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A Prison Drama Written and Performed by Prisoners
Prisons have been used as a setting for popular entertainment. The Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” is just one example. But a new radio drama is taking that a step further. “Corrections” is a health-themed drama produced by UAB that’s written by and performed by inmates at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in western Jefferson County. The first episode airs Saturday morning on WJLD AM 1400.
Protecting Yourself from a Cyber Attack
A cyber attack known as a distributed denial of service or DDoS took out several website-based companies last Friday. Users of Twitter, Netflix and the Birmingham News’ AL.com were denied access to these sites for several hours. Nick Patterson, from the weekly newspaper Weld, looks at how this attack affects you and what you can do to prevent being a victim of this in the future.
Attorney General Statement Casts Doubt on Governor’s Version of Events
The split between Governor Robert Bentley and the former head of the state's law enforcement office has taken an interesting turn and one that doesn't exactly put the governor in the best light. Earlier this year, former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency director Spencer Collier, one day after being fired, accused the governor of an affair with his top aide. Bentley denied the accusation and instead turned attention to an internal ALEA report that showed financial mismanagement. But as information about the report dripped out, it appeared far less than purported to be. Last week, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange weighed in. We hear about that from Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald
Attorney: Suspension is Not Removal; Roy Moore Still Chief Justice
Attorneys for Roy Moore say he’s technically still Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, despite being suspended for the remainder of his term without pay. Mat Staver is with Liberty Counsel, the group representing Moore. He says Acting Chief Justice Lyn Stuart acted unilaterally when she removed Moore’s name from the court’s letterhead and […]
Arc Stories: October 2016 Edition
Three stories about the lasting impact other people can have upon our lives. An educator is trying his best to create some teachable moments for his students, and it’s through one encounter with a relative of Martin Luther King, Jr., that they finally have a breakthrough. A man who gets arrested and learns a lot about both […]
Alabama Leaders Hope to Land New Air Force Fighters
Earlier this year the Air Force declared its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning 2 program combat ready. It’s been 23 years in the making and has suffered though shortcomings and budget issues. But with the fighters ready to take the sky, political leaders in Alabama are hoping to bring the program to this state and the economic benefits that come along with it. That’s in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
AL Climatologists: Current Drought Once in a Lifetime Phenomenon
State climatologists say the ongoing drought in some areas of Alabama is a phenomenon seen roughly once in a lifetime. The U.S. Drought Monitor rates stricken areas on a scale of D1 to D4, four being areas of exceptional drought. Northeast and north-central Alabama including Jefferson County are at a D3 or above. “For the […]
Asylum Seeking Detainees in AL Claiming Civil Rights Violations
A new report comprised by several immigration advocacy groups finds that Habeus Corpus is routinely denied for detainees being held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement complex in Gadsden. The ICE facility at the Etowah County Detention Center houses hundreds of detainees seeking asylum in the U.S. and Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper […]
Your Guide to the 2016 Proposed Constitutional Amendments
When Alabama voters head to the polls November 8, they won’t just choose candidates in the presidential and congressional races. They’ll also have the chance to vote “yes” or “no” on 14 proposed statewide constitutional amendments. Some are technical or just affect a local area. Others have a much wider impact.
Supporters Say Constitutional Amendment Must Pass to Preserve Hundreds of Local Laws
When voters go to the polls next month, they’ll be voting on a proposed constitutional amendment that some say has to pass or cities and towns could be thrown into legal chaos. Supporters of Amendment 14 say without its approval, hundreds of local laws across Alabama could be wiped out by legal challenges. The list includes laws related to schools to local taxes to law enforcement.
Several Alabama Counties Under Drought Emergency
The Alabama Drought Declaration issued Tuesday comes after conditions across the stare continue to degrade due to little rainfall and above normal temperatures.
Birmingham’s Airport Struggles to add Airlines
When a New Orleans-based airline announced it was starting non-stop flights from that city to Alabama earlier this year, they announced those flights would come to Huntsville. It was a blow to Birmingham which had been under consideration. But it also speaks to the position Birmingham is in when it comes to attracting new airlines or flights. We talk about it in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Three New Programs to Debut on WBHM!
As a valued WBHM listener, we want you to know about some upcoming changes to our program schedule. Beginning Saturday October 1, 2016, for the first time, listeners in Birmingham and North Central Alabama will regularly hear Mountain Stage, Snap Judgment, and Reveal (see program descriptions below). WBHM will also rebroadcast other programs, expand two […]
Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Nick Patterson from the weekly newspaper Weld reports on an effort to stop the cycle of abuse and domestic violence in Birmingham and north-central Alabama.
Document Dump Adds to Bentley Impeachment Investigation
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is battling it out with legislators as they look to possible impeachment of the governor. The impeachment effort was sparked by allegations Bentley had an affair with his top political advisor, Rebekah Mason. Bentley denies this. Nevertheless the House Judiciary Committee has hired a special council to investigate. The committee’s issued subpoenas for documents. Bentley’s lawyer says the panel doesn’t have that power. But still the governor’s office has released thousands of document and we talk about what they reveal with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
What Can Finland Teach Alabama About Education?
Several decades ago, Finland’s education system was considered mediocre. But starting around 2001, it came to be regarded as a powerhouse, usually at or near the top of the world’s nations on internationally normed tests. How? And can those strategies work in Alabama?
UAB, Private Groups Part of the Fight Against Breast Cancer
You may see more pink ribbons and other pink items in the next few weeks as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of many operations working to fight breast cancer. We talk about that effort and how it overlaps with the business community in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
NPR Live Fact-Check: Clinton and Trump Debate in St. Louis
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton are scheduled to face off in the second presidential debate Sunday night at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Education Activists Seek to Rescind Hire of Ala. Superintendent
About three dozen people organized by education advocate Larry Lee have signed on to be plaintiffs in pending legal action intended to rescind the hiring of Alabama Superintendent Michael Sentance.
AL Medical Boards Could Face Scrutiny from Federal Trade Commission
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision set a new precedent regarding federal antitrust laws and state medical agencies. The ruling means regulatory groups made up of members with private sector interests are subject to federal antitrust laws. Agencies like the Medical Association of Alabama - which is headed by several private medical practitioners - could potentially be affected.
Broken Gas Pipe Removed, Investigation Underway
An investigation is underway into what caused a gas pipeline to start leaking near Helena. Officials with Colonial Pipeline say the broken pipe was removed over the weekend and sent to an outside firm for investigation. Crews constructed a 500 foot bypass to circumvent the broken pipe before it was removed. Colonial says they identified […]
Little Publicized Law Disqualifies more than 100 Candidates
Voters in a number of Alabama cities went to the polls Tuesday for municipal runoff elections. As residents looked at their ballots this cycle, there were fewer names than might have been there otherwise thanks to a new law. In fact, it disqualified at least 118 candidates statewide. Particularly noteworthy is what happened in the Jefferson County town of Adamsville. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about that and reacts to the suspension of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore on ethics charges.
Live Fact-Check: The 2016 Vice Presidential Debate
Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence square off in the vice-presidential debate Tuesday night. NPR's politics team, with help from reporters and editors who cover national security, immigration, business, foreign policy and more, is live annotating the debate. Portions of the debate with added analysis are highlighted, followed by context and fact check from NPR reporters and editors.
Attorney: Moore Decision Disregards “Rule of Law”
Lawyers for former Chief Justice Roy Moore are appealing his removal from office saying the move was a disregard for the “rule of law.” Attorneys with the Liberty Counsel, a conservative non-profit law firm out of Florida that represents Moore, filed the appeal yesterday. It once again comes down to semantics. Among other arguments, Moore’s […]
Downtown Birmingham’s Middle Income Housing Gap
Birmingham’s downtown has seen many new apartment projects go up with more on the way. Developers have been pretty clear they’re after the high-end apartment market. But not everyone who wants to live in the city center can afford those high rents. It’s creating something of a housing gap and we talk about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Roy Moore Calling His Second Ouster “Politically Motivated”
Moore is calling his punishment the result of a "politically motivated effort by radical homosexual and transgender groups," who targeted him because of what he calls his "outspoken opposition to their immoral agenda."
Arc Stories: September 2016 Edition
Three stories where our storytellers find themselves in situations completely over their heads. A woman has the opportunity to fulfill a dream she’s been pursuing most of her life; one woman’s discovery of whether or not you really can come home again; and another where a man struggles to create a connection across barriers of […]
Urban Dwellers Making a Push to Save Disappearing Honeybee
A quote about the honeybee made famous by an anonymous thinker states, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left.” As ominous as that sounds it’s not far from true. Bees play an extremely important role in the production of crops and the […]
Fate of Chief Justice Roy Moore Hangs in the Balance
Several children were among the overall peaceful protestors that gathered at the state Supreme Court Wednesday for the trial of yet another high-ranking Alabama official, Roy Moore.
Awaiting a Ruling in the Roy Moore Case
All eyes are on the Alabama Court of the Judiciary awaiting a decision regarding Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. Moore went to trial Wednesday on judicial ethics charges. At issue is a January order from Moore in which he tells probate judges Alabama's same-sex marriage ban is still in effect. That's despite a U.S Supreme Court ruling last year clearing the way for gay marriage nationwide. Moore could be removed from office for the second time in 13 years over the case. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald watched the proceedings and offers his perspective.
Roy Moore Trial Ends; Fate of State Chief Justice Unknown
Suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was on trial himself today in Montgomery. He’s accused of ordering probate judges not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
Roy Moore Faces Removal from Bench for Second Time in 13 Years
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore is facing removal from the bench for the second time in 13 years. Moore goes to trial Wednesday on judicial ethics charges for allegedly ignoring a U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage.
