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VIDEO: AL.com and WBHM Investigate Alabama’s Prison Problems
VIDEO: Alabama's prisons are overcrowded, underfunded, and riddled with problems ranging from poor prisoner healthcare to inmate sexual abuse. With the threat of a federal takeover on the horizon, what's next for Alabama's prisons? Learn more in this video produced by AL.com. It highlights the recent prison reporting by the Alabama Investigative Journalism Lab, and features AL.com and WBHM reporters.
Churches Could Be Key To Ending HIV Stigma In Rural Alabama
According to the Centers for Disease Control, African Americans account for 75 percent of Alabama's HIV cases, but only about 25 percent of the state's population. In many neighborhoods, HIV is a disease spoken about in whispers. People are scared to get tested, and scared to be seen going to a clinic. In order to combat stigma and increase awareness, doctors and academics are going to an unlikely place -- the church -- in an attempt to break down some barriers. Ashley Cleek traveled down to the Black Belt to see how it's going.
Artwalk: Public Forum
Artist Steve Lambert likes to say his medium is "trouble." That's a creative way of saying he's less interested in pretty pictures than in artwork that challenges the audience. Or in the case of his latest, work that forces them to examine their own views. The New York-based artist is currently an artist in residence at Birmingham's Space One Eleven gallery. This weekend he brings his work called "Public Forum" to Birmingham’s Artwalk.
The Story of Sloss Quarters
A part of Birmingham's past is coming alive again. From the 1880's to the mid 1900's, Sloss Furnaces was an economic driver for the Magic City. It put Birmingham on the map as the place in the south for iron production. But those furnaces and boilers left over today don't tell the stories of the people who worked and lived there. That's about to change.
John Archibald: Open Season for Campaign Finance Abuse
Alabama has seen a number of high profile corruption trials in recent years, but one that won't be added to the list is that of Lowell Barron. The former Democratic State Senator and a staffer faced charges of misusing campaign funds. The attorney general's office though dropped the case last week after the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a lower court judge's ruling blocking certain evidence from being presented. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says that constitutes a slap in the face.
Javacia Harris Bowser: The “Hip Hop Genius” In The Classroom
It's that time of year -- students are headed back to the classroom for their fall semesters and teachers are getting ready to implement their lesson plans in the hopes of inspiring a new group of young minds. And while there are guidelines and rules teachers must follow when creating their curriculum, some teachers are look for ways to think outside the box to connect with their students. Our guest blogger Javacia Harris Bowser writes about this in her monthly post for WBHM. As an educator herself, she has some insights and inspiration for teachers.
John Archibald: Court Fines and the Wonders of Birmingham
The flashpoint for protests in Ferguson, Missouri, these last few weeks is the shooting death of 18-year old, African American Michael Brown by a white police officer. But those protests rest on kindling of distrust between the town's black majority and the white leadership. Part of that distrust could be due to court fines that have become increasingly part of Ferguson's revenue and it sounds similar to a phenomenon in Alabama. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about that and offers his seven wonders of the Birmingham world.
Kyle Whitmire: Determining Lawmaker’s Salaries in 2015
State officials are working with a Birmingham law firm to try and determine the median household income in Alabama. The number could control the salaries of state lawmakers in the coming year because of a constitutional amendment approved by state voters in 2012.
A College For Inmates, And An Interview With Its President
The United States locks up people at a higher rate than anywhere else in the world. Some of the most overcrowded prisons are right here in Alabama. Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women is one of them. But some inmates there have access to a unique state-funded program that offers academics and "life skills" they'll need after release. The problem is, this J.F. Ingram State Technical College program, which could ease overcrowding, is struggling for funds. WBHM's Dan Carsen has the story and a full-length interview with J.F. Ingram's president.
John Archibald: Salary Disparities Between Teachers and Superintendents
It's good to be king, but as John Archibald says, it's super to be superintendent. The salaries earned by superintendent vs. teachers in Alabama is significant to say the least. We take a look at those numbers and what it means for Alabama educators. Plus, is it fair to compare present day Ferguson, Missouri to Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960's?
Ahmad Ward: Birmingham’s Reaction to Violence in Ferguson
US Attorney General Eric Holder went to Ferguson, Missouri this week. He's there to meet with law enforcement officials to discuss the protests and unrest following the death of Michael Brown. He's the unarmed black man who was killed by a white police officer on August 9th. The racial tensions and violence in Ferguson are bringing back memories of the 1960's here in Birmingham. Ahmad Ward, is the head educator at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. He sees some parallels between the chaos in Ferguson today and Birmingham in the 1960's and shares his thoughts with WBHM.
Holly Williams: Following the Family Tradition
She's the granddaughter of country music legend Hank Williams. Her dad, Hank junior, has sold millions of records. But Holly Williams isn't living in anyone's shadow. She's got her own sound and is making a name for herself. Greg Bass has this profile...
Kyle Whitmire: There Will Be A Dome?
College football season is nearly upon us. It comes at the same time a sports-related political football is reemerging in Birmingham. Local leaders have argued for years about building a domed stadium or multi-purpose facility. Momentum for such a facility has been on the rise in recent months. This week a prominent voice in the hospitality industry declared there will be a domed stadium with or without public support. We talk about those comments with Al.com and Birmingham News political commentator Kyle Whitmire.
EarFlims: To Sleep To Dream
You know how people often say the book is better than the movie because you can create your own pictures? The same thing is true for audio. A new show with its American debut Tuesday at UAB's Alys Stephens Center puts that notion to the test. "To Sleep to Dream" is a production of the United Kingdom-based EarFilms. It's like a feature-length movie told only with sound.
INTERVIEW: Inmate And Horticulture Student Timothy Brown
Alabama's J.F. Ingram State may be the nation's only state-run two-year college exclusively for inmates. Its mission is to reduce recidivism by offering "three legs of the stool": academics, life skills, and vocational training. WBHM's Dan Carsen recently visited Ingram's Deatsville campus, where he met Timothy Brown, a 53-year-old convicted robber and burglar serving a life sentence but hoping for parole. Brown had walked over from the Frank Lee minimum-security facility next door. He'd been passing around organic cantaloupe and filling in for his horticulture teacher. Dan starts the interview by asking Brown if doing the latter makes him nervous.
John Archibald: Birmingham City Council Goes Behind Closed Doors
Birmingham city officials are gung ho about wooing the Democratic National Convention to the Magic City in 2016, but the price tag for that effort is quickly increasing. Two weeks ago the Birmingham City Council approved $250,000 to hire consultants to promote the city's bid. This week they approved another $275,000 for more consultants. But what's really raising eyebrows is the fact this involved a closed-door meeting and no bid contracts. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald offers his thoughts.
Kyle Whitire: At What Cost Will Birmingham Host The DNC?
Birmingham City officials had a closed door meetings this week regarding the Democratic National Convention and the possibility of the Magic City playing host. Will Birmingham host the DNC and at what cost? Kyle Whitmire from AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss.
Alabama Gets National Attention, Working Across Political Lines
Today on Morning Edition, NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Alabama State Sentator Cam Ward and attorney Maria Morris of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The theme of the story - working across political lines to reduce overcrowding and other critical issues in Alabama's Prisons.
Kyle Whitmire: Reaction To Representative Mo Brooks’s Remarks
This week Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Huntsville found himself in hot water after he made some controversial remarks about the Democratic Party. Brooks claimed that the Democratic Party is "wagging a war on whites" and politicians from both parties are taking issue with his comments.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music
The Shoals area of Alabama is known for a long list of popular musicians who recorded there in the 1960s and 1970s. Artists including Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan cut tracks in this otherwise sleepy corner of the state. But a part of the region's musical success is thanks to four men nicknamed the Swampers. They're the subject of the new book "Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music" by Birmingham music writer Carla Jean Whitley
Javacia Harris Bowser: The Complexities of Colorism
The film Belle explores the story of a young mixed race woman who is the daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. She's raised in a white aristocratic family in 18th century England. The film, inspired by a true story, shows the challenges the main character grapples with as she comes to terms with her skin color. The story hit home for our guest blogger Javacia Harris Bowser, who explores the complexity of the term "colorism" in her latest blog post for WBHM.
John Archibald: The Ethics of Economic Development
There's the adage it takes money to make money. An Alabama corollary could be it takes money to recruit jobs as state and local officials recently spent several hundred thousand dollars to attend an international airshow in London. They're hoping to recruit new aerospace business to Alabama. While that's supported by taxpayer dollars, the private money involved has Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald concerned.
Kyle Whitmire: Uber Stalls In Birmingham
This week the Birmingham City Council voted unanimously to modify the city's transportation code. The modifications would have a direct impact on taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber. While the changes would allow Uber to operate in city limits, Uber reps tell AL.com that Birmingham's rules still make it impractical for them do business in the city.
Becky Anthony: Life With An Incarcerated Son
When a loved one is incarcerated, it can have a profound impact on their family members on the outside. These families are lifelines to the inmate. From sending money to traveling long distances to visit the inmates, it's work to provide that kind of financial and emotional care. We explore those challenges as part of WBHM's continued coverage of Alabama's prison system. WBHM's Sarah Delia has the story of one mother who has made countless sacrifices to keep her family afloat in order to support her incarcerated son.
John Archibald: Enjoy the Date with Taylor Swift
Birmingham officials are waiting to see if they can beat the odds and land the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Party officials were in the Magic City this week on a site visit and while they had kind things to say about Birmingham, four larger cities are also competing for the convention. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says Birmingham is like the shy kid who won a prom date with Taylor Swift -- enjoy it while it lasts.
Kyle Whitmire: Will Birmingham Host The Next DNC?
This week the Democratic National Committee visited Birmingham to see how the Magic City would perform if selected to host the 2016 national convention. We take a look at how the visit went and what the city's chances are of hosting the convention.
Birmingham Hopes to Land 2016 Democratic National Convention
Birmingham is trying to land its biggest prize in years: The 2016 Democratic National Convention. Members from the Democratic National Committee began a two-day tour of the city on Monday. They're meeting with local promoters and scouting locations to see if Birmingham could support a convention the size of the DNC. In addition to Birmingham, the party is also considering Columbus, Ohio; New York, Philadelphia, and Phoenix.
INTERVIEW: Trisha Powell Crain On Alabama’s Low NAEP Ranks
Alabama recently got some unflattering news about its students' proficiency, especially in eighth-grade mathematics. The National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, is a standardized test sometimes called "the nation's report card." On the 2013 test, Alabama eighth-graders ranked fiftieth out of 52 jurisdictions in math (schools on military bases and in the District of Columbia were counted separately). But as with most education topics, things are not quite as simple as they seem. WBHM's Dan Carsen sat down with Alabama School Connection executive director Trisha Powell Crain to go behind those results. She says we shouldn't put too much emphasis on one test, or be too surprised at Alabama's low showing.
WBHM Wins Eight Alabama AP Awards
WBHM 90.3 FM/WSGN 91.5 FM has won a total of eight 2014 Alabama Associated Press awards and received three honorable mentions. The awards were given for work broadcast between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013 and were presented at a luncheon July 19 in Birmingham. Listen to all the award-winning stories here.
Birmingham Gospel Singers Bring Old Spirituals to a New Generation
The Lee Family Singers have been singing gospel music in and around Birmingham for more than 40 years. Now six of their offspring have formed a new group, The Second Generation of the Lee Family Singers. Both groups are committed to introducing younger people to music that was created hundreds of years ago, music born out of suffering and hope -- the spirituals. For WBHM, Darlene Robinson Millender went to see the Lee Family Singers in action.
INTERVIEWS With “Make Them Listen” Anti-Illegal-Immigration Protesters
Today was the first day of a two-day nationally coordinated protest against immigration reform and the recent "border surge" of undocumented minors. The effort was organized by the Facebook-based "Make Them Listen." Saturday's protest, also planned for Highway 280 near Walmart, looks to be bigger. WBHM's Dan Carsen caught up with local coordinator Deanna Frankowski during the first protest of two held during Friday's rush hours. She says illegal immigration poses health, economic, and security risks ... and she says much more than that.
Interview: Nick Patterson, Author of “Birmingham Foot Soldiers: Voices from the Civil Rights Movement”
When we talk about the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, some big names spring to mind -- Martin Luther King Jr., the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. But thousands of everyday people also participated in the 1963 Birmingham campaign, often risking their safety -- and even their lives. Author Nick Patterson tells their stories in his new book 'Birmingham Foot Soldiers: Voices from the Civil Rights Movement.' Nick Patterson sat down with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about why he wanted to write about Birmingham's lesser-known foot soldiers.
