Issues
Brocato Claims Second Term As Hoover Mayor As Jeffco Cities Elect Leaders
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato easily defeated his challenger in Tuesday's election, City Council President Gene Smith.
Budget Blows To Birmingham Schools and Transit Cushioned, Other Groups Not As Lucky
The Birmingham Public Library is among several organizations slated to take a significant financial hit next fiscal year under Mayor Randall Woodfin's proposed budget.
Restaurants Are Hardest Hit As Businesses Try To Rebound From Pandemic
Some restaurants in Birmingham are working to regain a loss in revenue after forced closures during the pandemic. Meanwhile, other restaurants like Babalu and Lucy's Coffee & Tea weren't so lucky - closing their doors indefinitely.
RNC Live Coverage: Tuesday, August 25
Follow live updates and analysis of Day 2 of the Republican National Convention. First lady Melania Trump headlines the night. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.
After Bipolar Diagnosis, French Became Her ‘Asylum From The Madness’
This Alabama woman struggled with mental illness and found solace in French. She recently recounted her story in an award-winning essay.
Tuscaloosa To Close All Bars And Prohibit Alcohol Sales
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox announced Monday a prohibition on alcohol sales and the closure of all bars for the next 14 days.
RNC Live Coverage: Monday, August 24
Follow live updates and analysis of Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, where the party is set to formally nominate President Trump as its presidential nominee. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.
College Virtual Learning Rife With Technical Challenges
As the pandemic spreads on college campuses, many schools are increasingly relying on virtual instruction. That's expected to bring a host of technical troubles.
Voters In Several Jefferson County Municipalities Choose Mayors, Council Members On Aug. 25
Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 25, to determine the outcome of multiple municipal elections.
Alabama’s Census Leader Hopes For A “Second Wind” To Boost Census Participation
Time is running out on the census and Alabama is below the average among states for people who have filled out their forms.
Fact Check: Biden’s DNC Speech
Joe Biden formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president on Thursday. NPR reporters are providing live analysis of his remarks.
DNC Live Coverage: Thursday, August 20
Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is speaking Thursday night. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.
Accounting Contract Leads To Squabble On The Jefferson County Commission
Tensions were high at the county commission meeting this week after Commission President Jimmie Stephens said he felt he was being disrespected by President Pro Tem Lashunda Scales.
COVID-19 Totals Increase By 699 Cases And 29 Deaths In Thursday Report
Recent coronavirus numbers reflect a downward trend in the rate of infections over the past month.
DNC Live Coverage: Wednesday, August 19
Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Wednesday’s speakers include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central.
Woodfin’s Budget Features Pay Cuts, Furloughs And Funding Reductions
The city of Birmingham faces a $63 million shortfall in business tax revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Year In The Life Of A Dying Alabama Mall
The Jasper Mall takes the spotlight in a documentary playing at the Sidewalk Film Festival later this month.
DNC Live Coverage: Tuesday, August 18
Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Tuesday’s speakers include New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former President Bill Clinton. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. Central
COVID-19 Tracking App Available To The Public
All Alabama residents can now use the phone app GuideSafe, which anonymously tracks COVID-19 exposure.
DNC Live Coverage: Monday, August 17
Follow live updates and analysis of the Democratic National Convention. Monday’s speakers include Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former first lady Michelle Obama. Coverage begins tonight at 8 p.m. Central.
College Entry Testing Shows Less Than 1% Of Students Have COVID-19
Preliminary numbers from a program to test college students returning to campus indicate a low positivity rate. The program has tested about 30,000 students so far.
Through The Intercom, Nursing Home Employee Sings To Residents
At a nursing home in Marion, Alabama, one employee uses her voice to help lift morale among residents and staff during the pandemic.
Birmingham Council OKs Al Fresco Dining as ‘Hail Mary’ for Restaurants
Birmingham officials approved outdoor seating for restaurants in hopes of giving them an economic boost during the pandemic.
This Year’s Sidewalk Film Festival Becomes A Drive-In
The annual event will move from its home in downtown Birmingham to a drive-in theater in Leeds.
Childersburg Principal Busts A Move In Back-To-School Parody
Childersburg High School's principal has gone viral for his parody of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Quentin Lee said the video was simply a fun way to welcome students back amid the pandemic.
As Nursing Homes’ Stocks Of PPE Get Too Low For Comfort, Ivey Grants Them $50 Million In COVID Aid
Federal aid for nursing homes comes as older adults comprise the largest share of COVID deaths in Alabama amid dwindling supplies.
Alabama Is In ‘Survival Mode’ Says University Of Alabama Economist
One economist says the country's deficit isn't as important as surviving the pandemic. He's advocating for renewed extra unemployment checks, injection $1 trillion a month into the country's budget and issuing another round of stimulus checks to working Americans.
Birmingham Gives Tax Breaks For UAB-Area Student Apartment Project, Commission Expected To Follow Suit
The company building a seven-story student housing development near UAB received permission from the city this week to forgo some property and sale taxes for the project. The county is now set to hear a similar request later this week.
Students With Disabilities Face Significant Challenges As Schools Plan To Reopen
For more than 96,000 students with special needs across Alabama, the loss of in-person services could mean a decline in learning, communication or functional skills. It also takes a toll on family members.
Pregnancy During The Pandemic: What You Should Know
The interim chair of UAB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology debunked a number of COVID pregnancy myths.
Jefferson County Schools To Go Virtual-Only For First Nine Weeks; Start Sept. 1
The Jefferson County Board of Education voted Tuesday to begin the 2020-2021 school year with nine weeks of online education only and no option for traditional classroom learning.
UAB Launches COVID Testing For More Than 200,000 College Students
Alabama health experts and university leaders launched a statewide campus re-entry initiative to test and monitor the spread of COVID-19 on college campuses.
