Issues
US vaccination drive is bottoming out as omicron subsides
The vaccination drive against COVID-19 in the U.S. is grinding to a halt, and lagging demand is especially stark in conservative corners of the country where many people weren't interested in the shots in the first place.
House votes to allow concealed handguns without permit
The Alabama House of Representatives approved legislation ending the requirement for a person to get a permit in order to carry a concealed handgun in public.
Alabama lawmakers advance transgender students bathroom ban
The effort by Alabama legislators comes after the U.S. Supreme Court last year rejected a Virginia school board's appeal to reinstate its transgender bathroom ban.
Bill that would ban concealed carry permits in Alabama advances
Lawmakers also advanced a so-called bathroom bill but delayed a bill increasing penalties for rioters.
Across the bridge: Alabama Dem carries torch for voting bill
Rep. Terri Sewell's voting bill collapsed in the Senate last month, but she is determined to press on. In March, Selma will mark the anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” voting rights march.
Mississippi’s plan to stop Alabama from stealing its teachers? Pay them thousands more
As Mississippi lawmakers plot how to keep more teachers in the state, educators warn the state’s bill targeting critical race theory could drive them away.
Amtrak’s proposed Mobile-New Orleans line is ‘a bad idea’ for Alabama, officials say
Mississippi wants to move full steam ahead with plans to restore the passenger rail, but Alabama worries the line will disrupt the freight rail.
How a Birmingham art educator makes art feel accessible and inclusive
Angie May wants art to reach everyone who visits the Birmingham Museum of Art. As the associate director in learning and engagement, she heads inclusive and innovative initiatives to open art history to younger generations.
Alabama Republicans pass bill to hike penalties for removing Confederate monuments
Republicans also advanced a bill that would require jail time for those who participate in a riot, plus another banning certain therapies for transgender youth.
Jewish family faces death threats after complaining about Nazi salute performed in class
A teacher at Mountain Brook High School allegedly led students in a salute that mimics how Nazis raised their arms in World War II. A Jewish student in the class complained and his family says they’re now receiving death and arson threats.
Travel nurse salaries are rising due to demand. Some hospitals say it’s price gouging
In the Gulf South, Mississippi has spent around $90 million on temporary medical staff. Louisiana has spent nearly $250 million.
After bomb threats, Southern HBCU leaders discuss how to move forward: ‘We can’t cave’
Historically Black colleges and universities in multiple states, including Alabama, have received bomb threats this month.
EXPLAINER: How Alabama congressional map got to high court
A divided Supreme Court is allowing Alabama to use re-drawn congressional districts for the 2022 elections that a lower court found had improperly diluted the votes of Black residents.
New Birmingham Public Library board will decide the future of library closures 
The Birmingham Public Library Board will swear in new board members Tuesday afternoon, making a majority of the appointees first timers.
Supreme Court lets Alabama use GOP-backed map of the state’s congressional districts
The court's action came on an emergency appeal from Alabama, which challenged a decision by a three-judge federal court panel that included two Trump appointees.
Gulf South hospitals face ‘worst-case scenario’ as staffing costs skyrocket
Facilities are under strain and federal assistance only goes so far.
School choice and permitless carry bills face rocky road in the Alabama legislature
Legislative committees passed both measures this week, but not before speakers at hearings expressed criticism of the proposals.
Seeking asylum in the U.S. is not easy. It’s harder when you speak a rare language
Two men who speak a rare language languished in Louisiana and Mississippi detention centers, they say, because they couldn't interview in their native tongue.
EXPLAINER: COVID vaccines for kids under 5: What’s next?
COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 may be available in the U.S. as early as March, but there are several hurdles still to clear.
Jury: No defamation from Roy Moore or woman who accused him
A jury has found that no defamation occurred in dueling lawsuits between former U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore and the woman who accused him of molesting her when she was 14.
Alabama native’s play explores Black student unity through co-ed fraternity
The play is centered on a group of Black college students at the fictitious McMillian University, a small, mostly-White Christian college in Birmingham.
Birmingham teachers stage sickout due to COVID frustrations
Some Birmingham City Schools employees staged a sickout this week to bring attention to their concerns with how COVID-19 is being dealt with in their schools.
Congressional map ruling a ‘bombshell’ for Alabama lawmakers
A panel of federal judges ordered lawmakers to redraw congressional maps approved last year by Feb. 11.
Brookside under pressure after report finds police aggressively ticketed motorists
An investigation led by Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald found the small Jefferson County town of Brookside targeted drivers to rack up fines and fees.
Critical race theory divides Gulf South educators and state leaders
Critical race theory is a hot-button issue for politicians in the Gulf South. Alabama and Mississippi are attempting to pass new laws prohibiting it.
Birmingham will host USFL’s inaugural season
The Birmingham Stallions will play the New Jersey Generals in the United States Football League's first game on April 16.
Alabama’s new congressional districts map blocked by judges
The judges wrote that Alabama should have two districts, instead of one, in which Black voters are a sizeable portion of the electorate.
Trial begins in accuser’s defamation case against Roy Moore
Opening statements begin Tuesday in the defamation lawsuit filed by a woman who accused failed U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore of molesting her when she was 14.
How many people died in homicides in Birmingham in 2021? It’s not clear
Tracking Birmingham's homicides for 2021 should have been straightforward. Here's why it wasn't.
COVID relief funding package passes Alabama legislative committees
A plan to spend about $772 million is set for final passage as early as next week.
UAB surgeons transplant pig kidneys into a human body for the first time
Researchers hope genetically modified pig kidneys could potentially provide a life-saving solution for thousands of people who die every year waiting for a transplant.
Ivey calls special session on relief funds
Alabama lawmakers will put the 2022 regular legislative session on hold to start a special session beginning Jan. 19, according to an announcement by Gov. Kay Ivey.
