News
Income Inequality in Birmingham, Alabama
Officials say there are three main obstacles keeping people in Birmingham and Alabama from achieving prosperity: education, poverty and crime. These barriers also contribute to the growing wage gap. WBHM's Esther Ciammachilli talks about this with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.
Arc Stories: April 2017 Edition
Four stories recorded in Birmingham in which each person is put in risky situations by some of their closest family members.
Roy Moore Announces U.S. Senate Run
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses Roy Moore's announcement he's running for U.S. Senate and how the field of gubernatorial candidates is shaping up.
A Roman God’s Spa Day: Vulcan Gets A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Vulcan, the world's largest cast iron statue, gets a paint job -- bare bottom and all.
Stillman College Determined To Win Financial Struggle
At Stillman, the grass is neatly trimmed and flowers are in bloom. Sorority members cooked out on the campus lawn and there was a symposium in the math and science building. Underneath the manicured exterior, Stillman sits on a mountain of debt – about $ 43 million worth.
Savings Uncertain With Birmingham’s LED Street Lights
Birmingham is installing new LED street lights across the city. But while other cities across the country have seen dramatic savings after switching, there's no guarantee Birmingham will see similar savings.
More Venture Capital Flowing into Birmingham
The Birmingham Business Journal's Ty West discusses the increase in venture capital deals around Birmingham.
House Concerts: An Intimate Way to Enjoy Live Music
Imagine attending a concert in the comfort of your home surrounded by dozens of friends both old and new. That’s what it’s like hosting a house concert. This tradition has been around for decades and is a popular way to enjoy music in an intimate setting.
Bruised Fruit? Wilted Greens? Don’t Toss Just Yet
Saturday is Earth Day, and if you’re looking to turn over a new leaf, one place to start is in the kitchen. Each year, Americans toss out 133 billion pounds of food, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The number one wasted food category? Fresh produce.
House Approves Autism Therapy Coverage, Monitors Church Day Cares
Members of the state House of Representatives on Thursday passed these two bills many parents across Alabama were watching. Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal talks with WBHM’s Gigi Douban about them.
What’s Next in Heated Race to Fill Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Post
Esther Ciammachilli talks about what’s next in this saga with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.
Uproar Over Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Search
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the search for a new Birmingham City Schools superintendent which has included two candidates dropping out, a lawsuit and a bomb threat.
Birmingham Superintendent Selection Continues After Lawsuit, Bomb Threat
Interim Supt. Larry Contri applied but was excluded because some believed he would retire in June. Contri agreed to a June 2017 retirement last year as part of a lawsuit settlement. But Still said no one asked the interim superintendent about his plans.
Bill Would Require Licensing for Religious Day Care Centers
Gigi Douban talked with Reveal reporter Amy Julia Harris, who investigated incidents of abuse and neglect at Alabama’s religious child care centers.
Advocates Push for Autism Therapy Coverage
The Alabama House of Representatives will vote April 20 on a bill that would require insurance companies cover autism therapy. Alabama is one of just five states that doesn’t offer health care coverage for autism.
Widening Rifts and Unfriending in Politically Tense Times
Thirteen percent of people, according to one survey say they blocked, unfriended, or stopped following someone on social media because of what they posted about politics. Haden Holmes Brown takes a look at tensions over politics three months into President Donald Trump's time in office.
What a New Governor Means for Alabama Business
Birmingham Business Journal editor Ty West discusses what new Governor Kay Ivey might mean for Alabama's business community.
UAB Program Unravels Mysteries Of The Human Body
Each year thousands of people suffer from diseases that defy diagnosis, sometimes for decades. They are medical refugees. These undiagnosed diseases, as they are called, mean a doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong with their patient. But UAB is trying to change that.
Gov. Ivey Briefs Reporters and Lawmakers Advance Autism Bill
The legislature this week tried to get on with business as usual following the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday. As Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal tells WBHM’s Gigi Douban, legislative committees were busy this week. And so was Gov. Kay Ivey, who met with reporters on her third full […]
Birmingham Board of Ed Members Protest Superintendent Candidates
Members gathered in protest recently after the five finalists for the superintendent position were announced. Among their concerns are the process by which the finalists were chosen and the finalists themselves.
Bill Would Allow Birmingham Church to Have its Own Police Force
A bill in the Alabama legislature would let a church in suburban Birmingham do something that appears unprecedented. It would allow this church to have its own police force. Critics say the bill isn’t constitutional and vow a legal showdown.
New Governor Steadies the Ship of State after Bentley Resignation
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the opening days of Governor Kay Ivey's term in office.
When Single Mothers Make Too Much for Government Help But Too Little to Pay the Bills
For a single mom with two children in Jefferson County, covering life’s most basic expenses — rent, food, some health insurance — costs about $49,000 a year. A new report from the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham surveyed single mothers who work full-time, and who earn less than $30,000 a year. WBHM’s Gigi Douban spoke […]
Fourth Graders Witness History as Bentley Exits
Fourth graders from Coosa Christian School in Gadsden were on a field trip to the Alabama Capitol Building as news broke that Governor Robert Bentley would resign.
Woodlawn Students Growing a Healthier Neighborhood
Where some see blight and signs of economic decline, others see potential. Under the flight path of Birmingham’s airport and a stone's throw from busy railroad tracks, almost a dozen Woodlawn High School environmental science students are planting fruit trees. It's part of a partnership between the school, the Woodlawn Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy that's transforming vacant lots into lush landscapes meant to benefit the neighborhood.
The Way Forward in Post-Bentley Alabama
Alabama is still absorbing yesterday’s historic news, the resignation of Governor Robert Bentley after he became embroiled in scandal amid allegations he used state resources and intimidation to cover up an alleged affair. But some state leaders are already looking ahead.
Kay Ivey Moves From Lieutenant To Governor
The 72-year-old Ivey held the seat of Lieutenant Governor since 2010; the first Republican woman to hold the office. Ivey is only the second woman to be governor in Alabama.
What to Expect From Bentley Impeachment Hearings
The Alabama House Judiciary Committee begins Impeachment proceedings for Gov. Robert Bentley today. On Friday, Bentley’s attorneys tried to stop the proceedings, and a Montgomery Circuit Judge ruled in their favor. But on Saturday the Alabama Supreme Court allowed the Judiciary Committee to move forward with the impeachment process. WBHM’s Gigi Douban talked with University […]
Birmingham’s Construction Boom: How Long Can it Last?
Birmingham Business Journal editor Ty West evaluates Birmingham's construction boom over the last few years.
House Judiciary Committee Releases Bentley Impeachment Report
UPDATE: The Alabama Supreme Court stayed the injunction issued by Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin against the start of impeachment proceedings, allowing them to go on. Click here for more info.
Ethics Commission Sends Complaints Against Bentley to Prosecutors
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the the Alabama Ethics Commission's decision to forward complaints against Gov. Robert Bentley to prosecutors.
Tips for Driving in Bad Weather
Though bad weather can contribute to traffic accidents, there are ways to lessen the risks. Here are tips from area law officers.
