Search Results for King
Commentary: Berucha Cintron “I Will.”
With area high school graduations this month, some students can find themselves at a crossroads as they determine what's next in their life. For commentator, and high school senior Berucha Cintron, this crossroads took place in the form of a short, emotional conversation she had with her mother several years before.
Birmingham Central Library Elevators, Escalators Broken
The sign on the broken escalator says use the elevator. The sign on the broken elevator says take the stairs. This is what visitors and staff of the downtown library are currently dealing with.
Birmingham Students Show Presentation Skills, Gain Praise from Condoleezza Rice
“It’s hard to get up in front of a group and sell your ideas. And somebody among this group is really going to be a great entrepreneur,” she says. “You could see that they loved it. They are passionate about it.”
Small Banks Continue Move to Birmingham
Birmingham’s banking sector has seen smaller banks entering the market hoping to latch onto growth in the state’s biggest metro area. So far in 2016, that trend is not slowing. We start there in this week’s Magic City Marketplace. The Birmingham Business Journal's Ty West also explains how the healthcare community is reacting to a General Fund budget Alabama's Medicaid commissioner says is below what's needed to maintain services.
Firm Releases Vestavia Hills HS Rebranding Package
After controversy over a mascot and team-name some call racist, a marketing firm has released its "rebranding package" for Vestavia Hills High School.
Eva Hardy Jones: Powell School’s Legendary Principal
Eva Hardy Jones became principal of Powell School in 1976. Around this time, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, but it and its students were in need.
Austin Reelected Birmingham City Council President
The Birmingham City Council re-elected Council President Johnathan Austin by one vote, 5-4, on May 10. The council was required to hold new elections because of a bill passed by Alabama Legislature this session.
What to Do With Birmingham’s Surplus Schools?
Vacant schools are a common sight throughout Birmingham. The buildings symbolize decades of population decline and budget cuts. Now, as the city center grows, many hope these large structures will be revitalized.
Federal Lawsuit Highlights Conflict Between State and Local Government
Alabama doesn’t have a minimum wage law. The state uses the federal rate of $7.25. Earlier this year, the Birmingham City Council tried to increase the city’s minimum wage, but we overridden by a bill Governor Robert Bentley signed into law inFebruary. The bill, originally flied by Mountain Brook Republican state Rep. David Faulkner, said only the state can set the minimum wage.
Bentley Scandal: In Pursuit of Wanda’s Desk
This week, Rep. Ed Henry and Red Bay Democratic Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, tried to get inside the governor's office and find the infamous Wanda's Desk. John Archibald, columnist for al.com and the Birmingham News, was there, and he tells WBHM's Rachel Osier Lindley what happened.
Oxford City Council Recalls Controversial Transgender Bathroom Law
Today the Oxford City Council recalled a controversial ordinance that would’ve forced people to use public bathrooms and changing facilities that correspond to their biological sex. WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli was […]
Mayors Gather in Birmingham to Discuss Violence Against Black Men and Boys
Mayors from across the country are in Birmingham this week for a conference addressing violence against African-American men and boys. It's the third annual gathering for Cities United, a coalition of mayors formed to curb such violence.
Bill Would Help Teachers Prevent Teen Suicide
In Alabama, suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth ages 12 to 16. A bill passed by the state legislature that could be signed by the governor would help teachers better prevent these suicides.
Birmingham Ranks Poorly on Long-Term Small Business Growth
Birmingham has a lot to offer young companies, but the city is lacking when it comes to sustaining small businesses in the long term. That’s according to a new study by American City Business Journals. They measured the nation’s largest metro areas for small business vitality, and Birmingham ranked 82nd out of more than 100 metro areas.
Birmingham Hammers Kick Off First Official Season on Saturday
The Birmingham Hammers make their debut with the semi-professional National Premier Soccer League, or NPSL, on April 30. Fans in Birmingham's growing soccer scene -- and the players, of course -- hope competing at a higher level against teams like Nashville and Memphis will draw even more Alabamians to games.
Lane Cake Named Official State Dessert by Alabama Lawmakers
Alabama has an official state bird, nut, fruit and even crustacean. The state might soon have an official state cake— a lane cake. The House of Representatives voted Thursday night to name lane cake as the official state cake. The bill now goes to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley for his signature. The effort to name lane cake the state dessert made some traction last year, but ultimately fell flat. To celebrate the cake's move towards official state-dessertdom, today we revisit this story by WBHM 2015 Summer intern Stephanie Beckett.
Oxford Officials: Transgender Bathroom Law is About Public Safety
Oxford city leaders say public safety is what sparked the recent passage of an ordinance that forces transgender people to use public restrooms corresponding with their biological sex. But transgender advocates say the law is unjustifiable.
Alabama Governor Faces Impeachment Threat in Wake of Scandal
A state lawmaker says he has enough signatures to re-ignite an impeachment effort against Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley. Republican Rep. Ed Henry announced Thursday that he had obtained 23 signatures on impeachment articles.
Remembering April 27: From Devastation Comes New Purpose
One Alabama woman dove head first into the relief effort after the tornado outbreak in April 2011. Her group, Toomer’s for Tuscaloosa, took off overnight, organizing aid for displaced residents and other emergency responders. But while helping others pick up the pieces to their lives, her personal life was crumbling.
Remembering April 27: Pratt City Sees Progress, Setbacks
Walk around Pratt City, a northern Birmingham neighborhood, and you’ll see rolling hills and meet proud residents. But you’ll also see many vacant lots, reminders of a tornado that struck five years ago this week. It was part of a tornado outbreak that killed more than 250 people statewide. The community has rebuilt, but there’s still a lot of be done. Five years later, some residents think the recovery is taking far too long.
Parker High School, Family And Community Helped Propel Top Scientist Dr. Willie May
“Obviously growing up in Birmingham, Alabama in the late 50s and 60s there were barriers, but fortunately I had lots of folks who invested a lot in me and I owed it to them not to allow those barriers to deter me.”
Remembering April 27: Cordova Recovery Means Unease
This week marks the fifth anniversary of a massive tornado outbreak that killed more than 250 people across Alabama. Since those storms on April 27, 2011, communities have been slowly rebuilding. Two tornados tore through the town of Cordova, northwest of Birmingham. Five years later, some residents feel uneasy about the change.
Investment in Alabama Doubled in 2015, Report Finds
A report out today from state officials shows Alabama attracted more than $7 billion in investments and added nearly 20,000 new jobs last year.
School Funding In Alabama: A View From Sumter County
In more affluent districts, local property tax revenue makes a big difference for schools. But in rural Sumter County, which is mostly farms and timberland, there isn’t much to tax. It’s also hard to raise rates on what is there.
Ala. Legislature Passes Ed Budget, Teacher Pay Raise
The Alabama state legislature today approved an education budget and a teacher pay raise. Conference committees approved the measures Thursday afternoon and Governor Robert Bentley has indicated his support. Assuming he signs […]
“The Faith of Christopher Hitchens”
Christopher Hitchens and Larry Taunton seem unlikely candidates to be friends. Hitchens was a writer and avowed atheist who died of esophageal cancer in 2011. Taunton is the founder of the Birmingham-based Fixed Point Foundation. It’s an evangelical Christian organization that has sponsored debates with prominent atheists. It’s through this work the two met and became friends. Larry Taunton is out with a book called “The Faith of Christopher Hitchens: The Restless Soul of the World’s Most Notorious Atheist”
Commentary: Not Easy to Find “Home” with Birmingham’s Redlining History
In the 1930’s, the Federal Housing Authority practiced "redlining," denying services to people in certain areas based on racial or ethnic makeup. This mostly discriminated against black, inner city neighborhoods. In Alabama, Birmingham was no exception. The echoes of redlining can still be heard today, especially when young black families start house shopping. In this commentary, young adult author and WBHM staffer Randi Revill shares her thoughts on searching for home among Birmingham’s silent but ongoing racial division. Revill's first novel, "Into White," comes out this Fall.
A Tour of Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell
Alabama has a rich folk history, full of songs, stories and primitive arts and crafts. For years, the Alabama Folk School has brought them to life through a year-round teaching program at Camp McDowell, the camp and conference center for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. The Alabama Folk School recently appointed a new director, and Camp McDowell itself has seen some major changes and renovations in the past year.
WBHM Wins Seven Regional Murrow Awards
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM has won seven 2016 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). WBHM’s competition region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and […]
Alabama House Could Vote to Form Impeachment Committee
The Alabama House of Representatives is expected to vote next week to establish a 15-person investigatory committee to probe the possible impeachment of Governor Robert Bentley.
Alabama Women Paid Significantly Less than Men
A new study finds that women in Alabama are paid significantly less than men.
Why I Support WBHM: “I Don’t Have to Think About the Oxford Comma!”
Nick Patterson is the editor of the weekly newspaper WELD, and joins WBHM each Thursday during All Things Considered to discuss the week’s news. He’s not just one of the voices […]
