News
What do you have to do each summer?
Sunshine and rising temperatures herald in a new season as people prepare for their favorite summertime activities. During the WBHM Junior board’s recent beer release at Trimtab Brewing, we asked those present what was at the top of their summer to-do lists.
Alabama family to add wrongful death claim in lawsuit over home explosion
In a court hearing, lawyers for the Griffice family said their investigation into the March explosion is continuing despite a lack of engagement from state or federal regulators.
Q&A: Ruth Leitman on filming The Pink House, the frontline in the fight for abortion rights
Leitman filmed the Jackson, Mississippi, clinic at the center of the SCOTUS decision on abortion rights for seven years for her documentary, "No One Asked You."
‘This ain’t the same sun’: Extreme heat is changing summertime for kids in the South
Driven by climate change, extreme temperatures are forcing parents and camp counselors to change their summer routines to keep kids safe.
In Northeast Mississippi, Black cowboys celebrated Juneteenth with a horse show
More than 100 people attended the inaugural show, hosted by A Step Above Horse Riding Club in the farming community of Pontotoc, to celebrate the holiday.
Rickwood Field, a time capsule of opportunity and oppression, welcomes MLB for Negro Leagues tribute
Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and former home to baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, will host an MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Alabama native Willie Mays, Giants’ electrifying ‘Say Hey Kid’ has died at 93
Mays' family and the San Francisco Giants jointly announced Tuesday night he had died earlier in the afternoon in the Bay Area.
What does Juneteenth mean to you?
Wednesday is Juneteenth. a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. The date goes back to 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation. During our recent News and Brews community pop-up at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, we asked people what Juneteenth means to them.
Hall of Famer Willie Mays will not be in attendance for Negro League tribute game at Rickwood Field
Mays, who began his career in Alabama with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues and played for the Giants from 1951-72, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he will enjoy the game at home.
As dollar stores continue rural expansion, a Louisiana parish found a new way to push back
Tangipahoa Parish blocked a new Dollar General from opening in a case that could set a precedent for other communities looking to keep discount retailers out.
A family’s search for their native and formerly enslaved heritage in South Alabama
The Tate Family has spent nearly two decades uncovering records that establish their ancestors' time in Alabama before its statehood.
Thousands across Alabama live without access to public water
In rural Marion County, some residents do the only thing they can think to do: call their legislator and cry.
Jon Batiste reflects on the South’s musical history: ‘I’m rooted in something bigger than me’
Before a recent concert in Birmingham, the Grammy-winning jazz pianist took time to learn more about the city’s history and influence on American music.
A court ruled embryos are children. These Christian couples agree yet wrestle with IVF choices
How do you build a family in a way that conforms with your beliefs? Is IVF an ethical option, especially if it creates more embryos than a couple can use? The dilemma reflects the age-old friction between faith and science at the heart of the recent IVF controversy in Alabama, where the state Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos have the legal status of children.
Community effort boosts reading scores at BCS
Results from the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program released last month showed 81% of third graders in the district are now reading at or above grade level. This is up from just 53% on the previous year’s standardized test.
Gulf South sees record ACA Marketplace enrollment, driven by enhanced subsidies
A new report finds that the South leads the U.S. in increased ACA Marketplace enrollment — especially in states that have not expanded Medicaid.
How a Mississippi canoe company is raising a new generation of river caretakers
The Mississippi River is an endangered river. For 25 years, a Clarksdale canoe company has worked to teach kids to respect and protect the waterway.
Alabama officials hope renovated forensic mental health hospital will reduce backlog in county jails
The expansion will provide more space to care for a growing number of people considered incompetent to stand trial because of a mental health issue.
Birmingham-Southern’s magical postseason ends with 11-10 loss in D-3 World Series
It’s a painful finish for a never-say-die team that had brought so much joy to the school’s tight-knit community while captivating the hearts of American sports fans who could relate to the Panthers’ story mixed with loss and pride.
Birmingham-Southern keeps inspiring, magical season alive with walk-off win at D-3 World Series
Now playing for a school that technically no longer exists, the Panthers kept their hopes of winning a national championship alive on Saturday with a thrilling 9-7 comeback win over Randolph-Macon in the Division III World Series.
4 takeaways from a year of investigating nightmare utility bills
GSN reporters reflect on a year of the Utility Bill of the Month series investigating missing, expensive and just wrong water and power bills in the region.
A farewell to WBHM’s Mary Scott Hodgin
Friday is a bittersweet day WBHM as we say goodbye to our longtime health and science reporter Mary Scott Hodgin.
WBHM 90.3, Gulf States Newsroom win 14 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards
Regional winners automatically advance to the national competition. National winners will be announced in August.
After their son died in a Louisiana jail, a family struggles for answers
The case surrounding Jerome Stevenson's death highlights the barriers to information that families face when someone is hurt or dies while in custody.
Alabama actress finds home at center stage
Alabama actress Lily Kate Gwin, 22, was adopted at birth. She found home through her adoptive parents and her chosen home, the theater.
Birmingham’s poet laureate writes her homecoming
Birmingham’s inaugural poet laureate, Salaam Green, finds her home in the sensory details, the most important being poetry. But finding that home was a process.
Birmingham-Southern baseball team vies for an NCAA title as the school prepares to close
When Coach Jan Weisberg called the Birmingham-Southern College baseball team to an impromptu meeting on March 27, players were confused. They gathered together in the locker room and found out the news – BSC would close on May 31.
EPA formally denies Alabama’s plan for coal ash waste
The federal agency says the state’s plan was not as protective as federal standards, allowing toxic waste to remain in unlined pits that may contaminate groundwater. Alabama officials say they will appeal.
Here’s what you said were the hidden gems in Walker County
There are things we notice about where we live that others might miss. That might be a hidden gem or other surprise. We set out to discover a few of them in Walker County at our recent News and Brews community pop-up.
After years of increases, Jefferson County sees a decline in overdose fatalities
Following years of record-breaking increases, Jefferson County is finally seeing a decline in overdose fatalities. We talk to local officials to better understand the reasons for the drop, and if it’s a sign of a longer-term trend.
Alabama district attorney says ‘justice demands’ new trial for death row inmate
Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr filed a brief expressing his support for Toforest Johnson’s bid to receive a new trial. Carr has supported a new trial since 2020, but the latest filing detailed the findings of a post-conviction review of the case.
After decisive loss at Alabama Mercedes plants, powerful auto union vows to return and win
Newly elected UAW President Shawn Fain said the union will return to Mercedes and will press on with efforts to organize about 150,000 workers at more than a dozen auto factories across the nation.
