Issues
Jeffco Commission Approves UAB-Led Authority for Cooper Green
The Jefferson County Commission approved a resolution Thursday to allow UAB to manage operations at the county's indigent care clinic.
Alabama Committee Advances Bill to Outlaw Abortion
Alabama lawmakers on Wednesday advanced one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation, a measure that would make performing an abortion a felony with almost no exceptions.
State Lawmakers Consider Eliminating Marriage Licenses
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling allowing same-sex marriage was a hard pill to swallow for some Alabama probate judges. Some still refuse to issue marriage licenses in their counties. But a proposed bill could force them to comply with federal law.
Trash Talk: Why Doesn’t Birmingham Recycle More?
One way to reduce the amount of trash is to recycle more. That’s a challenge in the city of Birmingham.
Trash Talk: Birmingham’s Litter Problem
Call it what you want: trash, litter, debris … stuff. It seems like it’s everywhere. You’ll find it on front lawns and on busy highways. Officials say trash in the Birmingham area in particular is a problem. Here, we catch up with some of the folks who pick it all up.
Trash Talk: Abandoned Cars Dot Area Roadsides
Ever wonder where all these abandoned cars on the side of the road come from? Here's your answer.
Bill that Changes Ethics Law Stalls
A bill that makes changes to state ethics law stalled this week. But a bill that would block local governments from banning plastic bags and the General Fund budget both advanced. We have an update from Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey.
PARCA Survey Says Alabamians Want Fewer Non-Violent Criminals in Prison, More Money for Education
The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama in a new survey said Alabamians favor supervising non-violent criminals in the community and giving them more rehabilitation opportunities rather than sending them to prison.
Birmingham Launches A Citizen’s Experience to Connect Residents to City Hall
Applications are now open for A Citizen’s Experience, a new initiative from the city of Birmingham designed to promote civic engagement. The free, seven-week program is slated to begin in June and is open only to Birmingham residents who are 18 years old or older.
SPLC Proposes ‘Collaborative Process’ to Address Prison Crisis
The Southern Poverty Law Center sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Kay Ivey and state Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn proposing its own plan to address the state's prison crisis.
Fed’s Report Condemning Alabama Prisons: State Vows Action
Alabama authorities vowed Thursday to begin the monumental task of fixing their troubling prison problems, responding to a U.S. Department of Justice report that condemned excessive violence, inmate deaths and a critical staffing shortage in the state correctional system.
Alabama Legislature Considers an Abortion Ban and Prison Reforms
This week Alabama lawmakers considered a bill that would make abortions a felony unless the mother's health is at risk. And it wrestled with a solution to the state's prisons crisis.
Percentage of College Freshmen Who Need Remedial Courses Drops
A smaller portion of new high school graduates is having to take remedial classes when they first go to college, according to a PARCA report on data from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.
UAB Launches Program to Improve Treatment of Opioid Overdose
UAB’s Emergency Department is starting a new program to better treat patients with opioid use disorder. The initiative focuses on increasing the use of a drug called Suboxone.
Birmingham Iron’s Season Ends Early, as Alliance of American Football Suspends Operations
Even quicker than it came to life, the Alliance of American Football — and with it, the Birmingham Iron — has gone on life support.
Want to Create a Language? Here’s the Guy who did it for “Game of Thrones.”
The HBO show "Game of Thrones" envelopes viewers in a medieval fantasy world right down to the words that are spoke. Linguist David Peterson created the language Dothraki for the show, one of many he's developed for film or television.
Program Seeks to Preserve Queer History in Alabama
The South has the highest concentration of LGBTQ adults in the U.S. But they’ve largely flown under the radar, so collecting their stories has been a challenge. Enter the Invisible Histories Project, which seeks to showcase LGBTQ life in Alabama.
DOJ Alleges Alabama Prisons Violate the Constitution
The Department of Justice released a report Wednesday alleging that violence and other dangerous conditions in the state’s male prisons violate the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
Jeffco Health Officials: Violence is a Public Health Issue
Violence is the newest strategic focus for the Jefferson County Department of Health. It was one of several topics discussed in Tuesday's annual State of Health in Jefferson County address.
Officials Investigate Fish Kill Along Black Warrior River
State officials are looking into a fish kill that happened near Alabama Power’s Plant Gorgas in Walker County. Environmental advocates say they found at least 100 dead fish downstream of the plant.
Restoration Work Begins on Historic A.G. Gaston Motel
Work has begun to restore the motel that was a headquarters for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.
Birmingham PD Adds High-Tech Tools To Its Crime-Fighting Arsenal
The Birmingham Police Department will soon have two new high-tech crime-fighting tools at its disposal.
What We Know About CBD
CBD or cannabidiol seems to be everywhere. It's derived from cannabis, and proponents say it can help with conditions from epilepsy to anxiety to pain. But is there evidence for that?
Alabama is Offering Free Genetic Testing. Here’s Why.
Scientists in Alabama want to capture a statewide genetic footprint. Free testing, they say, can help residents detect their risk for disease and bolster future genomic research.
Companies Look to Apprenticeships to Help Fill Jobs
Companies hiring for more technical occupations at Birmingham-area factories and plants often struggle. Now more employers are building their own pipeline through apprenticeships.
State Commission Approves Birmingham Charter School
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission approved plans for a new charter school in Birmingham. The development comes two months after Birmingham school officials rejected the i3 Academy application. Organizers of the charter school appealed to the state.
State Commission to Hear Birmingham Charter School Appeal
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission is scheduled to vote Monday on a proposed charter school in Woodlawn. The Birmingham school board recently rejected i3 Academy’s bid to open in the city, and organizers appealed to the state.
The Big Picture: Woodfin’s Team Updates Residents About Progress on Public Safety, Economic Opportunities and Other Initiatives
A black-and-white photo of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin — shot in profile, eyes fixed in an expression of steely determination — hovered over the stage of the Alabama School of Fine Arts’ Dorothy Jemison Day Theater on Thursday night.
Lawmakers Consider a Lottery, Medical Marijuana, and Common Core Repeal
Medical marijuana, a repeal of the Common Core, and a lottery bill were all on the legislative agenda this past week. We take a look at these and other measures lawmakers considered.
Lawmakers Tackle Alabama’s Persistent Prison Problems
Alabama’s prisons are overcrowded, understaffed, and plagued by violence. Mental health care for inmates is inadequate. There have been suicides and homicides within prison walls. Alabama Sen. Cam Ward explains how lawmakers are approaching the problems.
Scientists Track Alabama Bear Cub Survival Rate
Alabama’s black bear population could be in trouble. Scientists say young bears might be dying before they reach adulthood. Researchers at Auburn University will study the problem with a $1.1 million grant from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Another Pro Football League Takes the Field in Birmingham. Will This One Stay Afloat?
It’s almost become a tradition for football fans in the Magic City. Every few years, yet another professional football league comes to Legion Field, with aspirations to bring some semblance of high-level gridiron action to The Old Gray Lady on Graymont.
