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House Approves Largest Education Budget in Years
The Alabama House passed a $6.4 billion education budget this week, the biggest the state has considered in nearly a decade. Alabama Public Television’s Don Dailey gave WBHM’s Gigi Douban some of the highlights of that spending proposal, including $12 million more dollars for the state’s K through 12 schools.
The Heritage Band: Keeping Birmingham’s Big Band Spirit Alive
The Heritage Band was founded in 1976 by late saxophonist J.L. Lowe. The group is keeping the big band spirit alive in Birmingham, long after the days of the Duke Ellington-style big bands have disappeared.
Alabama’s Exotic Pet Laws Could Soon Change
Nick Patterson, editor of Weld, discusses how Alabama lawmakers are considering changing the state’s regulations on exotic pet ownership.
Judge has Questions for Special Grand Jury Meeting in Birmingham
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses a special grand jury that's been meeting in Birmingham.
Birmingham Hires New School Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools have a new leader. The school board voted last night to hire Lisa Herring of Louisville, Kentucky, following days of controversy after no candidates from Birmingham or Alabama were named finalists for the job.
How History Can Heal
Vanderbilt University graduate student Stephanie Fulbright studied Birmingham and Northern Ireland to see how historic markers and other public objects can be used for reconciliation.
Regions Bank Takes Steps To Be Autism-Friendly
Regions Bank recently announced efforts to make its 1,500 branches autism-friendly. It's something many businesses across the country are doing. But there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach.
Ratings Agency Downgrades Birmingham’s Credit Rating
Ratings agency Fitch downgrades Birmingham's credit rating.
UAB Political Scientist Assesses The First 100 Days of President Trump
The first 100 days is the time when the new president could be possibly more successful than later in the term.
Historic Monuments Bill Passes, City Council Raises Blocked
This week in the Alabama legislature, the Senate voted to block a big pay raise for the next Birmingham City Council. And after hours of heated debate Thursday, lawmakers in the Alabama House passed the controversial historic monuments bill.
Income Inequality in Birmingham, Alabama
Officials say there are three main obstacles keeping people in Birmingham and Alabama from achieving prosperity: education, poverty and crime. These barriers also contribute to the growing wage gap. WBHM's Esther Ciammachilli talks about this with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.
Arc Stories: April 2017 Edition
Four stories recorded in Birmingham in which each person is put in risky situations by some of their closest family members.
Roy Moore Announces U.S. Senate Run
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses Roy Moore's announcement he's running for U.S. Senate and how the field of gubernatorial candidates is shaping up.
Questions Remain Following Gardendale Schools Ruling
The Gardendale Board of Education met Tuesday night, one day after a long-awaited order from a federal judge cleared the way for Gardendale to form its own school district apart from Jefferson County. But questions remain like whether the growing city in north Jefferson County can afford to pull out?
A Roman God’s Spa Day: Vulcan Gets A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Vulcan, the world's largest cast iron statue, gets a paint job -- bare bottom and all.
Stillman College Determined To Win Financial Struggle
At Stillman, the grass is neatly trimmed and flowers are in bloom. Sorority members cooked out on the campus lawn and there was a symposium in the math and science building. Underneath the manicured exterior, Stillman sits on a mountain of debt – about $ 43 million worth.
Savings Uncertain With Birmingham’s LED Street Lights
Birmingham is installing new LED street lights across the city. But while other cities across the country have seen dramatic savings after switching, there's no guarantee Birmingham will see similar savings.
More Venture Capital Flowing into Birmingham
The Birmingham Business Journal's Ty West discusses the increase in venture capital deals around Birmingham.
House Concerts: An Intimate Way to Enjoy Live Music
Imagine attending a concert in the comfort of your home surrounded by dozens of friends both old and new. That’s what it’s like hosting a house concert. This tradition has been around for decades and is a popular way to enjoy music in an intimate setting.
Bruised Fruit? Wilted Greens? Don’t Toss Just Yet
Saturday is Earth Day, and if you’re looking to turn over a new leaf, one place to start is in the kitchen. Each year, Americans toss out 133 billion pounds of food, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The number one wasted food category? Fresh produce.
House Approves Autism Therapy Coverage, Monitors Church Day Cares
Members of the state House of Representatives on Thursday passed these two bills many parents across Alabama were watching. Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal talks with WBHM’s Gigi Douban about them.
What’s Next in Heated Race to Fill Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Post
Esther Ciammachilli talks about what’s next in this saga with Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.
Uproar Over Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Search
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the search for a new Birmingham City Schools superintendent which has included two candidates dropping out, a lawsuit and a bomb threat.
Birmingham Superintendent Selection Continues After Lawsuit, Bomb Threat
Interim Supt. Larry Contri applied but was excluded because some believed he would retire in June. Contri agreed to a June 2017 retirement last year as part of a lawsuit settlement. But Still said no one asked the interim superintendent about his plans.
Bill Would Require Licensing for Religious Day Care Centers
Gigi Douban talked with Reveal reporter Amy Julia Harris, who investigated incidents of abuse and neglect at Alabama’s religious child care centers.
Advocates Push for Autism Therapy Coverage
The Alabama House of Representatives will vote April 20 on a bill that would require insurance companies cover autism therapy. Alabama is one of just five states that doesn’t offer health care coverage for autism.
Widening Rifts and Unfriending in Politically Tense Times
Thirteen percent of people, according to one survey say they blocked, unfriended, or stopped following someone on social media because of what they posted about politics. Haden Holmes Brown takes a look at tensions over politics three months into President Donald Trump's time in office.
What a New Governor Means for Alabama Business
Birmingham Business Journal editor Ty West discusses what new Governor Kay Ivey might mean for Alabama's business community.
UAB Program Unravels Mysteries Of The Human Body
Each year thousands of people suffer from diseases that defy diagnosis, sometimes for decades. They are medical refugees. These undiagnosed diseases, as they are called, mean a doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong with their patient. But UAB is trying to change that.
Gov. Ivey Briefs Reporters and Lawmakers Advance Autism Bill
The legislature this week tried to get on with business as usual following the resignation of Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday. As Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal tells WBHM’s Gigi Douban, legislative committees were busy this week. And so was Gov. Kay Ivey, who met with reporters on her third full […]
Birmingham Board of Ed Members Protest Superintendent Candidates
Members gathered in protest recently after the five finalists for the superintendent position were announced. Among their concerns are the process by which the finalists were chosen and the finalists themselves.
Bill Would Allow Birmingham Church to Have its Own Police Force
A bill in the Alabama legislature would let a church in suburban Birmingham do something that appears unprecedented. It would allow this church to have its own police force. Critics say the bill isn’t constitutional and vow a legal showdown.
