Series
“My conservative father just giggled…”
Kathi Rushing of Birmingham…
The art of reading a person’s body…
Tailor Chuck Robertson of Birmingham…
“They learn, I learn… “
ESL teacher Michael Rosato from Birmingham…
Governor’s Speech Creates Budget Confusion
Montgomery is buzzing now that the Alabama legislature is back in session. Governor Robert Bentley entered the fray Tuesday night with his State of the State Address. The governor offered a long list of proposals including tearing down and building new prisons, free community college tuition for low-income students, increased broadband access and incentives to improve healthcare for rural areas. The question of how to pay for all of this is mostly unanswered. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says this just creates confusion around the state's budget.
Bentley’s “Great State” Plan Lacks Funding Details
The Alabama Legislature is back to work and Governor Robert Bentley announced his Great State 2019 Plan at his State of the State address last night. AL.com’s Kyle Whitmire discusses […]
The 2016 Alabama Legislative Session Begins Tuesday: Here’s What to Watch
The 2016 Alabama legislative session kicks off on Tuesday. From the lottery to tightening the state budget to teacher pay, this year’s session will be full of important and controversial issues. Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal, spoke to WBHM’s about what folks should expect this year.
Blueprint Birmingham and Beyond
More than five years after the Birmingham Business Alliance launched Blueprint Birmingham, the BBA is working towards a new strategic plan, called Blueprint 20/20. For more on this and other stories, WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley spoke to Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD. Patterson joins WBHM most Thursdays during All Things Considered.
Arc Stories: January 2016 Edition
Stories about learning a valuable lesson. A young man striving for his father’s approval; a couple whose relationship is defined by the purchase of a van; and an educator who’s […]
Naloxone Helps Stop Heroin Overdoses in Alabama, But Still Not Widely Used
In Jefferson County, heroin abuse rose dramatically in 2014. The county coroner attributed more than 140 deaths to heroin. Law enforcement and the state have been rushing to respond. Last year, the state legislature approved access to a heroin antidote: naloxone, more commonly known as narcan. If used properly, naloxone can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose. Public health officials in Alabama are trying raise awareness and get the potentially life-saving drug to the people who need it most.
High Costs of Heroin Addiction Treatment Put Significant Strain on Families
Heroin abuse continues to rise nationally and in Alabama, leaving more people searching for ways to kick addiction. Families ask friends, professionals and scour the Internet looking for the best, and most affordable, treatment for their loved one. But the financial burdens can be crippling, sometimes thousands upon thousands of dollars.
The Low Price and High Cost of Heroin
Heroin overdose deaths are on the rise nationally. In Jefferson County, deaths increased by more than 140 percent in 2014. The numbers were shocking: Heroin caused or contributed to 144 deaths in 2014. Area law enforcement responded by increasing efforts to get traffickers and drugs off the streets, especially in Birmingham.
Alabama’s Aging Infrastructure
Many economic development groups in Alabama consider infrastructure such as roads, bridges and railways essential for spurring growth and jobs. But when it comes to assessments of the state’s infrastructure, Alabama scores poorly. That’s where we start the conversation in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
What’s Next for VictoryLand and Macon County
According to VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor, the sprawling Macon County gaming and entertainment complex should reopen this year, almost three years after it closed. The closure followed years of legal battles and a 2013 raid where the state seized more than 1,600 bingo machines and $253,000. But in October, an Alabama Circuit Judge ruled in Victoryland’s favor, paving the wave for its return. For more we turn to Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD. He tells WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley that VictoryLand once held an important place in Macon County’s economy.
Jefferson County Groups Engaging in Unseemly Endorsement Process
Republican presidential contender Donald Trump grabbed headlines this week with the endorsement of former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Alabama-based organizations are rolling out their endorsements too. But one Birmingham group is going about endorsing candidates in a way that very clearly reveals the ugly underbelly of politics. To explain is Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Matters of Choice: Race, Economics and Choice in North Carolina
In North Carolina, students get their choice of charter schools, but those schools are increasingly divided by race. In this southern state where some of the nation’s most noted school desegregation battles were waged, a recent Duke University study shows that many schools are either predominantly white or predominantly minority. Efforts are being made, however, to change that trend.
Matters of Choice: Florida — A Hot Spot for School Choice
While many ideas may have originated in other states, Florida has adopted them and created a massive alternative system. WFSU-FM’s Lynn Hatter takes a look at the decades-long movement that is school choice in Florida, one of the nation’s hot spots for school choice programs, as part of the Southern Education Desk's series, "Matters of Choice."
Sanders Tells Black Voters U.S. Must Confront ‘Institutional Racism’
It’s not just Iowa and New Hampshire where Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will have to perform strongly to win the Democratic nomination. He’ll also need to do well on March 1st, this year’s Super Tuesday. That's when a dozen, mostly southern states hold presidential primaries and caucuses. And in many of those states, African-Americans are a key Democratic voting block. That’s one reason Sanders spent Monday night in Birmingham celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Matters of Choice: New Orleans – The Choice Epicenter
Most Southern states allow for some form of school choice – magnet schools, vouchers for private schools, charter schools and more. How do these options affect learning, school demographics, and student success? We explore Matters of Choice beginning with this report from WWNO’s Mallory Falk in New Orleans.
Losing History in One of Birmingham’s Oldest Neighborhoods
Birmingham city leaders are stepping up efforts to deal with dilapidated or abandoned properties. In communities overshadowed by blight, preservation is rarely an option, since resources are devoted to cleaning […]
Calls for Hubbard to Step Aside Show Split Within Alabama GOP
Alabama lawmakers are set to being their 2016 regular session in less than three weeks. Presumably leading the House will be Speaker Mike Hubbard. That's despite the fact Hubbard faces trial in March on corruption charges. But this past weekend a Republican Party committee approved a resolution calling on Hubbard to suspend his leadership position. We talk about the move with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He also offers some hope sparked by the reopening of the Lyric Theatre in downtown Birmingham.
Fighting Blight: More Demolitions, Tougher Code Enforcement in 2016
It’s not unusual to drive along some inner city Birmingham streets and see well-maintained homes alongside burned structures and weed-infested lots. For years, residents have complained, and, if they were lucky, some lots and abandoned property were cleared. This year, with millions more in the budget and new laws with penalties for owners who don’t maintain their property, the city is hoping to stop blight in its tracks.
Birmingham’s Blight – Ravaged Inner City Communities Ready for Change
Birmingham has received national attention for its booming downtown revitalization and new development projects. But that's not the whole story. Less than a mile from downtown gems like Railroad Park and Regions Field, inner city neighborhoods struggle with decaying, abandoned homes and buildings.
A College Football Edition of Magic City Marketplace
University of Alabama fans are pulling for a win in tonight’s national college football championship game in Phoenix. Meanwhile, Auburn University finished its season much closer to home in the Birmingham Bowl last month. This year’s bowl game drew almost 60,000 to Legion Field. That’s something city leaders cheered, but they also put a lot of money into the game. We talk about that this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
What’s Next For “It’s Nice to Have You in Birmingham” Trademark Debate?
The future of "It's Nice to Have You in Birmingham" is still up in the air. Last year, local design studio Yellowhammer Creative filed a trademark application for the phrase. They've used it on murals and t-shirts, and argue it's become synonymous with their brand. But three parties are petitioning Yellowhammer's application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Probate Judges Caught Between Competing Orders on Gay Marriage
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore says probate judges should not be issuing marriage licenses to gay couples despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year legalizing same-sex marriage. Moore's order released yesterday says an earlier state-level directive is still in effect and suggests the U.S. Supreme Court decision only applies to the states specifically mentioned in the case. A few probate judges have stopped issuing marriage licenses pending advice from attorneys. Jefferson and Montgomery counties' probate judges say they'll continue to grant licenses to all couples. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about the situation.
Alabama Chief Justice Orders Stop to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
Alabama Chief Justice, Roy Moore, issues an order to all probate judges regarding the state’s law on same-sex marriage, and Alabama lawmakers and community leaders address issues of gun rights […]
What to Watch for in 2016 Birmingham Business
With 2015 in the books, a new year lies ahead with hopes and possibilities. To kick off another year of Magic City Marketplace, Birmingham Business Journal editor Cindy Fisher Crawford explains what to watch for in 2016 as it relates to Alabama’s business community.
What Will 2017 Bring for Birmingham’s Economy?
We talk about what is expected in the Birmingham area economy in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
A Year-end Political Review with Columnist John Archibald
Alabama politics had a busy 2015. It's a year that saw the return of UAB's football program, the legalization of gay marriage and the end of Governor Robert Bentley's marriage. The year provided a steady stream of fodder for Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He looks back over those key stories.
Could Long-Time U.S. Senator Richard Shelby be Dethroned in 2016?
Alabama is bracing itself for a busy election cycle; not only for the presidential race and the new SEC Primary March 1, but also for a Congressional seat that’s up […]
Arc Stories: Holiday Edition
‘Tis The Season: Stories about the Holidays: A Christmas gift that completely changed the trajectory of on man’s life; the first time a little-girl gets a glimpse of the adult […]
Birmingham Council President Racks Up $18,000 in Cell Phone Fees
Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin has taken many trips to conventions and meetings on the taxpayers' dime, but city coffers haven't just paid for his hotel rooms. Austin has racked up more than $18,000 in international roaming fees on his cell phone and other electronic devices. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about the situation.
