Series

CEO Pay in Birmingham

Researchers have documented rising inequality between those at the top of the economic ladder and workers at the bottom. Perhaps nothing represents this split more than the CEO salary. We hear about the earnings of Birmingham area CEOs in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

What do we Learn from a Church Bomber’s Denied Parole?

Thomas Blanton will stay in jail. He's the last remaining Klansman convicted for Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church bombing which killed four black girls in 1963. Blanton was up for parole Wednesday after serving 15 years of his four life sentences. But the state's parole board did not free Blanton. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald reflects on the hearing and also comments on Alabama's likely new Speaker of the Alabama House Mac McCutcheon.

WBHM Member Stories

Since 1976 the strongest advocates for WBHM have been our members. We are delighted to share stories from our members and why they choose to listen and support their NPR […]

Birmingham Startup Lands $20 million in Venture Capital

Birmingham tech startup Shipt grabbed eyeballs earlier this year when its logo went up on a on a downtown building. It drew wider attention with the announcement the company pulled down $20 million in venture capital. We talk about what that means in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

Reducing Recidivism in Alabama, U.S.

People who have spent time in prison for non-violent felony offenses have a difficult time finding - and in some cases - keeping a job. This lack of opportunity can often force people into situations where the only option is to break the law and risk being sent back to prison. It's called recidivism.

Arc Stories: July 2016 Edition

Four stories where the storyteller learns something new about themselves and others. A man attempts to find reconciliation with a childhood friend he betrayed 30 years before; a husband discovers something about his […]

Many Unknowns Around Governor’s Call for a Lottery

Proponents of a lottery in Alabama received a notable boost this week after Governor Robert Bentley announced he would call a special session on that issue. He wants lawmakers to pass a measure to create a lottery which would then have to be approved by voters. Bentley says it's up to voters to decide but calls a lottery the best remaining way to deal with persistent budget crises. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald offers his take on the proposal.

How Alabama Ethics Laws Allow for Questionable Campaign Spending

A loophole in Alabama's campaign finance law allows for questionable contributions.

Why is Commercial Real Estate such a Hot Commodity in Birmingham?

Birmingham is attracting a lot of commercial investment. Since 2011, out-of-state investors have spent more than $3.8 billion on commercial property in Jefferson and Shelby Counties. This trend is said […]

The Junction: We Won’t Be Next

After police shootings and racially-charged murders this month, the national conversation is once again focused on the fraught relationship between police and black communities. To address these tensions, The Birmingham […]

Finding a Way to Talk About Racial Inequality in Alabama, U.S.

It's time to speak of reparations. That's the headline of the latest column by AL.com's John Archibald. The piece comes following the turbulent and deadly events involving black men and law enforcement in Louisiana, Texas and Minnesota. A discussion about this controversial column.

It Might Just Be Legal

Spending practices regarding election campaign funds in Alabama are under review. How those funds are spent, now, can be looked up as public information, and there are some questions that come […]

AG Puts Foot Down on Alabama’s Open Carry Law

Attorney General Luther Strange orders removal of all "No Firearms Allowed" signs around Alabama.

The Definition of Ethics In Alabama is..

If you look for a definition of the word, “ethics,” terms come up like, “moral principles,” and “the concept of right and wrong.” Appropriate behavior, or noting the lack of […]

Strong Headwinds Against Wind Energy in Alabama

Drive through the Midwest or Great Plains and you may see expansive wind farms rising from the fields. That sight is not something you see in Alabama. Still there are those who see a place for wind energy in this state and we talk about it in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

Who is Worse? Democrats or Republicans?

When it comes to less than stellar behavior in Alabama politics, both sides bring plenty to the table. Democrats are the party of George Wallace and the two-year college scandal. Republicans have now seen their House Speaker Mike Hubbard removed from office on ethics convictions. Meanwhile Republican Chief Justice Roy Moore faces his own ethics charges and Governor Robert Bentley faces an impeachment effort. Which side is worse? Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says it's a trick question.

Corruption in Alabama: The Role of the State Ethics Commission

We continue our examination of corruption that appears to plague Alabama politics

Cahaba Grand Sale Leaves Void for Large Events

Alabama’s largest church, the Church of the Highlands, purchased the Cahaba Grand Conference Center for $8 million earlier this year. As that facility along Highway 280 transitions from conference venue to house of worship, it’s causing ripples through the Birmingham area event space market. We talk about it in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

Arc Stories: June 2016 Edition

Stories where plans put into motion take some unexpected turns. One young woman’s attempt to have a little fun at some protester’s expense, a boy who is taken on the […]

Mother Suing Birmingham Clinic for Medical Negligence

Mothers-to-be put a lot of thought into how – and where – they want to give birth to their babies. And a lot of what influences that choice is how […]

A Private Gym For Birmingham Airport Leader Raises Questions

High-profile positions often come with perks. But with public positions involving public money, perks can drift into illegal ethics violations. Those are the concerns around Birmingham's airport authority CEO and what's been called his private gym. We talk about the controversy with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. We also hear about the unanswered questions around the firing of a high-raking employee of the State Department of Finance.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Corruption in Alabama?

Alabama has a corruption problem. Former House Speaker Mike Hubbard is currently awaiting sentencing for 12 felony ethics convictions, Chief Justice Roy Moore is scheduled to go to trial for […]

A Birmingham Business Mystery may be Revealed, Soon

A “good news” Birmingham business mystery may soon be revealed. The firearms business is booming. Changes in the industrial economy are impacting Alabama’s waterways and roadways. Ty West is Editor of the Birmingham Business Journal. He joins WBHM’s Scott Hanley to consider some of these latest stories in the Magic City Marketplace.

The Junction: Stories from Ensley, Alabama – Janice Houston Nixon

In 1967, 12-year-old Janice Houston Nixon decided to transfer from the all-black school in her native Ensley, to an all-white school nearby. Nixon was inspired to do so by her sister, […]

Alabama Families Living in Poverty Hit Hard by Welfare Reform

The number of families living in poverty in Alabama has risen, but the number of families currently receiving TANF funding has dropped.

Spencer Collier “Anxious” to Testify Against Gov. Bentley in Potential Impeachment Trial

An investigation is underway to determine whether Governor Robert Bentley should be impeached, and a discussion about Alabama real estate mogul Franklin Haney and his potential influence on state politics. […]

TAKING ON TESTS: Atlanta School Students Still Recovering From Cheating Scandal

“We have lots of challenges and skepticism and there will be criticism, but also success is knowing that as we are getting this off the ground and running there are people who are saying this is great I'm glad you are doing something,” Dr. Alicia Hill says.

Putting Yourself in Other People’s Shoes…

Birmingham yoga instructor Jasper Elliott Wolfe…

The Junction: Stories from Ensley, Alabama — Holy Family Cristo Rey High School

Fair or not, the words "Ensley" and "success" don't often appear together in local media reports. But tucked among vacant buildings and weedy lots a few feet from an Interstate, there's a high school with a college acceptance rate most suburban schools would envy. For the latest chapter of "The Junction: Stories from Ensley, Alabama," education reporter Dan Carsen talks with the people making it happen to find out how this school works.

The Potential for a New Round of Bank Mergers

Birmingham’s banking industry is not what it used to be. After major acquisitions in the 2000s and the Great Recession, Birmingham is left with two big banks: Regions and BBVA Compass, which was snapped up by a Spanish financial giant. While all that activity has died down, there’s chatter we could see a pick up in mergers and acquisitions among banks. We start there in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.

Does My Vote Matter? We Ask What You Think

Your right to vote is arguably the most important and coveted right a person can have in this country. When the 2016 presidential election is over, one person, the president, will represent a nation of close to 320 million people. After this primary season, more than a few of those American's have lost faith in American’s voting process.

Poultry Waste Dumping Causes Concern in Marshall County

At any given time there are roughly 5 million broiler chickens being raised in Marshall County, Alabama. It ranks third in the state for poultry production. While the industry creates […]