Series
The Year Ahead for Transit in Birmingham
In this week's Magic City Marketplace, what to expect from Birmingham transit in 2017 and the effect of an interest rate hike on Birmingham banks.
Journalism Under Fire After Presidential Election
Journalism is operating in a brave, new world following this past presidential election. Issues surrounding “fake news,” far-right and far-left media websites and the role social media plays in disseminating […]
Alabama Execution Puts Judicial Override in the Spotlight
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses judicial override. Alabama executed an inmate last week whose death penalty was given by a judge over the recommendation of a jury.
What Trump Could Mean for the Steel and Coal Industries
We look at what a President Trump could mean for the struggling steel and coal industries.
“Rainbow Viaduct” Will Be Saved
The 21st Bridge, also known as the “Rainbow Viaduct” is included in a major renovation project headed by the Alabama Department of Transportation. The future of the viaduct has been an issue of contention among ALDOT, Birmingham city officials and historic preservation groups. ALDOT recently made a critical decision that will greatly affect the bridge project. Here to talk about that and other news is Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.
Questions Surround Mayor’s Plan for Ensley Tower
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses plans to renovate a vacant building in downtown Ensley.
Birmingham Expects a Boost from National Civil Rights Designation
What a national historic monument designation for Birmingham's Civil Rights District could mean for tourism
TopGolf Complex Coming Soon to Uptown
The Birmingham City Council this week cleared the way for construction of a proposed 65,000 square-foot Topgolf complex in Uptown. The council also approved a $1.5 million incentive package to be spread out over the next eight years.
Lawsuit Adds Sordid Details to Alleged Bentley Affair
A lawsuit offers sordid details about Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's alleged affair.
How Birmingham is Doing Attracting Millennials
As Birmingham works to keep its post-recession economic rebound going, a part of that is Millennials. As these people born roughly between 1980 and 2000 enter the job market or advance in their careers, they’ll rent apartments, buy homes, spend money that will fuel future growth. So business leaders are keen to attract and keep Millennials in Birmingham. That’s where we start in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Anxiety and Fear: Birmingham Muslims React to Election of Donald Trump
When Donald Trump was on the campaign trail, he made a promise to “make America great again.” Part of that plan involves a complete and total ban on Muslim immigrants […]
Who Replaces Senator Jeff Sessions?
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions was an early backer of President-elect Donald Trump and as a result Sessions is expected to get a prime spot in a Trump Administration. If that happens, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley would name a successor. That opens up a new horse race. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
The Junction: The Parsonage Bombing
Ensley residents who remember that tragic event and the role the community played in the civil rights movement say this rich history is important today as Ensley looks toward revitalization.
What a President Trump Means for Business
President-elect Donald Trump won the election on a promise to make America the best place in the world to do business. But apart from backing away from trade deals, the specifics of what a Trump Administration would do for the business community are still unclear. We get a sense of what might be coming in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
A Trump Victory Leaves Deep Divides
Political watchers and the public are waiting to see what a Trump presidency will look like. Republican Donald Trump’s stunning victory Tuesday caps an election season that was raucous, divisive and unlike any other in the modern era. After such a campaign, a key question is can the country come together? We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
A Birmingham/NASA Connection and Amendment 11
Alabama has a long history with space exploration thanks to the Marshal Space Flight Center and other NASA facilities in Huntsville. But Birmingham is taking a small step toward that space industry through a project at UAB. We hear about it along with Amendment 11, a ballot proposal economic development leaders want to see passed, in this week’s Magic City Marketplace
Lawsuit Language Sparks Debate at Birmingham City Council Meeting
A $2.5 million lawsuit payout signed by Birmingham Mayor William Bell sparked heated debate during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Members of the Birmingham City Council questioned whether the mayor has […]
Fear and Division on the Eve of the Election
On Tuesday, millions of voters across the country will head to the polls and make their picks for president. It will be the end of a campaign season that's been nasty, brutish and long. It's also a season in which the campaign rhetoric has been driven at many points by fear. But Birmingham Media Group columnist John Archibald has a different message -- fear not!
U.S. 280 Becoming a Second City Center
There’s been plenty of attention showered on downtown Birmingham for its building boom and growth in restaurants and attractions. But there’s another area that’s been expanding too into almost another economic hub. That’s the U.S. 280 corridor from Jefferson to Shelby counties. We talk about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Protecting Yourself from a Cyber Attack
A cyber attack known as a distributed denial of service or DDoS took out several website-based companies last Friday. Users of Twitter, Netflix and the Birmingham News’ AL.com were denied access to these sites for several hours. Nick Patterson, from the weekly newspaper Weld, looks at how this attack affects you and what you can do to prevent being a victim of this in the future.
Affecting your surroundings…
Aspiring hip-hop artist and vegan activist, Walter Duke of Birmingham…
Making a quilt doesn’t have to take that long…
Retired quilter, Vasha Rosenblum of Birmingham…
Attorney General Statement Casts Doubt on Governor’s Version of Events
The split between Governor Robert Bentley and the former head of the state's law enforcement office has taken an interesting turn and one that doesn't exactly put the governor in the best light. Earlier this year, former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency director Spencer Collier, one day after being fired, accused the governor of an affair with his top aide. Bentley denied the accusation and instead turned attention to an internal ALEA report that showed financial mismanagement. But as information about the report dripped out, it appeared far less than purported to be. Last week, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange weighed in. We hear about that from Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald
We have to work together…
Manager of Primates and Giant Otters, Danielle Williams of Birmingham…
Arc Stories: October 2016 Edition
Three stories about the lasting impact other people can have upon our lives. An educator is trying his best to create some teachable moments for his students, and it’s through one encounter […]
Alabama Leaders Hope to Land New Air Force Fighters
Earlier this year the Air Force declared its Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning 2 program combat ready. It’s been 23 years in the making and has suffered though shortcomings and budget issues. But with the fighters ready to take the sky, political leaders in Alabama are hoping to bring the program to this state and the economic benefits that come along with it. That’s in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Asylum Seeking Detainees in AL Claiming Civil Rights Violations
A new report comprised by several immigration advocacy groups finds that Habeus Corpus is routinely denied for detainees being held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement complex in Gadsden. The […]
Birmingham’s Airport Struggles to add Airlines
When a New Orleans-based airline announced it was starting non-stop flights from that city to Alabama earlier this year, they announced those flights would come to Huntsville. It was a blow to Birmingham which had been under consideration. But it also speaks to the position Birmingham is in when it comes to attracting new airlines or flights. We talk about it in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Nick Patterson from the weekly newspaper Weld reports on an effort to stop the cycle of abuse and domestic violence in Birmingham and north-central Alabama.
Document Dump Adds to Bentley Impeachment Investigation
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is battling it out with legislators as they look to possible impeachment of the governor. The impeachment effort was sparked by allegations Bentley had an affair with his top political advisor, Rebekah Mason. Bentley denies this. Nevertheless the House Judiciary Committee has hired a special council to investigate. The committee’s issued subpoenas for documents. Bentley’s lawyer says the panel doesn’t have that power. But still the governor’s office has released thousands of document and we talk about what they reveal with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
UAB, Private Groups Part of the Fight Against Breast Cancer
You may see more pink ribbons and other pink items in the next few weeks as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of many operations working to fight breast cancer. We talk about that effort and how it overlaps with the business community in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
NPR Live Fact-Check: Clinton and Trump Debate in St. Louis
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton are scheduled to face off in the second presidential debate Sunday night at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
