Sections
John Archibald on Cooper Green Mercy Hospital
The Jefferson County Commission votes to discontinue in-patient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. John Archibald offers his thoughts that situation as well as the latest from the Birmingham Board of Education, and Artur Davis' political switch.
August 29 Morning Newscast
A mundane Birmingham Board of Education meeting ends of an explosive note; Cooper Green Mercy Hospital to close, but a bankruptcy judge may have a final say; and Hurricane Isaac bring rough weather to Alabama's coast.
New Panels for Storm Shelters
Alabama has escaped the brunt of Hurricane Isaac, but the storm does serve as a reminder that severe weather can bring danger and even death. So researchers at UAB are developing new building materials intended to create safer storm shelters. Recently a high-tech panel they created passed the National Storm Shelter Association’s tornado threat test, a key step to making such panels commercially viable. WBHM intern Will Dahlberg spoke with the project’s leader, Dr. Uday Vaidya, who says the material in these panels in rather unique.
August 28 Morning Newscast
Residents along Alabama's coast are hoping to avoid the worst from tropical storm Isaac; the Jefferson County Commission will consider again whether to close the inpatient unit at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital; and the Bessemer Cutoff's court system will continue to operate with at least one judge, whether it's at the current courthouse or somewhere else.
August 27 Morning News
Residents along Alabama’s coast are scheduling to begin evacuating at 8 a.m. this morning. Governor Robert Bentley has declared a state of emergency and ordered mandatory evacuations ahead of Tropical Storm Isaac. Current tracking has the storm making landfall in Louisiana some time tomorrow, but Alabama’s coastal areas are under a hurricane warning, and forecasters say strong wind and heavy rain could extend miles inland.
Tropical Storm Isaac Update
Tropical Storm Isaac is churning across the Gulf of Mexico and while its current path won’t mean a direct hit for Alabama, the state will still feel the effects of this storm. Governor Robert Bentley has declared a state of emergency and ordered evacuations of low lying areas along the gulf coast. WBHM intern Will Dahlberg spoke with John DeBlock with the National Weather Service in Birmingham about the latest storm forecast.
Governor Cancels Tampa Trip for Tropical Storm
Governor Robert Bentley today urged Alabamians to keep watch on changing weather conditions as Tropical Storm Isaac continues to move toward the northwest. The Governor also announced he is canceling his plans to attend the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
August 24 Morning News
State officials watch Tropical Storm Isaac; the Alabama Homeland Security Dept. steadily loses funding; and some state court system employees get big raises while others lose their jobs.
August 23 Morning News
Prepaid college tuition program will pay tuition, at least temporarily; Attorney wants off Auburn tree poisoning case; and only one candidate qualifies to challenge Roy Moore for AL Supreme Court Chief Justice.
John Archibald On Why Carol Garrison Is Leaving UAB
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new interim President. Earlier this week, University of Alabama System Chancellor Robert Witt announced that longtime UAB administrator Richard Marchase would take over for outgoing president Carol Garrison. The university will now start a national search for a permanent replacement. John Archibald offers his observations on the leadership change at UAB, as well as leadership on the Jefferson County Commission.
August 22 Morning News
Justice Dept. establishes civil rights unit in Alabama; College freshman not ready for coursework; and Krispy Kreme reopens in Tuscaloosa.
August 21 Morning Newscast
Appeals court throws out provision in Alabama immigration law; Birmingham business community pays to defend Spencer Bachus; and legislators want to change school start date (again).
August 20 Morning Newscast
Alabama Public TV gets a new executive director; Tampa and Charlotte prepare for national conventions amid changing political landscape; and hunters take aim at alligators.
August 17 Morning Newscast
Carol Garrison steps down as president of UAB; the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights holds a public hearing about crackdowns on illegal immigration in Alabama and other states.
Birmingham School Board Gets Down To Business
The Birmingham school board finally gets down to business; and emotions run high as county commissioners look to close inpatient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.
Stimulants on Campus
Thousands of college students are heading back to school across Alabama. But for some, keeping up with the workload means more than just drinking a few cups of coffee. As UAB student and WBHM intern Aditi Jani discovered first hand, some students are abusing prescription stimulants to cope with the pressure to achieve.
BREAKING: Birmingham BOE Conducts Civil, Productive Meeting
The Birmingham School Board conducted a civil and efficient meeting Tuesday night, perhaps cowed by a judge's ruling that the state does have authority over the district and that Superintendent Craig Witherspoon will keep his job during the takeover. Our Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen has this surprising web-exclusive.
August 15 Morning Newscast
The Birmingham School Board conducts a civil and efficient meeting; former governor Don Siegelman says a presidential pardon is his last hope for freedom; and criminal wrong doing at the Birmingham Water Works.
August 14 Morning Newscast
Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown rules that the Birmingham School Board must stop interfering in a state takeover of the school system; the Alabama Democratic Party will hold a hearing Friday on disqualifying Harry Lyon as the party's nominee for chief justice; and The Business Council of Alabama supports a proposed constitutional amendment to permit the removal of nearly $146 million a year for three years from a state trust fund for use in balancing the state General Fund budget.
The New Children’s of Alabama
Doctors, staff and patients are getting used to their new digs, now that the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children is open for business. CEO Mike Warren says thanks to careful planning, the move to the building earlier this month went very well. So with Childen's of Alabama in its new home, WBHM Intern Aditi Jani spoke with Warren about how the facility positions the hospital for the future.
August 13 Morning Newscast
The Jefferson County Commission votes tomorrow to close e inpatient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital by Oct. 1; Alabama lags in incentives for solar power; and a monument being built to honor Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest is stirring up controversy in Selma.
August 10 Morning Newscast
Alabama ranks 14th on Toxic 20 List; 75% of Alabama schools make adequate yearly progress; and UA student discovers extinct snail in Cahaba River.
Meet WBHM’s Interns
Here's your chance to put faces to the voices you're hearing during our Summer Fund Drive. Meet WBHM's Summer 2012 Interns.
August 9 Morning Newscast
Judge allows lawsuit in Alabama Public Television Controversy; State Attorney General defends process of redistricting; and job fair draws thousands of people seeking work in Birmingham.
WBHM Names Scott Hanley as New GM
Scott E. Hanley will become general manager of Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM , licensed to the University of Alabama at Birmingham , effective Monday, Aug. 27.
August 8 Morning Newscast
Jefferson County leaders set date to vote on closing Cooper Green Hospital's in-patient services; Birmingham's mayor looks to attract pro sports; and a judge says "time is of the essence" in Alabama Public Television lawsuit.
Noted Author On Alabama Public Television Controversy
WBHM has obtained a letter sent to Governor Robert Bentley by a noted author and public television producer who calls on the governor to take action on the Alabama Public Television controversy.
August 7 Morning Newscast
Mark A. Elgart President and Chief Executive Officer of AdvanceEd says he has serious concerns with Birmingham Board of Education and testimony continues in a lawsuit between Allan Pizzato and the Alabama Public Television Commission.
Testimony from the Alabama Public Television Lawsuit
Testimony in a Jefferson County courtroom is revealing more details about the unexpected firing of former Alabama Public Television executive director Allan Pizzato. Pizzato filed suit in Jefferson County Circuit Court against the Alabama Education Television Commission and its seven members, claiming they violated the state’s open meetings law when they fired him at a June 12th meeting.
August 6 Morning Newscast
A former Jefferson County commissioner is transferred from federal prison and a new study says the Alabama county circuit clerks retirement plan is underfunded.
Judge Extends Orders Against Birmingham School Board
One round of testimony is over, but the long road to legal closure in the battle over Birmingham Schools is not. After two sometimes arcane, sometimes fiery days of testimony, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown on Thursday extended two temporary injunctions against the Birmingham Board of Education by 10 days or until further notice. Our Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen has the latest in this web-exclusive story.
August 3 Morning Newscast
Judge extends injunction in Birmingham Schools case; State seeks waiver from No Child Left Behind; and LSU opens 2012 ranked #1.
