News

Jefferson County Commission approves extra money for The World Games

Commissioners approved allotting an additional $4 million to help offset the deficit incurred by organizers of The World Games. The matter passed on a 4-1 vote.

Southern Decadence returns to New Orleans, marked by parades and monkeypox awareness

Health officials gave out monkeypox vaccines and encouraged everyone — not just the LGBTQ community — to take the virus more seriously at the annual festival.

In Jackson, Miss., volunteers work hard to bring water to residents who need help

Local nonprofits have been delivering water directly to some residents, but the groups are still working on scaling up to dealing with a problem that stretches across the city.

In Jackson, Miss., football goes on despite the water crisis

Football is a way of life in Jackson, Mississippi. So are boil water notices. The latest water crisis has not stopped fans from filling the stands to support a local college team.

Deion Sanders has ushered in a new era of HBCU football. Will the SWAC capitalize on it?

As a new college football season kicks off, a brighter spotlight will be put on HBCUs in the Gulf South, thanks to the influence of “Coach Prime.”

Imani Perry draws on her hometown, Birmingham, in her new book exploring the South

Perry is an Ivy League professor in New Jersey but a Southerner at heart. She was born in Birmingham, but today she teaches African American studies at Princeton University. In her latest book she argues to truly understand the United States start with the American South.

The story of ‘the Colony’: How a small, Black community thrived, survived in Cullman County

The Colony, Cullman County’s only Black community, has a rich history of resilience and self-made success. Its current residents are working to continue it.

The Tragedy of North Birmingham

Industrial plants in Birmingham have polluted the air and land in its historic Black communities for over a century. In an epicenter of environmental injustice, officials continue to fail to right the wrongs plaguing the city’s north side.

Alabama man’s execution was botched, advocacy group alleges

Alabama corrections officials apparently botched an inmate's execution last month, an anti-death penalty group alleges, citing the length of time that passed before the prisoner received the lethal injection and a private autopsy indicating his arm may have been cut to find a vein.

Confrontations between Alabama miners, strikebreakers a part of a rough labor history

Federal labor officials fined the United Mine Workers of America union $13.3 million for, among other things, property damage at the picket lines.

A Black pastor was watering his neighbor’s flowers. Then the police showed up

Michael Jennings, a longtime pastor at Vision of Abundant Life Church in Sylacauga, Ala., says he was doing a neighborly deed of watering his out-of-town neighbor’s flowers, per their request, when a police officer showed up.

A Louisiana woman sought a legal abortion and was denied. Now, she wants lawmakers to step in

The woman, who was denied an abortion after her baby was diagnosed with a lethal anomaly, is asking her state lawmakers to make the change in a special session.

A new mural, shop at Birmingham’s airport pays tribute to U.S. Civil Rights Trail

City and state leaders hope the mural gives visitors to Birmingham’s airport a memorable introduction to the city’s history within the civil rights movement.

Midwives urge Alabama health officials to revise rules on birth centers

Critics say if adopted, the rules would further restrict options to pregnancy care in Alabama.

Birmingham Modernizing Garbage Pickup

Birmingham will spend just over $6.5 million to give each household in Birmingham a new, 96-gallon garbage receptacle that Mayor Randall Woodfin said will modernize the way the city picks up garbage.

Was Joe Nathan James’ execution ‘botched?’ One reporter attended an independent autopsy

It took three hours for the state of Alabama to execute Joe Nathan James Jr. last month. The state autopsy won’t be available for months. One reporter conducted an independent autopsy.

A woman’s denied abortion highlights how Louisiana hospitals are in limbo post-Roe

Nancy Davis' story underscores a new reality: Even the few legal abortions are hard to get when that access is now in the hands of hospital administrators.

New aviation high school in Bessemer aims to help students soar

At the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, students, parents and teachers are excited as they prepare for the school’s take off on Monday.

Jefferson County Commission delays discussion on World Games deficit

The World Games officials have asked the commission for an additional $4 million to help close a reported $14 million debt after the July event.

Secretary of State investigating Bessemer for potential voter fraud

While rumors of election fraud or irregularities have lingered in the city for years, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill confirmed to WBHM his office is looking into allegations of voter fraud in Bessemer this election cycle.

Local health officials plan to increase monkeypox vaccinations

Health officials will soon begin offering intradermal vaccinations, reaching more people with less vaccine.

Some 3rd graders in local schools could be held back under new law 

This is the first school year that third graders who do not read at grade level by the end of the school year must be held back in that grade, rather than passed on to fourth grade. The Alabama Literacy Act was passed several years ago, but its implementation was delayed because of the pandemic.

How one Birmingham custodian preps for the first day of school

When the kids are away, the custodial and maintenance staff in schools work all summer long. One custodian told WBHM about what it takes to keep the kids happy and healthy as they trade sunshine for fluorescent lights.

Dollar store workers are organizing for a better workplace. Just don’t call it a union.

Fired up by a labor movement that’s seen big union victories recently, dollar store workers are organizing in their own way to improve work conditions.

Bill Clark has a knack for making comebacks. Will he make one more? 

Bill Clark has had to overcome some serious hurdles during his career at UAB, as well as in his personal life. He not only resurrected a football program that had been neglected—and then out-right killed—he’s also been fighting through what he’s called a serious injury since childhood.

Expert says inadequate staffing is driving deaths in prisons across the Gulf South

An expert explains how issues from staffing to healthcare to climate change have contributed to a recent rise in deaths in prisons across the Gulf South.

Birmingham’s guaranteed income program aims to help single mothers who face inequality

Sixty percent of all households with children in Birmingham are led by single mothers. That’s one factor when it comes to inequalities working women face.

These 3 Black moms receive a ‘guaranteed income.’ Here’s what they’re doing with it.

As payments roll in, guaranteed income recipients in Southern states reflect on what it means for their lives.

Health department advises masks on as COVID climbs again

It’s time for Alabamians who do not want to catch COVID to put their masks back on. That was the advice from the Alabama Department of Public Health this week as cases continued to increase across the state.

Look back at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham

Germany finished the Games with the most golds with 24. The United States had the second most with 16. Italy won the most medals overall with 49.

World Games Human Exploitation Task Force announces arrests

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations says 34 arrests were made for commercial sex and six arrests for human trafficking during The World Games, which ended Sunday in Birmingham.

How 3 Gulf South country stores are adapting to high inflation: ‘It’s hurt everybody’

General store owners in the Gulf South are — once again — looking for new ways to get by as high inflation becomes the latest threat to their businesses.