Sections
AP-update
At Alabama public high schools that first implemented the A+ College Ready Program in 2010-2011, A.P. exam pass rates increased by 111 percent. The pass rate for minority students increased even more. But how did that happen? Click here to read Dan Carsen's web-exclusive report:
A Challenge to Alabama’s Immigration Law
Opponents of Alabama's new immigration law spent Wednesday in federal court trying to convince a judge to block the measure from going into effect on September first. The legal showdown over what's been called the toughest crackdown on illegal immigration in the country pits the U.S. Justice Department, a coalition of civil rights groups and church leaders against attorneys for the state of Alabama. They argue there's no reason the law shouldn't take effect as planned. NPR National Correspondent Debbie Elliot is watching the action at the federal courthouse in Birmingham and spoke with WBHM's Andrew Yeager.
Gulf Economy Rebounds
Quarterly revenue reports show spending along the Alabama Gulf Coast is up significantly over previous record years. Although the BP oil spill is not forgotten, tourists are back.That's good news for the coastal businesses, but state officials note this doesn't mean BP is off the hook.
Defibrillators
All Alabama public high, junior high, and middle schools now have defibrillators. So, in a state with tightening education budgets, how did this come about? Click here for education reporter Dan Carsen's web-exclusvie story:
AdvancedPlacement
The Alabama State Department of Education has won a $1.3-million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the state's improving Advanced Placement programs. And at least one reason for that improvement is controversial. Click here for education reporter Dan Carsen's web-exclusive story:
A Verdict in Alabama’s Gambling Corruption Trial
Prosecutors with the Justice Department are contemplating their next move after the jury in Alabama's gambling corruption trial returned no guilty verdicts. The partial verdict still leaves VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor and six others facing unresolved charges. While defense lawyers were glad to have acquittals on some counts, WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports they're still gearing up for what could be another court battle.
Alabama’s Gambling Corruption Trial
This summer nine defendants including Alabama casino owner Milton McGregor go on trial. They're accused of buying and selling votes around a pro-gambling bill in the state legislature. The case draws on hours of secretly recorded wiretaps and promises to reveal the underside of wheeling and dealing in Montgomery. WBHM's Andrew Yeager will follow the month's long case and offers updates of the unfolding action.
Open Meetings Law
Jefferson County Commissioners will meet tomorrow to determine their next move as the county struggles with more than three billion dollars of sewer debt. They could reach a settlement with creditors or file what would be the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. But they'll hold the meeting in executive session. That means meeting with lawyers, behind closed doors. And as WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports that has some questioning if they're violating Alabama's open meetings law.
Jones Valley Tutorial
Birmingham City Schools kitchen staff recently got a tutorial on nutrition and locally grown, sustainable food at Jones Valley Urban Farm. They picked herbs and vegetables and helped bury stereotypes in the process. Dan Carsen covered the event for WBHM and the Southern Education Desk. Click here for the web-exclusive first-person account:
Polluted Schools
[The EPA has named five prominent Birmingham firms liable for pollution in several North Birmingham Neighborhoods. The following is our award-winning story on the subject from two years ago:] The Walter Coke plant in North Birmingham makes high-grade coke used in blast furnaces and foundries. But according to a class-action lawsuit, that's not all it makes: property owners allege carcinogens from the plant have drastically lowered their property values. But for people living and going to school in this industrial area, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Our Southern Education reporter Dan Carsen has more.
The Farewell Drifters
The band The Farewell Drifters were literally formed when Zach Bevill was stopped on the street in Nashville. The group plays harmonic roots music. WBHM's Michael Krall has their story...
Teach For America in Alabama
The national service program Teach For America has been in Alabama for a full school year. As it gears up to send our state more than 50 new teachers, it makes sense to check on the group's progress here. Dan Carsen, a former TFA teacher, asks around for the Southern Education Desk at WBHM.
Alabama and the Oil Spill: The Domino Effect
It's been more than a year since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and still, businesses across Alabama's Gulf Coast are struggling to rebound. Sales are off for everyone from seafood processors to charter boat operators. And there's a domino effect that's sweeping up other, less obvious industries across the gulf and beyond.
Alabama’s New Immigration Law and Schools
Alabama's new immigration law has been at the center of heated debate in the state, across the country, and beyond. Of many controversial provisions is one that requires schools to determine the immigration status of students, and in some cases, their parents. Some educators are uneasy with that new role. That's to say nothing of the feelings of many immigrants, legal and otherwise.
Gulf Coast Consortium: the BP Oil Spill
On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. The "BP Oil Spill", as it came to be known, killed 11 men, injured another 17 and sent nearly 5 million barrels of oil spewing into the gulf until it was capped three months later. WBHM partnered with public broadcast outlets across the Gulf Coast region to create the Gulf Coast Consortium, a multi-media project to expand reporting on the spill. You can access our stories here.
The 2011 Tornadoes: Phil Campbell
People from around the world will converge on tiny Phil Campbell, Alabama, this weekend. And not just any anybody. People named Phil Campbell. They're coming to help rebuild after an April tornado flattened half of the town, killing 26 people. As WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports, it's a celebration that's taken on new meaning after the disaster.
Remembering Kathryn Tucker Windham
One of Alabama's most beloved storytellers has died. Kathryn Tucker Windham passed away over the weekend at the age of 93. Windham developed a love of reading and writing at an early age. She wrote more than 20 books along with scores of newspaper columns and radio commentaries.
Driver’s Education
If you're over a certain age, there's a good chance you took driver's education in your high school. So why isn't that true for today's young drivers? From the Southern Education Desk at WBHM, Dan Carsen reports on a significant shift:
Alabama Organic Agriculture
In the United States, sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to nearly $25 billion in 2009. There are five million certified organic acres in the U.S.. But you won't find many in Alabama because, as WBHM's Tanya Ott reports, a combination of cultural and market forces means this state has the fewest certified organic farms per-capita in the country.
Boman interview
Alabama state representative Daniel Boman has done something rare: he has left the Republican Party to become a Democrat. The reasons, he says, are Republican stances on educational and other issues.
The 2011 Tornadoes: Mental Health
Victims of April's tornadoes have endured a whirlwind of emotions. It's virtually impossible to live through such a disaster and not endure mental stress and strain. But the adrenaline and shock of those first few days are wearing off, bringing on a new set of mental health concerns. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes
In Alabama and other states, education budgets are being squeezed. Teachers and support staff are facing layoffs and cuts in benefits and supply money. Seen against that background, it's not surprising that states are looking harder at a tricky but increasingly attractive source of funding. From the Southern Education Desk at WBHM, Dan Carsen has this report:
The 2011 Tornadoes: Cross-country Help
Donations and volunteers have poured into Alabama as communities work to rebuild from last month's tornados. Some are here through established organizations such as the Red Cross. Others from the Gulf Coast helped out, saying they're giving back because of what they received after Hurricane Katrina. But for two California nurses, they never imagined they'd find themselves in the thick of the response. WBHM's Andrew Yeager has their story.
Northern Beltline: The St. Clair Effect
St. Clair County is now one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama. Census figures show the county’s population grew by 29 percent from 2000 to 2010. Local leaders believe the nearby Northern Beltline will fuel even more growth.
Lynch vs Alabama: Federal Case Literally Puts History on Trial
A tax-policy trial in federal court recently put more than a century of Alabama history on the stand. The plaintiffs allege the state's property tax system and its effect on schools are direct outgrowths of the overt racism of the past.
Legislative Review and Preview 2011/05/06
The 2011 Alabama legislative session is underway and lawmakers have their plates full. A slow economic recovery means budget cuts are likely. A new governor is in town. And Republicans take the reigns of the legislature for the first time in 136 years. Friday mornings, WBHM's Andrew Yeager talks to two state lawmakers to update you on activity from the state house.
The 2011 Tornadoes: Churches
Governor Robert Bentley has declared Sunday a day of prayer for victims of the tornados which swept through the south on Wednesday. Alabama is a state where religious faith is ever present and a rallying point for communities. WBHM's Andrew Yeager offers this glimpse of how churches are weathering the storm.
The 2011 Tornadoes: Cullman
President Obama spent Friday morning touring tornado-ravaged neighborhoods in Tuscaloosa. He says he's never seen such devastation. Almost 300 people have died so far from tornados which blanketed the south Wednesday. More than two thirds of the deaths are in Alabama . For survivors, one of the biggest issues to deal with is no power. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
Northern Beltline: Downtown Development
Birmingham's downtown has added many feathers to it cap in recent years. City officials point to last year's opening of Railroad Park, a growing restaurant scene, new office and hotel space in the works. It's a rebirth some critics of the northern beltline say could be muted by that bypass. This week we're taking a look at the proposed 52 mile highway planned for the northern half of Jefferson County. WBHM's Andrew Yeager examines what a new interstate bypass might mean for development in downtown Birmingham.
The 2011 Tornadoes: Birmingham’s Aftermath
Several southeastern states are digging out today after a violent storm system that spawned dozens of tornadoes. Alabama was hardest hit. The full scope of the devastation is still unknown, but at least 162 people are dead in Alabama and thousands of homes, businesses and government buildings were destroyed. Birmingham took a direct hit from a large tornado that skirted just north of downtown. WBHM's Tanya Ott spent this morning visiting affected areas.
Northern Beltline: Environmental Impact
Birmingham's Northern Beltline has been in the planning stages for decades. But there's a renewed sense of urgency to get the multi-billion dollar project moving forward. The Alabama Department of Transportation has said it could issue the first contracts by the end of this year. But as Tanya Ott reports environmental concerns could put the brakes on the project, at least temporarily.
Northern Beltline: Overview
$90 million per mile. That's the latest price tag for the proposed Northern Beltline around Birmingham. Proponents say it will spur economic development in the northern part of the county. Opponents say it's a price tag they can't afford for a road they don't need. This week, WBHM examines the Northern Beltline proposal.
