Issues

School Closures and Delays Due to Winter Weather

Many schools across Alabama have announced delays because of snow expected to fall Friday.

Kids, Dogs and the Culture of Breweries

For WBHM’s food series, “Sound Bites” we look at why breweries have become such popular places for families to spend quality time.

Doug Jones and Roy Moore Vary Widely on Top Issues in Senate Race – BirminghamWatch

BirminghamWatch’s Glenn Stephens took a look at where US Senate candidates Roy Moore and Doug Jones stand on key issues. Here’s their story.   Doug Jones and Roy Moore Alabama voters will choose between candidates with contrasting views on topics ranging from health care to abortion, and taxation to immigration when they vote for a new U.S. […]

WBHM Politics: The U.S. Senate Election

In the latest edition of WBHM Politics we discuss the U.S. Senate race in Alabama pitting Republican Roy Moore against Democrat Doug Jones.

Apathy and a Divide Among Some Black Voters

If he has a chance at defeating conservative Republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s US Senate election, Democrat Doug Jones needs lots of votes, especially from African Americans. But some in the black community say it’ll take more than a history of prosecuting the KKK members responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to energize them to support Jones.

“Dreamer Riders” Head to D.C. to Push for Immigrant Rights

Immigrant rights advocates from Alabama and around the country are headed to Washington, D.C. Tuesday to urge the U.S. Senate to come up with a way to preserve anti-deportation protection from the Obama-era DACA program. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protects immigrants brought illegally as children to the U.S. so they can work or go to school. The Trump administration has said it will end DACA.

A Write-In Vote for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson or Minnie Mouse for Senate? Think Again

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill issued guidance Wednesday on casting a write-in vote in the December 12 special election for U.S. Senate.

Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper Steps Down

After weeks of speculation, Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper is stepping down. Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office released a statement from the chief today confirming that Roper did not reapply for his position in the new mayor’s administration.

AEC Marks 50 Years of Lessons Learned

The Alabama Environmental Council turned 50 this year. The home-grown group has been dedicated to preserving wilderness across the state. Over the last few decades, the organization has faced challenges adjusting to the political climate, and it’s evolved to meet changing environmental needs. But as AEC board chairman Keith Johns tells WBHM's Dan Carsen, its biggest success has been getting people and businesses to see the value of setting aside land.

Woodfin Inaugurated as Birmingham’s 30th Mayor

Randall Woodfin, a 36-year-old former Birmingham school board member, was inaugurated Tuesday as Birmingham's 30th mayor.

Why Only Four Major Airlines Out of Birmingham?

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and for many of us that means traveling to see family. For those who have to fly, the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is the place it all begins. In a national ranking earlier this year, Birmingham’s airport was 63rd on the list. It lost points mostly stemming from the airport’s $50 million dollars […]

Birmingham’s Millennial Mayor Moves to a Different Beat

One week from today, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s 30th mayor. His rise to the big office on third floor of City Hall is a move Woodfin has calculated for years, even though he’s just 36.

WBHM Politics: Family, the Holidays and Politics

Take a few family members, mix in some strong political opinions and plop them into a holiday gathering. It’s a perfect recipe for clashes, fraught emotions and maybe some mashed potatoes thrown against the wall. And that’s the feast we’re serving up on this edition of WBHM Politics.

Democratic Senate Candidate Doug Jones talks Roy Moore, Campaign Issues and Abortion

Doug Jones finds himself in a position an Alabama Democrat has not been in for a generation. He has a reasonable chance of being elected to the U.S. Senate. Jones faces Republican Roy Moore December 12th in a race to fill the Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

How to Solve Birmingham’s Food Service Worker Shortage

There are too many restaurants in Birmingham and not enough people to staff them.

Roy Moore, Faith Leaders Say GOP Establishment Is Behind Allegations

Pastors and faith leaders from around the country stood with embattled GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore in Birmingham Thursday, castigating the media and denying charges of Moore’s sexual misconduct decades ago.

Jones Shifts Tactics, Aims at Republican Voters

Doug Jones says the mounting sexual misconduct claims against his GOP opponent Roy Moore are credible. But Jones has been relatively restrained about attacking Moore. Jones campaign officials say they’re focusing their message on their candidate. But sometimes, the elephant in the room is too easy a target.

State GOP Unwavering in Support for Moore

The Alabama Republican Party is holding firm in its support for U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore. According to Chairman Terry Lathan, “The ALGOP Steering Committee supports Judge Roy Moore as our nominee and trusts the voters as they make the ultimate decision in this crucial race.”

Moore Campaign Says Yearbook Signature Could Be Fake

Officials with Roy Moore’s campaign late Wednesday afternoon continued to deny the sexual assault claims of his latest accuser, Beverly Nelson Young. Campaign Chairman Bill Armistead said Moore doesn’t recall ever signing Nelson Young’s high school yearbook.

Talk Radio Buzzing Over Roy Moore Allegations

The Senate Race in Alabama is a huge topic of conversation after allegations of sexual assault against Republican candidate Roy Moore. That conversation is flowing through talk radio where some listeners remain solidly behind Moore.

Support Mixed For Roy Moore in Gadsden Following Allegations

The chorus of calls is growing for Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore to step aside following additional allegations of sexual misconduct years ago. Near his home base in Etowah County, the former Alabama chief Supreme Court justice still has support among some but questions from others.

Fifth Woman Accuses Moore of Sexual Assault

A fifth woman came forward Monday with powerful sexual allegations against Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore. Beverly Young Nelson said Moore sexually assaulted her when she was a 16-year-old waitress at a restaurant Moore often frequented. Moore continued to deny the allegations.

Friends And A Few Protestors Greet Roy Moore In Vestavia

Judge Roy Moore saluted veterans and defended himself against allegations of sexual misconduct 40 years ago, during a speech Saturday morning in Vestavia Hills. He found a lot of support, some protestors also were on hand.

Is it Game Over for Moore?

Political consultant David Mowery offers analysis of Thursday's report from the Washington Post that Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32.

Why Alabama Still Has No Water Management Plan

The state has 132 thousand miles of streams and rivers. And if your land touches that water, for the most part, you can take all you want. Most states have rules about who gets how much water, and when—not Alabama.

New Report: Moore Initiated Sexual Contact With Girl, Then 14

The Washington Post is reporting Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore had a sexual encounter with a 14 year-old girl when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney.

WBHM Politics: Regional Cooperation

Regional cooperation around Birmingham is something that gets talked about but never seems to go much beyond that. A study released this summer is trying to give new life to the issue. In this episode of WBHM Politics we’ll hear about the study and examine the status of regional cooperation around Birmingham

Miles Hoffman: ‘Random sounds are rarely soothing.’

Miles Hoffman says when it comes to classical music, there’s no substitute for a live performance. Hoffman is Morning Edition’s music commentator, and he’s the founder and artistic director of The American Chamber Players.

U.S. Senate Race has Alabama Democrats Hoping for a Turnaround

Republicans have steadily eaten away at Democrats’ historic dominance of Alabama politics over the last generation and now hold firm control of all three branches of government. But there’s excitement among Alabama Democrats about the upcoming Senate and gubernatorial elections. Is this a turning point?

Woodfin Shocked the Old Guard. Now What?

In about three weeks, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s next mayor. Woodfin worked for years as an attorney at City Hall. During his year-long campaign for mayor, Woodfin shined a light on the city’s problems and sold most Birmingham voters on his ability to fix them. Recently he spoke with WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart about what’s next and how he won.

Concussion Expert on Youth Sports: “Time to Make Some Decisions”

Brain injury specialist Dr. Elizabeth Sandel has been studying that organ and bad things that happen to it for more than three decades. With football season in full swing, and the recent publication of a study linking adolescent concussions with multiple sclerosis, we wanted to check in with an expert.

WBHM Politics: Crackdown on Airbnb

Cities, including some in Alabama, are putting restrictions on short-term rental sites such as Airbnb. And they're taking many different approaches.