Series

Spend It All: JeffCo Commission Makes Sure to Leave No Cares Act Money On The Table

The county commissioners sought to tie up any loose ends for Cares Act money at its meeting on Tuesday.

Providers Plan For Vaccinating Millions of Rural Alabamians

As Alabama receives its first allotment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, health officials anticipate challenges distributing the vaccine in rural communities.

Local COVID-19 Hospitalizations Spike As Alabama Faces Shortages In Number Of Available Healthcare Workers

Experts predict that number of new COVID-19 hospitalization will continue to rise in the coming weeks.

Predictable Prejudice: Predictive Policing Software Promises Unbiased Crime-Fighting, But Can It Deliver?

Predictive policing software programs such as PredPol was adopted by the Homewood Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in 2016 and Birmingham Police Department in 2019.

UAB Predicts COVID Hospital Patients Will Double By Christmas, Vaccines Expected Soon

In a gathering of 20 people, there's more than a 50% chance that one person in that gathering will be infectious and contagious with COVID-19, according to Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson.

Birmingham Officials Reject Defunding, But Plan Police Reforms With Civilian Oversight

The city of Birmingham’s Public Safety Task Force released a report Thursday morning that outlines four areas that the city can improve on.

Slated For A Mega Prison, Brierfield Residents Demand Answers

Gov. Kay Ivey recently announced where she wants to build three new mega prisons. Residents are pushing back on the plan.

Jones Calls For Bipartisanship In Farewell To Senate, Does Not Address Talk Biden Favors Him For AG

Democratic Senator Doug Jones gave his farewell speech Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

UAB Hospital Braces For ‘Terrifying’ Increase in COVID Hospitalizations

As COVID case numbers continue to increase, UAB Hospital is predicting a dramatic surge in hospitalizations next week.

Gov. Ivey Extends Mask Order Into 2021

Governor Kay Ivey is extending Alabama’s Safer-at-Home order until January 22, 2021.

COVID-19 Hospitalization Number Reaches Record High In Alabama

Alabama's COVID-19 hospitalizations reached a new record, according to the state department of public health.

Alabama Health Officials Hope To Receive First COVID-19 Vaccines Next Friday

Alabama will receive about 41,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, which will be distributed at 16 vaccination sites at hospitals across the state.

Food Banks Struggle To Meet Increasing Demand During Holiday Season

Some Birmingham-area food banks are scrambling to keep food on the table for their clients.

Alabama Struggling With Racial Disparities In Child Poverty Levels, Report Says

Children of color will make up the majority of the child population and the majority of the workforce in Alabama by 2030, according to the 2020 Alabama Kids Count report.

Cam Ward Plans New Direction For Pardons And Paroles

State Sen. Cam Ward is replacing Charlie Graddick as director of Alabama's Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Under Graddick's leadership, paroles rates declined significantly.

Educators Mixed on Governor’s Push For In-Person Learning

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the longer schools are disrupted, the more likely kids will suffer academically.

Jeffco Commission To Consider Mortgage Assistance

The Jefferson County Commission is expected Thursday to amend its disbursement of Cares Act funds to include mortgage assistance for residents adversely affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Birmingham Bringing Back Up to 132 Furloughed Employees

The city will borrow money from its general fund reserve amid concerns from some council members.

UAB Expert: Alabama Could See ‘Tidal Wave’ Of Coronavirus Cases This Month

Alabama will likely receive its first shipment of a COVID-19 vaccine in January, according to health care experts. It was previously predicted that Alabama would receive the vaccine in December.

COVID Hospitalizations Hit Record High As Case Numbers Rise

UAB Hospital is caring for 125 COVID-19 patients, which is a new record high.

Council Postpones Vote On Holiday Pay, Says Woodfin Expects Them To Make Budget Decisions “Blindly”

The Birmingham City Council delayed a proposal to pay city employees for an unpaid holiday on Black Friday.

Dogs, Firehoses Were A Precursor To Today’s Violent Protests

“You will never be Christ, but that doesn’t mean that you stop pursuing that Christ-like behavior. What we have to do is be in relentless pursuit of having a positive relationship with the community we serve," said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith.

Health Experts: Scale Back Thanksgiving Plans To Avoid COVID-19

Research from Georgia Tech University shows there is a one in five chance you will catch the virus if you gather with a group of ten people in Jefferson County.

Hospitalized For Months: One Man’s Fight Against COVID-19

COVID-19 has left 38-year-old Victor Perea hospitalized for almost three months. His wife wants others to understand how bad the virus can be.

Jones Pleads With Public To Follow COVID Safety Guidelines As Cases And Deaths Increase

Health experts are warning about gathering with friends and family over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Rising COVID-19 Cases Starting To Strain Hospital Resources, Staff

The COVID-19 caseloads in Alabama hospitals are "worsening fairly rapidly," according to the president of the Alabama Hospital Association.

Commission OKs Cares Act Funding In Quick Session

"We don’t want to send money back to Washington. We want to make sure that it’s spent here and for us to do that, we need to make sure we’ve looked at every avenue possible," said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons.

Birmingham Council Balks At Mayor’s Plan To Bring Back Some Workers, Wants More Information

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin wants to use $7 million from the reserve fund to bring back more than 130 furloughed city employees. But the city council is not sold.

Longtime Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver Would Have Done Just About Anything For His Little City

The longtime mayor for the city of Clanton died in July from COVID-19.

Birmingham Library Exec Returns To Work After One-Month Suspension

Birmingham Public Library Executive Director Floyd Council was back at work Friday after one month of being suspended without pay.

Concerns Raised About COVID At Horizon Church Polling Place After Worker Tests Positive

Voters who cast their ballots last week at Horizon Church may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Rapid Rise Of Alabama, National COVID-19 Numbers Worries UAB Doctor

Alabama's number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths continues to rise.