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Analysis of Alabama’s Primary from the Right and Left
Democrat Walt Maddox and Republican Kay Ivey will meet in the fall race for Governor. Some other races in Alabama's primary will go to runoffs first. We have analysis from Republican consultant Jeff Vreeland and Democratic pollster Zac McCrary.
Ivey, Maddox to Face Off in November
Gov. Kay Ivey won Tuesday's Republican primary with a significant lead over her three opponents, giving her a chance to be elected to the seat for the first time in November. She will face Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in the race for governor.
Mayor Appoints New Police Chief Patrick Smith
Patrick Smith, a veteran administrator in the Los Angeles Police Department and a native of Tuscaloosa is Birmingham’s new police chief. Mayor Randall Woodfin made the announcement today.
Birmingham Lands New Pro Football Team For 2019
Birmingham is getting a new professional football team and Legion Field is getting a new tenant. The Alliance of American Football League, led by television and film producer Charlie Ebersol and former NFL executive Bill Pollian, announced Monday it will include Birmingham in its initial eight-team line up.
Alabama Governor’s Primary Race is All About Corruption
There’s been rampant corruption among state leaders in Alabama, and it’s escalated in recent years. Voters have noticed. And judging by the anti-corruption political ads and fliers blanketing mailboxes and screens, candidates in Tuesday’s primary are responding.
New Plan Will Arm Some School Administrators
A new program will allow Alabama school administrators to carry firearms, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday. The Alabama Sentry Program will arm administrators in schools that don't have a school resource officer.
Council Proposes Changes to Birmingham Mayor’s Budget
The Birmingham City Council wants to restore funding for neighborhood associations and several non-profits in its proposed changes for Mayor Randall Woodfin’s 2019 budget. The council submitted its budget counterproposal to the mayor on Tuesday.
GOP Plays to Social Conservatives in Statewide Primaries
Alabama voters go to the polls June 5th for party primaries. In addition to governor, they’ll choose nominees for lieutenant governor, attorney general and chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
2018 Elections: Candidate Profiles
Four Republicans and six Democrats are vying for the party nominations in the June 5 Alabama primaries. Here are their profiles.
Conservation Groups Push For Faster Alerts on Sewage Spills
Sewer operators are required to notify the public of sewer spills if they endanger public health. Conservation groups say it's not happening fast enough.
Three Things the New Jeffco Commission Needs to Do
The Jefferson County Commission's $4 billion bankruptcy is in the rearview mirror. But to fully recover, outgoing Commissioner David Carrington says the new commission will need to focus on these three things.
National Neighborhood Leaders Meet in Birmingham
More than 800 people from around the country are in Birmingham this week for the annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Conference. Local neighborhood leaders say this is their time to show off Birmingham.
Teaching Bleeding Control as a Survival Strategy
Recent mass shootings have prompted more than thoughts, prayers, and debates about guns. They’ve also sparked interest in ways to keep people alive in critical moments after a shooting. By teaching regular people to stop the bleeding, just as with CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, people can save lives.
2018 Governor’s Race: James Fields
Democrat James Fields was the first African American to run for a legislative seat in mostly-white Cullman County. Many told him to withdraw, but he went on to win that seat in the Alabama House of Representatives in 2008. Now he's running for governor.
2018 Governor’s Race: Doug “New Blue” Smith
Democrat Doug "New Blue" Smith says previous Republican administrations have dismantled the state's "economic machinery." He would restore it if elected governor.
Amazon Eyes Bessemer for a Fulfillment Center
Amazon is strongly considering a Bessemer site for a new fulfillment center. If the project happens, it would likely bring at least 1,500 jobs.
2018 Governor’s Race: Scott Dawson
Scott Dawson is a newcomer to politics. But the Republican evangelist says he was inspired to run for Alabama governor after watching former Governor Robert Bentley’s administration fall apart amid Bentley’s alleged affair with an aide.
2018 Governor’s Race: Sue Bell Cobb
Sue Bell Cobb was the first woman to be elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Now the Evergreen native has her sights set on the governor’s office. Her conversation with WBHM’s Dan Carsen starts with a horrific event from Cobb’s days as a county judge when a man who’d appeared in her court firebombed her house.
Family of Slain Student Files Lawsuit Against Schools, City
Attorneys filed a wrongful death lawsuit today on behalf of the family of a Birmingham teen who was shot and killed at Huffman High School in March.
City Cracks Down on Residential Code Violations
Birmingham has a housing problem. Many of the homes – about 42 percent of them – are in need of major repairs, and city officials are cracking down on building code violations.
Networking Company Wins Birmingham Startup Pitch Contest
A Birmingham startup focused on networking won $100,000 in a pitch contest for entrepreneurs.
Viruses Could Trigger Early Gray Hair
A new UAB study looking at stem cells in mice might have nudged scientists toward a better understanding of one of the often-dreaded realities of aging: gray hair. The study published last week suggests certain types of infections can start or speed up the hair-graying process in mice. UAB biologists found that triggering some of the animals’ […]
Birmingham Explores Electronic Payment Options for Meters
If you park at a meter in downtown Birmingham or on Southside, you’d better be carrying change. But maybe not for long. The city is considering electronic payment options for parking meters.
Birmingham Startups Take a Turn in the Spotlight
AOL co-founder Steve Case will bring his "Rise of the Rest" tour to Birmingham Wednesday.
Feds Announce Dozens of Violent Crime and Illegal Weapons Charges
Federal and local law enforcement announced indictments today for 71 people accused of violent crime and illegal weapons and drug possession in Birmingham and north Alabama.
Living History: Nurse to George Washington Carver an Inventor Herself
Meloneze Robinson of Tuskegee has witnessed history, and as a nurse, she's made some of her own. She cared for inventor George Washington Carver at the end of his life. Fifteen years later, she patented a surgical device after assisting with amputations at the former Tuskegee Veterans Hospital.
DA Candidate Fights To Include His Name on Countywide Ballot
Bill Veitch, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Jefferson County District Attorney, has appealed to the state Supreme Court to have his name placed on the ballot in both county jurisdictions.
Ethics Complaint Filed Against Senator Shelby
A watchdog group has filed an ethics complaint against Alabama Senator Richard Shelby.
An Alternative to Delivering Babies at the Hospital
Alabama has the second-highest infant mortality rate in the nation. And more rural hospitals are closing. Now some physicians and nonprofits say birth centers are a way to provide cheaper and safer prenatal care and delivery.
2018 Governor’s Race: Christopher Countryman
Democrat Christopher Countryman has been active as an LGBTQ activist. He now has his eye on the governor's office.
Woodfin Presents First City Budget Proposal
The Birmingham City Council heard Mayor Randall Woodfin’s first proposed spending plan today, then set a budget hearing for May 14. The mayor says, the city has to make some tough decisions.
Environmental Groups: Fees Tied to Solar are ‘Unlawful’
Attorneys recently filed a complaint with the state Public Service Commission against Alabama Power over extra fees the power company imposes on homes, schools, and small businesses that use solar power. The complaint calls the five-year-old fees “unlawful” and “contrary to the public interest.”
