional or state-level offices this year. That mirrors a rise in female candidates nationally.
Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Arm Teachers
This school shooting in Parkland, Florida this week that left 17 people dead took center stage for Alabama lawmakers. On Thursday, Republican state Representative Will Ainsworth announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow teachers to carry firearms during school hours. The law would require training.
The Governor’s Race: Candidate Lineup
Want to know more about who’s running for governor? Here are the candidate profiles as they appeared originally here by Cheryl Slocum with the non-profit news site BirminghamWatch. Eleven people have lined up to run for governor this year. Among the candidates are some of the state’s best-known names, including the governor herself, and some that […]
WBHM Politics: Women Running for Office
The ballot for state elections this fall is shaping up after Friday’s deadline for candidates to qualify. There are a notable number of women running for office this year. Alabama’s governor and chief justice are both women and they're are running to keep their jobs. The #MeToo movement appears to have encouraged some women to jump into the fray as well.
Appeals Court Says Gardendale Can’t Separate From County School System
A federal appeals court says Gardendale can't separate from the Jefferson County School System, but that may not be the final word. Gardendale officials say they will appeal a Tuesday ruling by the 11th Circuit Court that overturned a district court’s approval of its separation from the Jefferson County School System.
Voters and Experts Don’t Always See the Same Priorities for Alabama
A new initiative from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama aims to help state leaders understand what issues voters think are most important. It also shows experts and voters don't always see issues the same way.
