Birmingham Extends Shelter-In-Place Order Through April
The city of Birmingham has extended its shelter-in-place order until April 30th in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The city council passed the extension Friday, the day the original order would have expired. The measure requires residents to stay home except for essential activities such as buying groceries, seeking medical care, working for an “essential” business or exercising.
“People need to remember that people are dying, that this has the potential to continue to spread,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says. “If you can’t take this serious[ly] and police yourself, then we will gladly assist and help you.”
Woodfin says law enforcement has not fined or ticketed anyone since the order went into effect. But, he adds, people were congregating in city parks the previous weekend in violation of social-distancing practices that require individuals to stay six feet apart.
The city has now restricted parks to “solitary activities” – only, including walking, running or biking. Barricades have been placed across the entrances to some parks to prevent people from parking vehicles and gathering.
“If they cannot comply with this order, we will take the necessary step to shut our parks down,” Woodfin says.
Big-box stores remain open under the order, but Woodfin says they too must abide by social distancing rules, which will be enforced by police if necessary.
“I am convinced that if we attempt to tiptoe around this, skirt around this ordinance … we will have to extend ourselves in this shelter-in-place,” Woodfin says.
Shelter-In-Place Order From April 3 by WBHM News on Scribd
Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue
Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.
Roy Wood Jr. on his father, his son and his new book
Actor, comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. is out with a new book -- "The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir." He writes about his experience growing up in Birmingham, losing his dad as a teenager and all the lessons he learned from various father figures throughout his career.
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers
While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home?

