Issues
Ivey overhauls Birmingham Water Works Board amid cries of racial discrimination
The bill redistributes power from Birmingham city officials — who currently appoint a majority of the nine-person board — to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the surrounding four counties that are also in the board’s jurisdiction. It also reduces the number of board members to seven.
As Pynk Beard, Grammy-winning songwriter Sebastian Kole turns the page
Grammy-winning songwriter Sebastian Kole has accomplished a great deal in his career. As his alter ego Pynk Beard, though, he could achieve much more. The Birmingham native is stepping out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight to bring his brand of country music to the masses.
Americans are already seeing Trump’s tariffs kick in. They sent in receipts to prove it
There's new tariffs on almost everything that is imported. Some of that increased cost is being eaten by exporters in other countries, but a lot of the higher prices are being picked up by Americans, who are seeing it in their receipts.
Q&A: How lethal injection ‘hides the violence’ of executions in the South and elsewhere
A new book explores the secretive, complicated history of lethal injection and its relationship to the death penalty.
Energy Star, efficiency program that has steered consumer choice, targeted in cuts
An Environmental Protection Agency plan to eliminate its Energy Star offices would end a decades-old program that gave consumers a choice to buy environmentally friendly electronics and save money on bills, consumer and environmental groups said.
In the wake of tariffs, cargo at the Port of LA is down 35%
The immediate impact of the cargo decline affects virtually every business around the ports, but port officials say this downturn will soon be felt much more broadly.
Black smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel as cardinals cast an unsuccessful first vote
Black smoke streamed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the more than 130 cardinal electors have not come to a two-thirds agreement about who the next pope should be.
Humans still haven’t seen 99.999% of the deep seafloor
Human eyes have only seen a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of the areas of the world that are covered by deep water. Scientists want to change how they explore these regions.
Alabama lawmakers approve tax cuts for food, diapers and other items
The food tax reduction, if signed into law, will lower the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2% beginning Sept. 1. The reduction comes as lawmakers in both parties said families are being hurt by soaring grocery prices.
Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year.
The Fed will likely hold interest rates steady as Trump’s tariffs spark uncertainty
The Federal Reserve will likely hold interest rates steady Wednesday as President Trump's tariffs threaten to raise prices and drag down economic growth.
More states are allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees
Diminishing access to four-year universities and majors has been holding rural students back. Community colleges say they can bridge the gap.
U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in Geneva in first sign of thaw in trade war
The superpowers have been locked in a geopolitical blinking contest, waiting for the other side to reach out. The talks in Switzerland are the first concrete sign of a potential thaw in the deadlock.
Why oil prices are falling, and what it means for the economy
Between tariffs roiling the global economy and OPEC putting more barrels on the market, prices have dropped significantly since January. That's good for consumers, and bad for oil companies.
Birmingham fights against losing control of its water board, citing racial discrimination
Birmingham city officials sued the Alabama governor on Tuesday in an effort to halt the codification of bill that would strip the city of control over the state’s largest water board, alleging the move “constitutes blatant racial discrimination.”
Syrian Druze recall what they believe to be past lives — even vivid details
In Syria's large Druze minority, a belief in reincarnation binds the community together.
The conclave to choose a new pope is about to begin
As more than a billion Catholics around the world await the election of a new pope, all eyes will be on the Sistine Chapel, where 133 cardinals will begin the secretive process known as a conclave.
Brutality and humanity at the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana
While the event has been criticized for its controversial and dangerous events, it also offers a chance for participants to connect to the outside world.
Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds
Most Americans frequently use federal science information. But few are concerned that cuts to federal science spending could affect their access to such information, a new poll finds.
States sue Trump administration for blocking the development of wind energy
Attorneys general from 17 states and D.C. are challenging an executive order Trump signed on his first day in office pausing approvals, permits and loans for all wind energy projects.
International students in Alabama fearful after researcher with no political ties is detained
Alireza Doroudi has been detained in an immigration facility in Louisiana for nearly six weeks. Doroudi’s detention has instilled fear in the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he and his fiancee are doctoral students
Catholic leaders criticize Trump for posting apparent AI photo of himself as the pope
When asked about the image, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York who is friendly with Trump, said "it wasn't good" and that he hoped Trump had nothing to do with it.
The Vatican installs chimney to signal the selection of the next pope
Ahead of the election of the next pope, a chimney was installed atop the Sistine Chapel on Friday, which will help notify the public of the 267th pope.
Sovereignty beats out favorite Journalism to win the Kentucky Derby
The victory hands Venezuelan jockey Junior Alvarado his first career win in the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, has won the Kentucky Derby once before.
Warren Buffett announces his retirement and warns the trade war will hurt America
The billionaire investor, now 94, also said he would be resigning as CEO at the end of the year. He spoke at Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting known as "Woodstock for Capitalists."
The most exciting two minutes in sports is a show of ‘Latino excellence’
Latinos, many from outside the U.S. mainland, have risen in prominence in horseracing, from the grooms to some of the winningest jockeys.
For Homewood’s spotted salamanders, a win and a warning
A grassroots effort successfully pushed back on a development in that would have destroyed a critical salamander habitat. Still, amphibians face constant risks.
The Trump administration says it will cut EPA staffing to Reagan-era levels
EPA announced plans to reorganize the agency, moving science-focused staff into different roles and reducing the overall number of employees.
UA graduates take in the opportunity to hear a sitting president speak
Despite being introduced by beloved former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, President Donald Trump received the loudest welcome of the night when he took the stage at Coleman Coliseum on the university campus Thursday night. He spoke at a special ceremony ahead of the UA commencement ceremonies.
Trump again threatens Harvard’s tax-exempt status, saying, ‘It’s what they deserve!’
Trump's comments on social media marked the latest volley in a battle between the administration and the wealthiest college in the world.
Tax cut bills under consideration in final days of the legislative session
Alabama has already knocked off 1% of its state sales tax from groceries. A bill that would reduce it further is under discussion in the legislature. But there are just a couple of days left in the session to get things done.
The U.S. job market cooled slightly as Trump’s trade war heated up
U.S. employers added 177,000 jobs in April — a modest slowdown from the previous month, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.
