Series
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.
Problems in Alabama’s Prisons Pose Challenges For The State
It's been an eventful week for the Alabama Prison System. On Tuesday, Governor Robert Bentley announced initial plans for rebuilding the state's overburdened and underfunded prison system. Governor Bentley said Alabama would work in partnership with private agencies and the government to examine the prison system and suggest reforms. Bentley's announcement came on the same day the Southern Poverty Law Center released a highly critical report on medical care in Alabama prisons. For WBHM, Les Lovoy outlines the numerous challenges facing Alabama's prisons, and what the state is doing to solve the problems.
Kyle Whitmire: VA Healthcare and Alabama’s Prisons
On Tuesday Governor Robert Bentley announced a plan to overhaul the state's severely overcrowded prison system. Also this week, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a detailed report highlighting medical care problems in Alabama's prisons. Plus, we take a look at wait times for Alabama veterans to receive medical attention. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us.
Interview: Kim Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner
For the last several months, WBHM has joined al.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting as part of the Alabama Media Group's investigative journalism lab. Together, we're taking a look at Alabama's prison problems. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice accused Alabama of failing to protect prisoners at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women from sexual abuse and harassment from male officers. To hear more on the issues and challenges facing the Tutwiler prison, Les Lovoy spoke with Kim Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner.
Kyle Whitmire: Alabama’s Primary Election
Alabama's primary election was held this week. We take a look at voter turnout rate, the results, and surprises of the primaries with Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Interview: Reporter Alex Walsh on Alabama’s Prison Budget
Alabama's prison system is currently under investigation by the Justice Department. If some big changes aren't made, the federal government could take over the prison system. We've heard a lot about the conditions inside Alabama prisons, but today we explore a different side: the state prison budget. One in every four dollars in Alabama's general fund budget goes to prisons. And that's growing. Al.com data reporter Alex Walsh joined WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about corrections spending.
John Archibald: A Different Primary and Talk of a Dome
Voters go to the polls next Tuesday to vote in primary elections and residents will have an important decision -- whether to take a Republican or Democratic ballot. It's not an insignificant choice since in some races the winner of the primary is all but guaranteed to carry the general election in November. That means some voters in effect will have to pass on their chance to meaningfully affect the outcome of certain races. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about that as well as revived talk of a dome.
Kyle Whitmire: Judge Overturns Alabama Accountability Act
A Montgomery judge ruled today that the Alabama Accountability Act is unconstitutional. He said it violates the state Constitution's requirement for the Legislature to have only one subject in a bill. Plus, Representative Patricia Todd voices her opinions on closeted lawmakers living a double life.
John Archibald: State Rep. wants Perjury Charges Dismissed
State Representative Barry Moore of Enterprise is awaiting a judge's decision on dropping perjury charges against the south Alabama Republican. Moore was indicted last month, but this week appeared in court in Lee County as his lawyers argued for the case to be dismissed. It's a case that's already embroiled one other lawmaker and still has many wondering if it will also mean more trouble for House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald was in that court hearing and offers his thoughts.
Kyle Whitmire: Luther Strange Returns PAC Money
Last month Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's reelection campaign accepted a $50,000 donation from a newly registered Alabama political action committee. After the Alabama Media Group inquired about the transfer, the Strange campaign returned the donation to the PAC. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to follow the money.
John Archibald: PSC Candidates and Why You Might Think Twice About Eating Fish in Alabama
It almost sounds like a joke. Two public service commissioners and two challengers walk into an elevator. The elevator gets stuck. That happened Monday when the quartet went to meet with the Birmingham News editorial board. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald was there. He talks about the candidates and other environmental politics.
Kyle Whitmire: Changes In Governor Bentley’s Staff
The governor's office announced today that former House Speaker Seth Hammett has been named the interim chief of staff for Governor Robert Bentley. Hammett replaces David Perry, who also announced today he has accepted a new position in Birmingham. Kyle Whitmire from AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to discuss.
John Archibald: A Sit-down with Mike Hubbard
Politicians often feel they have a target on their backs. If there's anyone who that applies to right now in Alabama politics, it's House Speaker Mike Hubbard. A grand jury in Lee County has already ensnared two state lawmakers and the conventional wisdom is that body is after Hubbard. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald sat down with Mike Hubbard last week and offers his observations.
Kyle Whitmire: Public Prayer In Alabama
This week the Supreme Court ruled that it is lawful for prayers to be held before public events such as city council meetings. The ruling has spurred great debate especially in states like Alabama where public prayer is quite common. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News joins us to explain the ruling and offer his own thoughts on public prayer.
INTERVIEW: Rick Vest, Counseling Coordinator Of Two-Year College For Prisoners
J.F. Ingram State is a unique part of Alabama's two-year college system because one hundred percent of its students are incarcerated. Its new pilot program at Julia Tutwiler Prison focuses on life skills, not just vocational training. As part of our prison-reporting partnership with Alabama Media Group's Investigative Journalism Lab, WBHM's Dan Carsen spoke with Ingram State Counseling Coordinator Rick Vest outside Ingram's Tutwiler campus. Among other things, Vest says learning job skills isn't enough.
John Archibald: A Miracle After the Tornadoes
Bessemer and Kimberly are among the towns cleaning up after a series of tornadoes plowed over Alabama Monday night. The storms killed three people statewide, tore off roofs and downed trees. It's a familiar sight to anyone who's lived in Alabama for very long. But the latest round of tornadoes has Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald thinking about one word -- miracle.
Interview: State Senator Cam Ward on Alabama’s Prison System
Alabama's prison system is under investigation by the Justice Department after a federal report detailed cases of rape and sexual abuse at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women. If some big changes aren't made, the federal government could take over the prison system. State Senator Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, is fighting that. He's a vocal advocate of prison reform and chairs the Alabama Legislature's joint oversight committee on prisons. Ward spoke with WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley about what he believes the legislature needs to do.
Kyle Whitmire: Lethal Injection Policies
In Oklahoma Tuesday night, Clayton Lockett was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection. But something went wrong. Lockett regained partial consciousness during the injection process. The execution was stopped and he died 20 minutes later from a heart attack. Death penalty politics and the sentiments behind lethal injection was a hot button issue during Alabama's 2014 legislative session. We take a closer look with Kyle Whitmire of AL.com and the Birmingham News.
Tornadoes Rip Through Alabama; School Closings and Delays
Powerful storms blew through Alabama Monday afternoon and overnight, killing at least three people in the state, overturning cars and destroying homes. Possible tornadoes hit Limestone and Madison counties before plowing through parts of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson counties.
Scenes Of Damage In Bessemer
Bessemer, Alabama was hit extremely hard by Monday night's storms. WBHM's Andrew Yeager visited Bessemer today to document the damages.
Alabama Recovers from Tornadoes Before the Next Round
At least 3 people in Alabama have died and more than 100,000 Alabama Power customers were without electricity after strong storms raked across the state Monday night. As many as 18 tornadoes may have touched down. But as residents dig out there's a second line of storms on the way.
Tornado Slams Small Alabama Town
The National Weather Service estimates about 58 tornados hit the South last night, and more severe weather is on the way. Up to 18 of the tornados were in Central Alabama, where they damaged buildings and knocked down trees and power lines. A tornado with wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour hit Kimberly, a town of less than 3,000 people. Two of its most important buildings were damaged -- one almost completely obliterated. WBHM's Dan Carsen went there to assess the damage and hear about how residents were coping. Carsen took pictures and speaks with WBHM News Director Rachel Osier Lindley.
Severe Storms Move Into Alabama
The National Weather Service in Birmingham says waves of severe storms are expected across north and central Alabama through Wednesday. Strong winds and tornados are on the minds of many in the south; this past weekend marked the three-year anniversary of the 2011 tornados that ripped through Alabama. The entire state is under a flash flood watch with as much as 5 inches of rain in the forecast. Schools releasing students early include Birmingham City Schools, Jefferson County Schools, Hoover City Schools and Shelby County Schools.
John Archibald: Some Numerical Perspective on the Northern Beltine
State and Birmingham leaders broke ground this week on the first portion of the Northern Beltline. That's the planned 52-mile highway which would arc across the northern half of the metro area, a counterpart to Interstate 459 to the south. The road is expected to take several decades to build and it comes with a $5.5 billion price tag. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald believes the price tag needs to be put in a little perspective.
Interview: Reporter Brian Lawson Discusses Inmate Healthcare
For the next several months, WBHM joins AL.com and the Center for Investigative Reporting as part of the Alabama Media Group's Investigative Journalism Lab. We're taking a closer look at Alabama's prison problems. Earlier this year, a Department of Justice report detailed cases of rape and sexual abuse at the Julia Tutwiler prison in Wetumpka. As part of their continued investigation of Alabama prisons, the Department of Justice is seeing if inmate medical care and mental health care are constitutionally adequate. AL.com reporter Brian Lawson has been looking into inmate health care, and he's heard some troubling stories for former inmates and their families. WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley sat down with Lawson to find out more.
Kyle Whitmire: Alabama’s 6th Congressional District Primary
Seven candidates are in the running to become the Republican nominee to represent Alabama's 6th Congressional District in Washington, D.C. following the retirement of Representative Spencer Bachus. The June 3 primary is seven weeks away. We discuss the candidates and more with Kyle Whitmire of Al.com and the Birmingham News.
