Sections

Offering A Carrot Won’t Get People Vaccinated, Maybe It’s Time To Talk About The Stick, Health Official Tells Birmingham Council

One health professional says incentivizing vaccines is not working and that it may be time for businesses to start requiring it.

Developer Partners with Tuskegee Students, Minority-Owned Contractors To Revitalize Old American Red Cross Building

The building has been vacant for 21 years and is poised to offer a more affordable option for living in downtown Birmingham.

Alabama’s COVID New-Case Average Quintuples In 10 Days, As Health Officials Struggle To Get More People Vaccinated

Health officials in the region are sounding the alarm as COVID-19 cases continue to increase. Across the Gulf States, hospitalizations have reached levels not seen since the Spring.

At Summer Reading Camps, Birmingham Students And Teachers Prepare For Alabama’s New Literacy Law

Alabama joins 16 other states and Washington D.C. where third graders must pass a reading test -- or risk being held back. That’s why this summer, teachers at Birmingham City Schools began coaching their students on their reading skills to get a head start on the new retention policy.

No Place Like Home As Woodlawn High Breaks Ground For New, On-Campus Football Stadium

The new stadium is expected to be ready for the 2022 football season. It'll accommodate 2,800 spectators, and it will include an artificial turf athletic field, renovated field house and a stadium lighting and sound system.

“It’s Playing A Game With Us”: Researcher Says COVID Delta Variant Is Spreading In Alabama

New data shows the delta variant made up almost 71% of cases tested at one local lab in recent weeks.

Debate Over Diversity Training Consumes Mountain Brook School Community

The controversy over diversity training is complicated by the city's demographics. The suburb is overwhelmingly white and one of the richest in Jefferson County

Birmingham Recycling Kicked Up To Twice A Month, City Buys Refuse Equipment

Residents in the city of Birmingham will soon start having their recycling picked up twice a month. The city’s recycling program was temporarily halted by COVID-19 last April.

Birmingham Elections Ballot Set

After the qualifying deadline elapsed Friday, eight people were on the ballot to compete in the mayor’s race, trying to capture the seat now held by Mayor Randall Woodfin.

Its Future In Limbo, Limiting Telehealth In The Gulf South Could Be Troublesome For Rural Areas

Telehealth became a necessity for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic. But with state health emergencies expiring, laws that have made it more available could go away, leaving the region’s more rural areas hurting the most due to access barriers and disparities.

Counties At Very High Risk Of COVID Spread Quadruples In 2 Weeks

Roughly 26 of Alabama's counties are at a 'very high risk' for COVID-19, according to data from the state health department.

Business Exec, A Self-Proclaimed “Full-Throttle Conservative,” Enters Senate Race

A fourth candidate has joined the race for Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby's seat.

Birmingham Museum Of Art To Return Artwork To Native American Tribes

The Birmingham Museum of Art will return objects from its collection to the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The move falls under a 1990 law providing a pathway for federally recognized tribes to request certain cultural items.

With COVID Cases On The Rise, Health Officials Say They’re Seeing Last Year’s Pattern Repeat Itself

Health officials say Alabama may be headed toward an explosion in the number of COVID-19 cases thanks to the coronavirus delta and delta plus variant.

4 Things To Know About Birmingham’s Homicides So Far This Year

The city of Birmingham has recorded 64 homicides so far in 2021, according to data from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. But what do we really know about the city's homicide victims? WBHM took a deeper dive into the data. Here's what we learned.

Birmingham Council Looking At Candidates To Fill Seats On Several Boards

Seats on several Birmingham boards and authorities will be up for grabs next month, including city council-appointed positions on the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority and the Birmingham Land Bank Authority.

What To Know About The Delta Plus COVID Variant: How Serious Is It? Will Vaccines Work?

Alabama has recorded multiple cases of the delta variant. Meanwhile, this week Louisiana identified its first case of the delta plus variant, a mutation of the delta variant.

Alabama And Louisiana Are Enacting Or Extending Medical Marijuana Programs. What About Mississippi?

States across the South are making way for more patients to legally use medical marijuana. Alabama recently passed a law legalizing it, and Louisiana is expanding its medical marijuana program. This week, Mississippi was slated to join the pack, but the Supreme Court overturned the voters’ decision.

Economic Opportunity, Community Policing Among Solutions To Birmingham’s Gun Violence

Birmingham has been riddled with crime for decades, and people are concerned about the increasing number of homicides. So far in 2021, there have been at least 60 homicides in the city of Birmingham, according to data from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.

UAB And JeffCo Officials Plan Hospital-Based Intervention Program For Gunshot Survivors

Trauma doctors in Birmingham are treating a record number of patients with gunshot wounds. Health officials hope a violence intervention program could help reverse the trend.

Birmingham Residents Offer Solutions To Gun Violence But Some Victims Feel Hopeless

Birmingham residents are concerned about the city's gun violence. Local activists say reducing shootings has to be a community effort, with local government support. But some victims say there’s not much authorities can do.

How Birmingham’s Police Chief Plans To Slow The City’s Homicide Rate

Birmingham finished 2020 with a 25-year high in homicides. This year shows no sign of that slowing. WBHM talked with the city's police chief about how he plans to respond.

As Other States Drew Fire For Passing Restrictive Election Laws, Alabama Skirted The Limelight

National attention fell on Georgia for changes to its election laws earlier this year, but Alabama made changes too.

Mayor Woodfin Seeks Community Help To Find Shooters Of Children

Five children have been killed or injured by gun violence in Birmingham this year, and city leaders are pleading for witnesses to come forward.

School Is Still In Session In This Louisiana Parish. How Is The ‘Balance Of Instruction’ Going?

Red River Parish Public Schools is the first district in Louisiana to throw out the traditional school calendar. The goal for school leaders is to provide more instruction and support throughout the year, but some parents say students are burnt out.

Children’s Well-Being In Alabama Improves, But Still Lags Behind The Country

Alabama's children are graduating on time and more children have health insurance. But the state still falls behind the rest of the country in overall well-being for children.

Environmental Groups Appeal Judge’s Cahaba River Ruling To The Supreme Court

Two local environmental groups are appealing a Jefferson County Circuit Court’s recent decision to throw out the lawsuit against the Birmingham Water Works Board.

Bang, Bang. You’re Closed: Birmingham Threatens To Close Clubs With Violent Episodes

A drive-by shooting at Club Euphoria in west Birmingham left 21-year-old Lykeria Taylor dead and another male injured. Earlier that night, gunfire broke out at the club, leaving three others with non-life-threatening injuries.

Five Ways Birmingham Is Celebrating Its 150th Birthday

Mayor Randall Woodfin and the CEO of Vulcan Park and Museum announced this week a series of events to celebrate Birmingham’s 150 anniversary.

Shipt Founder, Bill Smith, Brings His Latest Startup To Birmingham

Landing, an apartment rental company, will relocate it headquarters to Birmingham, creating more than 800 new jobs.