Government
John Archibald: An Impasse Over UAB Football
The UAB Blazers play Iowa State University today in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The tournament berth and a conference championship fired up Blazer fans and UAB alumni still angry over UAB President Ray Watts' decision to end the school's football, bowling and rifle teams. The decision may have been made almost four months ago, but opinions are still charged. That's especially now that an impasse has emerged around a task force reviewing the numbers used to justify the end of the programs. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Kyle Whitmire: Diluting The Birmingham Water Works Board
Alabama's largest water system is run by the Birmingham Water Works Board. Its holdings expand well beyond the city and even Jefferson county. The board's members are appointed by the Birmingham City Council, but in recent years the state legislature has stepped in, trying to change the composition of the board. Here to talk more about the issues behind the Birmingham Water Works Board is Kyle Whitmire. He’s a political commentator for the Alabama Media group, and he joins us most Wednesdays
Issues & Ales: Heroin in Alabama
Deaths from heroin overdose have increased dramatically in Alabama, doubling in Jefferson County alone last year. Heroin is cheaper than ever, and more and more people who are addicted to prescription painkillers are making the switch, tearing families and communities apart. Why is heroin usage on the rise and what can law enforcement, public health officials, families, parents, and teachers do to combat the growing epidemic? Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM will explore this topic at "Issues & Ales: Heroin in Alabama," Tuesday, March 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at WorkPlay, 500 23rd St. South, Birmingham.
Capitol Journal Update: Same-Sex Marriage, Charter Schools and the Electric Chair
The Alabama House of Representatives has approved legal protections for those refusing to marry gay or other couples. Supporters say it will protect judges and others from having to violate their personal beliefs, those against it say it will lead to discrimination. Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey updates us on that bill, plus more from the state legislature.
John Archibald: Leaving the Birmingham Schools Behind
The Birmingham City School District has seen a steady decline of students from a peak of about 75,000 to only about 25,000 now. It's no secret many families with school-aged children left the school system through the years, often moving to suburban districts that are seen as having better schools. The move holds extra significance when the family involved is that of a Birmingham City Councilman.
Nick Patterson: Alabama Middle School Students Visit Selma
Thousands gathered in Selma last weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery. Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD, tells the story of several Birmingham middle school students who made the journey to Selma. Plus an update on proposed construction at Oak Mountain State Park.
Kyle Whitmire: Selma Boos Bentley and Remembering Gene Edelman
Thousands of people gathered in Selma last weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery. President Barack Obama spoke, along with Georgia Congressman John Lewis and Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. But, as Alabama Media Group Political commentator Kyle Whitmire explains, Bentley's reception was less than warm. Whitmire also talks Gene "The Bean Counter" Edelman and Alabama education.
Capitol Journal Update: 2015 Session Off And Running
Alabama lawmakers are off and running now that this year's regular session is underway. The first week began with the governor's State of the State Address. Meanwhile, legislators are already tangling over some high-profile bills. We hear details from Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey.
A Letter From Selma, 50 Years Later
Saturday, March 7 is the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. That's when police beat marches trying to walk from Selma to Montgomery in support of voting rights. While people look back at Selma 50 years ago, the weekly newspaper WELD has published a letter written just 11 days after Bloody Sunday. It offers a unique insight into what some of the people in Selma thought about those events as they unfolded. WELD editor Nick Patterson reads from the letter, which he says "offers a pretty significant glimpse into the mind of one particular facet of the community in Selma."
John Archibald: Latest Order in Gay Marriage Debate
Alabama probate judges are again in the crosshairs after a state supreme court order Tuesday telling them not to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. This is in opposition to a federal judge's ruling overturning Alabama's ban on gay marriage. We talk about the situation and emails in the Speaker Mike Hubbard corruption case with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Remembering The Death That Sparked The Selma Marches
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the day police in Alabama beat marchers going from Selma to Montgomery in support of voting rights. Less well-known is the violent confrontation that sparked the Selma marches. It happened a few weeks earlier during a demonstration in Marion, a small town near Selma. A black civil rights activist named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot and killed.
The General Fund Budget Pie
State lawmakers will gather in Montgomery Tuesday to kick off this year's legislative session. One of the biggest issues they face is how to make up for a projected shortfall in the General Fund budget. There are no easy fixes.
The 2015 Alabama Legislative Session Kicks off on Tuesday
The 2015 Alabama legislative session kicks off on Tuesday. From prisons to the state's budget deficit to education, this year's session will be full of important -- and even controversial -- issues. Here to give us a preview of what to expect is Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television's Capital Journal.
Area Schools Closed Or Delay Start Thursday
While most of the heavy snow missed the greater Birmingham area, many schools are on delayed starts for Thursday due to the threat of ice and dangerous travel. North of the Birmingham metro, which saw much higher snowfall on Wednesday, some school systems are closed.
John Archibald: Memo Details UAB’s Defensive Plan
UAB President Ray Watts faced a strong backlash after ending the university's football program in December. Football boosters were upset, but Watts also lost three "no confidence" votes over governance issues. As this unfolded, Watts worked with a private public relations firm to combat the fallout. A memo obtained by AL.com details the strategy.
Alabama’s Prison Reform Task Force Readies Bill For 2015 Legislative Session
Alabama's overcrowded prison system has been under close scrutiny since the Justice Department started investigating it last year. If big changes aren't made during the upcoming legislative session, the state risks a federal takeover. Alabama's Prison Reform Task Force is working to draft legislation to improve the prison system. State Senator Cam Ward of Alabaster is the task force's chairman. Ward sat down with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about the proposed legislation, and who has been involved in the process.
Winter Storm Warning for N. Central Alabama — Schools Closing, Gov. Bentley Declares State Of Emergency
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for much of north central Alabama from 9 a.m. Wednesday though midnight Wednesday. The warning covers an area roughly along the Interstate 20 corridor and north. UAB classes and campus operations will be cancelled for Wednesday, Feb. 25th and additional cancellations are likely.
John Archibald: Thousands Continue to be Spent on City Travel
The Birmingham mayor's office and city council spent more than $300,000 dollars on travel last year, more than any other city in Alabama. So far in 2015 the trend has continued. It's an issue Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald has written about regularly.
AL’s Resistance To Same-Sex Marriage Could Hurt The State’s Economy
Apple might be headed into the auto manufacturing business. Apple’s CEO -- Tim Cook -- is from Alabama, and the state is known as an auto-manufacturing hot-spot. Alabama sounds like a natural fit for the company's automotive expansion. But Alabama Media Group political commentator Kyle Whitmire says the state's recent bad press surrounding same-sex marriage might turn companies off of doing business here.
John Archibald: Same-Sex Marriage Confusion
More Alabama probate judges are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after a federal judge's ruling striking down Alabama's gay marriage ban went into effect on Monday. It's not all counties as some judges cite an order by Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore instructing judges not to follow the federal ruling. While gay marriage advocates celebrated in the counties which did issue licenses to same-sex couples, Alabama remains a state where opposition to gay marriage is high.
Alabama’s Top Stories, Harper Lee’s New Book and Same-Sex Marriage
Alabama has been in the national spotlight for two reasons this February: "To Kill A Mockingbird" author Harper Lee says she'll release a new book, and some Alabama started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Monday. Both are controversial, for their own reasons. Kyle Whitmire, political commentator for the Alabama Media Group joins WBHM to discuss these stories and more.
Judicial Chaos Complicates Same-Sex Marriage In Alabama
Despite judicial confusion throughout Alabama, on Monday several Alabama counties did issue same-sex couples marriage licenses, including in Birmingham, Huntsville and Montgomery. Rachel Osier Lindley explains what happened across the state the day Alabama became the 37th to recognize same-sex marriage.
Alabama’s Only Openly Gay Lawmaker Overjoyed as State Recognizes Gay Marriage
On Monday Alabama probate judges can begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. It's the result of a decision last month from a federal judge in Mobile striking down the state's ban on gay marriage. Birmingham Representative Patricia Todd is the only openly gay lawmaker in the state legislature. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke to her about this turn of events. Todd starts by explaining what happened last week when an envelope with no return address was delivered to her Montgomery office.
Same-Sex Marriages Begin In Alabama On Monday
Barring a last-minute stay from the U.S. Supreme Court, on Monday Alabama becomes the 37th state to recognize same-sex marriage. Despite some heated political debate, most probate courts around the state are getting ready to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. But some wont be following suit.
John Archibald: Roy Moore and Same-Sex Marriage
Monday appears to be the day for same-sex couples in Alabama. Barring action by the U.S. Supreme Court, a federal judge's ruling will go into effect making Alabama the 37th state to recognize same-sex marriage. One of the most outspoken opponents of the ruling is Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. But Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald suggest there's more to Moore than religion-infused pronouncements.
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore Tells Probate Judges They Don’t Have To Issue Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples
Barring a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court, probate courts around Alabama will begin offering marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Monday, February 9. But Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore sent a letter to probate judges this week telling them they're not required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And in some counties, probate judges say they'll stop performing marriage ceremonies. Alabama Media Group political commentator Kyle Whitmire joins WBHM to discuss this and more.
Stay On Same-Sex Marriage Decision From U.S. Supreme Court Unlikely
A federal appeals court has cleared the way for same-sex marriages to begin next week in Alabama. The state has seen political debate, along with a few stays, motions and rulings since U.S. District Judge Callie Granade struck down Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage last month. Here to sort through what the courts are up to is Henry Strickland, dean of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He says it's unlikely the U.S. Supreme Court would honor Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's request for a stay.
Appeals Court Denies Stay Request On Alabama Same-Sex Marriage Decision
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to keep a hold on a district judge's decision overturning the state's ban on gay marriage. The filing came after the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to issue a stay, paving the way for Alabama to become the 37th state where gays can legally wed.
John Archibald: Alabamian vs. American
A federal judge who struck down Alabama's same-sex marriage ban has released a letter clarifying the ruling applies to all government officials, not just those named in the suit. The ruling is on hold for now, but it's the latest in a legal firestorm sparked Friday when the decision came down. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Kyle Whitmire: Alabama Leaders React To Same-Sex Marriage Decision
The Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a judicial ethics complaint against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. The complaint stems from Moore's criticism of a federal judge's ruling Friday striking down Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage. Moore called it "judicial tyranny." Meanwhile, State Representative Patricia Todd, Alabama's first openly gay legislator, said she would "not stand by and allow legislators to talk about 'family values' when they have affairs." Alabama Media Group political commentator Kyle Whitmire sorts through the reactions as Alabama moves towards possibly becoming the 37th state to recognize same-sex marriage.
Same-Sex Couple In Birmingham Denied Marriage License
Greg Mullins and Josh Laning went to the Jefferson County Courthouse to apply for a marriage license today, despite the two-week stay on a Friday decision striking down Alabama's same-sex marriage ban. They have been thinking about getting married for years, but they never believed it would be possible in Alabama.
Alabama Appeals Same-Sex Ruling
The state of Alabama is appealing a federal judge's order overturning the state's ban on same-sex marriage. Attorney General Luther Strange's office filed notice Monday with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals saying it would challenge Friday's ruling by a district court judge in Mobile.
