Issues
Hanceville suspends police department, begins search for new chief
The Hanceville City Council voted Monday night to suspend its police department until a new police chief can be hired. That chief will be tasked with building a new police department from the ground up.
Stocks sink again, as Trump doubles down on tariffs
Trump has long boasted about the market's performance under him. But now he seems to have other priorities.
He fled Syria’s war as a teenager. He went back to help launch a tech industry
Abdulwahab Omira escaped Syria's war with his family as a teenager. He recently returned as a Stanford graduate student and a budding entrepreneur, hoping to help jumpstart the country's tech industry.
What’s Causing Birmingham’s Code Red Air Quality Alert?
A prescribed burn is harming air quality. Here's what Jefferson and Shelby County residents should do to protect their health.
As Trump downplays economic fears, this data show people feel differently
Economists look for signs that a recession may be approaching by monitoring consumer confidence and business sentiment — two indicators of uncertainty.
Paid parental leave likely coming for state employees in Alabama and Mississippi
Both states are part of just a dozen that do not offer the benefit. Proponents across the political aisle are likely to change that.
How reliable is the government’s economic data? Under Trump, there are real concerns
The disbanding of committees that consulted on government data — and comments from a senior official about changing how GDP is calculated — are raising alarm about the reliability of government data.
Birmingham VA worker caught in the crosshairs of federal funding cuts
Brandy Lee was in the middle of her work day with the Birmingham VA Medical Center in February when she got a memo from the federal Office of Personnel Management. After four months in her dream job, she was fired along with thousands of other federal employees across the country.
ICE arrests Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests
Mahmoud Khalil was inside his university-owned apartment Saturday night when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered and took him into custody.
‘Bloody Sunday’ 60th anniversary marked in Selma with remembrances and concerns about the future
Selma on Sunday marked the 60th anniversary of the clash that became known as Bloody Sunday. The attack shocked the nation and galvanized support for the U.S. Voting Rights Act of 1965. The annual commemoration paid homage to those who fought to secure voting rights for Black Americans and brought calls to recommit to the fight for equality.
This synagogue calls itself ‘anti-Zionist.’ Here’s what that means in practice
Tzedek Chicago calls itself anti-Zionist congregation, meaning it does not support a Jewish nation-state.
Vatican says hospitalized Pope Francis is showing ‘gradual, slight improvement’
The 88-year-old pontiff is responding well to the treatment for double pneumonia and has shown a "gradual, slight improvement" in recent days, the Vatican said Saturday.
Trump signs executive action targeting public service loan program
The program forgives the loans of borrowers who work in public service. The executive action would exclude those who work for certain organizations.
Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal dollars for Columbia University
The administration said it was cancelling grants and other federal awards for Columbia for an alleged failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.
A former Olympic snowboarder makes the FBI’s Most Wanted list
Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder-turned-alleged-drug trafficker, "went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine," the FBI says.
Immigration bills make headway in Montgomery
Immigration is one of the major issues of the moment at the national level. Alabama lawmakers are not far behind by taking up several bills intended to fight illegal immigration. We hear about some of those measures plus other action this week in Montgomery from Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.
The job market is still pretty solid — but there are warning signs ahead
U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate inched up to 4.1% from 4% in January.
Farmers strongly back Trump. A new trade war could test their loyalty
American farmers have stood firmly behind President Trump even when his trade policies hurt them. The latest trade war, which could be even worse for their sector, promises to test those ties again.
Trump is set to speak to crypto founders and investors at the White House on Friday
President Trump signed an order late Thursday creating a cryptocurrency strategic reserve using bitcoin seized through court proceedings, directing officials to find "budget-neutral" ways to grow it.
‘Queen of the Ring’ star Emily Bett Rickards on wrestling pioneer Mildred Burke
In Ash Avildsen's new film Queen of The Ring, Emily Bett Rickards plays the role of Mildred Burke, a single mother who defied the odds in the 1930s to become the first million-dollar female athlete in the male-dominated world of professional wrestling.
Five takeaways: China’s foreign minister slams Trump’s ‘two-faced’ policies
China's top foreign policy official addressed the escalating trade war with the U.S. and promoted China as an "anchor" on the global stage as America retreats from international involvement.
Trump’s latest tariff twist: a break for Mexico and Canada
Trump put 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico on Tuesday. Markets tanked. And by Thursday, he had decided to broadly lift them.
At a housewares expo in Chicago, talk keeps turning to price hikes from tariffs
The Inspired Home Show in Chicago draws housewares industry insiders from all over the country to network and show off their latest gadgets. This year, they're making plans to cope with tariffs.
As Canadians cancel trips due to Trump, the U.S. tourism industry could lose billions
The Trump administration's attacks on its northern neighbor have been met with confusion and anger by some Canadians who are now cancelling their trips to the U.S. in protest.
State Supreme Court races can be costly, competitive and combative. Why?
Wisconsin is on track to break spending records once again in a high court contest that's at times turned heated. But these races weren't always like this.
Trump prepares order dismantling the Education Department
The draft executive action, obtained by NPR, acknowledges the department and its signature responsibilities were created by Congress, and cannot legally be altered without congressional approval.
By the numbers: Does LeBron James’ new points record shake up the GOAT debate?
LeBron James has been so good for so long, there's a famous running joke about when he might slow down. At age 40, where does his 50,000 career points record put him in the GOAT debate?
In a first, the 2026 World Cup final will include a halftime show
Like the Super Bowl mid-game spectaculars, the 2026 final game slated to take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will include the World Cup's very first halftime show.
Bill would ban drag performances in public schools and libraries
Some Alabama lawmakers want to ban drag performances in public libraries and schools. But opponents fear the bill might have broader implications when it comes to self-expression and First Amendment rights.
A star generation of women’s soccer has retired. A new series shows who to watch next
A trailblazing generation of players is retiring. In a new docuseries from Prime Video, we hear from a new group of players and coaches vying to be the next best in American women's soccer.
‘God walks with us through the ashes.’ A poignant Ash Wednesday after LA wildfires
On Ash Wednesday, Christians hear the words "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." Those words ring differently for many whose churches and homes burned in the Los Angeles fires.
In Key West, testing shows cruise ships stir up as much sediment as a hurricane
Tests in Key West show sediment stirred up by cruise ships, which can harm marine life, routinely exceed federal standards. Key West has responded by suspending the tests.
