News
Charter Schools: None in Alabama, but May Change Soon
In a national ranking on charter schools, Alabama did not even come in last. That's because the state is one of only nine that doesn't have charter schools, but that could change, and soon. Dan Carsen has more for the Southern Education Desk at WBHM:
Gordon Lightfoot
Over his 50+ year career, singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot has produced a string of hits. His songs have been recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, even Elvis. He's mostly remembered in this country for his hits from the 1970s and the occasional public TV fundraiser. But Gordon Lightfoot is nothing short of a national treasure in his native Canada. At the tender age of 73 he still spends a lot of time on the road and this Sunday evening his t our bus stops at the Alabama Theatre . Greg Bass talked to Gordon Lightfoot.
John Archibald
Birmingham Mayor William Bell uses consent agenda to get $500M in funding for a McDonald Restaurant and Nick Saban schedules a press conference and doesn't say what it's about.
Bards of Birmingham
When schools cut their budgets, arts and theater programs are often the first to go. But in Birmingham, a youth acting group is still teaching lessons to any kid with the chops to get on stage. It's also pushing boundaries in a way that might make some theater traditionalists and parents uncomfortable. From the Southern Education Desk at WBHM, Dan Carsen reports.
Local Government with John Archibald
Birmingham News columnist John Archibald reviews the top local news stories from 2011 and looks forward to 2012.
Remembering UAB Legend Gene Bartow
The man referred to as the father of UAB athletics has died. Gene Bartow passed away Tuesday after a two-year battle with stomach cancer. He was 81. The hall of fame coach lead teams at six universities, but it was at UAB where he really made his mark as the first mens basketball coach and first athletic director. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager has this remembrance.
Home Energy Efficiency
It's cold outside... and maybe inside, if your house isn't properly insulated. Home energy efficiency is a big issue and a new study gives Alabama high marks - and low marks - for how the state handles it. WBHM's Tanya Ott has our story.
Farm Guest Workers
Alabama farmers are wondering where they'll find workers for next year's growing season. They say the state’s tough immigration law has driven away much of the migrant labor they rely on. One option is for farmers to hire foreign guest workers. And as WBHM’s Andrew Yeager reports, a number of private companies stand to benefit.
Officers Pepper-Spraying Birmingham Students
Depending on the details, recent images of police pepper-spraying protesters have triggered varying levels of outrage. But here in Birmingham, police are regularly pepper-spraying students while they're in school. Dan Carsen has more from the Southern Education Desk at W-B-H-M.
Mo Rocca: A Life on Stage
You may know him from the Daily Show with John Stewart or from NPR's quiz show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. But Mo Rocca has had an incredibly varied career. He'll talk about that and more when he takes the state at Birmingham's Alys Stephens Center Friday night. He may even talk about his early start in musical theatre...
Despite Successful Fundraising, Imagination Library Still On Hold
Though the United Way of Central Alabama surpassed its 2011 fundraising goal, a popular early literacy program is still on hold in Jefferson County. Dan Carsen has more from the Southern Education Desk in this web-exclusive report.
Imagination Library Cut in JeffCo
A literacy program that brought free books to young Jefferson County children has been suspended due to lack of funds. Dan Carsen has more in this web-exclusive report from the Southern Education Desk.
The Reconstruction of Asa Carter
In 1976, The Education of Little Tree was published as the autobiography of a little known southern author, Forest Carter. Carter's earlier novel, Josey Wales, had been turned into a successful film by actor Clint Eastwood. Little Tree was the story of Carter's childhood as an Indian boy who grew up on a reservation. He was orphaned, then taken away from his grandparents and raised by missionary types. He got through it, though, and got through it well. But the Education of Little Tree wasn't what it seemed. It wasn't even an autobiography, but a work of fiction, by one of the Alabama's most notorious Klan leaders.
John Archibald
Our weekly segment features The Birmingham News columnist John Archibald, discussing the city politic (and county and state politic too). Instead of being unplugged as he is in the newspaper, we offer him a bullhorn. Sort of.
Icelanders in the Magic City
A new report shows more than 700,000 foreign students are studying at American universities this year. About 6,300 are in Birmingham. Some students may be fleeing political oppression. Others are simply looking for better opportunities. But for one group of Icelandic students in Birmingham, their attraction to Magic City is soccer - as WBHM intern Kenan Le Parc reports.
Bring Your Own Parts
AAA estimates more than 42 million people will travel this Thanksgiving holiday, with most of them taking cars. Of course before you hit the road, you'll want to make sure the car's working properly. A new shop in Birmingham is offering an unusual way to fix your vehicle. You bring your own parts. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager takes a look at the potential for this business model.
The Private Eye Program
What's common to all academic subjects? Well..thinking. "Critical thinking" is a buzzword for a reason, regardless of whether educators think today's students do it well enough: it's basic to what students are meant to do in school. But can you actually teach thinking? From the Southern Education Desk at WBHM, Dan Carsen reports on an innovative program trying to do just that.
Alabama Immigration Law Attracts Washington Attention
Pressure is mounting against Alabama's "toughest in the nation" immigration law. last week, a group of national labor leaders visited the state to protest the law. And last night, nearly 3,000 immigrants and supporters converged on a church with strong ties to the civil rights movement. As WBHM's Tanya Ott reports they heard from Democratic members of Congress who vow to get the law repealed.
What’s to Come Under Bankruptcy
Jefferson County is wading through new legal territory now that the county has filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Municipal bankruptcy is fairly rare and there's not a lot of precedent. So WBHM's Andrew Yeager sat down with Samford University law professor Mike Floyd to figure out just what's to come.
Plaintiffs to Appeal Lynch vs. Alabama Ruling
The plaintiffs in the landmark Lynch vs. Alabama property tax case are appealing a federal judge's recent ruling that seemed sympathetic but ultimately went against them. Dan Carsen has more in this web-exclusive report.
John Archibald on Jefferson County’s Bankruptcy
Jefferson County officials have filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Commissioners voted 4-1 yesterday to file an estimated $4.1 bankruptcy. Shortly after the vote, attorneys filed the paperwork. But what happens next? Birmingham News columnist John Archibald tells WBHM's Tanya Ott.
Reaction to Jefferson County Bankruptcy
Jefferson County residents are trying to figure out what's next, now that county leaders have filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. The county's $4.1 billion filing is seen as closure by some. Others say the bankruptcy is an economic black eye for the entire state.
Jefferson County Votes to File for Bankruptcy
Jefferson County Commissioner voted this afternoon to file bankruptcy. The estimated $4.1 billion filing will be the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Alabama Immigrants: Skilled or Unskilled Labor?
One of the consequences of Alabama's new "toughest in the nation" immigration law is a flight from the workplace. Immigrants (both undocumented and documented-but-scared) are leaving farms, processing plants, and construction sites. And leaving employers in a bind. Last month, the state launched a program to match unemployed Alabamians with suddenly-open jobs. There were few takers. When he launched the program, Governor Robert Bentley bristled at the notion that Alabamians are unwilling to do "hard work". Birmingham Attorney Richard Newton says he doesn't doubt that, but the Governor misses a fundamental point.
Dan Carsen Interviewed Re Immigration Law on “The Takeaway”
Education reporter Dan Carsen is interviewed by PRI's "The Takeaway"about the latest immigration-law dust-up between the U.S. Department of Justice and Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange.
Strange Rebuffs DOJ Again
In the latest chapter of a blunt back-and-forth over Alabama's immigration law, state Attorney General Luther Strange on Friday again rebuffed the U.S. Department of Justice over access to student information. Dan Carsen has more in this web-exclusive report.
IMMIGRATION LAW: State AG Balks at DOJ Request
The U.S. Department of Justice, concerned about the new immigration law, has requested enrollment data from district superintendents across Alabama. But it's unclear when or whether that information will be provided, as state Attorney General Luther Strange balked at the request. Dan Carsen has more in this web-exclusive report from the Southern Education Desk at WBHM.
Lynch v. Alabama Ruling
A federal judge recently ruled on a case that has implications for how schools are funded and taxes are assessed across Alabama. Dan Carsen has more on Lynch v. Alabama in this web-exclusive report.
Max’s Delicatessen & the Immigration Law
Alabama's new immigration law has been in the news a lot lately. There've been stories about police setting up road blocks outside immigrant neighborhoods and how schools are losing students. But this month one businessman has found himself at the center of the controversy - in a spotlight he never anticipated - or wanted. WBHM's Tanya Ott reports.
Religious Exemptions to School Vaccine Requirements on Rise
Today's students and most of their parents are too young to remember a time when epidemics crippled and killed millions. And there's a reason we've forgotten: vaccines. Even so, a small but growing number of Alabama students are getting religious exemptions to school immunization requirements. The reasons are sometimes religious, sometimes philosophical, and sometimes health-based. Dan Carsen has more from the Southern Education Desk at WBHM.
Fantasy Football: International Edition
It's football season. College football. NFL football. And Fantasy football. And now, an international Fantasy football league based here in Birmingham (Alabama, not England).
Immigration Law and Schools: Trying to Calm Fears
Across Alabama, people have been marching to spotlight children affected by the state's strict new immigration law. The measure requires schools to record the immigration status of newly enrolled students. After more than 2,000 Hispanic students were absent from Alabama schools early last week, activists and educators are reaching out to families worried about what the law will mean for them. Dan Carsen has more from the Southern Education Desk at WBHM.
