Search Results for King
Mercedes Moves C-Class
Automakers across the globe are looking for ways to save money. Mercedes Benz thinks it's found a way. It will move some production of its popular C-class sedan from Germany to Vance, Alabama.
Musical Examines Atlanta Lynching
The Civil War left Atlanta in ruins, but after the war the city quickly rebuilt and became a dynamo for the New South. But the tensions between the old and new boiled over in 1913. That's when frenzy erupted over the rape and murder of a young girl. Accused of that murder: a Jewish businessman from New York named Leo Frank.
Tri-State Water Wars: Atlanta
It's called "the economic engine of the South". Atlanta, Georgia's population has exploded in the last two decades. But with that growth come environmental problems... like where to get enough drinking water. Georgia, Florida and Alabama have been fighting over who gets how much water from rivers that flow through the states. And as Tanya Ott reports a decision in the federal lawsuit could effect communities across the country.
Arrington’s Future
With Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford on trial for bribery, there's speculation about who would run for mayor if Langford were convicted. As we reported yesterday, a conviction would lead to a special election. One of the potential names on the ballot is former Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington. WBHM's Andrew Yeager looks at the revival of Arrington's political organization and a possible return to the mayor's office.
If He’s Found Guilty, Who Succeeds Langford?
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford's trial is underway. As Langford's fate hangs in the balance at the Tuscaloosa federal courthouse, many in Birmingham wonder what will happen to his job as mayor if he's convicted. WBHM's Bradley George takes a look at some of the possibilities.
Birmingham Mayor on Trial
The mayor of Alabama's largest city goes on trial today on federal bribery charges. Birmingham mayor Larry Langford is accused of accepting cash, clothes and jewelry in exchange for steering millions of dollars in county bond deals to an investment banker.
Corruption and Ethics: Impact Alabama
Today we conclude our series, "Corruption in Alabama: What's the Deal", with a look at what it means to be ethical. As director of The Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at the University of Alabama, Stephen Black occasionally gets calls from companies asking if he'd come give a lecture on ethics. He says he has to explain to them that when he says "ethics" he usually means something different than what they're thinking.
What’s the Deal: Whistleblowers
The movie The Informant took second place at the box office over the weekend. It's the story of a corporate whistleblower who works with federal investigators to take down an agriculture price fixing scheme. The movie is a real case turned into a dark comedy, but off screen whistleblowers are a serious tool for law enforcement when it comes to investigating corruption. There are laws designed to protect whistleblowers and thus encourage them to come forward. As we continue our weeklong series looking at corruption in Alabama, WBHM's Andrew Yeager examines if such protections, may be overblown.
What’s The Deal: Ethics Commission
Ethics is something that usually comes from within, but sometimes public officials need a little outside coercion to keep their ethics in check. For nearly 40 years, the Alabama Ethics Commission has worked to keep state employees and elected officials honest. As we begin a week of reports on corruption in Alabama, WBHM's Bradley George examines some of the challenges facing the commission and some of the proposal for ethics reform.
Tide Flu
It's fall in Alabama, which means tens of thousands of fans streaming onto college campuses each week to back their football favorites on the gridiron. There's an unwelcome visitor to campuses though - the new H1N1 flu virus. The swine flu has appeared among college students across the country, but is particularly widespread in the southeast. That poses concerns for team officials trying to keep football players on the field and out of bed. It could also affect the bottom line. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
Hurricane Tornadoes
Researchers at Georgia Tech say the size of a hurricane can predict the number of tornadoes it will spawn.
City Council Elections
Voters in Birmingham head to the polls tomorrow to pick who'll represent them on the city council for the next four years. But with all that's been happening in Birmingham area politics, from a financial crisis in Jefferson County to a mayor set to go on trial for corruption, it can be difficult to cut through and figure out what's going on with the city council races. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke to a number of political observers to gauge what might happen at the polls.
Coal Ash Controversy
Every day for the rest of the year, a long train will travel through Birmingham on its way from a power plant in Tennessee to a landfill in Uniontown, Alabama. Tim Lennox has our report on the controversy the muck on board that train is causing in Alabama's Black Belt.
Civil Rights Pardons
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has issued a blanket pardon to those arrested in the city during the 1960s civil rights protests. Some 2,500, including children and the Reverend Martin Luther King Junior, were jailed during that era of fire hoses and police dogs. But as WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports, the move seems more about reconciling the past than altering the record books.
Businesses’ Take on the Birmingham Business Alliance
Local business owners are closely watching what direction economic development takes since the formation of the Birmingham Business Alliance. The merger between the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Board took place a few weeks ago. The Alliance covers a large swath of central Alabama, including Jefferson, Shelby and five neighboring counties. The union sounds great on paper, but what does it really mean for local businesses? WBHM's Varun Krishnan reports.
Jefferson County Layoffs: Wes Gregory’s Story
News headlines are filled with stories about Jefferson County's budget crisis. But behind the public headlines, there are the personal stories of nearly a thousand county employees who've been laid off and find their lives turned upside down. Wes Gregory is one of them.
On The Line: Jefferson County Budget Crisis
Jefferson County faces a massive budget shortfall. County leaders and state legislators are looking for solutions, but will they be long-term or just a bandaid? Join WBHM for our live call-in program "On The Line: Jeffco Budget Crisis" Friday at noon.
Tornado Sirens: Anyone Listening?
When you think of the sounds of summer in Alabama, what comes to mind? Maybe it's a barbecue or kids playing by the pool. Or, how about a summer thunderstorm? With these storms there's sometimes another sound--tornado warning sirens.
City Stages Vendors Left with Bill
It's been several weeks since City Stages announced it was taking its final curtain call. The non-profit music festival had struggled for many years with a deficit. And now, local businesses who provided services for this year's festival say they're scrambling to make ends meet because they weren't paid for their work.
Gay/Straight: Bullying Gay Students
It's a phrase many kids use almost daily: That's so gay. Experts say that the use of homophobic slurs in schools is on the rise. Two 11-year-olds recently committed suicide after being bullied with anti-gay taunts. And though a new law requires the Alabama Department of Education to come up with a policy prohibiting harassment, that new policy isn't likely to mention sexual orientation.
Gay/Straight: Spirituality
For many gays and lesbians, coming out is an overwhelming experience. They face, family, friends, coworkers and sometimes the most daunting of all, their church. The message delivered from the pulpit leaves many at spiritual crossroads. Some feel obligated to be someone they're not. Others try to decide what part of their spirituality to keep and what to discard. Les Lovoy reports on how this faith journey affects gay men and women and their families.
Scrushy Ordered to Pay $2.9 Billion
A judge has ordered former HealthSouth C.E.O. Richard Scrushy to pay almost $2.9 billion for his role in the massive account fraud which nearly sunk the company. Shareholders sued Scrushy in civil court alleging he faked profits which triggered bonuses for him. Scrushy testified he knew nothing of the fraud and other executives in the company were responsible. Plaintiff lawyer John Haley led the legal team seeking damages from Scrushy. He spoke with WBHM's Bradley George.
Birmingham’s Budget: Child Care Resources
Many Birmingham non-profit organizations are still reeling from the news they've been cut out of Mayor Larry Langford's proposed budget for 2010. Several high profile groups are taking a hit, including Child Care Resources, which trains child care providers and offers referral services and financial assistance to working parents looking for care.
US Steel: Fairfield Fallout
German steel giant ThyssenKrupp announced Tuesday it may delay opening its massive steel plant under construction near Mobile. The $4.5 billion plant is currently scheduled to open for next spring. But ThyssenKrupp says its hemorrhaging money - more than one billion dollars this year - so the plant may have to wait. This comes after U.S. Steel announced it would indefinitely idle steelmaking operations at its plant in Fairfield, putting 1,700 jobs in limbo. WBHM's Andrew Yeager attended a town hall meeting Tuesday and spoke to a number of workers who are anxious and confused, but optimism as well.
Wilcox County Unemployment
When the economy turned sour, people started making comparisons to the Great Depression. But experts quickly noted it wasn't anything like the 1930's, when unemployment soared to 25%. But for one Alabama community, unemployment is that high. WBHM's Tanya Ott takes us to Wilcox County, where one in four people who want to work can't find a job.
More Budget Cuts?
There are just five more work days left in the Alabama legislative session and Jefferson County commissioners are anxiously watching what happens to a bill concerning the county's occupational tax. A judge declared the tax illegal earlier this year, meaning the county could miss out on about $70 million in revenue. That and other financial uncertainty prompted county officials to tell department heads to prepare for massive budget cuts. WHBM's Andrew Yeager reports on how those cuts could affect one county department.
Swine Flu and Alabama
Government health officials report 40 people in the United States are now infected with swine flu. While none of those cases are in Alabama, State Health Officer Don Williamson says it's only a matter of time before there is a case here. In fact, Trussville City Schools leaders are talking with federal officials after some band students took a weekend trip to Mexico, where more than 100 people have died due to swine flu. So far, there are no reports of flu symptoms among the group. Don Williamson is monitoring the situation and spoke with WBHM's Andrew Yeager.
Grocery Auction
Need another sign of the times? Head on down to Calera to the Cadle Auction House, where you might find more toilet paper and laundry soap than Waterford crystal and speed boats. WBHM's Tanya Ott reports.
The Economy & Nonprofits: A Conversation with Tim Delaney
Nonprofit organizations ranging from health care groups to after-school programs are hurting right now. Corporate and individual donations are down. Foundations are tightening their belts, and state and local governments are taking drastic cost cutting measures as well. All of this adds up to the very real possibility that thousands of nonprofit organizations may have to shut down.
Regions: Managing the Message
A recent headline in Newsweek magazine pretty much says it all when it comes to the current financial crisis - "No One Wants to Hug a Banker." Critics of Birmingham-based Regions Bank got two pieces of ammunition last week. The company announced executive compensation for 2008 and while CEO Dowd Ritter turned down a $1.1 million bonus, his total compensation still rose more than $2 million. Two days later, Regions announced it was suspending matching contributions for its employees' 401(k)s. Not exactly positive news in today's economic climate. WBHM's Andrew Yeager reports.
Alabama Prepaid College Tuition
In the last two years, the value of Alabama's Prepaid college tuition plan (PACT) has dropped nearly 50%. The tumbling stock market and increased college enrollments are squeezing pre-paid plans nationwide, but Alabama's situation is the worst. State officials hope to calm nerves by holding a public meeting in Montgomery this afternoon. But as Les Lovoy reports they're likely to hear from a lot of irate parents.
New Lead Laws Affect 2nd Hand Clothing Stores
New consumer safety rules go into effect next week, aimed at making children's products safer. After a flood of imported toys came ashore with high lead levels, Congress moved quickly last year to make children's products safer. Maybe too quickly. The new 'Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act' takes effect Tuesday and there are more questions than answers. WBHM's Tanya Ott reports.
