Front Page
The Year Ahead for Transit in Birmingham
In this week's Magic City Marketplace, what to expect from Birmingham transit in 2017 and the effect of an interest rate hike on Birmingham banks.
Journalism Under Fire After Presidential Election
Journalism is operating in a brave, new world following this past presidential election. Issues surrounding “fake news,” far-right and far-left media websites and the role social media plays in disseminating news stories are all factors in this change. This leaves journalists and major news outlets like the New York Times, CNN and even NPR scrambling […]
Alabama Execution Puts Judicial Override in the Spotlight
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses judicial override. Alabama executed an inmate last week whose death penalty was given by a judge over the recommendation of a jury.
The Queer Library: A New Home for LGBT Literature
The brainchild of Change Project founder Steven Romeo, every book is written by an LGBT author or contains LGBT content.
Historic Marker Commemorates Gadsden Lynching
Tuesday, a historic marker will go up in Gadsden, Alabama, commemorating the 1906 lynching of a black man, Bunk Richardson, by a white mob.
Gardendale School System Hearings End, Federal Judge Weighs Decision On Independent System
Federal Judge Madeline Haikala is considering whether Gardendale can pull out of the Jefferson County system & start its own without violating civil rights.
Alabama High School Grad Rates Inflated, Superintendent Says
“This is a black eye for the department and it makes the education system here look bad, and in some ways undeservedly so.”
What Trump Could Mean for the Steel and Coal Industries
We look at what a President Trump could mean for the struggling steel and coal industries.
UAB Breaks Ground on a new Business School
UAB leaders broke ground Friday on a new home for the university’s Collat School of Business.
Colonial Pipeline’s Shocking Safety History
Colonial Pipeline has a shocking history of what federal regulators call “significant incidents.” Its track record for safety is far worse than some other pipeline companies in the South. Colonial is currently under federal investigation following the gas leak and subsequent explosion that killed two people near Helena.
“Rainbow Viaduct” Will Be Saved
The 21st Bridge, also known as the “Rainbow Viaduct” is included in a major renovation project headed by the Alabama Department of Transportation. The future of the viaduct has been an issue of contention among ALDOT, Birmingham city officials and historic preservation groups. ALDOT recently made a critical decision that will greatly affect the bridge project. Here to talk about that and other news is Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.
Questions Surround Mayor’s Plan for Ensley Tower
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses plans to renovate a vacant building in downtown Ensley.
Birmingham Expects a Boost from National Civil Rights Designation
What a national historic monument designation for Birmingham's Civil Rights District could mean for tourism
Two Mountain Brook Students to take the Big TED-Ed Stage
Mountain Brook High School sophomores Brett Lewis and Sean Fredella have been selected to present their talks at the first ever TED-Ed Weekend in New York.
Meet WBHM’s New General Manager
Meet WBHM's new General Manager, Chuck Holmes. He spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall about his background and vision for WBHM.
TopGolf Complex Coming Soon to Uptown
The Birmingham City Council this week cleared the way for construction of a proposed 65,000 square-foot Topgolf complex in Uptown. The council also approved a $1.5 million incentive package to be spread out over the next eight years.
Lawsuit Adds Sordid Details to Alleged Bentley Affair
A lawsuit offers sordid details about Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's alleged affair.
First Rain After Drought is Both Good and Bad
Groups that monitor Alabama’s waterways say there are some drawbacks and are warning of potential health risks found in and around rivers and streams.
Alabama Cattle Ranchers Hit Hard by Drought
After months of warm, dry weather, it did finally rain this week. But a few days of precipitation won’t erase months of drought. The lack of rainfall has crippled the state’s $2 billion cattle industry. The drought has forced ranchers to buy hay from out-of-state and if the dry weather persists this winter, things could get a lot worse for farmers and their herds.
WBHM Names Holmes General Manager
Charles W. “Chuck” Holmes, a veteran journalist and newsroom leader at NPR in Washington, D.C., has been named the General Manager of Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM, the listener-supported service of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Holmes will direct the operations of WBHM and the Alabama Radio Reading Service, a resource for the blind […]
Rain, Hail, Strong Winds, Possible Tornadoes Predicted Tuesday Evening And Early Wednesday
The weather service says the greatest threat for super cells is after 7 p.m. across the northwestern part of the state. As the weather system moves east, the threat should transition into a line of storms still capable of producing damaging winds.
ACLU President Visits Samford Univeristy
Susan Herman spoke to a packed audience, answering questions about current concerns and potential roles for the ACLU under President-Elect Donald Trump.
How Birmingham is Doing Attracting Millennials
As Birmingham works to keep its post-recession economic rebound going, a part of that is Millennials. As these people born roughly between 1980 and 2000 enter the job market or advance in their careers, they’ll rent apartments, buy homes, spend money that will fuel future growth. So business leaders are keen to attract and keep Millennials in Birmingham. That’s where we start in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Provider Withdrawals Spark Uncertainty About Alabama’s Medicaid Overhaul
Alabama’s effort to transform its Medicaid system took a hit last month as several major providers decided to withdraw from the effort. More than a million people in the state depend on Medicaid for healthcare. The pull out is adding uncertainty to what’s already been a troubled process.
Charles Henderson, Newly Elected DA, Prepares To Bring Change To Criminal Justice
"What we’ve been doing hasn’t worked. I’ve been saying all along we need to do more on this side to get people the resources they need, and quit using prisons as a way to kinda brush the problem aside."
Anxiety and Fear: Birmingham Muslims React to Election of Donald Trump
When Donald Trump was on the campaign trail, he made a promise to “make America great again.” Part of that plan involves a complete and total ban on Muslim immigrants trying to enter the United States. But what about the Muslims that already live in the U.S? Many say they’re concerned for their own safety […]
Who Replaces Senator Jeff Sessions?
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was an early backer of President-elect Donald Trump and as a result Sessions is expected to get a prime spot in a Trump Administration. If that happens, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley would name a successor. That opens up a new horse race. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
The Junction: The Parsonage Bombing
Ensley residents who remember that tragic event and the role the community played in the civil rights movement say this rich history is important today as Ensley looks toward revitalization.
What a President Trump Means for Business
President-elect Donald Trump won the election on a promise to make America the best place in the world to do business. But apart from backing away from trade deals, the specifics of what a Trump Administration would do for the business community are still unclear. We get a sense of what might be coming in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
“Alabama Unity Rally” Peaceful but Fiercely Anti-Trump
Recent anti-Donald Trump rallies around the nation have been marred by violence. Some feared that would happen in Birmingham, especially after social-media threats. But Saturday night, though hundreds protested, no one got hurt. That’s not to say emotions weren’t high.
Jeff Co Death Sentence Numbers One of Highest in Nation, Report Finds
Jefferson County has one of the highest rates of capital punishment in the nation, according to a report released last month by Harvard Law School’s Fair Punishment Project. The report found that the county is one of only 16 in the nation to hand down five or more death sentences between 2010 and 2015. We […]
Tuscaloosa Teacher Investigated After Pro-Trump Image in Class
A Tuscaloosa high school teacher is under investigation after projecting a pro-Donald Trump image in one of his classes.
