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Interview: Kim Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner
For the last several months, WBHM has joined al.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting as part of the Alabama Media Group's investigative journalism lab. Together, we're taking a look at Alabama's prison problems. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice accused Alabama of failing to protect prisoners at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women from sexual abuse and harassment from male officers. To hear more on the issues and challenges facing the Tutwiler prison, Les Lovoy spoke with Kim Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner.
Primary Election 2014 Results
Alabama voters made their selections in statewide, state legislative, congressional and local primaries Tuesday. Here are the results from key races with the winner declared by the Associated Press. If no candidate won a majority, the top two finishers advance to a runoff July 15th.
Kyle Whitmire: Alabama’s Primary Election
Alabama's primary election was held this week. We take a look at voter turnout rate, the results, and surprises of the primaries with Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News.
At The Polls in Lowndes Country With Alabama’s New Voter ID Law
As voters head to the polls for today's primary election, it's the first time people in Alabama will be required to show a photo ID to cast a ballot. Critics say the new law is a roadblock for the poor and minorities. It's a particularly hot issue in Alabama's Black Belt, where African-Americans during the civil rights era were met with violence when trying to vote. Supporters of the law say a photo ID will cut down on voter fraud. But as Ashley Cleek reports, the new law might not stop the type of fraud some say is rampant in the region.
Find Your Polling Place for June 3 and Learn About Alabama’s New Voter ID Requirement
Primary elections in Alabama are Tuesday, June 3. This is the first election where Alabama's new voter ID law will be in effect. Voters in all precincts in Alabama will be required to show a state issued photo ID or a student ID from an Alabama college or university. Here's all the information you need to be prepared for election day.
Interview: Reporter Alex Walsh on Alabama’s Prison Budget
Alabama's prison system is currently under investigation by the Justice Department. If some big changes aren't made, the federal government could take over the prison system. We've heard a lot about the conditions inside Alabama prisons, but today we explore a different side: the state prison budget. One in every four dollars in Alabama's general fund budget goes to prisons. And that's growing. Al.com data reporter Alex Walsh joined WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about corrections spending.
John Archibald: A Different Primary and Talk of a Dome
Voters go to the polls next Tuesday to vote in primary elections and residents will have an important decision -- whether to take a Republican or Democratic ballot. It's not an insignificant choice since in some races the winner of the primary is all but guaranteed to carry the general election in November. That means some voters in effect will have to pass on their chance to meaningfully affect the outcome of certain races. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about that as well as revived talk of a dome.
Finding Home Again in Birmingham
Sometimes life can take you to surprising places, and sometimes the place you never thought you'd settle in becomes an unexpected home. For our guest blogger Javacia Harris Bowser, Birmingham was where she grew up, but wasn't necessary where she wanted to put permanent roots. She explores her loving yet complicated relationship with the Magic City in her monthly post for WBHM.
Maya Angelou dies at 86
Poet and activist Maya Angelou has died after a long illness at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was 86. In 2009 Angelou spoke in Birmingham at an event for the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center. In an interview with Greg Bass for WBHM she reflected on her humble roots.
Kyle Whitmire: Judge Overturns Alabama Accountability Act
A Montgomery judge ruled today that the Alabama Accountability Act is unconstitutional. He said it violates the state Constitution's requirement for the Legislature to have only one subject in a bill. Plus, Representative Patricia Todd voices her opinions on closeted lawmakers living a double life.
Commentary: How Politicians Send The Wrong Message To Alabama’s Teachers
Education is a hot topic for politicians in Alabama. This year we saw intense debates in the Legislature around Alabama's College & Career Ready Standards and the state's education budget, including pay raises for teachers. Commentator and rural education advocate Larry Lee thinks all the political rhetoric sends the wrong message to Alabama teachers. In this commentary, he says it can hurt morale, and even drive qualified educators out of state.
How Do Newspapers Affect Voting and Community Participation?
Since 2007, more than 250 newspapers have stopped publishing. As newspapers across the country fold or choose to publish less frequently, media experts are asking big questions. If newspapers scale back, will citizens know less, and even care less, about where they live? And does this affect how many people vote? Research says "yes." On the heels of Alabama's June 3 primaries, Les Lovoy reports on the challenges today's newspapers face, and what it means for civic life.
John Archibald: State Rep. wants Perjury Charges Dismissed
State Representative Barry Moore of Enterprise is awaiting a judge's decision on dropping perjury charges against the south Alabama Republican. Moore was indicted last month, but this week appeared in court in Lee County as his lawyers argued for the case to be dismissed. It's a case that's already embroiled one other lawmaker and still has many wondering if it will also mean more trouble for House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald was in that court hearing and offers his thoughts.
Kyle Whitmire: Luther Strange Returns PAC Money
Last month Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's reelection campaign accepted a $50,000 donation from a newly registered Alabama political action committee. After the Alabama Media Group inquired about the transfer, the Strange campaign returned the donation to the PAC. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to follow the money.
“Coming Back With Wes Moore” Explores the Struggles of Returning Combat Veterans
The transition from soldier to civilian can be difficult and lonely. Friends and family members often just don't know how to help returning soldiers. But Army veteran and author Wes Moore wants to change that. He's the executive producer and host of "Coming Back With Wes Moore," a new documentary series on PBS. The show follows combat veterans on their journeys back into society. Moore hopes the program will encourage broader awareness of the issues veterans face. Moore spoke with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley about the three-part series, his experience returning from combat and the tragic event that inspired the series.
Interview: Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power’s New CEO
Alabama Power is Alabama's largest utility and an influential force in the state. And the company just saw a leadership change at the highest level. Earlier this year, Charles McCrary retired after serving as CEO for almost thirteen years. Alabama Power's new CEO, Mark Crosswhite, started on March 1. Crosswhite is the former Chief Operating Officer at Southern Company, Alabama Power's parent company. Since taking on the top role, Crosswhite says he's traveled the state, meeting with employees and customers. He recently sat down with WBHM's News Director, Rachel Osier Lindley, to talk about economic development, renewable energy, and his plans for Alabama Power's future.
John Archibald: PSC Candidates and Why You Might Think Twice About Eating Fish in Alabama
It almost sounds like a joke. Two public service commissioners and two challengers walk into an elevator. The elevator gets stuck. That happened Monday when the quartet went to meet with the Birmingham News editorial board. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald was there. He talks about the candidates and other environmental politics.
INTERVIEW: James Willig On The “Gamification” Of Medical Education
Medical education is always evolving. One way it's changed in recent years is that residents are not allowed to work the long, judgment-impairing shifts they used to. Most agree that's good. But how do you make up for all that lost teaching time? Some UAB researchers think they have an answer: video games. They created a competitive educational game called "Kaizen-Internal Medicine," or just "Kaizen-IM," and a small but promising study showed that busy young doctors learned from it in their off hours. UAB's James Willig sat down with WBHM's education reporter Dan Carsen to explain. Willig starts with a downside of limiting residents' work hours.
Kyle Whitmire: Changes In Governor Bentley’s Staff
The governor's office announced today that former House Speaker Seth Hammett has been named the interim chief of staff for Governor Robert Bentley. Hammett replaces David Perry, who also announced today he has accepted a new position in Birmingham. Kyle Whitmire from AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss.
Maker Spaces come to Birmingham
There's a myth in business of an inventor coming up with the next big idea tinkering in his or her garage. Well, the next big idea might not come from a garage, but from a maker space. These are part community workshop, part science club. While maker spaces have been popping up around the country for several years, they've come to Birmingham more recently.
AL.com, WBHM Event Yields Frank Talk On Hoover School Bus Fees
Today, AL.com and WBHM hosted a lunch discussion on the controversy over the Hoover school system's plan to impose fees on student bus riders. AL.com reporter Jon Anderson and WBHM's education reporter Dan Carsen were on hand to facilitate the sometimes heated discussion and answer questions. Afterward, Carsen spoke with WBHM's News Director Rachel Lindley. To start, Carsen recaps how the situation got to where it is today.
John Archibald: A Sit-down with Mike Hubbard
Politicians often feel they have a target on their backs. If there's anyone who that applies to right now in Alabama politics, it's House Speaker Mike Hubbard. A grand jury in Lee County has already ensnared two state lawmakers and the conventional wisdom is that body is after Hubbard. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald sat down with Mike Hubbard last week and offers his observations.
Kyle Whitmire: Public Prayer In Alabama
This week the Supreme Court ruled that it is lawful for prayers to be held before public events such as city council meetings. The ruling has spurred great debate especially in states like Alabama where public prayer is quite common. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to explain the ruling and offer his own thoughts on public prayer.
INTERVIEW: Rick Vest, Counseling Coordinator Of Two-Year College For Prisoners
J.F. Ingram State is a unique part of Alabama's two-year college system because one hundred percent of its students are incarcerated. Its new pilot program at Julia Tutwiler Prison focuses on life skills, not just vocational training. As part of our prison-reporting partnership with Alabama Media Group's Investigative Journalism Lab, WBHM's Dan Carsen spoke with Ingram State Counseling Coordinator Rick Vest outside Ingram's Tutwiler campus. Among other things, Vest says learning job skills isn't enough.
Birmingham Schools Taken Off Accreditation Probation
Last night, the international accreditation agency AdvancEd released a report based on their team's March visit to Birmingham City Schools. Although the report noted many areas still in need of improvement, the agency upgraded the school system from "probation" to "accredited, warned." In response, school leaders called a press conference today. Our education reporter Dan Carsen recorded it and broke it down for listeners.
Interview: State Senator Cam Ward on Alabama’s Prison System
Alabama's prison system is under investigation by the Justice Department after a federal report detailed cases of rape and sexual abuse at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. If some big changes aren't made, the federal government could take over the prison system. State Senator Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, is fighting that. He's a vocal advocate of prison reform and chairs the Alabama Legislature's joint oversight committee on prisons. Ward spoke with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley about what he believes the legislature needs to do.
John Archibald: A Miracle After the Tornadoes
Bessemer and Kimberly are among the towns cleaning up after a series of tornadoes plowed over Alabama Monday night. The storms killed three people statewide, tore off roofs and downed trees. It's a familiar sight to anyone who's lived in Alabama for very long. But the latest round of tornadoes has Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald thinking about one word -- miracle.
Interview: Dr. Edward O. Wilson, Biologist and Alabama Native
Dr. Edward O. Wilson is best known for his work studying ants. Wilson discovered the first fire ant colony in North America, as a 13-year-old playing outside in Mobile. The world-renowned scientist recently came back to his alma mater, The University of Alabama, for a week-long symposium celebrating Alabama's biodiversity. Reporter Gigi Douban talked with Wilson about what makes Alabama so special, what to do when ants invade your kitchen and his recent contributions to UA.
Kyle Whitmire: Lethal Injection Policies
In Oklahoma Tuesday night, Clayton Lockett was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection. But something went wrong. Lockett regained partial consciousness during the injection process. The execution was stopped and he died 20 minutes later from a heart attack. Death penalty politics and the sentiments behind lethal injection was a hot button issue during Alabama's 2014 legislative session. We take a closer look with Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Tornadoes Rip Through Alabama; School Closings and Delays
Powerful storms blew through Alabama Monday afternoon and overnight, killing at least three people in the state, overturning cars and destroying homes. Possible tornadoes hit Limestone and Madison counties before plowing through parts of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties.
Scenes Of Damage In Bessemer
Bessemer, Alabama was hit extremely hard by Monday night's storms. WBHM's Andrew Yeager visited Bessemer today to document the damages.
Alabama Recovers from Tornadoes Before the Next Round
At least 3 people in Alabama have died and more than 100,000 Alabama Power customers were without electricity after strong storms raked across the state Monday night. As many as 18 tornadoes may have touched down. But as residents dig out there's a second line of storms on the way.
