Council Delays Vote on MLB Youth Academy
The Birmingham City Council delayed a scheduled vote Tuesday on an agreement for a Major League Baseball-supported youth academy in the city. The program was planned for George Ward Park, but the council passed a separate resolution asking the park board to consider other locations.
The project would train more than 1,500 young people to play baseball and softball, but the debate has grown contentious. Opponents say the city shouldn’t take away a park that residents use heavily.
Mayor Randall Woodfin says it’s time to put differences aside.
“I think everybody needs to come out of their corner, come sit down at a table, listen to each other, put the factual information out there,” he says. “You may not agree, but the language needs to change.”
Adult softball and disc golf teams are among those who regularly use the park. They say they would be displaced by the youth program. Some Glen Iris residents near the park also oppose the plan. But others say children should be the city’s priority.
Councilwoman Crystal Smitherman says the council should look at the program objectively for the benefits it brings not only to athletics, but also academics. The proposed academy would include ACT and SAT preparation and other support in science, technology, engineering, and math.
“There are some high school athletes who cannot get into college because their ACT scores are too low,” she says. “This is for the future.”
Councilman William Parker says the different sides are close to finding common ground. He expects to have a vote on the agreement at next week’s council meeting.
Washington National Opera leaves Kennedy Center, joining slew of artist exits
The WNO is just the latest to say they will no longer perform at the Kennedy Center since Trump took over last year.
Ukrainian drones set fire to Russian oil depot after Moscow launches new hypersonic missile
The strike comes a day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including a powerful new hypersonic missile that hit western Ukraine.
Opinion: Remembering Renee Good
Renee Good won a national prize six years ago for her poem "On Learning to Dissect Fetal Pigs," which muses on science and faith. Good was shot to death by an ICE agent this week in Minneapolis.
PHOTOS: Laundry is a chore but there’s a beauty and serenity in the way it hangs out
A new photo series from Filipino photographer Macy Castañeda Lee offers a visually striking view of the mundane task of doing laundry and the role it plays in a rural economy.
2026 looks ominous for media, from Hollywood to journalism
Critic at large Eric Deggans says that in 2026, audiences have more power than they realize to determine the future of news and entertainment.
Influencer, White House welfare fraud claims are distorted, but the system has risks
Federal officials are targeting Democratic-led states over alleged safety-net fraud. Critics worry a drumbeat of unfounded accusations could undermine public trust.
