Government

Is it Game Over for Moore?

Political consultant David Mowery offers analysis of Thursday's report from the Washington Post that Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32.

Why Alabama Still Has No Water Management Plan

The state has 132 thousand miles of streams and rivers. And if your land touches that water, for the most part, you can take all you want. Most states have rules about who gets how much water, and when—not Alabama.

New Report: Moore Initiated Sexual Contact With Girl, Then 14

The Washington Post is reporting Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore had a sexual encounter with a 14 year-old girl when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney.

WBHM Politics: Regional Cooperation

Regional cooperation around Birmingham is something that gets talked about but never seems to go much beyond that. A study released this summer is trying to give new life to the issue. In this episode of WBHM Politics we’ll hear about the study and examine the status of regional cooperation around Birmingham

U.S. Senate Race has Alabama Democrats Hoping for a Turnaround

Republicans have steadily eaten away at Democrats’ historic dominance of Alabama politics over the last generation and now hold firm control of all three branches of government. But there’s excitement among Alabama Democrats about the upcoming Senate and gubernatorial elections. Is this a turning point?

Woodfin Shocked the Old Guard. Now What?

In about three weeks, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s next mayor. Woodfin worked for years as an attorney at City Hall. During his year-long campaign for mayor, Woodfin shined a light on the city’s problems and sold most Birmingham voters on his ability to fix them. Recently he spoke with WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart about what’s next and how he won.

WBHM Politics: Crackdown on Airbnb

Cities, including some in Alabama, are putting restrictions on short-term rental sites such as Airbnb. And they're taking many different approaches.

A Rash of Political Sign Thefts in Homewood

Supporters of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones in Homewood have taken to social media to complain about a wave of campaign signs stolen from their yards around the city.

Voters Hope Woodfin Fulfills Promises For Better Birmingham

Randall Woodfin takes over as mayor of Birmingham on Nov. 28. He overwhelmingly beat incumbent Mayor William Bell in this month’s runoff. On the campaign trail, the 36-year-old Woodfin promised a better Birmingham. Now residents say they expect him to deliver on those promises.

Roy Moore’s Foundation Guaranteed Him a $180,000 Salary

The Washington Post on Wednesday published a report revealing that Moore had arranged to receive a salary of $180,000 a year for part-time work at this charity. The report goes on to say Moore collected more than $1 million from 2007 to 2012 -- well beyond what the group disclosed in federal tax filings.

Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin Announces Transition Leaders, Inauguration Date

Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin began his transition into office today with a press conference at Vulcan, echoing some of the same themes from his campaign.

Birmingham Mayor, Council To Start Terms On Different Dates

Birmingham’s mayor and council were elected at the same time, but they will not take office the same day because of state law.

As Nate Weakens, Expect Heavy Rain and Wind

Nate has quickly weakened to a tropical depression. The Birmingham metro area can expect torrential rains and strong winds to continue moving in Sunday. Wind advisories are in effect for all of Central Alabama through 10 pm Sunday.

‘Hurricane Nate is an Alabama storm.’ State Braces for Impact

Hurricane Nate could bring sustained winds up to 100 mph and gusts up to 115 mph when it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast Saturday night. Because of those high winds, the storm's impact on Alabama is expected to be dramatically greater than Irma.

WBHM Politics: A New Mayor for Birmingham

WBHM reporter Sherrel Wheeler Stewart and Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discuss the results of Tuesday's election that make Randall Woodfin Birmingham's next mayor.

A Generational Change as Woodfin Wins Birmingham Mayoral Race

City attorney Randall Woodfin is set to become Birmingham's next mayor after defeating incumbent Mayor William Bell in a municipal runoff election Tuesday.

Woodfin Wins. Birmingham Voters Deny Bell Another Term

Birmingham voters on Tuesday elected Randall Woodfin the city’s new mayor. Woodfin took 59 percent of the vote to incumbent Mayor William Bell’s 41 percent, according to unofficial results. The […]

Biden: “It Gives You Reason to Believe a Little Again”

A Democrat hasn’t won major statewide office in Alabama for decades, but polls show former federal prosecutor Doug Jones within striking distance of Republican Roy Moore in a special U.S. Senate election set for December 12. Jones had high-profile support at a rally at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham on Tuesday, including former Vice President Joe Biden.

Birmingham Attorneys and Coal Company Executive Indicted in Bribery Scheme

Federal prosecutors have indicted two attorneys with a prominent Birmingham law firm and a coal company executive for their alleged involvement in a bribery scheme related to efforts to clean up pollution around north Birmingham.

Where Trump and Roy Moore Intersect (Hint: It isn’t Religion)

What do President Donald Trump and Roy Moore have in common? The president isn't particularly religious. But Moore, whose evangelical Christian base carried him to victory Tuesday in the Republican primary for US Senate, might not need a Bible-toting president to win votes in the December general election.

WBHM Politics: Gentrification

In this episode of WBHM Politics, we hear about the rising discussion of gentrification around Birmingham.

Moore’s Win Wasn’t About Trump

Political consultant David Mowery offers analysis of Tuesday's Republican runoff for U.S. Senate which put Roy Moore on top over Luther Strange.

Candidates Make One Final Push Before Tuesday’s GOP Senate Runoff

Vice President Mike Pence addressed a crowd at a rally Monday night in Birmingham for Republican Senate candidate Luther Strange. Pence’s speech seemed at times more in support of Trump […]

Regional Governments Team Up to Lure Amazon to Birmingham

Government and corporate leaders from throughout Jefferson County announced a joint effort today to lure a proposed Amazon headquarters to Birmingham.

Dueling Endorsements for Mayor Among Birmingham Police

Talk about choosing sides -- Birmingham police are split on who they support for mayor in the upcoming runoff election on Oct. 3.

WBHM Politics: Mayor/Council Friction

In this episode of WBHM Politics, we discuss the fractured relationship between Birmingham Mayor William Bell and the City Council and how upcoming elections may affect that.

Selfies and Handshakes and Smiles, Oh My! Birmingham Mayor’s Race Heats Up

The Birmingham city election runoff is less than two weeks away, and in the mayor’s race, almost any street, coffee shop, boutique or park can turn into a battleground for votes.

Alabama Schools Chief Michael Sentance Resigns

After one year on the job, State Superintendent of Education Michael Sentance abruptly resigned Wednesday. His contract had been on the agenda for the State Board of Education meeting scheduled for the following day.

Hurricane Irma and Alabama

Resources and news items complied by the WBHM news team

As Irma Swirls Toward Florida, Alabama Prepares

Alabama appears to be outside of the path of Hurricane Irma, the deadly storm swirling 145-mile-per-hour winds over the Caribbean. But on Wednesday officials with the state Emergency Management Agency said they are preparing for the worst.

Preview of the Birmingham Mayor’s Race: The Woodfin-Bell Divide

The results are in for the Birmingham Municipal Election. But while these numbers don’t lie, they do leave lots of questions

The Breakdown: How Woodfin and Bell Fared Around the City

If you want to know how 36-year-old former school board President Randall Woodfin captured the largest percentage of votes in his bid to win out over incumbent Mayor William Bell, just look at the numbers.