Government
Lawmakers Weigh Harsher Penalties for Opioid Users
The number of fatal drug overdoses is rising across the U.S. Alabama lawmakers this week considered a bill that would impose stiffer penalties around the deadly opioid fentanyl. Meanwhile, critics say more punishment could strain the state’s overcrowded prisons. Also, a bill on video voyeurism and the proposed education budget.
Birmingham City Council Backs New Downtown Stadium
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to back a proposed $305 million downtown stadium and expansion of the BJCC. At the urging of Mayor Randall Woodfin, the council approved a “resolution of intent” to contribute its share -- $90 million –toward the project.
Legislative Update: Uber and Lyft Regulations, Guns in Church
This week, the Alabama Senate voted to regulate ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. And a House committee endorsed legislation sponsored by Rep. Lynn Greer that would allow people at church to defend themselves with guns. Similar bills are advancing in states from Florida to Virginia. Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal tells WBHM’s Gigi Douban not all churches are on board.
Alabama Education Department Issues School Report Cards
The Alabama Department of Education on Thursday will release school system report cards, issuing letter grades assessing school performance, including test results, graduation rates and attendance.
WBHM Politics: Working in Alabama’s Prisons
As policy makers debate how to address the numerous issues facing Alabama's prison system, the experiences of the men and women who work at prisons can sometimes be hidden.
President’s State of the Union Address Live Stream
President Trump is delivering his State of the Union address to Congress, which will be followed by a response from the Democratic Party. Journalists across the NPR newsroom will be annotating those remarks, adding fact-checks and analysis in real time. You can watch the speeches or follow the annotations below. The live stream begins at […]
Traffic on I-20/59 Got You Down? Here’s an Update
If you drive through downtown Birmingham, you’ve probably seen the huge beams and cranes towering over the interstate or perched off the side of the roadway. Crews have been working now for more than two years on bridge replacement and lane realignment on Interstate 20/59 in Downtown Birmingham.
BJCC Stadium Far From a Done Deal
Proponents of a stadium at the BJCC in downtown Birmingham got a boost earlier this month when the Jefferson County Commission agreed to set aside 30 million dollars toward the facility. While it may be a significant step, a stadium is far from a done deal.
Ditch the Marriage Licenses? Senate Says ‘I Do’
The Alabama Senate this week took on bills aimed at curbing racial profiling and doing away with marriage licenses.
WBHM Politics: A Downtown Birmingham Stadium
The Jefferson County Commission has approved setting aside money toward a downtown stadium in Birmingham. That's given new momentum for a project that's been talked about for decades.
Recap: First Week of the 2018 Legislative Session
Alabama state lawmakers went back into session this week. Don Dailey tells WBHM's Gigi Douban the latest about state budgets, pay raises, Medicaid and tax cuts.
Ivey Touts Success, Announces Plans for Pay Raises
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey used her first State of the State address to tout her successes since replacing Gov. Robert Bentley when he was forced out of office nine months ago.
Roy Moore Accuser Files Defamation Suit
An Alabama woman who claims failed Senate candidate Roy Moore molested her is suing him for defamation. In November, Leigh Corfman told the Washington Post that Moore touched her sexually when she was 14. Moore has denied it, but Corfman says he’s gone far beyond denials and into attacks.
WBHM Politics: 2018 Legislative Session Preview
A preview of the 2018 regular legislative session in Alabama.
City Offers Emergency Shelter For Hundreds Escaping Cold
Brutal cold prompted the City of Birmingham to open an emergency warming shelter over the weekend. City officials say they’ll keep it open through Friday, but they need more volunteers and supplies. Hundreds of Birmingham’s homeless found food and warm refuge inside the South Exhibition Hall at the BJCC. They spent the night in the […]
Moore Seeks to Block Certification of Election Results
Republican Senate Candidate Roy Moore has filed a lawsuit to block certification of the election in which he narrowly lost earlier this month. Moore says the results shouldn’t be finalized. Instead, potential voting irregularities should be investigated and a new election called. Moore lost the election by about 20,000 votes and says voting anomalies around […]
WBHM Politics: A Look Back at 2017
Alabama politics was on overload this year with a new governor, new senator and new mayor for Birmingham.
Airport Authority Leader to Step Down after Three Decades
After a 34-year career at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth airport, including 17 years as airport authority president and CEO, Alfonso Denson will step down in early 2018.
Three Reasons Alabama Made Democrat Doug Jones its Next Senator
In a dramatic and highly contentious race, Alabama voters on Tuesday elected Democrat Doug Jones to the U.S. Senate. Jones will occupy the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. This marks the first time in a quarter century an Alabama Democrat won a U.S. Senate seat.
The GOP Take: Why Roy Moore Lost His Senate Bid
Republicans across Alabama woke up in a state of shock Wednesday morning over Democrat Doug Jones’ stunning defeat of GOP candidate Roy Moore. A strong 40 percent turnout – much higher than state projections – was key to Jones’ victory, Republican strategist Jeff Vreeland said.
Alabama Voters Pick Democrat Doug Jones
Former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones handed Republican Roy Moore a stunning blow in Tuesday's special Senate election for the seat formerly held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The results capped off an intense race defined in recent weeks by allegations of sexual misconduct against Moore from decades ago. Moore did not concede late Monday evening.
Alabama Recovers After Winter Storm, Thousands Without Power
Alabama is thawing out today after the state was hit with a winter storm Friday that brought several inches of snow, tens of thousands power outages and hazardous road conditions. About 40,000 homes were still without power this afternoon after a winter storm blanketed the state Friday with snow and ice. Statewide about 85,000 lost power […]
Doug Jones and Roy Moore Vary Widely on Top Issues in Senate Race – BirminghamWatch
BirminghamWatch’s Glenn Stephens took a look at where US Senate candidates Roy Moore and Doug Jones stand on key issues. Here’s their story. Doug Jones and Roy Moore Alabama voters will choose between candidates with contrasting views on topics ranging from health care to abortion, and taxation to immigration when they vote for a new U.S. […]
WBHM Politics: The U.S. Senate Election
In the latest edition of WBHM Politics we discuss the U.S. Senate race in Alabama pitting Republican Roy Moore against Democrat Doug Jones.
Apathy and a Divide Among Some Black Voters
If he has a chance at defeating conservative Republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s US Senate election, Democrat Doug Jones needs lots of votes, especially from African Americans. But some in the black community say it’ll take more than a history of prosecuting the KKK members responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to energize them to support Jones.
“Dreamer Riders” Head to D.C. to Push for Immigrant Rights
Immigrant rights advocates from Alabama and around the country are headed to Washington, D.C. Tuesday to urge the U.S. Senate to come up with a way to preserve anti-deportation protection from the Obama-era DACA program. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protects immigrants brought illegally as children to the U.S. so they can work or go to school. The Trump administration has said it will end DACA.
A Write-In Vote for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson or Minnie Mouse for Senate? Think Again
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill issued guidance Wednesday on casting a write-in vote in the December 12 special election for U.S. Senate.
Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper Steps Down
After weeks of speculation, Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper is stepping down. Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office released a statement from the chief today confirming that Roper did not reapply for his position in the new mayor’s administration.
Woodfin Inaugurated as Birmingham’s 30th Mayor
Randall Woodfin, a 36-year-old former Birmingham school board member, was inaugurated Tuesday as Birmingham's 30th mayor.
Birmingham’s Millennial Mayor Moves to a Different Beat
One week from today, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s 30th mayor. His rise to the big office on third floor of City Hall is a move Woodfin has calculated for years, even though he’s just 36.
WBHM Politics: Family, the Holidays and Politics
Take a few family members, mix in some strong political opinions and plop them into a holiday gathering. It’s a perfect recipe for clashes, fraught emotions and maybe some mashed potatoes thrown against the wall. And that’s the feast we’re serving up on this edition of WBHM Politics.
Democratic Senate Candidate Doug Jones talks Roy Moore, Campaign Issues and Abortion
Doug Jones finds himself in a position an Alabama Democrat has not been in for a generation. He has a reasonable chance of being elected to the U.S. Senate. Jones faces Republican Roy Moore December 12th in a race to fill the Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
