Series

Yes, It Is Safe To Get The COVID And Flu Vaccines At The Same Time

Alabama is gearing up for flu season. Health professionals say it's okay to get the COVID-19 vaccine in conjunction with the flu vaccine.

Hoyt Leaves Legacy In District Eight After Sixteen Years

For the last sixteen years, Birmingham City Councilor Steven Hoyt has represented areas like Ensley, West End and Five Points West. But Hoyt will leave office next month after choosing not to run for reelection. His last meeting is October 19.

JeffCo Employees Getting 3% Raises In Budget Passed Thursday

The Jefferson County Commission unanimously passed a $882,750,611 budget last week. It includes a 3% across-the-board raise for county employees.

Birmingham Applies For Grants To Beef Up Surveillance, Readies To Open Real-Time Crime Center

The city of Birmingham will apply for a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to purchase and maintain license plate readers in an effort “to improve the [Birmingham Police Department’s] response to violent crime.”

You Know Delta, But Have You Met Mu And The Rest Of The Relatives?

Researchers say there always will be new variant strains of the COVID-19 virus, although all the strains won’t be as deadly as delta.

Animal Shelters In The Gulf South Are Literally Overflowing With Animals

With staffing shortages and high intake, shelters in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are overwhelmed with the number of animals they have.

A Man Died After Being Turned Away From 43 ICUs At Capacity Due To COVID, Family Says

Ray DeMonia didn't die from COVID-19, but after the 73-year-old experienced a cardiac emergency, he was turned away from dozens of packed ICUs, his family says.

Alabama Hospitals Hit Plateau With COVID Patients But Facilities Still In Crisis

Alabama still has more ICU patients than available beds. Hospital officials need more nurses too.

As COVID Rages On, Gulf States Hospitals And Their Staff Look For A Helping Hand

As a field hospital closes up shop in Mississippi this weekend, the state, along with Louisiana and Alabama, still has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country as the pandemic looks to be far from over.

COVID Policies Vary By School District, Causing Confusion For Parents

The state of Alabama has issued recommendations to school districts on how to handle COVID-19 in the classroom. But many of them are just recommendations, giving districts lots of flexibility in setting their own COVID-19 protocols.

COVID Infusion Therapy Effective At Reducing Severity Of Disease — If You Get It Soon Enough

Monoclonal antibody therapy does not work unless it is given in the first 10 days of COVID symptoms, according to health experts.

Alabama Hits New Mark With More Than 700,000 COVID-19 Cases

“If you take all of the ICU beds in Alabama and how many beds are being used right now, we actually have a net negative - which is unheard of," said Dr. Rachael Lee, a UAB infectious disease expert.

Project To Turn Old Ensley High Project Into Apartment Complex Moves Forward

Plans to redevelop the former Ensley High School into a 244-unit apartment complex took another step forward Tuesday, despite pushback from one councilor.

COVID Drives Up Costs At Jefferson County Jails

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office asked for more money during the final weeks of the 2020 fiscal year. The apparent reason was a hefty cleaning bill at the two county jails. But commissioners learned that increased expenses for feeding prisoners brought on by pandemic protocols contributed to the large request.

Two Incumbents, Including President, Ousted From The Birmingham School Board Of Education

Incumbent and Board President Daagye Hendricks (D4) was defeated by Derrick Billups. Incumbent Terri Micha (D2) was defeated by Neonta Williams. And District 1 will go to a runoff between incumbent Douglas Lee Ragland and Sherman Collins Jr..

Amid ICU Shortage, Alabama Hospitals See Record-Breaking Pediatric Caseload

Alabama's hospitals are caring for more children with COVID-19 than ever before, the latest development in an increasingly dire situation for the state's health care system.

Birmingham Voters Head To The Polls Aug. 24. Here’s A Sample Ballot And What You Need To Know.

Headed to vote in the Birmingham city elections on Tuesday, Aug. 24? Check out this sample ballot and find your polling place.

What You Need To Know About Pregnancy, Fertility And The COVID-19 Vaccine

More pregnant women are getting sick with COVID-19 as the delta variant surges in Alabama. Meanwhile, health professionals are trying to combat misinformation surrounding the vaccine and pregnancy. WBHM spoke with two doctors from UAB. Here's what we learned.

Alabama’s Frontline Providers: ‘We Are Overworked And We Are Frustrated’

Amid a fourth, more rapid surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations, Alabama health care providers share stories from inside hospitals across the state.

Candidates For Birmingham Board Of Education

There are 22 people running for the Birmingham Board of Education. Elections are Tuesday, Aug. 24.

Birmingham Council Set To Fund Rapid Transit Project Next Week

The Birmingham City Council will vote on Tuesday whether to allocate $18 million of the city’s American Rescue Plan funding toward the construction of the city’s Bus Rapid Transit system. The project will create a 10-mile, higher-speed public transit corridor through 25 neighborhoods.

Who’s Running For Birmingham City Council?

Do you know who is running for Birmingham City Council? Check out this complete list.

2021 Birmingham Mayoral Candidate Profiles

The ballots are set for the Birmingham mayoral election on Aug. 24. But do you really know who the candidates are? Check out these profiles.

As COVID Devastated The Gulf South, The HIV/AIDS Crisis Was Put “On The Back Burner’

Data acquired from the Louisiana Department of Health and the Alabama Department of Public Health show that the average number of screenings for new HIV infections went down significantly between 2019 and 2020. Health experts worry that it will only make the region’s HIV/AIDS worse.

Health Official Warns About The Danger Of Being In Crowds As High School Football Fully Kicks Off

High school football games are set to fully kick off this week. Health experts say you should continue to wear a mask even if you're fully vaccinated because these events are likely to spread COVID-19.

K-12 Students To Be Tested For COVID In Schools

Cases of COVID-19 in youth are on the rise, according to the state department of public health. A new testing program in Alabama schools hopes to combat that.

Taliban Takeover Leaves Americans More Vulnerable, Says Father Of First American Killed In Afghan War

An Alabama man was the first American to die while fighting in Afghanistan. As President Biden withdraws U.S. troops from the area, the family is reflecting on his death nearly 20 years later.

Alabama’s COVID Hospitalizations On Track To Surpass Winter Surge

State hospitals may soon be caring for more coronavirus patients than ever before. Many are already diverting resources to keep up with the surge.

HUD Secretary Touts ‘Millions And Millions Of Dollars’ Coming To Birmingham For Infrastructure

One day after the Senate passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge visited Birmingham Wednesday.

Birmingham Public Library Honors Civil Rights Leader Shelly Millender Jr.

The Board of Trustees at the Birmingham Public Library honored Shelly Millender Jr. who helped integrate the city’s libraries in 1963.

Parents Urge Vestavia Hills School District To Require Masks

The Vestavia Hills school board's decision to not require masks goes against guidance from public health agencies, including state health officials.

Impasse Between City Council, Mayor’s Office On Scheduling Delays Spending Of City Relief Funds

The city of Birmingham hasn't made any more headway on spending the $74 million it received from the American Rescue Plan. The problem? Scheduling, according to Council President William Parker. That's because the city council, Mayor Randall Woodfin and the finance director need to meet again to discuss logistics.