News

UAB Breaks Ground on Proton Therapy Center

Construction began Tuesday on a new high-tech cancer treatment facility on the campus of UAB. Proton International at UAB, the product of a partnership between the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Proton International, will be a three-story facility at the intersection of 20th Street South and 4th Avenue South focusing on proton therapy. Proton […]

Birmingham Recycling Center Temporarily Stops Taking Glass

The Alabama Environmental Council has temporarily stopped taking glass at its recycling center in Birmingham's Avondale neighborhood.

President’s State of the Union Address Live Stream

President Trump is delivering his State of the Union address to Congress, which will be followed by a response from the Democratic Party. Journalists across the NPR newsroom will be annotating those remarks, adding fact-checks and analysis in real time. You can watch the speeches or follow the annotations below. The live stream begins at […]

“Astonishing” Find Could Be New Pre-Human Species

Last month, scientists in South Africa revealed “Little Foot,” a three-million-year-old pre-human skeleton that could tell us a lot about ourselves. After an unlikely discovery story, a Birmingham-Southern College scientist is helping to analyze this potential new species.

Traffic on I-20/59 Got You Down? Here’s an Update

If you drive through downtown Birmingham, you’ve probably seen the huge beams and cranes towering over the interstate or perched off the side of the roadway. Crews have been working now for more than two years on bridge replacement and lane realignment on Interstate 20/59 in Downtown Birmingham.

White Girl In Yoga Pants Author Talks Trauma, Healing

If you're getting into yoga, you might come across Melissa Scott. She teaches yoga in Birmingham and online, and for her, it's more than a hobby. She's published a book called "White Girl in Yoga Pants: Stories of Yoga, Feminism, and Inner Strength." She tells WBHM's Dan Carsen that yoga has helped her overcome painful struggles, including an eating disorder and a sexual assault.

Why Birmingham-Southern is Slashing Tuition

Car shoppers aren’t the only ones who experience sticker shock. It happens with colleges, too. Birmingham-Southern College has announced that beginning next fall, it’ll slash its $35,000 a year tuition in half. It’s one of several schools around the country cutting tuition in hopes of attracting more students. But there’s more to it than the […]

BJCC Stadium Far From a Done Deal

Proponents of a stadium at the BJCC in downtown Birmingham got a boost earlier this month when the Jefferson County Commission agreed to set aside 30 million dollars toward the facility. While it may be a significant step, a stadium is far from a done deal.

Why Metro Birmingham Homicides Are Up

Metro Birmingham had a streak last fall – eight killings in six days. The rash of homicides stretched from Hueytown to Homewood to Tarrant. The area’s murder rate rose in 2017 for the third consecutive year. Government and law enforcement officials in Birmingham and Jefferson County say there are challenges to what some have dubbed a crisis.

Ditch the Marriage Licenses? Senate Says ‘I Do’

The Alabama Senate this week took on bills aimed at curbing racial profiling and doing away with marriage licenses.

WBHM Politics: A Downtown Birmingham Stadium

The Jefferson County Commission has approved setting aside money toward a downtown stadium in Birmingham. That's given new momentum for a project that's been talked about for decades.

Closings and Delays for Thursday, January 18

School closing and delay information for January 18, 2018

Closings and Delays for Wednesday, January 17

Dangerous road conditions have prompted many area schools to close Wednesday.

Alabama Lawmaker George Bandy Dies at 72

State Rep. George Bandy, D-Opelika, died Tuesday morning. He was 72.

Weather Briefing: Bitter Cold and Ice Means Dangerous Roads

Bitter cold and ice will make Alabama roads dangerous on Tuesday. State emergency agencies are urging drivers to stay off the roads.

Closings and Delays for Tuesday January 16

Light to moderate snowfall is expected across most of the state Tuesday, and schools and government offices are closing or dismissing early.

Recap: First Week of the 2018 Legislative Session

Alabama state lawmakers went back into session this week. Don Dailey tells WBHM's Gigi Douban the latest about state budgets, pay raises, Medicaid and tax cuts.

Infectious Strain of Flu Hits Area Hard

This year the flu is peaking early and intensely. It’s one of the most active seasons in decades, and a nasty strain is going around. Area hospitals are at capacity and pharmacies are scrambling to stock medicine. But there are things you can do.

Ivey Touts Success, Announces Plans for Pay Raises

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey used her first State of the State address to tout her successes since replacing Gov. Robert Bentley when he was forced out of office nine months ago.

Black Women Boosted Doug Jones to Victory. Now What?

To black women in Alabama who propelled U.S. Sen. Doug Jones to victory in the Dec. 12 special election, it was a way to make a powerful statement about the need for greater focus on their priorities.

Winter Weather School Delays on Monday January 8

Some schools will be delayed this morning due to the potential for winter weather. Those include schools in Anniston, Boaz, Etowah County, Oxford, and others opening three hours late. Gadsden State Community College opens at 10:30. A winter weather advisory is in effect for East Alabama, where a few places could see temperatures of 32 […]

Trump Plan Would Open Most US Waters to Drilling, Including Gulf

The Trump administration announced Thursday it’s planning to allow new offshore oil and gas drilling in more than 90 percent of U.S. waters, including the Gulf of Mexico. The administration would also offer a record number of leases to energy firms. Of those 47, 12 would be in the Gulf if the plan is approved.

Roy Moore Accuser Files Defamation Suit

An Alabama woman who claims failed Senate candidate Roy Moore molested her is suing him for defamation. In November, Leigh Corfman told the Washington Post that Moore touched her sexually when she was 14. Moore has denied it, but Corfman says he’s gone far beyond denials and into attacks.

Alabama Has Second-Highest Infant Mortality Rate in U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a major report on infant mortality today. Alabama did not fare well. After Mississippi, it had the highest rate of infant death in the nation.

Unique Alabama Salamander Now Federally Protected

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it would protect a rare Alabama salamander under the Endangered Species Act. The Black Warrior waterdog, sometimes called the Alabama mudpuppy, is large, strange, and found only in the state.

City Offers Emergency Shelter For Hundreds Escaping Cold

Brutal cold prompted the City of Birmingham to open an emergency warming shelter over the weekend. City officials say they’ll keep it open through Friday, but they need more volunteers and supplies. Hundreds of Birmingham’s homeless found food and warm refuge inside the South Exhibition Hall at the BJCC. They spent the night in the […]

Robert Siegel: Looking Back at a 41-Year Career

Friday is the last day for Robert Siegel at NPR. The longtime host of All Things Considered will retire after more than 41 years with the network.

Doug Jones Certified as Winner of U.S. Senate Election

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill on Thursday certified the election results from the Dec. 12 special U.S. Senate election, naming Democrat Doug Jones the winner over Republican Roy Moore. Jones defeated Moore by more than 21,000 votes, or 1.6 percentage points. Moore had refused to concede. On Wednesday, he sued to block the certification […]

Moore Seeks to Block Certification of Election Results

Republican Senate Candidate Roy Moore has filed a lawsuit to block certification of the election in which he narrowly lost earlier this month. Moore says the results shouldn’t be finalized. Instead, potential voting irregularities should be investigated and a new election called. Moore lost the election by about 20,000 votes and says voting anomalies around […]

How the Shipt-Target Deal Could Affect Birmingham

Target wants in on the same-day delivery business. And last week it announced it’s spending $550 million to buy the Birmingham-based startup, Shipt. The deal could have ripple effects for Birmingham.

WBHM Politics: A Look Back at 2017

Alabama politics was on overload this year with a new governor, new senator and new mayor for Birmingham.