Series
Jones Sides With Senate Democrats, Will Vote to Convict Trump in Impeachment Trial
Sen. Doug Jones will vote to convict President Donald Trump of two charges in his impeachment trial.
Leading U.S. Senate Candidates Began the Year With Millions to Fuel Campaigns
Former Sen. Jeff Sessions, U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne and retired football coach Tommy Tuberville entered 2020 with millions of dollars in the bank as they campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Possible Focus on Inmate Education, DOC Oversight in 2020 Session
The 2020 legislative session begins Tuesday and prisons are at the top of the agenda. Lawmakers are likely to consider proposals presented last week by Governor Kay Ivey's Study Group on Criminal Justice Policy.
Gasp, SELC Challenge ABC Coke Consent Decree
A fight over ABC Coke’s air pollution in Birmingham and Tarrant entered federal court Tuesday as groups charged that a consent decree agreement approved last spring is too weak to guarantee that unlawful discharges of the cancer-causing chemical benzene will stop.
Birmingham Council Approves Sending Up to 297 Neighborhood Reps to Conference
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to send up to 297 neighborhood representatives to this May’s Neighborhoods USA Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Small Fraction of Students Qualify for Birmingham Promise Scholarship
When it was announced recently that the Birmingham Promise would offer a full tuition scholarship to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, many praised the partnership as a way to give eligible Birmingham graduates a much-needed financial boost. But as it stands, most students wouldn't make the cut.
Fire Destroys Boat Dock In North Alabama, Killing At Least 8
In north Alabama, authorities say at least eight people died early Monday after a boat dock caught fire. The fire destroyed more than 30 boats moored along the Tennessee River in Scottsboro, Ala.
Despite Pledges, Birmingham Barely Out of Gate on Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Sustainability
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin promised in December to pivot toward prioritizing sustainability during the remaining two years of his term in office. But for some, Woodfin’s administration — and Birmingham’s municipal government as a whole — has been frustratingly inert when it comes to environmental issues.
Environmental Groups Protest New Waters of the US Rule
Environmental groups in Alabama and elsewhere say they will fight to delay or stop a new federal rule that would remove the 1972 Clean Water Act’s oversight of half the nation’s wetlands and many small streams.
Prisons Officials Request $42 Million Increase to Hire Staff, Improve Healthcare
Prisons will be a top issue in the upcoming legislative session. The state Department of Corrections presented its budget request Thursday, along with the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.
JeffCo Commission Approves Fees for Credit, Debit Card Payments to Revenue Department
The Jefferson County Revenue's Office will now apply a 1% convenience fee on debit and card payments after passing with unanimous consent on Thursday.
Birmingham Council Reallocates Unused CrossPlex Funds to Repave Roads, Under Protest
The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to reallocate money from a completed capital project at the Birmingham CrossPlex to citywide road repaving, rebuffing the protests of District 8 Councilor Steven Hoyt, who called the proposal “unfair.”
Trump’s Impeachment Trial Could Affect Doug Jones’ Reelection Bid
We examine how a vulnerable Democrat from Alabama is approaching President Trump's impeachment trial. Senator Doug Jones is up for reelection in a state where Trump has a 59% approval rating.
Ivey’s Study Group Proposes Prison Reforms Ahead of Legislative Session
Gov. Kay Ivey’s prisons study group made suggestions Tuesday after months of reviewing the state's troubled prison system.
Alabama Representatives Flip Votes on Two Measures Involving Cleanup of PFAS Pollution
Alabama’s representatives in the U.S. House flipped votes on two issues last week concerning regulation of PFAS chemicals, which have been linked to cancer. These chemicals have been found in drinking water and land in northern Alabama.
Three Dead in Alabama After Severe Weather Sweeps Through the South
Three people in Alabama died after severe storms hit the area on Saturday.
Jefferson County Commission Delays Vote on Fee for Card Payments
The Jefferson County chief financial officer says discussion about a 1% debit and credit card convenience fee should be tabled for another two weeks.
Severe Weather Threatens Most of Alabama on Saturday
Forecasters in central Alabama say the storm system threatens to spin off tornadoes. Officials say residents should have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and should not depend solely on outdoor warning sirens.
Education Town Hall Set for Jan. 15
A town hall meeting on the status of education in Birmingham has been set for Jan. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Jefferson County Commission Moves to Preserve Downtown Jail Where Martin Luther King Jr. Was Held
The Jefferson County Commission Thursday took the first steps toward acknowledging and preserving remnants of the jail where Martin Luther King Jr. was held.
Jefferson County Gets New Human Resources Director, Raising Hopes for Lifting Consent Decree on Personnel Practices
Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight offered a predictable straight line after Caroline Brown was introduced as Jefferson County’s new human resource director at Tuesday’s commission committee meeting.
Birmingham and UAB Partner to Offer Free Tuition to City Graduates
The University of Alabama at Birmingham will offer a full tuition scholarship to some graduates of Birmingham City Schools as part of a new partnership with the City of Birmingham.
Birmingham City Council Delays Vote on Five Points West/CrossPlex Grant
The Birmingham City Council on Monday delayed voting on an item granting funding to the Five Points West/CrossPlex Business Alliance under the city’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) initiative.
Court Says Gardendale Must Pay Opponents’ Legal Fees in Failed School System Breakaway
The City of Gardendale will have to pay $850,000 to the lawyers of black students, according to a new court ruling.
Aniah Blanchard Remembered for Smiles, Laughter and Encouragement
Friends and family remembered Aniah Blanchard Saturday, a Homewood native who was abducted and killed this fall. Speakers at the funeral told of her caring nature and her faith.
One Small Step: “I don’t like to be put into a box…”
This year StoryCorps launched a new project called One Small Step, an effort to bring together Americans with differing political views not to argue about issues, but to get to […]
New Proposal Plans To Connect Birmingham’s City Center to Northwest Neighborhoods
A new urban development proposal plans to connect Birmingham's City Center to neighborhoods in the northwest quadrant of downtown which are separated by the interstate.
Schools Cancel After-School Activities due to Expected Severe Weather
As severe weather moves toward Alabama, several school districts are closing early.
John Archibald says Former Birmingham Water Works Board President’s Sentence a Slap on the Wrist
Sherry Lewis, the former chair of the Birmingham Water Works Board, will not go to prison despite being convicted of two felony ethics charges. A judge sentenced Lewis Thursday.
Sloss Furnaces Marks Alabama’s Bicentennial with the Children’s Bell
Industrialization is a major part of Alabama’s history and perhaps the most visible reminder of that in Birmingham is Sloss Furnaces. The historic site is marking the bicentennial with an object in line with that past of iron and steel: the Alabama Bicentennial Children’s Bell.
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Talks Alabama Bicentennial and the State’s Reputation
The grand finale of Alabama’s Bicentennial commemoration is this weekend in the state’s capital. There will be concerts and parades throughout the weekend and appearances from the state’s more notable residents. Alabama native and comedian Roy Wood Jr. is one of them.
Inmate Deaths Prompt Alabama Prisons To Take Steps to Curb Violence
The Alabama Department of Corrections announced this week it is taking measures to cut down on prison violence. This follows the deaths of two inmates. One death allegedly involved the use of force by corrections staff.
