Issues
Ivey calls public safety her top priority for the 2025 session
The proposals come in the wake of mass shootings that rattled Alabama cities, including the shooting deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September.
Waffle House is passing along the sky high cost of eggs to diners
Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And there may be no relief in sight
A guide to what the U.S. Education Department does (and doesn’t) do
The department tracks student achievement, manages college financial aid and sends K-12 schools money to support students with disabilities and lower-income communities, among other things.
In wake of mass shootings, Alabama lawmakers eye ban on Glock switches and public safety bills
After a violent year marked by multiple mass shootings in Alabama, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey and many lawmakers from both parties are backing a proposed ban on so-called Glock switches and other conversion devices that make semi-automatic weapons fire like machine guns.
Pastor pushed out after parishioners complain about focus on racial justice
Leaders of a Baptist church in North Carolina ousted the pastor after congregants started leaving. A secret tape provides a rare look at the debate when a message threatens a business model.
China targets U.S. coal, gas, Google as Trump tariffs take effect
Trump ordered tariffs against China, Canada and Mexico over the weekend. Canada and Mexico reached last-minute deals to pause those tariffs Monday.
Trump is weighing big cuts to the U.S. Education Department
While only Congress can shutter the department, the president is reportedly considering executive action to severely scale back its responsibilities and staffing.
Super Bowl ticket prices have been falling, and are down by thousands from last year
Ticket prices have been dropping over the past few days and many tickets are selling for thousands of dollars less than a year ago.
Navy SEAL was unqualified to lead Tufts lacrosse workout, report finds
The university will change its approval process for team trainings, among other recommended remedies, after the group workout that left lacrosse players hospitalized in September.
Trump puts Mexico tariffs on hold for 1 month after a call with the Mexican president
US tariffs on Mexico to be put on hold for month
Canadian fans boo U.S. national anthem at NBA matchup as tariff dispute heats up
Canadians showed their displeasure on Sunday at the Toronto Raptors' game against the LA Clippers in Toronto, Canada. Similar jeers broke out at National Hockey League games over the weekend.
Crime and education on the agenda for the 2025 legislative session
The 2025 legislative session in Alabama kicks off Tuesday, Feb. 4 with plenty on the agenda. Education, public safety, and of course the budgets are expected to come up. We get a preview of what's ahead with Todd Stacy, host of Capital Journal on Alabama Public Television.
Former Spain soccer official Rubiales goes on trial for unsolicited kiss of player
The former president of the Spanish soccer federation goes on trial Monday accused of sexual assault for kissing forward Jenni Hermoso after Spain's victory at the Women's World Cup final in 2023.
Trump used fentanyl to justify tariffs, but the crisis was already easing
The White House says fentanyl smuggled to the U.S. justifies tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico. But fentanyl deaths and smuggling have been dropping fast — and Canada plays almost no role.
Trump imposes new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China in new phase of trade war
Starting Tuesday, nearly all imports from Canada and Mexico will be charged a 25% tariff, while goods from China will be charged a 10% tariff.
Steel City Men’s Chorus brings music and friendship to LGBTQ+ community in Birmingham
The Steel City Men's Chorus, formed in 2013, is the only queer identified chorus of its kind in Alabama.
Businesses, shoppers brace for higher prices if tariffs on Mexico and Canada imports start Saturday
President Trump renewed his threat to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada as early as this weekend. The move could raise prices on everything from gasoline to guacamole.
Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95
The winner of two Olympic gold medals and five consecutive world championships, Button died Thursday in North Salem, New York, at age 95.
After fires, LA students yearn to get back to school, and a normal life
The historic fires in Los Angeles meant many students lost homes, schools, or both. Now, as some schools reopen, families are trying to find routine.
With leaked footage from the inside, Sundance doc shows horrifying conditions in Alabama prisons
Incarcerated men in the Alabama prison system risked their safety to feed shocking footage of their horrifying living conditions to a pair of documentary filmmakers. The result is “The Alabama Solution,” which premiered this week at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Trump orders Education, Labor and other departments to enhance school choice
The president directed several departments to submit plans for using federal funds to expand school choice.
Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary is Howard Lutnick. Here’s what to know
The billionaire Wall Street CEO fielded questions about tariffs, China's AI progress, broadband access, allegiance to Trump and the revival of American mining and semiconductor production.
New York becomes the first state to close schools for Lunar New Year
It's the first time New York students will have the day off for the Lunar New Year since a new state law was signed in 2023. In 2024, the holiday fell on a Saturday.
The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady as inflation remains stubborn
The Fed held interest rates steady as it continues to combat inflation. President Trump wants to see lower rates, but some of his policies could fuel more price hikes.
Federal judge hears request to block an upcoming nitrogen gas execution in Alabama
The state of Alabama urged a federal judge Tuesday to allow the nation's fourth execution with nitrogen gas to proceed next week, but a doctor who witnessed an earlier execution by the new method told the judge the inmate appeared to be in distress and awake minutes longer than officials predicted.
Amid sewage issues, a nonprofit is helping Alabama Black Belt residents find solutions
As the region grapples with poor sanitation, groups like the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program are taking it upon themselves to address the issue.
Nearly 5 years after schools closed, the nation gets a new report card
There's some good news in math, mostly bad news in reading and lots of questions about why students are still struggling.
Here’s how climate change fueled the Los Angeles fires
Extreme conditions helped fuel the fast-moving fires that destroyed thousands of homes. Scientists are working to figure out how climate change played a role in the disaster.
Neymar leaves Saudi team to return to his first soccer club in Brazil
Neymar struggled through physical injuries for most of his time in the Middle East, with a previous ACL rupture that kept him sidelined for a year.
The Super Bowl could end in a ‘three-peat.’ Why that matters to a former NBA coach
Pat Riley, the current president and former head coach of the Miami Heat, owns half a dozen trademarks related to the word "three-peat." That could affect whether it appears on Super Bowl merch.
Birmingham’s new resilience chief looks to protect residents from climate change
“Fundamentally, to me, it's about survival,” says Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, Birmingham’s new chief resilience and sustainability officer about fighting climate change.
5 economic papers that lit up our brains — and what they say about our confusing world
We at Planet Money are constantly reading the work of economists and other social scientists to glean ideas, evidence and insights about the economy, and, more generally, the confusing world around us. Welcome to the inaugural installment of the Planet Money Econ Roundup!
