Series
Birmingham Americana Musician Josh Brown Gets Personal
If there’s one thing singer-songwriter Josh Brown knows about music, it’s how to write a simple song with deep meaning. Brown’s originally from Georgia, but he moved to Birmingham and brought his music and his experience with him. In his EP titled “Long, Long Way From You”, Brown tackles some tough issues.
Possible Birmingham School Takeover and Don Siegelman’s Future
This week, members of the Birmingham Board of Education voted against the nearly $12 million in cost-cutting measures suggested by state investigators. The board now faces a possible takeover by the state. In his latest column, the Birmingham News' John Arcibald argues Birmingham's school system doesn't have a "money problem", but rather, a "problem with money."
The State of Journalism in Alabama
The face of journalism is changing in Alabama. Starting this Fall, The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register will publish print copies just three days a week.
Folk Musician Doc Watson Dies
Folk musician Doc Watson has died at the age of 89. Watson was considered one of America's greatest musicians, as good a singer as he was a guitarist.
Let’s Manufacture Static
Normally, static is a bad thing on the radio. But not when you’re talking about the Birmingham band called Let’s Manufacture Static. They offer up soulful sounds on their newly-released self-titled EP.
Adventure the Great Brings the Show to Birmingham
Starting a band is a time-honored tradition in college towns. And there’s a new band from Auburn that’s starting to get some attention. The Southern Public Media Group’s Kelly Walker spent some time with them and has this profile.
Jeffco Occupational Tax Dies in Legislature
The 2012 regular session of the Alabama legislature is over. Lawmakers worked late into the night – right up to midnight, actually – to hammer out a general fund budget and pass tweaks to the immigration law. They also killed many other bills, including a proposal for a Jefferson County occupational tax.
Wilco Brings The Whole Love to Birmingham
In the last 15 years the members of alternative rock band Wilco have experienced the highs and lows of a performing life. And they keep coming back for more. Their latest is 'The Whole Love'. Wilco brings the show to Birmingham’s Sloss Furnaces tonight.
John Archibald on Jeffco’s Occupational Tax
When a judge ruled Jefferson County's occupational tax illegal it was clear the bankrupt county would have to find some way to replace that money. County commissioners appealed to the local legislative delegation, which responded by proposing a new tax. But with just two days left in the legislative session, the future of that bill is unclear.
Local Government with John Archibald
Time is running out for state lawmakers to address Jefferson County's financial mess. The county needs new revenues to stabilize the budget and bring it out of bankruptcy. Many have pinned their hopes on a new occupational tax, but that has to be authorized by the legislature and there are just days left in this legislative session.
Birmingham’s Banditos Have New Music
Just in time for their show tonight (4/23) at The Bottletree Cafe, WBHM's Tapestry has new music from Birmingham honky tonk/Americana band Banditos.
Alabama Author’s Family Connection to the Titanic
One hundred years ago, a young missionary couple boarded a new luxury liner that was making its maiden voyage from England to America. Alabama author Julie Hedgepeth Williams recounts the stories her great-uncle Albert told about his family's remarkable story of surviving the Titanic.
Capitol Journal Update
Few issues in Alabama politics right now have drawn such strong opinions as the state’s immigration law. This week, lawmakers held the first hearing this legislative session on possible changes to the law. We hear about that and other action in Montgomery this week from Don Dailey. He’s co-host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
Act of Congress
Act of Congress is a Birmingham acoustic band who's unique sound is a combination of acoustic-folk-Americana. But on their new album, even band members Adam Wright and Chris Griffin admit the songwriting took them in a very different direction. WBHM's Michael Krall produced this audio postcard...
Local Government with John Archibald
Jefferson County's bankruptcy talks about the unlikely possibility of dissolving the county government and down in Shelby County the sheriff's battle over jail food funding points out problems with a state law. (AUDIO NOT AVAILABLE)
Magic City Marketplace
Developers eye properties around Birmingham's new downtown baseball stadium, two new housing developments are on the way and companies spent less on lobbying last year.
Living in Limbo: Lesbian Families in the Deep South
An Alabama museum long focused on civil rights is introducing a new topic: Lesbian awareness in the South. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute opens the exhibit tonight. It depicts some women arm-in-arm or embracing, their faces fully visible. Others who weren't comfortable being identified publicly are pictured with their backs to the camera.
Local Government with John Archibald
Birmingham City Council's sends a public message about Trayvon Martin's death and John says the case points to serious problems in Birmingham.
Sam Frazier
The Blues run through the blood of Birmingham musician Sam Frazier Jr. He grew up in Edgewater, the son a coal miner who brought home stories that would eventually inspire Frazier's songwriting. His family would host local barbeques and shows at his mom’s house. Performing next to big name artists such as Howl'n Wolf and Jimmy Reed was a typical thing in Frazier's life. Frazier’s latest album is The Long Lonesome Blues.
Local Government with John Archibald
John discusses Cooper-Green Mercy Hospital's financial troubles, the opening of a satellite court house in Center Point, and small town politics in Graysville.
Magic City Marketplace
New data suggests the hospital industry in bouncing back from the recession in a big way. The nine major hospitals in the Birmingham metro area netted more than $154 million during fiscal year 2010. That’s more than seven times the amount they netted the previous year.
Local Government with John Archibald
John dissects this week's primary election and what it might mean for the future of the Democratic party in Alabama.
Local Government with John Archibald
John explains why, despite yesterday's acquittals, the gambling corruption case may not be over. Also, hist takes on the Birmingham Water Works board members for spending $70,000 on travel last year.
Magic City Marketplace
A Birmingham construction company jumps into the lucrative health care sector and there may be a lot more graduates to fill Alabama's tech jobs.
Local Government with John Archibald
John explains why Jefferson County Commission president David Carrington has called for some county employees to undergo lie detectors tests after someon leaked an embarrassing internal memo to the Birmingham News.
Gin Phillips
The Los Angeles times called Birmingham author Gin Phillips's first book The Well and The Mine an astonishing new novel. It's been compared to To Kill a Mockingbird and earned Phillips the Barnes and Noble Discover Award. So when Phillips started shopping her next novel, Come In and Cover Me , she admits there was a bit of pressure. Come In and Cover Me follows the story of Ren Taylor -- an archeologist who's on a mission to understand an ancient community, but ends up discovering some things about herself.
Local Government with John Archibald
Analysis of how proposed 25% state budget cuts would affect local health care and law enforcement and how Jefferson County ended up deciding to lay off tax collectors to save money, but lost money in the process.
Local Government with John Archibald
Details on an emergency bankruptcy hearing, looming Jefferson County layoffs, a proposal to term limit the Birmingham mayor and a packed room at a public hearing on a smoking ban.
Local Government with John Archibald
John's take on the first week of the 2012 legislative session. There's already a standoff over the budget and charter schools.
Alabama’s Prison Problem
Alabama faces a potential $400 million shortfall in the general fund budget this year. And that could leave the state’s already-strapped prison system at a tipping point -- so overcrowded Alabama could face the possibility of a federal lawsuit. As WBHM’s Andrew Yeager reports lawmakers are searching for ways to fix a system bursting at the seams.
Legislature Considers Immigration Law Tweaks
The Alabama Legislature begins its regular session today and one of the big issues lawmakers will consider is changing the state’s immigration law. That law, HB56, is considered the nation’s toughest crackdown on illegal immigrants. When it passed last year it got very little attention from Alabama’s business community, but as WBHM's Tanya Ott reports, business leaders are driving the latest efforts to modify the law.
The Jefferson County Sound
Gospel music has long been a fixture in African American churches around Birmingham. A new documentary film looks at the revolution of a style of gospel music called the Jefferson County Sound. Greg Bass takes a closer look for WBHM’s Tapestry.
