News
Conversation with Gene Bartow
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has inducted its first class of Athletics Hall of Famers. Leading the pack is former men's basketball coach and athletic director Gene Bartow. Bartow came to UAB in 1978, after a stint at UCLA, where he worked in the shadow of legendary basketball coach John Wooden. Bartow says starting a new program at UAB was a learning experience of its own.
Corruption in Alabama: What’s the Deal?
This week on WBHM we're exploring the culture of corruption in Alabama. Over the last several years, Birmingham and Jefferson County have experienced a tsunami of political corruption. From the HealthSouth accounting scandal to the convictions of several former county commissioners. And, of course, next month Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford goes on trial in a 101-count federal bribery and conspiracy case. Why does corruption seem to be such a problem in Alabama? What's being done to address it? Friday (9/25) at noon on WBHM we discuss all this and more during On The Line: Alabama Corruption - What's the Deal?
Corruption and Ethics: Impact Alabama
Today we conclude our series, "Corruption in Alabama: What's the Deal", with a look at what it means to be ethical. As director of The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at the University of Alabama, Stephen Black occasionally gets calls from companies asking if he'd come give a lecture on ethics. He says he has to explain to them that when he says "ethics" he usually means something different than what they're thinking.
Corruption: Who’s Watching?
This week on WBHM we're exploring the culture of corruption in Alabama. When it comes to rooting out shady deals, newspapers have historically been the most vigilant watchdogs. Think Woodward and Bernstein's Watergate. Or more recently, former Birmingham News reporter Brett Blackledge's coverage of the two year college scandal in Alabama. Blackledge won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting.
Corruption and the Economy
Over the last several years, Birmingham and Jefferson County have experienced a tsunami of political corruption. From the HealthSouth accounting scandal to the convictions of several former county commissioners. And, of course, next month Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford goes on trial in a 101-count federal bribery and conspiracy case. Les Lovoy reports on the toll political corruption takes on the our local economy and what the local business community people are plan to do about it.
What’s the Deal: Whistleblowers
The movie The Informant took second place at the box office over the weekend. It's the story of a corporate whistleblower who works with federal investigators to take down an agriculture price fixing scheme. The movie is a real case turned into a dark comedy, but off screen whistleblowers are a serious tool for law enforcement when it comes to investigating corruption. There are laws designed to protect whistleblowers and thus encourage them to come forward. As we continue our weeklong series looking at corruption in Alabama, WBHM's Andrew Yeager examines if such protections, may be overblown.
What’s The Deal: Ethics Commission
Ethics is something that usually comes from within, but sometimes public officials need a little outside coercion to keep their ethics in check. For nearly 40 years, the Alabama Ethics Commission has worked to keep state employees and elected officials honest. As we begin a week of reports on corruption in Alabama, WBHM's Bradley George examines some of the challenges facing the commission and some of the proposal for ethics reform.
Tide Flu
It's fall in Alabama, which means tens of thousands of fans streaming onto college campuses each week to back their football favorites on the gridiron. There's an unwelcome visitor to campuses though - the new H1N1 flu virus. The swine flu has appeared among college students across the country, but is particularly widespread in the southeast. That poses concerns for team officials trying to keep football players on the field and out of bed. It could also affect the bottom line. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
Hurricane Tornadoes
Researchers at Georgia Tech say the size of a hurricane can predict the number of tornadoes it will spawn.
Wadley Waits
It's hard to find a one company town any more. But in rural east Alabama, there is a town where three-quarters of residents work at the same manufacturing plant. Or at least they did, until the plant closed down. WBHM's Tanya Ott reports.
Pop Goes the Liberal
Hey, did you hear the one about the pro-gun-control northern liberal who walked into a gun shop and shooting range in Alabama? You're about to.
Stantis Leaves for Chicago
For Birmingham News editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis, Alabama's political world has not disappointed. For 13 years he's drawn on an array of characters for fodder, from former Governor Fob James to Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford. But after this weekend, Stantis trades in that scene for world of the Daleys and Blagojevich. Monday, Stantis becomes the editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune. He tells WBHM's Andrew Yeager, his thoughts about the move are all over the place.
City Council Elections
Voters in Birmingham head to the polls tomorrow to pick who'll represent them on the city council for the next four years. But with all that's been happening in Birmingham area politics, from a financial crisis in Jefferson County to a mayor set to go on trial for corruption, it can be difficult to cut through and figure out what's going on with the city council races. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke to a number of political observers to gauge what might happen at the polls.
Coal Ash Controversy
Every day for the rest of the year, a long train will travel through Birmingham on its way from a power plant in Tennessee to a landfill in Uniontown, Alabama. Tim Lennox has our report on the controversy the muck on board that train is causing in Alabama's Black Belt.
Lee McAlister’s Courthouse Wait
There are many childhood milestones that parents count: first steps, kindergarten, first lost tooth. But for kids, getting a driver's license is the biggie! For WBHM intern Lee McAlister the joy of earning her license was quickly replaced by frustration, thanks to Jefferson County's economic problems.
Civil Rights Pardons
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has issued a blanket pardon to those arrested in the city during the 1960s civil rights protests. Some 2,500, including children and the Reverend Martin Luther King Junior, were jailed during that era of fire hoses and police dogs. But as WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports, the move seems more about reconciling the past than altering the record books.
Pelham’s New Newspaper
In July nearly a dozen U.S. newspapers folded. Most were in medium and large cities. While larger newspapers are hurting, many smaller community papers are surviving, and in some cases, thriving. This is the story of one Alabama town that's getting its first newspaper after more than a century without one.
Businesses’ Take on the Birmingham Business Alliance
Local business owners are closely watching what direction economic development takes since the formation of the Birmingham Business Alliance. The merger between the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Board took place a few weeks ago. The Alliance covers a large swath of central Alabama, including Jefferson, Shelby and five neighboring counties. The union sounds great on paper, but what does it really mean for local businesses? WBHM's Varun Krishnan reports.
Jefferson County Layoffs: Wes Gregory’s Story
News headlines are filled with stories about Jefferson County's budget crisis. But behind the public headlines, there are the personal stories of nearly a thousand county employees who've been laid off and find their lives turned upside down. Wes Gregory is one of them.
Birmingham: A Hub for Green Building
Green Building is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy right now. A lot of federal stimulus money is focused on weatherization and alternative energy. And James Smith believes Birmingham can be the sustainability hub of the Southeast. Smith is President and CEO of Green Building Focus. He's gathered internationally-recognized sustainability experts in Birmingham this week for a Green Building Conference.
Alabama Making Progress in Child Well Being, But Still Lags Behind
Alabama ranks 48th in child well-being. That's according to the annual Kids Count report, released this week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The reports measures well-being through a number of benchmarks--from babies with low birthweight to the number of children in single parent families.
On The Line: Jefferson County Budget Crisis
Jefferson County faces a massive budget shortfall. County leaders and state legislators are looking for solutions, but will they be long-term or just a bandaid? Join WBHM for our live call-in program "On The Line: Jeffco Budget Crisis" Friday at noon.
Tornado Sirens: Anyone Listening?
When you think of the sounds of summer in Alabama, what comes to mind? Maybe it's a barbecue or kids playing by the pool. Or, how about a summer thunderstorm? With these storms there's sometimes another sound--tornado warning sirens.
City Stages Vendors Left with Bill
It's been several weeks since City Stages announced it was taking its final curtain call. The non-profit music festival had struggled for many years with a deficit. And now, local businesses who provided services for this year's festival say they're scrambling to make ends meet because they weren't paid for their work.
Birmingham Business Alliance
Birmingham business and political leaders are hoping a new economic development organization will kick start growth in the region. The Birmingham Business Alliance made its public debut Tuesday. The organization is a merger of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Board and aims to foster economic development in the seven county, metro-Birmingham area. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with Dalton Smith, President and CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance. Smith says this new group will help focus economic development efforts.
Obama Picks Alabama Doctor for Surgeon General
Today, President Obama named Dr. Regina Benjamin as his nominee for Surgeon General. Dr Benjamin makes her home in Bayou La Batre, where she runs a clinic that treats all patients-regardless of their ability to pay.
Jefferson County Sheriff Resistant to Budget Cuts
Jefferson County Commissioners have asked all county departments to cut their budgets by 33 percent. This is due to the possible loss of revenue from the county's occupational tax. Most departments have complied, but notable exception is the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
On The Line: Gay/Straight in Alabama
Today, June 26, WBHM is hosting 'On The Line: Gay/Straight in Alabama' from 12PM - 1PM. We invite you to call, e-mail, or tweet your thoughts on the topics affecting gay and lesbian life in Alabama.
Gay/Straight: Bullying Gay Students
It's a phrase many kids use almost daily: That's so gay. Experts say that the use of homophobic slurs in schools is on the rise. Two 11-year-olds recently committed suicide after being bullied with anti-gay taunts. And though a new law requires the Alabama Department of Education to come up with a policy prohibiting harassment, that new policy isn't likely to mention sexual orientation.
Gay/Straight: Marie Sutton on Gay Marriage
It's hard not to get excited about a wedding, especially if you're a woman who loves romance. But for WBHM commentator Marie Sutton one invitation turned into months of conversation about homosexuality, the bible and the meaning of "love thy neighbor".
Gay/Straight: Spirituality
For many gays and lesbians, coming out is an overwhelming experience. They face, family, friends, coworkers and sometimes the most daunting of all, their church. The message delivered from the pulpit leaves many at spiritual crossroads. Some feel obligated to be someone they're not. Others try to decide what part of their spirituality to keep and what to discard. Les Lovoy reports on how this faith journey affects gay men and women and their families.
Gay/Straight in Alabama: Domestic Partner Benefits
It's been a whirlwind spring for advocates of same sex marriage. Four states -- Iowa, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire -- recognized such marriages. That flurry of activity is drawing attention to the concerns of gays and lesbians. But that conversation seems largely absent in Alabama. WBHM kicks off a weeklong look at some of those issues in a series called "Gay/Straight in Alabama." We begin with the workplace. Diversity statements or equal opportunity policies are not unusual, but for some gays and lesbians those words are not enough. WBHM's Andrew Yeager has this look at domestic partner benefits in Alabama.
