News
Supreme Court Justice Questions Landmark Ruling from Alabama
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently called for review of a landmark First Amendment case that originated in Alabama. It was New York Times Company v. Sullivan, and it raised the bar for public officials claiming libel.
Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. But Data Shows it’s Still a Huge Problem.
Despite legal protections, most workers who face discrimination are on their own. Thousands of people report workplace discrimination to the government each year. Employers are rarely held accountable.
Dozens Being Treated After Water Treatment Chemical Spill
A chemical spill at a Birmingham water treatment plant sent dozens of workers to area hospitals with respiratory problems. Officials say the water supply hasn't been affected.
Memorial Planned to Honor Jeffco Lynching Victims
Organizers of the Jefferson County Memorial Project will release findings today on 30 lynching victims in the county. That’s a small fraction of the thousands of African American lynchings that took place in the South. Now, the grassroots coalition wants to bring a lynching memorial to Birmingham as a remembrance.
Council Delays Vote on MLB Youth Academy
The Birmingham City Council delayed a scheduled vote Tuesday on an agreement for a Major League Baseball-supported youth academy in the city. The program was planned for George Ward Park, but the council passed a separate resolution asking the park board to consider other locations instead.
Report Highlights Alabama’s Poor Roads as Officials Consider the ‘T Word’
The state’s roads are in bad shape. Those potholes and accidents costs the average driver in the Birmingham area about $1,800 a year, according to a new report from a Washington-D-C-based transportation group. State lawmakers are expected to discuss a proposed tax increase to fund road and bridge construction.
Reaching Everyone in the 2020 Census Might be Harder in Alabama
We’re not far into 2019, but those at the U.S. Census Bureau have long been focused on 2020. That’s when the next national census will take place. Many in Alabama say this census is especially critical for the state.
Judge Delays Decision on Whether Ed May Remains Fairfield’s Mayor, Orders May to Include Council in His Lawsuit
The question of who is Fairfield’s rightful mayor won’t be answered definitively any time soon, as Circuit Court Judge Pat Ballard ordered Ed May II, who was elected mayor, to add members of the City Council to his suit against the Jefferson County Personnel Board.
Behind Teacher Shortage: Fewer New Educators Graduating From Alabama Schools
The number of new teachers coming out of education colleges and programs in Alabama fell by about 40 percent comparing 2010-2011 and 2015-2016, according to the latest available federal data. The decrease could be worse nearly three years later.
Third Rejected Birmingham Charter School Plans to Appeal
The Birmingham School Board informed the state today that it denied an application for a Woodlawn-area charter school and explained why it was rejected.
Plant Gorgas Latest Coal Giant to Fall as Power Companies Turn Toward Natural Gas, Renewables
By Hank Black The Alabama Power Co. announcement that it will retire its three coal-fired units at the William Crawford Gorgas Electric Generating Plant on April 15 is just the latest blow to coal power as economic realities pile up on the industry. In the past four years, Alabama Power has reduced its coal-fired units […]
Despite Restoration Efforts, Alabama Oysters Reach Historic Low
With Alabama oysters at a historic low, scientists involved in restoration efforts are finding that what has worked before is no longer working. Now, state biologists are trying something new.
Family of Emantic Bradford Jr. Renews Calls for Transparency
The family of a man killed by police in a Thanksgiving mall shooting wants authorities to release all video footage and the name of the officer involved.
Alabama Can Expect Days of Rain, Potential Flooding
Rain is forecast for Alabama this week. A lot of rain. On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch through Friday morning for roughly north of Interstate 59/20. That area could see up to 6 inches of rain this week.
PowerSouth CEO Blames ‘Extremist Environmental Ideology’ for Shuttering a Coal-Fired Plant in South Alabama
One of Alabama’s oldest coal-fired power plants will close next year. PowerSouth Energy Cooperative’s chief executive blamed the closure on “extremist environmental ideologies” and “environmental activists” in announcing that the Charles R. Lowman electrical generation plant on the Tombigbee River would be shuttered.
A Friendly Homecoming for Activist Angela Davis
Civil rights activist and Birmingham native Angela Davis spoke at Birmingham's Boutwell Auditorium Saturday evening. The talk came after a controversy over an award from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
African-American Men and Law Enforcement Discuss Lowering Crime and Saving Young Men
Danny Carr didn’t stammer as he provided closing thoughts to a gathering Thursday night in downtown Birmingham. The Jefferson County district attorney was making a point to reduce the deaths of young African-American men and boys.
Fairfield Council Gives Mayor the Boot, but Ed May II Isn’t Backing Down
The long-running feud between Fairfield Mayor Ed May II and the City Council has reached a boiling point, as the council voted to remove May from office because he was continually absent from council meetings.
Auburn Yearbook Photo Shows Ivey’s Sorority Sisters in Minstrel Show; Governor Is Not in the Picture
The Auburn Plainsman reported Monday that a photo in the 1967 yearbook shows members of Gov. Kay Ivey’s sorority putting on a minstrel show that appears to have been taken during Rush that year.
Birmingham Airport Unveils Sensory Room
The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport unveiled its new sensory room today. It’s for travelers who are easily overstimulated.
Gov. Ivey Says Infrastructure is Top Priority
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says infrastructure is her administration’s top priority. Ivey made the comments in a speech Friday at the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama’s annual meeting in Birmingham.
Birmingham Addresses the Jobs Gap
Birmingham has a workforce problem. Recent reports project thousands of future jobs, especially in information technology, but many potential candidates don’t have the skills to do to do the work.
Birmingham Police Arrest Man Suspected of Killing Police Sergeant
The man suspected of killing Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter last month was arrested Thursday as he was released from rehab.
Proposed Change to the Clean Water Act Open for Public Comment
The public has 60 days to comment on an EPA proposal that would limit which waterways are protected under the Clean Water Act. In Alabama, environmental groups say the change would have a significant impact.
Birmingham Council Supports Renaming CrossPlex for Langford, Question Parker’s Bid to Bring Oakland Raiders to Legion Field
Mayor Randall Woodfin and members of the Birmingham City Council announced Tuesday that they would support changing the name of the Birmingham CrossPlex to honor former Mayor Larry Langford, who died last month.
Drummond to Pay $775,000 Penalty to EPA, Jefferson County Health Department
Drummond Company has agreed to pay a $775,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement contained in a consent decree relating to alleged violations of environmental laws at its ABC Coke Plant in Tarrant.
Merrill to Testify Before Congressional Committee
Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill plans to testify Wednesday before a congressional committee looking into election security. Merrill is one of a handful of state and local election officials giving feedback on a bill meant to improve the nation’s voting laws. He has issues with some of the provisions in the proposed legislation.
Governor Announces Plan to Build Three Prisons for Men
Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday a plan to replace existing prison facilities with three regional men's prisons to address "violence, poor living conditions and mental illness" in Alabama's corrections system.
U.S. Steel Revives Furnace Project in Fairfield
U.S. Steel Corporation will restart work on its electric arc furnace in Fairfield. The $215 million initiative will replace the former blast furnace at Fairfield Works.
Alabama Prison Officials “Deliberately Indifferent” to Mental Health Needs
A federal judge ruled the Alabama prison system has failed to monitor the mental health of prisoners isolated in segregation cells, a failure to which the Alabama Department of Corrections is “deliberately indifferent,” the order says.
What the DOJ Review Could Mean for Bradford Shooting Investigation
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the case of the Hoover police officer who shot and killed 21-year-old Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr. on Thanksgiving. To help us unpack this, we turned to former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Joyce White Vance.
Alabama’s Teacher Shortages Reach ‘Crisis’ Level
Alabama’s teacher shortages are reaching crisis level, education leaders say.
