Issues

Heading Into the Path of the Storm

As many people flee Hurricane Irma, some are heading right into its path. Irma is barreling towards Florida and is expected to make landfall tomorrow. David Goodwin, with the American Red Cross in Birmingham, headed to Florida to help.

As Irma Swirls Toward Florida, Alabama Prepares

Alabama appears to be outside of the path of Hurricane Irma, the deadly storm swirling 145-mile-per-hour winds over the Caribbean. But on Wednesday officials with the state Emergency Management Agency said they are preparing for the worst.

The Voice Behind the Crimson Tide? That’s Eli Gold

Meet the man who is the voice behind the Alabama Crimson Tide. Eli Gold has announced games for the Tide on the radio for almost three decades.

Blazer Fans Eager for the Return of UAB Football

UAB Football fans are eager for the season to start, the first since the program was revived two years ago.

Will the Return of UAB Football Boost the City’s Bottom Line?

Sports economist Victor Matheson explains the potential economic impact of reviving UAB Football.

Preview of the Birmingham Mayor’s Race: The Woodfin-Bell Divide

The results are in for the Birmingham Municipal Election. But while these numbers don’t lie, they do leave lots of questions

Twists, Fades and Frohawks? Blazer Barbers Have it Covered

UAB Blazers football players don't need to go farther than the locker room for a hair cut. The team has its own barbershop.

State Film Incentives Have Limited Impact in Birmingham

Birmingham Business Journal editor Ty West discusses the affect of Alabama's film tax credits eight years after they were implemented.

All Together Now! Alabamians Try for World’s Largest Rock Band

The Auburn group tried last year to break this record. A total of 850 people participated in that effort. Unbeknownst to them, a group in China outdid them with a 953-member rock band.

The Breakdown: How Woodfin and Bell Fared Around the City

If you want to know how 36-year-old former school board President Randall Woodfin captured the largest percentage of votes in his bid to win out over incumbent Mayor William Bell, just look at the numbers.

Internal City Government Spats Affect Election Outcome

Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the results of Tuesday's municipal elections in Birmingham.

Your Birmingham Election Roundup

WBHM’s city government reporter Sherrel Wheeler Stewart offers an overview of Tuesday's municipal elections in Birmingham.

Birmingham Mayor’s Race Goes to a Runoff

Birmingham Mayor William Bell and challenger Randall Woodfin will head to a runoff. The runoff will take place October 3.

Low Voter Turnout So Far at Some Birmingham Polls

Turnout appears low at several Birmingham polling places as voters go to the polls to elect a mayor, city council and school board.

Trudy Hunter Wants To Tackle Education, Poverty

For Trudy Hunter, a law school grad and a social worker from southwest Birmingham, this run for the city’s top job has been 10 years in the making. She says she wrestled with God about whether to step out on faith and run.

Innovate Birmingham Aims for a Generational Economic Boost

Birmingham Business Journal editor Ty West explains about the new economic initiative Innovate Birmingham.

High Technology Could Solve Solar Mysteries During Eclipse

Cutting-edge imaging technology from a Birmingham nonprofit could take advantage of the August 21 eclipse to solve solar mysteries. The telescopic camera system will fly almost 10 miles high on two revamped bombers that tag-team as they chase the moon's shadow.

UAB Opens New Football Offices and Practice Facility

UAB Blazer fans celebrated Friday as university and community leaders cut the ribbon on the football team’s new operations center and Legacy Pavilion. The $22.5 million  facility is a major milestone for a program that university officials cut in December 2014, only to revive it six months later after an outcry from alumni and the Birmingham […]

WBHM’s Guide to the 2017 Solar Eclipse

[View the story “WBHM’s Guide to the 2017 Solar Eclipse” on Storify]

Republicans Prepare for Battle in Senate Runoff

Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses this week's U.S Senate primary and next week's municipal election in Birmingham.

State Sues City Over Confederate Monument

The City of Birmingham and its mayor are being sued by the state for allegedly violating an Alabama law that protects historic monuments. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit today after Birmingham Mayor William Bell ordered the construction of a plywood barrier to obscure a Confederate monument in a city park. Alabama law prohibits the removal, […]

Some Voters Required to Verify Information at the Polls

An attempt to update the state’s voter rolls left some Alabama voters confused and angry at the polls in Tuesday’s US Senate primary. Those whose status was bumped to "inactive" were permitted to vote after they verified their information.

Strange and Moore Headed to a Runoff

Senator Luther Strange will face former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in a September runoff. Neither candidate took more than 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s special Senate primary.

Doug Jones Wins Democratic Senate Primary

Former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones will be the Democratic candidate in the race for Jeff Sessions' former seat in the U.S. Senate. Jones was declared the winner of Tuesday's primary election, with most districts reporting in by around 9 p.m.

Democrats Hope for a Comeback in the U.S. Senate Race

Doug Jones is best known for successfully prosecuting the 16th Street Baptist Church bombers and helping indict Birmingham abortion clinic bomber Eric Robert Rudolph. Now the former US Attorney is running in the Democratic Senate primary for the seat formerly held by Jeff Sessions.

New Soccer Team Adds to Birmingham’s Story of Revival

A new professional soccer team in Birmingham could mean an added asset for downtown.

2017 Birmingham Mayoral Debate

WBHM and the Birmingham Business Journal partnered to present the 2017 Birmingham Mayoral Debate. We hear from the top three candidates in Birmingham's race for mayor as determined by public polling: incumbent Mayor William Bell, and challengers Chris Woods, and Randall Woodfin.

Outgoing State Ethics Commissioner Takes Aim at Fellow Commissioners

An outgoing member of the Alabama Ethics Commission says the panel has been lax in upholding rules to keep state government in line.

Birmingham Council District 5: A Tale Of Two Cities

Seven people are vying for the District 5 seat on the Birmingham City Council in the August 22 elections. That’s the area representing most of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods from Crestwood to Smithfield. Managing this district won’t be easy. Some parts stand out as hip places to be in Birmingham, while others languish in extreme poverty and blight.

Many GOP Voters Still Undecided on Senate Candidates

Four candidates attended at the GOP Senate forum: incumbent Sen. Luther Strange, Bryan Peeples, Randy Brinson and Congressman Mo Brooks. They wanted to win votes. But as they hashed out issues from abortion to concealed carry laws, many voters left undecided.

What Birmingham Businesses Want From City Leaders

Birmingham business leaders weigh in on what they expect from city leadership. Birmingham's municipal elections will be August 22.

Bleached Creek Highlights ADEM Shortfalls, Say Critics

Alabama has some of the most ecologically rich waters in the world. But the agency tasked with monitoring them gets less funding per resident than in any other state. Some complain the Alabama Department of Environmental Management is not doing its job. They point to a contaminated creek in Shelby County as on example.