BirminghamWatch

Jefferson County Commission May Hire More Road Clean-Up Help

Jefferson County Commissioners are considering whether to hire temporary workers to clean up litter along county roads.

Candidates Lining Up To Run For Birmingham City Council

Several incumbents plan to seek re-election and some challengers have emerged.

Birmingham City Council Approves The Council President’s Trip To Meet With Legislators

The Birmingham City Council has approved its first official travel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Lady Justice Is Not Wearing A Blindfold

In Alabama, Blacks make up more than half of the state's inmate population. Some law professionals say racial bias spans from over policing of Black neighborhoods to criminal sentencing.

Gambling Proposals Must Pass The ‘Smell Test’ Before Going To Voters, Ivey Tells Lawmakers

The governor recapped the challenges of 2020, particularly on schools and the economy.

William Bell Will Run For Mayor’s Seat Again

Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell has filed paperwork to run again for mayor.

Alabama Needs More Vaccines To Stop The Spread Of COVID-19, Doctor Says

The number of new daily COVID-19 cases appears to be on a "downward trend" in Alabama, and the statewide hospitalization rate is improving, according to the head of infectious diseases at UAB.

Alabama Is Home To 20 Hate Groups, 838 Operate Nationwide, SPLC Says

Alabama had 20 "hate groups" in 2020, according to an annual nationwide report by the Southern Poverty Law Centers.

Woodfin Kicks Off Mayoral Reelection Campaign, Says He’ll Ramp Up Work On Neighborhoods, Education Priorities

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced this weekend that he is running for another term.

Jones Starts His Post-Senate Life As CNN Contributor

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones is taking on a new role as a political commentator at CNN.

Fultondale High School Too Badly Damaged By Tornado To Use Again

Fultondale High School is permanently closed because of damage from last week's tornado.

Variant Of COVID-19 Virus Detected In Three Alabamians

Alabama has identified multiple cases of a new COVID-19 variant originally reported in the United Kingdom.

Where Is The COVID-19 Vaccine And How Do You Get One?

Arranging to get a COVID-19 vaccine can be frustrating and a potentially complicated process. We're here to answer some of your questions.

City Council Approves Bid For Birmingham Real-Time Crime Center

The city of Birmingham's 'real-time crime center' is coming to life thanks to the city council's approval of a nearly $1 million construction bid.

Settlement Reached To Address ABC Coke Pollution

The Drummond Company will now be required to follow a leak detection and repair program for the rest of the plant’s existence.

Park Board Approves Making Legion Field A 24/7 Vaccination Site

Legion Field has been operating as a testing site for COVID-19. Now officials want to expand the operation to include coronavirus vaccinations.

JeffCo Commission Picks Up Where Feds Left Off, Will Pay For COVID Time Off

The Jefferson County Commission unanimously approved funding this week that will help pay county employees for time off related to COVID-19.

COVID Vaccinations Begin For People 75+ Years Old

Jefferson County residents 75 and older started receiving the COVID-19 vaccine this week.

Woodfin Looks Toward A Better 2021 In State Of The Community Address

The mayor discussed continued neighborhood revitalization, the rise in homicides, and encouraging economic development projects on the horizon.

Scales Announces Bid For Mayor

The county commissioner would be the first elected female mayor of the city.

Huntsville Picked For Headquarters Of New U.S. Space Command

The Air Force said Huntsville is the “preferred and reasonable’’ site pending a required environmental impact study.

Next Phase of COVID-19 Vaccinations In Jefferson County Could Start Next Week

The state authorized all counties to begin vaccinating first responders and people 75 years and older. But health officials say it will likely be next week before they can start doing that.

Democrats Gearing Up for Effort to Oust Mo Brooks in 2022

U.S. Representative Mo Brooks is facing backlash after his comments last week surrounding the pro-Trump riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Bernard Lockhart’s Work Ethic Fueled His Passion For Jazz And Community-Building

Bernard Lockhart, founder of Avondale's Jazz in the Park, died last month from complications related to COVID-19.

Turning Red Line Green: Virtual Conference Brings Attention To Underserved Areas

In the past, certain areas of Birmingham that were up for redevelopment faced discriminatory practices by banks and insurance companies. Some bankers, regulators, developers and entrepreneurs want to change that.

Hotels, Recovery Rooms And Waiting Rooms Pressed Into Service As UAB’s Patient Load Rises

UAB Hospital is daily caring for a record number of new COVID-19 patients. These patients have been hospitalized because they are very sick or may be unable to survive without intensive medical care, according to UAB.

Birmingham Council Goes Virtual, Mayor Still Hospitalized

Jefferson County's recent spike in COVID-19 cases — along with Mayor Randall Woodfin’s recent COVID diagnosis and hospitalization — finally pushed the city council's weekly meeting fully online.

Woodfin Hospitalized With COVID

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was hospitalized Monday for symptoms related to COVID-19.

‘Oh My God!’ Alabama Running Out Of ICU Beds, And The Christmas Rush Hasn’t Even Begun

Alabama's ICU beds are filling up and the state has not yet seen the rush of new cases from holiday gatherings, according to the president of the Alabama Hospital Association.

Birmingham Police Need The Public’s Help In Solving Homicides, Woodfin Says

The overall crime rate in Birmingham went down compared to last year, but the city’s murder rate increased 13 percent in 2020, according to data from the Birmingham Police Department.

UAB’s Marrazzo Concerned About Rising COVID Numbers, But Hopeful About Vaccines

Alabama ranks third in the nation in per capita hospitalizations for COVID-19.

Birmingham Council OKs Incentives For Project At Old Carraway Hospital

The Birmingham City Council approved an economic incentives package this week for the long-awaited redevelopment of the former Carraway Hospital property.