Issues
The 2011 Tornadoes: Cullman
President Obama spent Friday morning touring tornado-ravaged neighborhoods in Tuscaloosa. He says he's never seen such devastation. Almost 300 people have died so far from tornados which blanketed the south Wednesday. More than two thirds of the deaths are in Alabama . For survivors, one of the biggest issues to deal with is no power. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
Northern Beltline: Downtown Development
Birmingham's downtown has added many feathers to it cap in recent years. City officials point to last year's opening of Railroad Park, a growing restaurant scene, new office and hotel space in the works. It's a rebirth some critics of the northern beltline say could be muted by that bypass. This week we're taking a look at the proposed 52 mile highway planned for the northern half of Jefferson County. WBHM's Andrew Yeager examines what a new interstate bypass might mean for development in downtown Birmingham.
Northern Beltline: Environmental Impact
Birmingham's Northern Beltline has been in the planning stages for decades. But there's a renewed sense of urgency to get the multi-billion dollar project moving forward. The Alabama Department of Transportation has said it could issue the first contracts by the end of this year. But as Tanya Ott reports environmental concerns could put the brakes on the project, at least temporarily.
Northern Beltline: Overview
$90 million per mile. That's the latest price tag for the proposed Northern Beltline around Birmingham. Proponents say it will spur economic development in the northern part of the county. Opponents say it's a price tag they can't afford for a road they don't need. This week, WBHM examines the Northern Beltline proposal.
WBHM Needs Your Input on Education Issues
WBHM's new Education Desk needs your help. We're conducting a survey to determine what are the biggest issues facing Alabama's schools.
Greg Mortenson Interview
Bestselling author and internationally recognized education advocate Greg Mortenson speaks with WBHM's Dan Carsen about issues facing education in the South, including teacher pay and tenure.
New Leadership at the BBA
Birmingham's regional economic development organization is under new leadership. The Birmingham Business Alliance hired Brian Hilson last month as its President and CEO. He comes from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. He previously worked at the Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke to Hilson.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: Marketing Seafood
It's been almost a year since millions of barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. If you're still a little leery about eating seafood from the gulf, you're not alone. One study found about 70% of consumers nationwide are concerned about seafood safety. Almost a quarter have reduced how much they eat. Alabama's seafood industry says the catch has been tested and is safe. But as WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports getting that message out isn't easy.
Alabama’s Immigration Bill
The Alabama House is set to take up bill today aimed at curbing illegal immigration. It's patterned after a similar law passed last year in Arizona and would punish individuals in Alabama without documentation for trespassing. That could mean jail, fines or being turned over to federal immigration authorities. WBHM's Andrew Yeager talks to some in the business community who are worried about what an Arizona-style law might mean for Alabama.
C-FISH Program Aims to Help Charter Boats Rebound
Salt water fishing is a $226 million a year business in Alabama. But the industry took a serious blow after last year's Deep Water Horizon oil spill. As the 2011 fishing season kicks off this month, many charter boat captains aren't sure how they'll fare. Some of them are pinning their hopes on a new educational program called C-Fish.
John Davis Treks East for Wildlife Conservation
There's nothing more enjoyable than a walk in the park, but what about a walk through several parks? Or better yet, what about a walk through several states? Not many people would take on such a long on a trek, but that's exactly what one man is doing.
Gil Shaham
Gil Shaham is widely considered to be one of the world's top violinists. This weekend, he performs Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Shaham recently spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall.
A New Leader for Birmingham Southern College
Birmingham Southern College has new leadership today. General Charles Krulak will become the new president of the school, taking the reigns officially on June first. He's a retired U.S. Marine Commandant and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Krulak has also worked in banking in the U.S. and Europe. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with Krulak.
Jefferson County Tax Ruled Unconstitutional
Jefferson County's Occupational Tax is unconstitutional. That's according to a unanimous ruling issued by the Alabama Supreme Court, which upholds a lower court's ruling.
Holy Family Cristo Rey School
The dropout rate in Birmingham city schools is nearly three times the state average, leading some parents to consider more costly alternatives to public education. One school in Birmingham is making the option available to families that otherwise couldn't afford a private education.
Tax Refund: Paper to Plastic
Are you waiting for your tax refund? A lot of people are. But now a handful of low income taxpayers have the option of putting their refunds on a prepaid debit card. It's faster, more secure and the government says it'll save money. As WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports, a lot of eyes will be watching how this countrywide experiment pans out.
Impact Alabama’s Savings Contest
If you've ever bought a lottery ticket or played a slot machine, you probably know the thrill that comes with a chance to win a fortune. Of course, if you don't make the long odds, you're out some cash. But what if that same excitement could be turned into savings? One Alabama organization is using the current income tax season as a savings contest for low income residents. But as WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports it's an untested idea.
Spring Awakening
Nearly 125 years ago a German dramatist penned a play that criticized the sexually-oppressive culture of his country. It offered a vivid dramatization of the erotic fantasies of young teenagers who were just discovering their bodies. As you might expect, it was pretty controversial material. The play was often banned. More than a century later, it still raises eyebrows. And this month, it's on stage at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. WBHM's Tanya Ott pulls back the curtain for an intimate look at Spring Awakening.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: Gulf Fish Numbers Up
Since the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, marine scientists have come upon a surprising finding: more fish. Researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab report dramatic increases in some species. But the seafood industry is responding to the news with a wave of skepticism.
Stuff: One Man’s Stuff
All this week we've been looking at stuff by examining some of the things we keep and the stories contained in them. Of course many of us have no shortage of possessions. We store things in basements or attics. Even rent storage units because we've run out of room. But what if all you had was what you could carry around yourself? What would you keep? WBHM's Andrew Yeager continues our series "Stuff" with a look at the things one Birmingham homeless man hangs onto.
Stuff: Alabama’s Unclaimed Property
This week on WBHM, we're talking about stuff--how to manage it and what people do with it. One place to put valuable stuff is behind the steel doors of a bank vault, in a safe deposit box. But sometimes, people forget about those boxes, or they die before getting the valuables out of the bank. In Alabama, those items end up in the State Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division.
Stuff: Where Stuff Goes to Die
Think about all the stuff you have. Probably functional things like a car or cell phone. Also clothing, chairs or a kitchen table. There are sentimental items too, maybe a childhood toy or old pictures. For most of us, we have plenty of stuff. Those items contain stories and act as a mirror of sorts for our lives. And we'll explore some of that this week in our series "Stuff." We start with the end. WBHM's Andrew Yeager takes a look at where some of our stuff ends up when we're done with it.
Remembering Virginia Samford Donovan
The namesake of Birmingham's Virginia Samford Theatre has died. Virginia Samford Donovan passed away Tuesday at the age of 90.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: Federal Report
A president commission studying last year's BP gulf oil spill is out with its final report this week. It contains recommendations the panel hopes will prevent another large-scale oil disaster. The include a new federal agency to oversee offshore drilling, an industry-created institute to police safety and increasing the liability caps for damages when companies drill off shore. The report also pieces together the events surrounding last April's oil well explosion. Commissioner Terry Garcia tells WBHM's Andrew Yeager that the panel concluded the disaster could have been prevented and that blame doesn't rest just with BP. It goes industry wide.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: Gulf Real Estate Market
A survey of residents along Alabama's Gulf coast finds that, after the BP oil spill, many of them want to pick up and leave the area. But whether they can actually do that depends, in part, on the real estate market. And it's not good news.
Defense Spending Boosts Huntsville’s Economy
Many state and local governments are struggling to cut services as they try to head off billion dollar deficits. But new research suggests there may be truth in one old political standby.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: Bayou la Batre
It's hard to put a number on the economic losses the Gulf region has experienced since the B-P oil spill. But it's clear that communities along the coast are hurting. The tiny Alabama fishing town of Bayou la Batre was still recovering from hurricanes Katrina and Ivan when the oil spill sent it into another tailspin. For many residents there just isn't enough money for basics, even food.
Magic City Marketplace
The Birmingham marketplace is connected by people who have to grapple with numbers and projections and spin. We try and slice through the psychobabble that can be business news with our occasional segment featuring the editor of the Birmingham Business Journal.
Alabama and The Oil Spill: GM to Recycle Booms into Chevy Volt
As oil spill cleanup continues along the Gulf coast, one of the big questions is what to do with oil-soaked booms. Clean-up crews deployed about 100 miles of booms along the Alabama and Louisiana coast. Environmental groups worry those used booms could end up in landfills. But General Motors has announced plans to repurpose the booms as parts for its new electric hybrid car.
John Archibald
Our weekly segment features The Birmingham News columnist John Archibald, discussing the city politic (and county and state politic too). Instead of being unplugged as he is in the newspaper, we offer him a bullhorn. Sort of.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: Environmental Justice
This week, environmental leaders from across the country will meet in Washington for the White House Environmental Justice Forum and the BP Gulf Oil Spill will be front and center.
Southwest, AirTran and Birmingham
AAA predicts more than 42 million Americans will hit the roads and take to the air this Thanksgiving, traditionally the busiest travel period of the year. At the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, many of those holiday travelers will fly the airport's biggest carrier - Southwest Airlines. Southwest announced this fall it would buy rival AirTran for $1.4 billion dollars. But as WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports the deal may not be the best news for Birmingham.
