Issues/Program Report 2nd Quarter 2025

July 1, 2025

Per the FCC, this is a list of the most frequently cited issues of concern to the people in the WBHM listening area during the last quarter. The list details the most significant programs addressing these issues. All of these programs were published at WBHM.ORG and broadcast on WBHM 90.3 FM between April 1, 2025 and June 31, 2025. The list includes the following issues:

Government

Caroleene Dobson to run for Alabama secretary of state
2025-06-27 08:33:23

The secretary of state serves as Alabama’s chief elections official. The office also maintains business records and government records for the state.

The darter fish and the data center
2025-06-16 14:11:54

A newly identified species is already in danger of extinction. A proposed massive data center in Bessemer would “nuke” its habitat, scientists say.

'It’s pretty cool to see so many people who are all like me': Birmingham celebrates Pride
2025-06-16 10:30:00

Birmingham’s 47th annual Pridefest wrapped up this weekend, but not before a festive pride parade brought out revelers in colorful dress to the city’s Lakeview District Saturday night. 

Crowds flood downtown Birmingham during 'No Kings Day' protest
2025-06-16 09:30:00

Crowds stretched across multiple city blocks through downtown Birmingham on Saturday evening to protest President Donald Trump. It was part of a day of protests around the country dubbed “No Kings Day”. 

On World Elder Abuse Day officials warn of financial scams targeting seniors
2025-06-15 07:00:00

Sunday, June 15 is World Elder Abuse Day, a time officials raise awareness for seniors about potential scams they could come into contact with. According to FBI data, seniors lost $4.8 billion to scammers in 2024.

Trump’s efforts to defund NPR and PBS playing out in Congress and the courts
2025-06-12 15:30:31

Trump and other Republicans want to rescind more than $1 billion in federal funding already approved for NPR and PBS. The president also issued an executive order intended to prevent federal agencies from funding the two public broadcasting networks.

Looking into Alabama's 'Blood Money': how taxpayers foot the bill for lawsuits by prisoners
2025-06-10 16:03:08

The Alabama Department of Corrections settled more than 100 lawsuits against its corrections officers for excessive use of force since 2020. Inmates say officers left them with broken bones and brain damage. Beth Shelburne, a Birmingham-based independent investigative reporter, found that taxpayers are covering the cost in her four-part series for the Alabama Reflector called "Blood Money."

'I don't have no pity party': Alabama execution set for Tuesday evening
2025-06-09 05:00:00

Gregory Hunt is scheduled to be executed for the 1988 murder of Karen Lane in Walker County. It would be Alabama's fifth execution by nitrogen gas.

Court fees can pile up. An effort to make a more effective system stalls after Trump administration cuts
2025-06-06 12:20:59

Court fines and fees are meant to hold people accountable. But for many, they lead to debt, arrest, and a cycle that’s hard to break. A project that started in Birmingham aimed to make the system better. But recently, the Trump Administration cancelled an effort to expand the research.

In vitro fertilization emerges as a central issue in the Alabama state Supreme Court race
2025-06-05 13:17:39

An Alabama fertility lawyer announced her candidacy for the state Supreme Court, emphasizing her personal experience with in vitro fertilization and blasting a controversial 2024 decision that ruled frozen embryos can be considered children under state law.

Why did Alabama families drop their challenge to an anti-transgender law?
2025-05-30 15:29:14

Alabama parents sued the state over a law banning gender-affirming care for minors, but they dropped the suit earlier this month.

Alabama AG Steve Marshall to run for U.S. Senate
2025-05-29 11:53:43

Marshall, a Republican, announced his candidacy in a video that included multiple clips of him being introduced or praised by President Donald Trump.

US Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 bid for Alabama governor
2025-05-27 15:30:26

His announcement on the Will Cain Show on Fox News followed weeks of speculation, and associates saying Tuberville planned to enter the race. The former coach is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor’s race.

GOP US Sen. Tommy Tuberville is expected to announce run for Alabama governor, associates say
2025-05-23 10:03:05

Two people who have spoken with Tuberville about his plans said Thursday they expect him to announce a gubernatorial bid. They spoke on condition of anonymity because were not authorized to talk about a campaign.

Judge considers sanctions against attorneys in prison case for using AI in court filings
2025-05-22 07:01:00

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco held a hearing in Birmingham to question attorneys with the Butler Snow firm about the filings. She said there were five false citations in two filings in federal court.

Ivey appoints first Black Republican on Alabama Supreme Court
2025-05-21 04:58:52

Judge Bill Lewis replaces Justice Jay Mitchell, who resigned Monday. Lewis most recently served on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

Bessemer residents want answers about a four-million-square-foot data center coming to their backyards
2025-05-17 07:00:00

Residents in and around Bessemer are furious over Project Marvel, a plan to build a 4.5-million-square-foot data processing facility on 700 acres of wooded land. Public officials have been sworn to silence.

Legislative session ends with debate over police immunity bill
2025-05-16 11:40:37

The Alabama legislative session wrapped up this week, but not before some contentious debate in the final hours on Wednesday night. The bill at hand was one that would expand legal immunity to police officers under certain circumstances. That's where we start our final legislative update of the session with Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.

What was approved, and what failed, in the 2025 Alabama legislative session
2025-05-15 10:52:12

Alabama lawmakers ended the 2025 legislative session on Wednesday. Here is a look at a few of the notable bills that passed, and some that failed, during the session.

Lawmakers pass bill to criminalize bringing immigrants in the US illegally across state lines
2025-05-15 10:30:10

The legislation given final approval Wednesday protects “not only the citizens of Alabama but also the people that are immigrating here legally and doing everything the right way,” said the bill’s Republican sponsor.

Ivey signs a bill regulating the sale of hemp products
2025-05-15 10:19:48

The law would allow gummies, drinks and other consumable products to continue to be sold, but limits the amount of psychoactive compounds in the products. It also puts restrictions on where the products can be sold.

Trump’s plan to bring shipbuilding back to the US? Port fees on Chinese vessels
2025-05-14 07:00:00

Port fees on Chinese-built ships and operators will start in October, further raising the cost of trading with the United States.

Iranian student in Alabama to self-deport despite withdrawal of initial charge behind his arrest
2025-05-09 18:00:00

Alireza Doroudi was detained by immigration officials in March as part of President Donald Trump’s widespread immigration crackdown and has been held at a facility in Jena, Louisiana.

School cellphone ban passed in the final days of the legislative session
2025-05-09 13:02:50

Smartphones are practically appendages for many nowadays, but one place you probably won't see them in use soon is in Alabama schools. Alabama lawmakers gave final passage this week to a bill that would ban them during the school day. It's where we start our weekly legislative roundup with Todd Stacey, host of Capital Journal on Alabama Public Television.

Court rules Alabama violated Voting Rights Act in drawing congressional lines
2025-05-08 20:34:17

A three-judge panel permanently blocked Alabama from using a state-drawn map that they said flouted their directive to draw a plan that was fair to Black voters. The decision was not a surprise because the panel ruled against the state twice previously and put a new map in place for last year’s elections.

Ivey overhauls Birmingham Water Works Board amid cries of racial discrimination
2025-05-08 08:56:08

The bill redistributes power from Birmingham city officials — who currently appoint a majority of the nine-person board — to the governor, the lieutenant governor and the surrounding four counties that are also in the board’s jurisdiction. It also reduces the number of board members to seven.

Alabama lawmakers approve tax cuts for food, diapers and other items
2025-05-07 11:00:00

The food tax reduction, if signed into law, will lower the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2% beginning Sept. 1. The reduction comes as lawmakers in both parties said families are being hurt by soaring grocery prices.

Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
2025-05-07 05:24:45

The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year.

Birmingham fights against losing control of its water board, citing racial discrimination
2025-05-06 14:27:15

Birmingham city officials sued the Alabama governor on Tuesday in an effort to halt the codification of bill that would strip the city of control over the state’s largest water board, alleging the move “constitutes blatant racial discrimination.”

Tax cut bills under consideration in final days of the legislative session
2025-05-02 09:18:07

Alabama has already knocked off 1% of its state sales tax from groceries. A bill that would reduce it further is under discussion in the legislature. But there are just a couple of days left in the session to get things done.

Trump offers advice to University of Alabama graduates in speech interspersed with politics
2025-05-01 22:04:39

The Republican’s jolting speech was standard fare for Trump and well-received by the crowd in deep-red Alabama, which backed him in all three of his presidential runs.

Bill overhauling Birmingham Water Works Board heads to governor's desk despite local outcry
2025-05-01 16:27:07

Proponents of the bill point to frequent rate hikes and say that the move will prevent catastrophic events that have happened in cities like Jackson, Mississippi, or Detroit, Michigan. Opponents of the bill say that it is a power grab that diminishes the power of Black residents in Birmingham, Alabama.

Alabama Senate advances Birmingham Water Works Board overhaul
2025-04-25 08:42:36

A fight erupted this week in the Alabama legislature over a bill that would remake the Birmingham Water Works Board. We dive into that controversy and talk about other legislative action with Todd Stacy, host of Capital Journal and Alabama Public Television.

Alabama executes a man who said he was guilty of rape and murder and deserved to die
2025-04-24 20:04:40

James Osgood was pronounced dead Thursday evening following a three-drug injection at a south Alabama prison. A jury in 2014 convicted Osgood of capital murder in the death of Tracy Lynn Brown in Chilton County.

Trade wars grew America’s auto industry. Historians warn today’s tariffs won’t
2025-04-23 07:00:00

Past success bringing foreign car companies stateside means the U.S. has more to lose and less to gain in today’s trade wars.

Crowds in Railroad Park protest Trump administration for 'No Kings' day
2025-04-19 17:22:45

The event was part of protests across the country under a theme of "No Kings in America." The protests, organized by the 50501 movement, was held on April 19, the 250th anniversary of the battle of Lexington and Concord, an early fight in the Revolutionary War. 

Alabama to honor wastewater sanitation projects despite losing federal backing
2025-04-19 14:00:00

The Alabama Department of Public Health says it will honor its wastewater contracts for Lowndes County in spite of the Department of Justice’s recent decision to cancel its two-year-old agreement with the state supporting septic system improvements in the region.

Republicans in Gulf states push to embrace Gulf of America name
2025-04-19 05:00:00

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills requiring the use of “Gulf of America” in state law and textbooks. Alabama lawmakers advanced a similar bill as well.

Alabama lawmakers advance local 'Laken Riley' bill that deputizes police to enforce immigration law
2025-04-18 19:00:00

The bill was dubbed “Laken Riley Act,” named after the 22-year-old Augusta University student who was killed last year in Georgia by an undocumented immigrant. President Donald Trump signed a similar law into affect in January that requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of theft and violent crimes.

Lawmakers advance religious bills including school Ten Commandments displays
2025-04-18 10:00:00

It's no secret that Alabama is among the most religious states. It's also no stranger to fights over displays of the Ten Commandments. The state may be gearing up for another one as the Alabama House passed a bill Thursday that would require public schools to display the Ten commandments. We hear details on that from Todd Stacy, host of Capital Journal and Alabama Public Television.

Lawmakers move to mandate the display of Ten Commandments and ban pride flags in Alabama schools
2025-04-18 07:19:16

Alabama lawmakers approved a slew of bills on Thursday that would expand the use of Christian texts in public schools and limit protections for LGBTQ+ students, in lockstep with a national conservative agenda that has divided statehouses across the country.

Will Alabama legislators ban delta-8 this session? It’s coming down to the wire
2025-04-17 15:41:58

Several bills currently working their way through the Alabama legislature would effectively ban hemp-derived THC products. Opponents of the bill say it’ll be prohibition all over again.

Review of decision not to award Space Command to Alabama inconclusive, with Trump reversal expected
2025-04-16 05:20:49

The inspector general's report, issued Friday, said this was in part due to a lack of access to senior defense officials during the Biden administration, when the review began.

Bill would give give non-violent, aging prisoners a chance at freedom
2025-04-15 11:33:20

Should the Second Chance Act be enacted, judges could review certain cases where an individual was sentenced to life without parole under the Habitual Offenders Act for potential resentencing. 

DOJ ends environmental justice agreement in Alabama county citing Trump
2025-04-13 05:00:00

Justice Department officials said they were ending the agreement reached with the state regarding wastewater issues in Lowndes County. Federal officials said the decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order forbidding federal agencies from pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Alabama Senate passes record education budget
2025-04-11 08:41:33

There's one thing Alabama lawmakers are required to do each session -- that's pass the budgets. Legislators spent time this week working toward that goal as the Senate approved a record-setting education budget. We hear about that other legislative happenings with Todd Stacy, host of Capital Journal on Alabama Public Television.

Alabama lawmakers advance bill to let Alfa sell health plans outside insurance regulations
2025-04-11 07:31:23

The Alabama House of Representatives approved the bill on a 98-1 vote after nearly three hours of debate. The bill now moves to the Alabama Senate.

Shark attack survivor presses Alabama for an alert system to keep people safe in the water
2025-04-10 11:00:00

Lulu Gribbin was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle. On Wednesday, she asked Alabama lawmakers to support a proposed shark attack alert system.

Reflections after 43 years in an Alabama prison
2025-04-10 08:42:16

James Jones is one of thousands of men who served life without parole in an Alabama prison. He spent 43 years at the St. Clair Correctional Facility before being released at the age of 77. 

Alabama approves regulations on pharmacy benefit managers in order to help small pharmacies
2025-04-09 18:00:00

The Alabama House backed the proposal that will require pharmacy benefit managers to reimburse independent pharmacists at least at the state Medicaid rate for prescription drugs. The bill now goes to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

Trump’s tariffs have been a source of both hope and fear among Gulf South industries
2025-04-09 07:00:00

As Wall Street swings wildly under the weight of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, reactions in the Gulf South are mixed.

In conservative Alabama, Republicans are cheering for Trump - with some quiet concerns and caveats
2025-04-07 10:28:34

Alabama Republicans cheered President Donald Trump and his agenda at a GOP party the day he imposed tariffs and sent stock markets tumbling worldwide. But there were signs of a more cautious optimism and some worried whispers over Trump’s sweeping tariffs, the particulars of his deportation policy and the aggressive cuts by his Department of Government Efficiency.

Gambling proposal likely dead for the legislative session
2025-04-04 08:40:08

If there's any topic that hovers over the Alabama legislature, never quite going away, it's gambling. The perennial issue has always fallen short and it looks like it will do so again this year.

Alabama lawmakers advance proposed ban on cellphones in school
2025-04-03 19:23:01

A growing number of states are moving to ban or restrict cellphones in schools. The push has been fueled by concerns that phones are a distraction in the classroom and that screen time and social media have a negative impact on mental health.

Birmingham names new police chief
2025-04-02 11:11:26

After a four month wait, Birmingham has a new police chief. Tuesday morning, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced that interim chief Michael Pickett is taking on the role permanently. 

Email shows senator did receive town hall invite, despite Tuberville saying otherwise
2025-04-02 09:50:23

Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s office said he never received an invitation to a town hall in Birmingham held for his constituents last month. The organizers beg to differ. 

Alabama can't prosecute groups who help women travel to get an abortion, federal judge says
2025-04-01 07:09:16

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson sided with an abortion fund and medical providers who sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested they could face prosecution under anti-conspiracy laws.

Economy

Mississippi’s tech scene is in a catch-22. How can it move forward?
2025-06-12 07:00:00

Mississippi ranks near the bottom for the size of its tech industry. But despite its shortcomings, some believe the state is not far from its own tech boom.

A New Orleans restaurant owner's Facebook was hacked. It put her business in jeopardy
2025-06-04 08:27:18

While multi-million dollar ransomware attacks and data thefts targeting governments and industry giants grab headlines, small businesses increasingly find themselves in online scammers’ crosshairs.

Alabama study reveals hurricane resilience programs are paying off for homeowners and insurers
2025-05-27 07:02:42

The first-of-its-kind analysis, released last week, reviews thousands of insurance claims linked to Hurricane Sally, which struck Alabama’s coast in 2020. Homes retrofitted or built to Fortified standards saw significantly fewer and less costly claims.

Is AI coming for your job? Maybe. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare
2025-05-22 09:19:46

Artificial intelligence is already transforming workplaces in Alabama. And the pace of the AI revolution is about to accelerate.

Trump’s plan to bring shipbuilding back to the US? Port fees on Chinese vessels
2025-05-14 07:00:00

Port fees on Chinese-built ships and operators will start in October, further raising the cost of trading with the United States.

Coca-Cola Amphitheater poised to open mid-June
2025-05-08 16:45:28

With just six weeks until the first show, construction at the new Coca Cola Amphitheater north of downtown Birmingham is still underway. 

Trade wars grew America’s auto industry. Historians warn today’s tariffs won’t
2025-04-23 07:00:00

Past success bringing foreign car companies stateside means the U.S. has more to lose and less to gain in today’s trade wars.

Why is Alabama’s workforce participation rate so low? And what’s being done to improve it?
2025-04-16 05:00:00

While Alabama boasts an unemployment rate that is among the lowest in the country, its workforce participation rate consistently lags the national average, meaning a large portion of Alabamians are neither employed nor actively seeking work. This has raised concerns both about barriers to employment for individuals and about the state’s economic future.

Trump’s tariffs have been a source of both hope and fear among Gulf South industries
2025-04-09 07:00:00

As Wall Street swings wildly under the weight of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, reactions in the Gulf South are mixed.

Are UAB officials mum about grant cuts because they fear a spiteful president?
2025-04-07 07:00:00

Cuts to federal research grants could cost UAB $70 million a year, leading to layoffs and economic impacts beyond the campus. Some faculty and area leaders want UAB to be more vocal against the Trump administration cutbacks.

Health Care

Trauma-informed nurses help sexual assault survivors. Most hospitals don’t have them.
2025-06-13 07:00:00

Alabama has 44 certified SANEs for the entire state. Louisiana has 42. Mississippi only has 6 — for a population of almost three million.

Alabama drops four places in national child well-being rankings
2025-06-12 15:00:00

Alabama ranked 43rd nationally for child well-being in the latest KIDS COUNT data book from by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Why did Alabama families drop their challenge to an anti-transgender law?
2025-05-30 15:29:14

Alabama parents sued the state over a law banning gender-affirming care for minors, but they dropped the suit earlier this month.

Going Dutch: Harm reduction is embraced in the Netherlands but struggles in the US
2025-05-29 07:00:00

The Netherlands has proven drug use harm reduction works. So why does it still face stigma, criminalization and political resistance in the Gulf South?

DOGE cuts, policy changes jeopardize care, housing for vulnerable HIV patients in Alabama
2025-05-22 11:19:59

Federal funding has helped states like Alabama and Mississippi make strides in fighting the HIV epidemic. Doctors and advocates are worried about the future.

How new at-home HPV test kits could help Alabama fight cervical cancer
2025-05-19 05:00:00

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the country’s first at-home HPV screening kit, a disease that causes nearly all cervical cancers. While some hope the new kits might turn things around, others have questions.

Could calligraphy help with anxiety? This study aims to find out
2025-05-15 15:35:45

People have a lot of strategies for dealing with anxiety – medication, therapy or exercise, for instance. But a new study explored a different method – calligraphy. 

How a rural clinic is changing lives in Alabama and why it's at risk
2025-05-01 10:09:49

Cahaba Medical Care, a collection of clinics that get doctors into some of the poorest, sickest communities in Alabama, never turns away patients. But a federal grant that supports the doctors there is at risk of getting cut in the midst of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize.

The long road to answers for some chronic illnesses
2025-04-22 15:40:08

Growing costs, research cuts, and staffing shortages are health care issues that are top of mind for many in the country right now, especially for the millions of people who deal with chronic illness. Some of those people don’t even know what to call their illness.

Doctors remove pig kidney from an Alabama woman after a record 130 days
2025-04-11 14:30:00

Towana Looney is recovering well from the removal surgery and has returned home to Gadsden. In a statement, she thanked her doctors for “the opportunity to be part of this incredible research.”

Alabama lawmakers pass legislation that could give pregnant women more access to health care
2025-04-09 11:00:00

The “presumptive eligibility” legislation states that Medicaid will pay for a pregnant woman’s outpatient medical care for up to 60 days while an application for the government-funded insurance program is being considered.

Education

Federal judge weighs whether Alabama's anti-DEI law threatens First Amendment
2025-06-27 07:13:20

The new state law, SB129, followed a slew of proposals from Republican lawmakers across the country taking aim at DEI programs on college campuses. Universities across the country have shuttered or rebranded student affinity groups and DEI offices.

Peter Mohler named new University of Alabama president
2025-06-17 08:54:04

Mohler comes to the role from Ohio State University where he served as executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge and as chief scientific officer of the Wexner Medical Center. He also served as Ohio State’s acting president in 2023.

Alabama drops four places in national child well-being rankings
2025-06-12 15:00:00

Alabama ranked 43rd nationally for child well-being in the latest KIDS COUNT data book from by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

UAB opens new engineering school building
2025-06-03 13:10:30

After two years of construction, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new home for its engineering school. Staff cut the ribbon for the Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall Tuesday morning.

International students in Alabama fearful after researcher with no political ties is detained
2025-05-05 09:55:16

Alireza Doroudi has been detained in an immigration facility in Louisiana for nearly six weeks. Doroudi’s detention has instilled fear in the small Iranian community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he and his fiancee are doctoral students

UA graduates take in the opportunity to hear a sitting president speak
2025-05-02 12:20:37

Despite being introduced by beloved former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, President Donald Trump received the loudest welcome of the night when he took the stage at Coleman Coliseum on the university campus Thursday night. He spoke at a special ceremony ahead of the UA commencement ceremonies. 

Former Birmingham-Southern College students enjoy a graduation tradition for the last time
2025-04-30 10:29:07

A year after Birmingham-Southern College closed, having succumbed to financial mismanagement, former students who are graduating this spring from Samford University visited the campus to capture a bit of tradition.

Most of the families applying for Alabama's new school vouchers have kids in non-public schools
2025-04-09 07:02:59

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office released application figures Tuesday for the CHOOSE Act, the new program which will help eligible families tap state dollars to help pay for private school or home-schooling costs.

Science and Technology

What's Possible -- AI in Alabama
2025-05-23 15:49:57

Every so often, a new technology arises that transforms everything it touches. It fundamentally alters how we relate to each other and the world around us. Right now, the technology with that potential is artificial intelligence. On "What’s Possible – AI in Alabama," a locally-produced special by WBHM, we dive into a conversation about what AI means for the state.

Arts and Culture

Birmingham's poet laureate releases 'The Other Revival' book for Juneteenth
2025-06-19 07:00:00

Birmingham’s first poet laureate Salaam Green released a new book this week to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday. The Other Revival features poems inspired by descendants of Black enslaved people and white descendants of a central Alabama plantation. 

'It’s pretty cool to see so many people who are all like me': Birmingham celebrates Pride
2025-06-16 10:30:00

Birmingham’s 47th annual Pridefest wrapped up this weekend, but not before a festive pride parade brought out revelers in colorful dress to the city’s Lakeview District Saturday night. 

A Song for the Cahaba River
2025-06-06 07:00:00

As the Cahaba’s “charismatic” namesake lily blooms, an old festival and a new musical tribute celebrate Alabama’s longest free-flowing river.

WBHM 90.3, Gulf States Newsroom win nine 2025 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards
2025-06-02 13:24:33

The Radio Television Digital News Association announced Region 9 Edward R. Murrow Award winners in 23 categories May 22. The Murrow Awards began in 1971 and are among the most prestigious in journalism.

Why Sacred Harp singers are revamping an iconic pre-Civil War hymnal
2025-05-31 07:00:00

A new edition of “The Sacred Harp,” a Christian hymnal first published in 1844, is being released this year. It helps carry on the more than 180-year-old American folk singing tradition that is as much about the community as it is the music.

Could calligraphy help with anxiety? This study aims to find out
2025-05-15 15:35:45

People have a lot of strategies for dealing with anxiety – medication, therapy or exercise, for instance. But a new study explored a different method – calligraphy. 

Author revives forgotten stories through historical fiction novel based in Birmingham
2025-05-15 12:01:11

Barry Cole is using historical fiction to revive the lost history of enslaved people found buried in a mass grave at the park. That book, called 100 Pearls, is out Thursday.

Coca-Cola Amphitheater poised to open mid-June
2025-05-08 16:45:28

With just six weeks until the first show, construction at the new Coca Cola Amphitheater north of downtown Birmingham is still underway. 

As Pynk Beard, Grammy-winning songwriter Sebastian Kole turns the page
2025-05-08 08:46:28

Grammy-winning songwriter Sebastian Kole has accomplished a great deal in his career. As his alter ego Pynk Beard, though, he could achieve much more. The Birmingham native is stepping out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight to bring his brand of country music to the masses.

Lil Wayne’s New Orleans Jazz Fest headlining set is a big moment for hip-hop artists
2025-04-25 18:10:21

Lil Wayne will close out the main stage for the first time in his career Saturday — a feat that’s eluded most other rappers who’ve performed at the festival.

Celebrating 100 years of speech arts in Birmingham
2025-04-24 10:16:50

Women in flowing dresses and glittering cardigans filled the Virginia Samford Theater in Birmingham on a recent afternoon. The event was a celebration for the one hundredth anniversary of the Speech Arts Club of Birmingham.

Birmingham legend Odetta to be celebrated in tribute concert
2025-04-17 07:31:02

Gina Coleman and her band Misty Blues will bring Odetta back home, performing a live tribute to the Birmingham legend at the historic Carver Theatre on Saturday, April 19.

New drag venue to open in Five Points South
2025-04-14 15:55:12

The Opulence Drag Lounge and Taqueria will bring Birmingham’s Five Points South neighborhood both dine-and-go taco cuisine and performance this summer. The new business is planned for the former Hush Lounge location which closed after a mass shooting last year.

WBHM wins 3 ABBY Awards
2025-04-07 12:22:52

WBHM 90.3 FM won 3 ABBY Awards for 2025 – a prestigious honor given annually by the Alabama Broadcasters Association. The ABA presented the awards Saturday, April 5 in Birmingham.

Environment

Alabama environmental groups secure rare win in fight to update water toxicity standards
2025-06-24 12:26:07

The new standards will reduce amounts of 12 toxic or cancer-linked pollutants in Alabama waterways, according to clean water advocacy groups that petitioned for the changes.

Bessemer recommends changing its laws to accommodate one of the country’s largest proposed data centers
2025-06-20 08:45:43

Despite overwhelming public opposition, officials in Bessemer voted to recommend changes to city zoning ordinances to allow the massive development. Its operation could strain the state’s water and power supplies and leave an already imperiled fish species at risk of extinction.

The darter fish and the data center
2025-06-16 14:11:54

A newly identified species is already in danger of extinction. A proposed massive data center in Bessemer would “nuke” its habitat, scientists say.

In one of the nation’s most polluted communities, Trump terminates funding for air monitoring
2025-06-14 07:00:00

Residents in majority-Black north Birmingham have long been subjected to industrial pollution. The new administration has cut funding for a program aimed at measuring the impact.

Canceled climate grants would have cut pollution while boosting production, jobs at two Alabama ironworks
2025-06-10 12:45:42

The U.S. Department of Energy rescinded $3.7 billion in clean energy grants last month, saying the projects selected would not generate a positive return on investment.

Alabama Power threatened with lawsuit for contaminating groundwater with coal ash
2025-05-21 18:01:00

Nine years after the Gadsden Steam Plant stopped burning coal, its unlined coal ash pond is still polluting Alabama groundwater, records show.

Bessemer residents want answers about a four-million-square-foot data center coming to their backyards
2025-05-17 07:00:00

Residents in and around Bessemer are furious over Project Marvel, a plan to build a 4.5-million-square-foot data processing facility on 700 acres of wooded land. Public officials have been sworn to silence.

Trump aims to fast track Alabama coal build-out, citing US need. Nearly all the coal is bound for export
2025-05-10 07:00:00

A Trump effort to streamline the project would benefit the overseas steelmaking industry while putting Alabamians and the environment at risk.

For Homewood's spotted salamanders, a win and a warning
2025-05-03 05:00:00

A grassroots effort successfully pushed back on a development in that would have destroyed a critical salamander habitat. Still, amphibians face constant risks.

Birmingham ranked 4th worst in Southeast for ozone pollution, new ALA report says
2025-04-23 07:00:00

The American Lung Association's latest "State of the Air" report shows air quality has worsened in some Gulf South metro areas.

Alabama to honor wastewater sanitation projects despite losing federal backing
2025-04-19 14:00:00

The Alabama Department of Public Health says it will honor its wastewater contracts for Lowndes County in spite of the Department of Justice’s recent decision to cancel its two-year-old agreement with the state supporting septic system improvements in the region.

How neighborhoods in New Orleans are addressing urban flooding
2025-04-17 14:18:13

Urban flooding has long plagued Treme, a historically Black neighborhood in New Orleans. Residents are getting creative to find solutions to the issue.

DOJ ends environmental justice agreement in Alabama county citing Trump
2025-04-13 05:00:00

Justice Department officials said they were ending the agreement reached with the state regarding wastewater issues in Lowndes County. Federal officials said the decision follows President Donald Trump’s executive order forbidding federal agencies from pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

In Homewood, a fight for the spotted salamander
2025-04-12 05:00:00

As a Samford University expands its footprint and threatens the amphibian’s habitat, residents are voicing their opposition and searching for another way forward.

How HBCUs are helping grow the next generation of Gulf South environmental activists
2025-04-02 09:40:37

Marginalized people often bear the brunt of environmental injustices. An annual conference in New Orleans is shaping young Black leaders to solve these issues.

Religion

Crime

'I literally grew up in prison': Juvenile lifers share struggles, pleasures of coming home
2025-06-18 12:22:25

Accounts of reentry are notable as juvenile cases continue to undergo review. Attorneys and advocates say progress on reviews is halting in some states.

Alabama executes Gregory Hunt by nitrogen gas for 1988 murder of Karen Lane
2025-06-10 21:04:01

Hunt's execution marks Alabama's third this year, on pace to match the six it carried out last year, and the fifth time it used the controversial method.

Q&A: How lethal injection ‘hides the violence’ of executions in the South and elsewhere
2025-05-08 07:00:00

A new book explores the secretive, complicated history of lethal injection and its relationship to the death penalty.

Brutality and humanity at the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana
2025-05-06 12:01:20

While the event has been criticized for its controversial and dangerous events, it also offers a chance for participants to connect to the outside world.

Bill would give give non-violent, aging prisoners a chance at freedom
2025-04-15 11:33:20

Should the Second Chance Act be enacted, judges could review certain cases where an individual was sentenced to life without parole under the Habitual Offenders Act for potential resentencing. 

Race and Culture

Birmingham's poet laureate releases 'The Other Revival' book for Juneteenth
2025-06-19 07:00:00

Birmingham’s first poet laureate Salaam Green released a new book this week to coincide with the Juneteenth holiday. The Other Revival features poems inspired by descendants of Black enslaved people and white descendants of a central Alabama plantation. 

'It’s pretty cool to see so many people who are all like me': Birmingham celebrates Pride
2025-06-16 10:30:00

Birmingham’s 47th annual Pridefest wrapped up this weekend, but not before a festive pride parade brought out revelers in colorful dress to the city’s Lakeview District Saturday night. 

Hate groups in the US decline but their influence grows, report shows
2025-05-22 18:01:00

In its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, released Thursday, the Southern Poverty Law Center said it counted 1,371 hate and extremist groups, a 5% decline. The nonprofit group attributes this to a lesser sense of urgency to organize because their beliefs have infiltrated politics, education and society in general.

Author revives forgotten stories through historical fiction novel based in Birmingham
2025-05-15 12:01:11

Barry Cole is using historical fiction to revive the lost history of enslaved people found buried in a mass grave at the park. That book, called 100 Pearls, is out Thursday.

Legendary civil rights attorney Fred Gray honored with statue in Alabama
2025-04-26 05:00:00

Gray represented prominent civil rights leaders like King, Rosa Parks and John Lewis throughout the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, allowing activists to intentionally leverage mass arrests and civil disobedience to push for equal rights.

Crowds in Railroad Park protest Trump administration for 'No Kings' day
2025-04-19 17:22:45

The event was part of protests across the country under a theme of "No Kings in America." The protests, organized by the 50501 movement, was held on April 19, the 250th anniversary of the battle of Lexington and Concord, an early fight in the Revolutionary War. 

Weather

Sports

What's the deal with torpedo bats? See how this Baton Rouge bat manufacturer makes them
2025-05-01 16:59:44

Marucci Sports gave WWNO's Louisiana Considered an inside look at how they make torpedo bats, the oddly-shaped bats giving hitters newfound strength.

Florida heads to NCAA title game in a victory over SEC rival Auburn
2025-04-05 22:56:18

Florida beat Southeastern Conference rival Auburn 79-73 in the Final Four on Saturday night. The Gators are going to the national championship game for the first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007.