Issues
Legendary civil rights attorney Fred Gray honored with statue in Alabama
Gray represented prominent civil rights leaders like King, Rosa Parks and John Lewis throughout the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, allowing activists to intentionally leverage mass arrests and civil disobedience to push for equal rights.
Watch live: Crowds of mourners and dignitaries pay respects to Pope Francis
A day of remembrance, mourning and celebration as thousands gather in Rome to pay their respects and say farewell to Pope Francis.
Lil Wayne’s New Orleans Jazz Fest headlining set is a big moment for hip-hop artists
Lil Wayne will close out the main stage for the first time in his career Saturday — a feat that’s eluded most other rappers who’ve performed at the festival.
A Jewish baking tradition rises in the age of Instagram
Shlissel challah is a special loaf baked the first sabbath after Passover. We trace the modern route by which the bread has spread beyond the ultra-orthodox world to everyday Jewish bakers.
What it’s like in the church Pope Francis chose as his final resting place
Pope Francis will be buried in St. Mary Major church, not Saint Peter's Basilica, in a break with tradition.
Big brands are officially worried about American shoppers
Makers of our food and home essentials, including Pepsi and Procter & Gamble, are cutting their financial forecasts for the year and predicting lower sales or profits than before.
Quarterbacks are the top two NFL Draft picks, but Deion Sanders’ son is still waiting
Cam Ward went from zero-star recruit to No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and the Jacksonville Jaguars paid a ton use Cleveland's pick on Travis Hunter at No. 2. Colorado star Shedeur Sanders wasn't taken in the first round.
Alabama Senate advances Birmingham Water Works Board overhaul
A fight erupted this week in the Alabama legislature over a bill that would remake the Birmingham Water Works Board. We dive into that controversy and talk about other legislative action with Todd Stacy, host of Capital Journal and Alabama Public Television.
How to watch Pope Francis’s funeral, and what to expect
Pope Francis's funeral begins in Vatican City at 4 a.m. ET on Saturday and will end with his burial in Rome. Here's what to know about the day's events — and how Francis is breaking with tradition.
The U.S. takes a step towards allowing mining on the ocean floor, a fragile ecosystem
President Trump signed an order Thursday aimed at making it easier for companies to mine the ocean floor. Scientists and environmental groups say it could harm a fragile ecosystem.
Alabama executes a man who said he was guilty of rape and murder and deserved to die
James Osgood was pronounced dead Thursday evening following a three-drug injection at a south Alabama prison. A jury in 2014 convicted Osgood of capital murder in the death of Tracy Lynn Brown in Chilton County.
Celebrating 100 years of speech arts in Birmingham
Women in flowing dresses and glittering cardigans filled the Virginia Samford Theater in Birmingham on a recent afternoon. The event was a celebration for the one hundredth anniversary of the Speech Arts Club of Birmingham.
Where will Travis Hunter, Cam Ward and other top players be picked in the NFL Draft?
It's been almost 30 years since an NFL player played a true two-way season. Heisman winner Travis Hunter could be the next — but first, he has to be selected in the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday.
A small U.S. town grew a big company. Can it weather the tariff blizzard?
A rural Minnesota town is home to the biggest tech giant you've never heard of. Now it's riding out an unprecedented kind of storm.
Trump signs executive actions on education, including efforts to rein in DEI
The directives include new efforts to curtail DEI programs at colleges, and discipline guidance for public schools.
Air pollution still plagues nearly half of Americans. That does a number on our health
Despite improvements in air quality in past decades, 156 million Americans still breathe in too much soot or ozone, says the annual State of the Air report from the American Lung Association.
Stocks gain on hopes Trump will ease tensions with the Fed — and China
The Dow Jones advanced after Trump said he wouldn't fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell and on hopes of easing tensions over tariffs with China.
Who are the cardinals selecting the next pope?
The conclave to select a new pope will be sharply different from the body that chose Francis in 2013. Experts say that could make it harder to predict what the conclave will do.
What to know as the government begins collections on defaulted student debt
The Department of Education says it will resume collections on May 5 and send wage garnishment notices "later this summer." Here's how to know — and what to do — if you'll be affected.
Environmental groups say Trump administration violated their free-speech rights
A lawsuit alleges the Trump administration violated the free-speech rights of nonprofits and municipalities that have had federal funding for climate and environmental projects frozen or cancelled.
Trade wars grew America’s auto industry. Historians warn today’s tariffs won’t
Past success bringing foreign car companies stateside means the U.S. has more to lose and less to gain in today’s trade wars.
Birmingham ranked 4th worst in Southeast for ozone pollution, new ALA report says
The American Lung Association's latest "State of the Air" report shows air quality has worsened in some Gulf South metro areas.
Word of the Week: The papal ‘conclave’ is secretive. The word’s origin explains why
The word itself predates Christianity, but the conclave with its secretive deliberations and ancient trappings still captures the public's curiosity.
Pope Francis’ body lies in state ahead of Saturday funeral
Pope Francis' body lies in state for public viewing at St. Peter's Basilica as the Vatican prepares for his funeral on Saturday.
Supreme Court leans toward parents who object to LGBTQ books in public schools
At the center of the case is the school system in Montgomery County, Md., the most religiously diverse county in the U.S., with 160,000 students of almost all faiths.
Inside Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration
Harvard's lawsuit questions how freezing research funds will further the administration's goal of eliminating antisemitism on campus.
The long road to answers for some chronic illnesses
Growing costs, research cuts, and staffing shortages are health care issues that are top of mind for many in the country right now, especially for the millions of people who deal with chronic illness. Some of those people don’t even know what to call their illness.
The global economy will be hit hard by Trump’s tariffs, IMF warns
The International Monetary Fund slashed its growth forecasts for the global economy to 2.8% as President Trump's tariffs risk sparking a trade war.
Gaza’s Catholics mourn Pope Francis. ‘He used to call us at 7 p.m. every night’
Pope Francis called to check in on a Christian congregation in Gaza sheltering at their church almost every night since the Gaza war began. "Today we feel like we are orphans," a spokesperson says.
After Pope Francis’ death, debates begin over his successor
In the weeks that follow the passing of a pontiff, the city of Rome, and the Vatican in particular, comes alive with discussions over which man is best suited to next lead the Church.
Public viewing for Pope Francis begins Wednesday ahead of Saturday funeral
Faithful from around the world are pouring into the Vatican, where Pope Francis' body will go on display Wednesday, ahead of a funeral Saturday.
Supreme Court weighs who should decide public school curriculum: Judges or school boards?
At issue is whether school systems are required to allow parents to opt their kids out of classes because of religious objections to classroom materials.