News
More Extreme Weather In Gulf States Means More Power Outages. Are Energy Companies Ready For It?
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be as active as last year’s, when thousands in the Gulf South were without power for weeks after hurricanes Laura, Zeta, Cristobal and Delta. With that increased activity comes a bigger threat to the region’s power grid. How prepared are Gulf States’ energy companies for the threat to come?
Alabama Sees ‘Unprecedented’ Surge In COVID-19 Hospitalizations
Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the increase is linked to the more contagious Delta variant, coupled with Alabama’s low vaccination rate.
Alabama’s COVID-19 Vaccination Rate Is The Lowest In The U.S. And Infections Are Up
Public health officials are sounding the alarm in Alabama, the state with the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate in the country. New infections are spiking, yet fewer people are seeking shots.
Come Back With More Detail And We’ll Talk: Council Delays Plan For Rescue Money
Birmingham’s efforts to distribute millions of dollars of federal American Rescue Plan funding hit a snag Tuesday after councilors took issue with the vagueness of Mayor Randall Woodfin’s proposed allocations.
Birmingham Schools Will Require Masks After Shift In CDC Recommendations
Birmingham City Schools will once again require all students, faculty, staff and visitors to wear a face mask while in school facilities.
From JuVaughn Harrison To Raven Saunders: Your Olympics Guide For Gulf South Pride
Among the thousands of Olympians from around the world competing in Tokyo this year are dozens of talented athletes from Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.
As The Clock Runs Out On $300 Unemployment Benefits, A New Orleans Waitress Is Left In Limbo
The tips Dora Whitfield earned at Harrah’s Casino covered her bills. But like a lot of workers, returning to work isn’t as simple as following the help wanted signs.
Birmingham Residents Clear Their Traffic Records Quickly With Rocket Docket
The event also helps the court system clear a backlog of cases due to the pandemic.
Birmingham Police Revise Policies To Disallow No-Knock Warrants
Birmingham police will no longer use no-knock warrants such as the one that led to the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville last year.
Offering A Carrot Won’t Get People Vaccinated, Maybe It’s Time To Talk About The Stick, Health Official Tells Birmingham Council
One health professional says incentivizing vaccines is not working and that it may be time for businesses to start requiring it.
Developer Partners with Tuskegee Students, Minority-Owned Contractors To Revitalize Old American Red Cross Building
The building has been vacant for 21 years and is poised to offer a more affordable option for living in downtown Birmingham.
Alabama’s COVID New-Case Average Quintuples In 10 Days, As Health Officials Struggle To Get More People Vaccinated
Health officials in the region are sounding the alarm as COVID-19 cases continue to increase. Across the Gulf States, hospitalizations have reached levels not seen since the Spring.
At Summer Reading Camps, Birmingham Students And Teachers Prepare For Alabama’s New Literacy Law
Alabama joins 16 other states and Washington D.C. where third graders must pass a reading test -- or risk being held back. That’s why this summer, teachers at Birmingham City Schools began coaching their students on their reading skills to get a head start on the new retention policy.
No Place Like Home As Woodlawn High Breaks Ground For New, On-Campus Football Stadium
The new stadium is expected to be ready for the 2022 football season. It'll accommodate 2,800 spectators, and it will include an artificial turf athletic field, renovated field house and a stadium lighting and sound system.
“It’s Playing A Game With Us”: Researcher Says COVID Delta Variant Is Spreading In Alabama
New data shows the delta variant made up almost 71% of cases tested at one local lab in recent weeks.
Debate Over Diversity Training Consumes Mountain Brook School Community
The controversy over diversity training is complicated by the city's demographics. The suburb is overwhelmingly white and one of the richest in Jefferson County
Birmingham Recycling Kicked Up To Twice A Month, City Buys Refuse Equipment
Residents in the city of Birmingham will soon start having their recycling picked up twice a month. The city’s recycling program was temporarily halted by COVID-19 last April.
Birmingham Elections Ballot Set
After the qualifying deadline elapsed Friday, eight people were on the ballot to compete in the mayor’s race, trying to capture the seat now held by Mayor Randall Woodfin.
Its Future In Limbo, Limiting Telehealth In The Gulf South Could Be Troublesome For Rural Areas
Telehealth became a necessity for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic. But with state health emergencies expiring, laws that have made it more available could go away, leaving the region’s more rural areas hurting the most due to access barriers and disparities.
Counties At Very High Risk Of COVID Spread Quadruples In 2 Weeks
Roughly 26 of Alabama's counties are at a 'very high risk' for COVID-19, according to data from the state health department.
Business Exec, A Self-Proclaimed “Full-Throttle Conservative,” Enters Senate Race
A fourth candidate has joined the race for Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby's seat.
Birmingham Museum Of Art To Return Artwork To Native American Tribes
The Birmingham Museum of Art will return objects from its collection to the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The move falls under a 1990 law providing a pathway for federally recognized tribes to request certain cultural items.
With COVID Cases On The Rise, Health Officials Say They’re Seeing Last Year’s Pattern Repeat Itself
Health officials say Alabama may be headed toward an explosion in the number of COVID-19 cases thanks to the coronavirus delta and delta plus variant.
4 Things To Know About Birmingham’s Homicides So Far This Year
The city of Birmingham has recorded 64 homicides so far in 2021, according to data from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. But what do we really know about the city's homicide victims? WBHM took a deeper dive into the data. Here's what we learned.
Birmingham Council Looking At Candidates To Fill Seats On Several Boards
Seats on several Birmingham boards and authorities will be up for grabs next month, including city council-appointed positions on the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority and the Birmingham Land Bank Authority.
What To Know About The Delta Plus COVID Variant: How Serious Is It? Will Vaccines Work?
Alabama has recorded multiple cases of the delta variant. Meanwhile, this week Louisiana identified its first case of the delta plus variant, a mutation of the delta variant.
Alabama And Louisiana Are Enacting Or Extending Medical Marijuana Programs. What About Mississippi?
States across the South are making way for more patients to legally use medical marijuana. Alabama recently passed a law legalizing it, and Louisiana is expanding its medical marijuana program. This week, Mississippi was slated to join the pack, but the Supreme Court overturned the voters’ decision.
Economic Opportunity, Community Policing Among Solutions To Birmingham’s Gun Violence
Birmingham has been riddled with crime for decades, and people are concerned about the increasing number of homicides. So far in 2021, there have been at least 60 homicides in the city of Birmingham, according to data from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.
UAB And JeffCo Officials Plan Hospital-Based Intervention Program For Gunshot Survivors
Trauma doctors in Birmingham are treating a record number of patients with gunshot wounds. Health officials hope a violence intervention program could help reverse the trend.
Birmingham Residents Offer Solutions To Gun Violence But Some Victims Feel Hopeless
Birmingham residents are concerned about the city's gun violence. Local activists say reducing shootings has to be a community effort, with local government support. But some victims say there’s not much authorities can do.
How Birmingham’s Police Chief Plans To Slow The City’s Homicide Rate
Birmingham finished 2020 with a 25-year high in homicides. This year shows no sign of that slowing. WBHM talked with the city's police chief about how he plans to respond.
As Other States Drew Fire For Passing Restrictive Election Laws, Alabama Skirted The Limelight
National attention fell on Georgia for changes to its election laws earlier this year, but Alabama made changes too.
