News

Who’s Running For Birmingham City Council?

Do you know who is running for Birmingham City Council? Check out this complete list.

2021 Birmingham Mayoral Candidate Profiles

The ballots are set for the Birmingham mayoral election on Aug. 24. But do you really know who the candidates are? Check out these profiles.

As COVID Devastated The Gulf South, The HIV/AIDS Crisis Was Put “On The Back Burner’

Data acquired from the Louisiana Department of Health and the Alabama Department of Public Health show that the average number of screenings for new HIV infections went down significantly between 2019 and 2020. Health experts worry that it will only make the region’s HIV/AIDS worse.

Health Official Warns About The Danger Of Being In Crowds As High School Football Fully Kicks Off

High school football games are set to fully kick off this week. Health experts say you should continue to wear a mask even if you're fully vaccinated because these events are likely to spread COVID-19.

K-12 Students To Be Tested For COVID In Schools

Cases of COVID-19 in youth are on the rise, according to the state department of public health. A new testing program in Alabama schools hopes to combat that.

Taliban Takeover Leaves Americans More Vulnerable, Says Father Of First American Killed In Afghan War

An Alabama man was the first American to die while fighting in Afghanistan. As President Biden withdraws U.S. troops from the area, the family is reflecting on his death nearly 20 years later.

Remembering A Murdered Birmingham Priest For His Faith And Courage

This week marks 100 years since Father James Coyle was murdered in broad daylight in downtown Birmingham hours after he secretly married an interracial couple. He's remembered for his faith and courage during a time of religious intolerance, racism and xenophobia.

Alabama Bans Critical Race Theory In Schools

The state board of education has now officially banned critical race theory in Alabama schools. It was never taught in the classroom, but it could impact teachers and students.

Alabama’s COVID Hospitalizations On Track To Surpass Winter Surge

State hospitals may soon be caring for more coronavirus patients than ever before. Many are already diverting resources to keep up with the surge.

HUD Secretary Touts ‘Millions And Millions Of Dollars’ Coming To Birmingham For Infrastructure

One day after the Senate passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge visited Birmingham Wednesday.

Birmingham Public Library Honors Civil Rights Leader Shelly Millender Jr.

The Board of Trustees at the Birmingham Public Library honored Shelly Millender Jr. who helped integrate the city’s libraries in 1963.

Parents Urge Vestavia Hills School District To Require Masks

The Vestavia Hills school board's decision to not require masks goes against guidance from public health agencies, including state health officials.

Impasse Between City Council, Mayor’s Office On Scheduling Delays Spending Of City Relief Funds

The city of Birmingham hasn't made any more headway on spending the $74 million it received from the American Rescue Plan. The problem? Scheduling, according to Council President William Parker. That's because the city council, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the finance director need to meet again to discuss logistics.

JeffCo Commissioner Cautions About Travel Expenses

The commissioner's eye was drawn to a trip someone from the county compliance office will next month to the Compliance & Ethics Institute Conference in Las Vegas. That trip will cost $3,354.55.

With A Crowded Field For Mayor, Birmingham Voters Weigh In On City’s Future

Birmingham voters have until next week to send in absentee ballots, and Election Day is fast approaching on Aug. 24. On the ballot, they’ll find a long list of choices for mayor.

Alabama Health Officials Say COVID-19 Vaccine Safe For Pregnant Women

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or wanting to get pregnant, says health experts.

Echoes Of The Past As Overwhelmingly-White Mountain Brook Debates Diversity

This summer, passionate voices clashed over a teacher anti-bias training program in Mountain Brook City Schools. But the debate rests on uncomfortable history in this white pocket of racially diverse Jefferson County.

Birmingham Hospital Leaders: COVID Surge ‘Heartbreaking … And Largely Preventable’

Statewide hospitalizations for COVID-19 topped 1,700 Wednesday, fueled by the highly-contagious delta variant.

Schools Opening Short On Teachers Because Of An Increase In Retirements

Last school year, more than 3,500 school employees retired in Alabama. That's the highest number since 2010. Some credit the pandemic for the rise in retirement, while others say a growing unappreciation for school employees had caused these workers to leave the industry.

5 Things To Know About Alabama’s Back-To-School COVID Toolkit

The state's updated guidance for back-to-school has several school districts in the region changing their COVID-19 protocols.

Delta Strikes Birmingham Public Works, But Mayor Says The City Will Get To Your Trash

Your trash will be picked up, said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin at a press conference Tuesday.

Hispanic Interest Coalition Of Alabama Founder Looks Back At Two Decades Of Leadership

Isabel Rubio founded HICA more than 20 years ago in an effort to assist Latinos who migrate to the state. She'll step down as CEO at the end of the year.

Amazon Warehouse Workers In Alabama May Get To Vote Again On Union

A federal labor official found that Amazon's anti-union tactics may have tainted last spring's voting process sufficiently to scrap its results. Workers had rejected unionization more than 2-to-1.

Birmingham Expands Hours At Vaccination Clinic, Offers New Incentive Amid COVID Surge

Anyone who visits Legion Field for a COVID-19 vaccine will receive a concert ticket to the Jazz Festival or the Battle of the Bands.

Birmingham Teachers Welcome Students Back To School Amid COVID Surge

School starts Monday in the Birmingham City Schools. Classes are in person but with COVID protocols in place.

Amid Delta Variant Surge, Some Call For Vaccine And Mask Mandates

While states have tried coaxing reluctant residents into getting the shot with incentives like lotteries, some businesses and health experts in the region say it’s time to start creating disincentives for avoiding the shot.

UAB Doc Predicts New Cases Of COVID Could Rocket To 13,000 A Day By The End Of August

New modeling shows that Alabama could reach a peak of 13,000 new cases per day by the end of August.

You’re Right, It Has Been Raining More Than Usual This Summer In Birmingham

Rainfall was higher than normal this summer across much of Central Alabama.

Gulf State Schools Had Mask Mandates Last Fall. That Isn’t The Case This Year.

The coronavirus pandemic’s fourth wave has not changed state-wide back-to-school plans in the Gulf South, where cases are rising and mask use is voluntary.

ACLU Of Alabama’s Director Looks To The ‘Next Iteration Of The Civil Rights Movement’

JaTaune Bosby, the first Black woman to lead the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, took the job during a tumultuous time in the country with the pandemic and last year’s summer of racial reckoning.

Jefferson County Commissioners Look For Ways To Stop Illegal Dumping

The amount of illegal dumping of trash in Jefferson County is "concerning," says county commissioners. They say more needs to be done to address the problem, which could include more stringent penalties.