Search Results for King
Bilingual Ed in the South: Another School Across the Border (in GA)
As public schools become more linguistically diverse, some see bilingual or “dual-language” programs as a way to improve education for all – English speakers too. Yesterday we checked out an […]
Bilingual Ed in the South: It’s Happening, Even at This School
The number of Latinos in America’s schools is rising faster than any other group’s. And their share of the school population is rising fastest in the South. Many don’t speak […]
A Civil Rights Resolution Rediscovered
Some of the most enduring images of the Civil Rights Movement are of fire hoses blasting children who were marching in Birmingham in 1963. Those pictures shocked many around the country and helped spur President John F. Kennedy to call for the Civil Rights Act. But the fire hoses also prompted a response from some New York City firefighters. As WBHM’s Amy Sedlis reports, that action remained unknown to Birmingham residents for more than five decades.
Why I Support WBHM: Chad and Allison Kahl
Chad and Allison Kahl are both WBHM members. Chad's in the Air Force. He's a flight surgeon attached to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron out of Birmingham. During Chad's most recent deployment, the Kahls say WBHM helped keep them connected.
Two Veteran News Professionals Join WBHM
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM welcomes Sherrel Wheeler Stewart as the Managing Editor of the Southern Education Desk and Chris Osborne as Announcer/Producer for WBHM.
A Prosecutorial Team Back Together
If you're a powerful politician such as a president, senator or governor, you can sometimes get the rock star treatment. But if you're a former federal prosecutor, probably not. It a move though by a federal former federal prosecutor that has Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald celebrating as if the Beatles reunited. He talks about that and a To Kill a Mocking Feud in Monroeville.
Small Alabama Banks Move to Birmingham
Birmingham has seen some big names in banking from Wells Fargo to PNC to come into the city in the last decade. But it’s also attracting small banks from around Alabama who hope to gain a foothold in the city. We hear about that, changes to Medicare and a bike sharing program comes to Birmingham in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
What Stands in a Storm
Monday marks the fourth anniversary of a massive tornado outbreak where 62 tornados raked across Alabama in a single day. More than 250 people died from those storms on April 27, 2011. Writer Kim Cross chronicles that time through several personal stories in her book What Stands in a Storm. It grew out of an article she wrote for Southern Living magazine. She spoke with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.
WBHM Wins Seven Regional Murrow Awards
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM/WSGN 91.5 has won seven 2015 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association. The awards recognize the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world.
Golf Courses Struggle to Stay Above Par
Drive by a country club now that the weather is warmer and you’ll likely see people taking in a round of golf. However the number of people who choose to do that has been steadily dropping over the last 10 to 15 years. That’s forced a couple of Birmingham country clubs to close and the others to look to a new strategy. We hear about it in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Why I Support WBHM: Virginia Stone
Virginia Stone is a WBHM member listening from Birmingham, Alabama -- and oddly enough, she’s a huge fan of the fund drive. “I love it because of the community that I feel when I hear the name of someone I know,” says Virginia. “I do understand why people get annoyed; they don’t want to be pestered for donations. But the truth is, they need to step up.”
State Courts Underfunded Despite Rising Court Fees
In Cleburne County Alabama, a speeding ticket could cost you about $20. But after the fees kick in, you could end up owing almost $300. Alabama Media Group political commentator Kyle Whitmire reports that, while the state is staunchly against new taxes, rising court fees are being used more and more to fund general government operations.
Why I Support WBHM: John Nicholson and Catherine Dewitt
John Nicholson and Catherine Dewitt’s love for public radio is just as deep as their feelings for each other.
Why I Support WBHM: Rachel Brewer
Rachel Brewer is a UAB grad student and WBHM member. Even as a long-time public radio listener, she has beef with a treasured classic.
Why I Support WBHM: Mina Khan
Mina Khan is a WBHM member from Trussville. To start her day off right, she tunes into Morning edition during her hour-and-a-half commute. “When I have to start my day at work,” she says, “I cannot sit and listen to a story that’s so engaging that I don’t really want to turn off my radio.”
Auburn’s Lesson for Alabama
The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees usually operates without a lot of attention. But with UAB boosters angry over the loss of that university’s football program and two bills in the state legislature aimed at restructuring the panel, more people are taking note of how the board is made up. Several members have close ties to Bryant Bank, founded by long time board member Paul Bryant Junior, himself the son of legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. The board also has self-selecting membership. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald has written about this and says it looks similar to a situation from Auburn University.
Urban Food Project Brings Fresh Produce To Corner Stores
For some who live in Birmingham, it is easy to get healthy food, especially if you have a car and can drive to a large grocery store. But if you are one of the 88,000 people living in one of Birmingham’s food deserts, getting quality food can be a real challenge. A local revitalization organization, REV Birmingham, is working to change that through an initiative called the Urban Food Project.
Mental Healthcare Community Worries More Cuts are on the Way
When Alabama Psychiatric Services suddenly closed in February, 28,000 people who depended on the company for mental healthcare found their treatment thrown into chaos. APS closed after the company said it couldn’t reach an agreement with the state’s largest health insurance company Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama. A similar situation in Florida has some mental healthcare professionals wondering if more closures are possible or if something illegal is happening.
Poll Shows Majority Of Alabamians Would Pay Higher Taxes
Alabama General Fund faces a deficit of around $250 million. On Wednesday, the legislative General Fund committee circulated a draft of what Alabama’s budget would look like without adding any […]
Women, Manufacturing and Job Opportunities in Alabama.
Picture a factory worker and you might imagine a gruff man, covered in dirt working the line. That's not the reality for manufacturing today, but the industry is male dominated. And with Alabama a manufacturing-heavy state, that affects opportunities for women. We talk about that in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
President Obama Speaks in Birmingham
More than a thousand people gathered Thursday afternoon at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham to hear a speech by President Barack Obama. He used the visit to promote ideas he says will help working families and to tout proposed new rules on payday lenders. While the remarks were about policy, for many people, the fact they heard a sitting president speak in Birmingham represented a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Handling Heroin In The Courts
Heroin related deaths more than doubled last year in Jefferson county. All this week, WBHM has explored Alabama's heroin problem. With a rise in use of the drug, police report more heroin arrests, and judges say their dockets are filling up with cases. According to Birmingham's drug court, eight out of ten cases are for heroin. We conclude our series with a look at the courts. Ashley Cleek followed one addict into the criminal justice system to see what works and what doesn't.
Naloxone Access Bill
With heroin use increasing in Alabama the last few years, public health leaders are looking for ways to reduce heroin overdose deaths. Naloxone could be part of it. The drug, more commonly known as Narcan, can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose if administered to a user in time. It's not addictive nor does it produce a high. State Representative Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) refers to it as a miracle drug. Treadaway is also a Birmingham police captain and he's introduced HB 208 in the Alabama legislature to expand access to Naloxone.
How Law Enforcement Is Fighting The Heroin Problem
As heroin use increases in North Central Alabama, law enforcement is taking a hard look at how to stop the supply, and handle heroin dealers and users. But beyond arresting dealers, they're also often the first on the scene of heroin overdoses. Les Lovoy reports on how law enforcement officials are juggling drug enforcement and saving lives.
Preventing Addiction In Schools
In Part One of WBHM's five-part series, we heard about how and why heroin use is on the rise in Alabama. Now in Part Two, education reporter Dan Carsen looks at how some young people are trying to slow its spread in their schools. The story starts with a confession in a small office just outside downtown Birmingham.
Fighting Heroin Abuse and Overdose Deaths
Heroin use has exploded in Alabama, with heroin-related deaths more than doubling in Jefferson County last year. All this week, WBHM explores the heroin problem in our series Heroin in Alabama. We'll hear what schools, law enforcement, the courts, and others are doing to fight heroin abuse and curb overdose deaths. To start, a look at the scope of the problem and how we got to here.
Montgomery Catholic Mission Finally Celebrates Its Role in the Selma Marches
This month marks the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery. The march was a turn in the Civil Rights Movement. But it also brought about a change in The City of St Jude. It's not actually a city, but a Catholic mission that takes up two city blocks in west Montgomery. It was started in the 1930s in an attempt to address the lack of education and healthcare for African Americans in the South. Reporter Ashley Cleek brings us this story of a place before its time.
US Secretary Of Education Arne Duncan
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Alabama's high school graduation rate jumped eight percent between the years 2011 and 2013. That may not sound like a lot, but it was one of the largest increases in the country, which also saw its rate increase while racial gaps decreased. WBHM's education reporter Dan Carsen caught up with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to talk about what the numbers mean for the state and for the nation.
Issues & Ales: Heroin in Alabama
Deaths from heroin overdose have increased dramatically in Alabama, doubling in Jefferson County alone last year. Heroin is cheaper than ever, and more and more people who are addicted to prescription painkillers are making the switch, tearing families and communities apart. Why is heroin usage on the rise and what can law enforcement, public health officials, families, parents, and teachers do to combat the growing epidemic? Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM will explore this topic at "Issues & Ales: Heroin in Alabama," Tuesday, March 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at WorkPlay, 500 23rd St. South, Birmingham.
A Snapshot of the Convention and Event Business
Birmingham did not win the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Nor has it hosted an NCAA basketball tournament game in years. But players in Birmingham's tourism and convention industry are working to keep a steady stream of events through the city. We have a snapshot of that industry in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
A Letter From Selma, 50 Years Later
Saturday, March 7 is the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. That's when police beat marches trying to walk from Selma to Montgomery in support of voting rights. While people look back at Selma 50 years ago, the weekly newspaper WELD has published a letter written just 11 days after Bloody Sunday. It offers a unique insight into what some of the people in Selma thought about those events as they unfolded. WELD editor Nick Patterson reads from the letter, which he says "offers a pretty significant glimpse into the mind of one particular facet of the community in Selma."
Remembering The Death That Sparked The Selma Marches
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the day police in Alabama beat marchers going from Selma to Montgomery in support of voting rights. Less well-known is the violent confrontation that sparked the Selma marches. It happened a few weeks earlier during a demonstration in Marion, a small town near Selma. A black civil rights activist named Jimmie Lee Jackson was shot and killed.
