Series
INTERVIEW: Inmate And Horticulture Student Timothy Brown
Alabama's J.F. Ingram State may be the nation's only state-run two-year college exclusively for inmates. Its mission is to reduce recidivism by offering "three legs of the stool": academics, life skills, and vocational training. WBHM's Dan Carsen recently visited Ingram's Deatsville campus, where he met Timothy Brown, a 53-year-old convicted robber and burglar serving a life sentence but hoping for parole. Brown had walked over from the Frank Lee minimum-security facility next door. He'd been passing around organic cantaloupe and filling in for his horticulture teacher. Dan starts the interview by asking Brown if doing the latter makes him nervous.
John Archibald: Birmingham City Council Goes Behind Closed Doors
Birmingham city officials are gung ho about wooing the Democratic National Convention to the Magic City in 2016, but the price tag for that effort is quickly increasing. Two weeks ago the Birmingham City Council approved $250,000 to hire consultants to promote the city's bid. This week they approved another $275,000 for more consultants. But what's really raising eyebrows is the fact this involved a closed-door meeting and no bid contracts. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald offers his thoughts.
Kyle Whitire: At What Cost Will Birmingham Host The DNC?
Birmingham City officials had a closed door meetings this week regarding the Democratic National Convention and the possibility of the Magic City playing host. Will Birmingham host the DNC and at what cost? Kyle Whitmire from AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss.
Alabama Gets National Attention, Working Across Political Lines
Today on Morning Edition, NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Alabama State Sentator Cam Ward and attorney Maria Morris of the Southern Poverty Law Center. The theme of the story - working across political lines to reduce overcrowding and other critical issues in Alabama's Prisons.
Kyle Whitmire: Reaction To Representative Mo Brooks’s Remarks
This week Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Huntsville found himself in hot water after he made some controversial remarks about the Democratic Party. Brooks claimed that the Democratic Party is "wagging a war on whites" and politicians from both parties are taking issue with his comments.
John Archibald: The Ethics of Economic Development
There's the adage it takes money to make money. An Alabama corollary could be it takes money to recruit jobs as state and local officials recently spent several hundred thousand dollars to attend an international airshow in London. They're hoping to recruit new aerospace business to Alabama. While that's supported by taxpayer dollars, the private money involved has Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald concerned.
Kyle Whitmire: Uber Stalls In Birmingham
This week the Birmingham City Council voted unanimously to modify the city's transportation code. The modifications would have a direct impact on taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber. While the changes would allow Uber to operate in city limits, Uber reps tell AL.com that Birmingham's rules still make it impractical for them do business in the city.
Becky Anthony: Life With An Incarcerated Son
When a loved one is incarcerated, it can have a profound impact on their family members on the outside. These families are lifelines to the inmate. From sending money to traveling long distances to visit the inmates, it's work to provide that kind of financial and emotional care. We explore those challenges as part of WBHM's continued coverage of Alabama's prison system. WBHM's Sarah Delia has the story of one mother who has made countless sacrifices to keep her family afloat in order to support her incarcerated son.
John Archibald: Enjoy the Date with Taylor Swift
Birmingham officials are waiting to see if they can beat the odds and land the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Party officials were in the Magic City this week on a site visit and while they had kind things to say about Birmingham, four larger cities are also competing for the convention. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says Birmingham is like the shy kid who won a prom date with Taylor Swift -- enjoy it while it lasts.
Kyle Whitmire: Will Birmingham Host The Next DNC?
This week the Democratic National Committee visited Birmingham to see how the Magic City would perform if selected to host the 2016 national convention. We take a look at how the visit went and what the city's chances are of hosting the convention.
Birmingham Gospel Singers Bring Old Spirituals to a New Generation
The Lee Family Singers have been singing gospel music in and around Birmingham for more than 40 years. Now six of their offspring have formed a new group, The Second Generation of the Lee Family Singers. Both groups are committed to introducing younger people to music that was created hundreds of years ago, music born out of suffering and hope -- the spirituals. For WBHM, Darlene Robinson Millender went to see the Lee Family Singers in action.
Alabama Politics Are More Boring Than You Might Think
Are Alabama politics boring? Well, yes, at least according to a recent article on the Washington Post's political blog -- and that's despite the heated campaigning surrounding the 6th Congressional District Republican primary runoff election on Tuesday, where Gary Palmer bested Paul DeMarco. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald explains Alabama's boring (and not-so-boring) political situation to WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley, and talks about what's next after the primary runoff election.
Kyle Whitmire: Alabama Runoff Elections
Alabamians voted in state legislative, congressional, and local primary runoffs Tuesday. We take a look at voter turnout rate, issues at the polls, and the winners and losers with Kyle Whitmire, political commentator for AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Female Inmates Can Face a Cycle of Abuse
While incarcerated women have characteristics that are similar to their male counterparts, a closer look reveals another story. Studies have shown that the majority of incarcerated women were victims of verbal, physical or sexual abuse before coming to prison. Les Lovoy reports how abuse in prison can re-traumatize women and the challenge for them to break the cycle of abuse, once they re-enter society.
John Archibald: Searching for a Caped Crusader
Drive down the highway and you'll see the roadside sprinkled with billboards. Even though they zip by in seconds, a billboard can create a lasting impression. That's clear from one posted right now along Interstate 20 near the Leeds/Birmingham border. It has some people crying "racist" and Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald longing for a caped crusader.
Hypocrisy and Lies on the Campaign Trail
During midterm elections, hypocrisy and lies are in abundance on the campaign trail. That's according to Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He says we should pay no attention to what politicians say, we should just watch what they do. he spoke with WBHM's Michael Krall.
Kyle Whitmire: Should Alabama Legalize Marijuana?
It's illegal to buy or sell marijuana in the state of Alabama, but some Alabamians and even lawmakers may be coming around to the idea of one day legalizing the use of the drug. We take a look at the polarizing debate over the legalization of marijuana with Kyle Whitmire, political commentator for AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Magic City Marketplace: Stunted Downtown Growth?
Birmingham's received a lot of attention for its downtown revival with more apartments and a grocery store slated to open in the next couple of years. But that has some business types warning that growth could be stunted because of the city's taxes. That's where we start with this week's Magic City Marketplace.
Life After Prison: Victims Face Tough Road Too
All this week in our series Life After Prison we've been exploring the challenges inmates face rebuilding their lives after serving their sentences. It's part of a reporting project in partnership with AL.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting. But for every prisoner there's a victim and often victims face a tough road. WBHM's Andrew Yeager explores this through one crime victim's experience.
How Prison Shaped a Woman’s Career Path
For 10 years of her adult life, Jamie Faust was in and out of county jail and federal prison. In 2012 she entered Julia Tutwiler's Prison for Women as an HIV positive inmate. At the time, HIV inmates were segregated from the general population. She tells WBHM's Sarah Delia that living with HIV in prison wasn't easy, but the experience pushed her to follow a career path she might not have otherwise.
John Archibald: Give Edward Lane a Job
Idealists like to think of the little guy going to Washington and coming out on top. Every once in a while reality reaches toward that idealism. It happened in a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The justices ruled unanimously in favor of Edward Lane, a former Alabama 2-year college system employee who testified about corruption he saw and was fired. They say the First Amendment protects his testimony. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says he needs more than a moral victory.
Life After Prison: Ex-Felons Often Struggle to Find a Job
Throughout the week, WBHM is reporting on the hurdles ex-felons face once they're released from prison. One of the primary challenges they face is finding stable employment. In addition to the external struggles ex-felons face when looking for work, many also grapple with internal ones, like drug addiction or mental health issues. But, issues aside, ex-offenders need a job to provide for their basic needs, in addition to money required to pay court expenses and restitution. The long path back to a normal life begins with whether or not an employer will give ex-offenders a chance. For WBHM News, Les Lovoy has more.
Kyle Whitmire: 6th Congressional District Campaign Tactics
Kyle Whitmire, of AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss the campaign tactics of the two Republican candidates battling to represent Alabama's 6th Congressional District. Paul DeMarco and Gary Palmer will face each other in a runoff on July 15. The winner goes to the November general election.
Hear Highlights from “Issues & Ales: Alabama’s Prison System”
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM hosted an "Issues & Ales" event concentrating on Alabama's Prison System on Tuesday, June 17 at WorkPlay. Listen for highlights from the event on WBHM at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 25. If you missed the event and the broadcast, listen here. This panel discussion focused on what Alabama residents want from the prison and criminal justice systems and how policy makers and communities can punish wrongdoing, rehabilitate offenders and, by extension, reduce crime in Alabama.
Life After Prison: Interview With Robin, Student And Tutwiler Inmate
All this week, WBHM explores challenges people face after being released from Alabama's prisons. One barrier is a lack of skills. But some educators are working to smooth that transition even before the inmates get out: J.F. Ingram State Technical College has a new program at Tutwiler Prison that teaches vocations and life skills, including getting along with others, with the goal of reducing recidivism. WBHM's Dan Carsen sat in on those classes then spoke with a student -- an inmate named Robin. We agreed not to use last names, but Dan asked her about her plans once she's out ... and about why she's in.
DOCUMENTARY: Voices From Tutwiler Prison For Women
J.F. Ingram Technical College is a unique part of Alabama's two-year college system because all of its students are incarcerated. Last month, WBHM's Dan Carsen went to Ingram's campus at Tutwiler Prison. He was planning to do a story on Ingram's new life skills program there, but sometimes, plans change. He decided the best way to convey those classes was basically to let the tape roll ... which also gives normally voiceless people a chance to be heard. You can hear them right now. Or click on the link above to hear them and see more photos.
Life After Prison: Ex-offenders Face Many Challenges When Reentering Society
Alabama's overcrowded prisons currently house more than 25,000 inmates. The vast majority - about 97% - will one day be released and return to the communities they left behind. After incarceration, former inmates face staggering challenges. All this week, WBHM's Life After Prison series will explore the stories of Alabama's recently released prisoners struggling to reintegrate into society. It's part of our investigation into the Alabama prison system, in partnership with al.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting. To start this series, WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley examines what stands between ex-offenders and a productive life outside of prison.
John Archibald: Can Inmates Ever Stop Serving their Time?
The problems with Alabama's prisons are well documented. The state prison system is at almost twice capacity. It's costing the state more money every year. Plus there are numerous allegations of poor, even illegal treatment of prisoners by employees. Those issues were part of a panel discussion this week called Issues and Ales. WBHM hosted the event along with the Alabama Media Group and the Center for Investigative Reporting. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald listened to that conversation and shares his thoughts.
What We Heard at WBHM’s Issues and Ales
On Tuesday, June 17, WBHM hosted an Issues and Ales panel discussion focusing on the Alabama prison system. Over three panels, speakers covered the system's current problems with overcrowding, along with how to best rehabilitate offenders and what Alabama could do to improve the prison system. Panelists included Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas, State Senator Cam Ward, former inmates, and people who provide services to ex-offenders. WBHM's education reporter Dan Carsen and news director Rachel Osier Lindley moderated the discussion. They sat down after the event to discuss some of the highlights. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Alabama Media Group.
Kyle Whitmire: Is a State Lottery in Alabama’s Future?
In 1999, Alabama voters rejected a state lottery that would have paid for the college education of some students. Since then, GOP lawmakers have been relatively quiet on pushing the state lottery issue. But, some may be coming around to the idea as state education costs continue to rise. We discuss the possibility of a state lottery plus we’ll take a look at Governor Robert Bentley’s job performance with Kyle Whitmire, political commentator for AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Issues and Ales: Alabama’s Prison System
Issues within the Alabama prison system impact the culture and economy of Alabama, affecting thousands of lives across the state every day. What are the causes for concern? Who is responsible? Why does it matter to you? WBHM explored this topic at 'Issues and Ales: Alabama's Prison System,' hosted in collaboration with AL.com/The Alabama Media Group and The Center for Investigative Reporting. Hear a broadcast of highlights from Issues and Ales on Wednesday, June 25, from 2-3 pm.
John Archibald: New Numbers Show Birmingham City Council Still Traveling A Lot
With summer here many people will be taking off on getaways to the beach. The Birmingham City Council has been traveling as well, although on the taxpayer dime. It's a pet peeve of Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He has new numbers that show city councilors are still spending more on travel than many other cities.
