Search Results for King

Banking Woes

It's been a sour housing market of late with rising mortgage defaults and consumer debt. And big banks have been feeling the hurt too. Birmingham's Regions Financial reported second quarter profits are down by more than 50% and cut their dividends by an even higher percentage. Charlotte, N.C.-based Wachovia had losses approaching $9 billion and is cutting more than 6,300 jobs nationwide, including some jobs in Alabama.

Alabama Obesity Ranking

Alabama has once again been ranked as one of the most obese states in the country. The latest survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Mississippi was the most obese state, followed closely by Alabama.

Smoking ban legislation

A final push to ban cigarette smoking in many public areas and workplaces is set for Monday, the last day of the regular session of the Alabama Legislature. We hear from both sides of the debate: public health and restaurants who say it unfairly targets them.

Taking Mental Health to the Streets

For thousands of people with serious mental illnesses, daily living is an excruciating experience. They have no support system to remind them to take their meds, or make and keep appointments. No one is there to help them shop for essentials, or provide them with a safe place to live and enough food to eat. Consequently, they often live on the street and drift in and out of the city's hospitals and jails. But, as Les Lovoy reports, there's a team of psychiatric professionals here in Birmingham, who are determined to give these troubled individuals a fighting chance.

Rethinking Violence: Is it a Disease?

The homicide rate in Birmingham is on the rise. A recent study ranked the Magic City as the 6th most dangerous city in the country. A group based in San Francisco is working to fight violence by taking a public health approach and treating it as a disease; they're bringing their message to Birmingham.

Mockingbird

She was a tomboy who would grow up to write one of the seminal novels of the 20th Century. Published in 1960, Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' catapulted her into fame -- a fame from which she made a hasty retreat. There's a new biography out about Lee and the creation of her only novel. WBHM's Rosemary Pennington spoke with the author, Charles J. Shields.

Making Sense of Mental Health: Rebecca’s Story

Women with Turner's Syndrome live with symptoms including infertility, depression and health problems, such as brittle bones and heart ailments. Rebecca Shaney wasn't diagnosed with Turner's until she was 28, and ever since she's had a hard time finding a job. She shares her experience through an audio diary...

Making Sense of Mental Health: On the Line

Underlying many of Alabama's societal challenges, from homelessness to prison overcrowding to school failure to unemployment, is undiagnosed or mistreated mental illness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that only one-third of Americans with mental health problems get care. Monday, March 13th, WBHM will conclude our year-long special project Making Sense of Mental Health with a live call-in program. We'll talk to mental health experts and consumers, and we'll take your phone calls.

Hurricane Banking Troubles

NPR News and Classical Music for North Central Alabama

Mississippi’s tech scene is in a catch-22. How can it move forward?

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.

Jason Reynolds’ favorite thing is being alone

Jason Reynolds writes stories that meet kids where they're at, as full, complex people. He talks with Rachel about the value of being a crier, and his restless approach to living life to its fullest.

Flight carrying 242 people bound for London has crashed in Ahmedabad, India

An Air India flight with 242 passengers and crew that was bound for London crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad shortly after departure.

London-bound Air India flight with more than 240 aboard crashes in Ahmedabad, India

A Boeing 787 crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad city five minutes after taking off. The flight was bound for London's Gatwick Airport. There were 232 passengers and 12 crew members onboard.

Public media funding up in the air as House prepares to vote on claw backs

public-media-funding-up-in-the-air-as-house-prepares-to-vote-on-claw-backs

ICE’s novel strategy allows for more arrests from inside immigration courts

The Trump administration has a novel strategy to boost arrests and reduce courts' backlog: dismissing people's immigration cases and immediately arresting them.

Majorities in key U.S. allies have no confidence in Trump’s global leadership

People in 15 of 24 countries downgraded ratings of the U.S., according to the survey of more than 28,000. Majorities in almost every country surveyed describe Trump as "arrogant" and "dangerous."

She served the American people for 35 years. Now her retirement income is on the line

As part of Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," the House voted to end a retirement supplement aimed at helping federal employees who retire before they're 62.

House GOP plan to gut green energy tax credits meets resistance in Senate

Several Republican senators say they're opposed to the wholescale repeal of certain clean energy tax credits passed by the House. Their phones have been ringing off the hook from industry leaders and energy lobbyists who want to make sure the Senate makes changes to the bill.

By the numbers: A look at the Army’s 250th anniversary parade on Trump’s birthday

In a few days, the nation's capital will host its largest military parade in more than three decades. We look at some numbers behind the celebration and the key historical moments leading up to it.

More than 400 CDC staff may be called back to work after being laid off in April

Laid off workers were told their notices of an upcoming reduction in force were "revoked." Officials didn't explain why HHS appeared to be restoring hundreds of jobs it previously called duplicative.

Live in a hurricane-prone area? Here’s how to prepare your home for flooding

If you're worried about flooding this hurricane season, here are some ways to harden your home with flooding and climate change in mind.

South Korea halts propaganda broadcasts along border with rival North

The South resumed the daily loudspeaker broadcasts in June last year in retaliation for North Korea flying trash-laden balloons toward the South in a psychological warfare campaign.

Immigration enforcement ramps up, tensions persist in big cities

Cities prepare for nationwide protests on Saturday.

Federal judge says he could release Mahmoud Khalil as soon as this week

Judge Michael Farbiarz said the government cannot keep Khalil detained based on its accusation that he threatens U.S. foreign policy goals. But the judge gave the government time to appeal.

RFK Jr. names new slate of vaccine advisers after purging CDC panel

Two days after firing vaccine experts who help set the nation's immunization policies, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has picked eight successors for the CDC panel.

Leaders of ‘orgasmic meditation’ company were convicted of forced labor: What to know

OneTaste billed itself as a sexual wellness business centered on "orgasmic meditation." Prosecutors said former leaders subjected victims to sexual and emotional abuse.

LA braces for Marines as California sues to stop military involvement

With the federalized National Guard deployed against the state's wishes and the Marines on the way to L.A., there are growing concerns about the policing role of the military.

In Miami, deportations are raising concerns among Cuban-Americans

South Florida's Cuban-American community supports President Trump, but some members are uneasy with his immigration policies. "I'm not for deporting people without criminal records."

Performers and video game companies reach deal that ends nearly year-long strike

Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use A.I. in game development.

Trump’s EPA plans to repeal climate pollution limits on fossil fuel power plants

The Trump administration plans to get rid of all limits on climate-warming pollution from the nation's fossil fuel power plants. Fossil fuel interests hailed the proposal, which likely faces legal challenges from environmental groups.

Trump’s DOJ makes its most sweeping demand for election data yet

Voting officials say they've never seen a demand like the one the Justice Department sent to Colorado last month.

Rep. McIver is indicted on federal charges related to tussle at immigration facility

The indictment was announced by interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba. Rep. McIver says the proceedings against her are "a brazen attempt at political intimidation."