Issues
French health ministry extends smoking ban
France to ban smoking at beaches, parks and outside schools from July 1st to protect children.
Oil companies face a wrongful death suit tied to climate change
Julie Leon died of hyperthermia in Seattle on June 28, 2021 — the hottest day in the city's history. A lawsuit claims she was a victim of oil companies' "misrepresentations" about climate change.
Will I get refunds? Small businesses wonder as courts rule on Trump tariffs
Court rulings against President Trump's tariffs could spell relief for many American importers — if the decisions hold. For now, the uncertainty remains.
Supreme Court limits environmental reviews of infrastructure projects
The decision makes it easier to win approval for highways, bridges, pipelines, wind farms, and other infrastructure projects.
Judge blocks Trump administration’s effort to bar Harvard from enrolling international students
The preliminary injunction would prevent the federal government from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll international students.
Alabama AG Steve Marshall to run for U.S. Senate
Marshall, a Republican, announced his candidacy in a video that included multiple clips of him being introduced or praised by President Donald Trump.
Going Dutch: Harm reduction is embraced in the Netherlands but struggles in the US
The Netherlands has proven drug use harm reduction works. So why does it still face stigma, criminalization and political resistance in the Gulf South?
Federal trade court blocks Trump from imposing tariffs under emergency powers law
The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing that Trump has exceeded his authority.
Peruvian farmer loses landmark climate case against German energy giant
A Peruvian farmer has lost a decade-long legal climate case against Germany energy giant RWE. Saúl Luciano Lliuya claimed the company's emissions had contributed to glacial melt threatening his Andean hometown.
U.S. stops scheduling visa interviews for foreign students
The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said.
US Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 bid for Alabama governor
His announcement on the Will Cain Show on Fox News followed weeks of speculation, and associates saying Tuberville planned to enter the race. The former coach is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor’s race.
55-year-old Kami Rita Sherpa breaks his own record: climbing Mount Everest 31 times
Lumping his 31 feats together, Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed nearly 90,000 feet above sea level on the famous peak. He first climbed to the top of the world's highest mountain in 1994.
Trump administration moves to cancel remaining federal funds to Harvard
A letter from the U.S. General Services Administration, which is dated Tuesday, tells agencies to submit a list of contracts they have terminated with the university by June 6.
Alabama study reveals hurricane resilience programs are paying off for homeowners and insurers
The first-of-its-kind analysis, released last week, reviews thousands of insurance claims linked to Hurricane Sally, which struck Alabama’s coast in 2020. Homes retrofitted or built to Fortified standards saw significantly fewer and less costly claims.
Are manufacturing jobs actually special?
More than half of American workers don't have a college degree. Is manufacturing a ticket for them to the middle class?
Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in the U.S., is surprisingly young
Hells Canyon is the deepest river canyon in the United States. Now scientists have solved the mystery of when it formed.
As Trump targets elite schools, Harvard’s president says they should ‘stand firm’
Cutting off research funding for Harvard University might hurt the school, its president Alan Garber told NPR, but it also potentially sets back important work that benefits the public.
Trump cuts could hurt after-school programs that serve low-income students
Schools in Maine have been at the center of a political battle with the Trump administration. Now, many fear after-school programs, critical for low-income communities, could be lost.
Swimmer circumnavigates Martha’s Vineyard ahead of ‘Jaws’ 50th anniversary
Lewis Pugh wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for sharks — which he said the film maligned as "villains, as cold-blooded killers."
27 hospitalized, including 4 children, after car plows into Liverpool FC parade
A 53-year-old man is in police custody. He is from the Liverpool area and is believed to be the driver, police said.
‘I am Roman,’ Pope Leo says, as he becomes the bishop of Rome
The bishop of Rome is one of many titles held by the pope. Duties related to the title are usually delegated to an auxiliary or assistant bishop, known as a vicar.
Trump again blasts Harvard over international students as judge blocks revocation
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the home countries of some of Harvard's international students are "not at all friendly to the United States" and "pay NOTHING toward their student's education."
By the numbers: A look at international students at Harvard and across the U.S.
The latest criticism from the Trump administration of Harvard University highlighted the number of international students entering the United States each year for higher education.
Cold case solved: College students help ID the remains of a 19th century sea captain
Remains of the "Scattered Man John Doe" began washing ashore in New Jersey in 1995 and went unidentified for the next three decades. Students at Ramapo College set about to solve the mystery.
What’s Possible — AI in Alabama
Every so often, a new technology arises that transforms everything it touches. It fundamentally alters how we relate to each other and the world around us. Right now, the technology with that potential is artificial intelligence. On "What’s Possible – AI in Alabama," a locally-produced special by WBHM, we dive into a conversation about what AI means for the state.
Judge blocks Trump admin’s move to bar Harvard from enrolling international students
This comes in response to a lawsuit Harvard filed on Friday morning, challenging the Trump administration's abrupt move to revoke the school's ability to enroll foreign students.
Insurance costs are soaring around Tornado Alley. Hail is the big problem.
While tornadoes can obliterate communities, hailstorms cause damage across much larger areas.
GOP US Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce run for Alabama governor, associates say
Two people who have spoken with Tuberville about his plans said Thursday they expect him to announce a gubernatorial bid. They spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to talk about a campaign.
9 things to know about the big, private-school voucher plan in Republicans’ tax bill
NPR asked researchers, advocates, tax experts, a parent and a public school leader for their thoughts on this first-of-its-kind national voucher plan. Here's what they said.
Electric grills are a climate-friendly option to fossil fuel grills
Grilling usually involves burning fossil fuel. But some manufacturers are offering electric grills and citing climate change and convenience as reasons to switch.
Trump’s Harvard visa threat could wipe out several of the school’s sports teams
Some of Harvard's sports teams could be wiped out by a Trump administration decision that would make the school with the nation's largest athletic program ineligible for international student visas.
Hate groups in the US decline but their influence grows, report shows
In its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, released Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center said it counted 1,371 hate and extremist groups, a 5% decline. The nonprofit group attributes this to a lesser sense of urgency to organize because their beliefs have infiltrated politics, education and society in general.
