Birmingham
Woodlawn Runner Jayla Kirkland Goes Against the World’s Best In Poland
Jayla’s time of 23.11 in the 200 meters captured first place last month at the prestigious New Balance Nationals Outdoor competition. In that same competition, she placed third in the 100 meter race.
Birmingham Job Market Near Peak Employment
There's good news regarding the Birmingham job market. Since 2011, the city has added more than 30,000 jobs, just shy of the 45,000 needed for peak employment.
AG Puts Foot Down on Alabama’s Open Carry Law
Attorney General Luther Strange orders removal of all "No Firearms Allowed" signs around Alabama.
Hundreds Gather For Rally And March in Downtown Birmingham
Organizers of the rally say while they encourage peaceful protest, they want to see people push for policy changes and go to the polls to vote in elections.
Birmingham City Leaders Discuss Race, Community After Dallas Shootings
The American flag that hangs outside Birmingham City Hall was already flying at half-mast to honor the 49 victims in the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened almost month ago. City officials say the flag will probably stay that way. The flag at City Hall was already flying at half-mast honoring the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened almost a month ago.
Birmingham City Council Delays Approving Funds For New Kingston Fire Station
Residents from the Kingston community showed up at the Birmingham City Council meeting on July 5, to ask leaders (again) to go ahead and replace their fire station. But, again, they learned they will have to wait. The council did not approve the $3 million request for the new station, even after a lengthy, intense […]
What Makes Birmingham a “Food Town?”
People in Birmingham love their city’s food so much they write songs about it. We found Ja-Neen Gandy hanging out with her kids at Railroad Park eager to share her ode to Gus’ Hot Dogs. Musical tributes are just one way residents of the Magic City express their appreciation for Birmingham’s food culture. Others write […]
Crowded Homeless Shelter Looking for New Home
The Firehouse Shelter serves thousands of homeless people in Birmingham like Johnson and has been a staple to the community since 1983. But they’ve outgrown their home on 3rd Ave North. and they’re working on moving to a bigger facility.
Mother Suing Birmingham Clinic for Medical Negligence
Mothers-to-be put a lot of thought into how – and where – they want to give birth to their babies. And a lot of what influences that choice is how hospitals represent themselves. In Birmingham, a recent lawsuit accuses Brookwood Women’s Health of deceitful marketing and medical negligence, relating to promises they made to one […]
Fairfield Residents Need Buses, But Regular Service Changes On July 5
Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority Leaders say they want to continue serving Fairfield, but can't do it without pay. Fairfield has a $545,000 debt with BJCTA.
Birmingham City Council Rejects $30,000 Request For Deontay Wilder Heavyweight Fight
Council members say they support Deontay Wilder, but the city has several pressing needs.
Former Birmingham CEO Convicted on 98 Counts of Fraud
A federal jury in Birmingham convicted the former CEO of two non-profit health clinics for the poor and homeless on 98 counts including conspiracy, bank fraud and money laundering.
How to make someone’s day…
School custodian Curtis Radford…
Birmingham’s Perceived Growth: What’s Real and What’s Not
The University of Alabama at Birmingham wants to expand its role as a statewide player in healthcare through the passage of the University Authority Act approved this spring by the Alabama Legislature. It allows the school's medical branch to join forces with other healthcare facilities around the state - especially in rural Alabama.
The Junction: Stories From Ensley, Alabama – An Integration Pioneer
In 1965, Carolyn Houston Crumbley Major became the first African-American graduate of Ensley High School. Producer Mary Quintas spoke with Carolyn's son, Rafaael Crumbley, and sister, Janice Houston Nixon, about Carolyn's contributions as an integration pioneer - and what her legacy means today.
“Before long I could say three sentences or four…”
Les Levoy, of Birmingham, on overcoming stuttering…
Sounds of the Mighty Wurlitzer…
Organist, Gary Jones, of Birmingham…
WBHM’s “On The Line” Talk Show Tackles Uneven Birmingham Revival
Walk around downtown Birmingham and there’s an energy you wouldn’t have felt a few years ago. Residents are moving to new lofts and apartments. Restaurants and retailers are opening. People do yoga at Railroad Park or take in a ballgame at Region’s Field. They’re visible signs of a Birmingham revival. But that revival is uneven. Talk to some in neighborhoods away from Downtown and they’ll say "revival" doesn’t mean much to them. No fancy lofts, just abandoned homes and potholed roads that never seem to be fixed. And all this takes place against the backdrop of Birmingham’s racial history, with investment, by-and-large, coming from whites in a city that’s been majority black for a generation.
BJCTA Cancels Bus Service to Fairfield Over Significant Back Payment
Birmingham City Council members want to restore bus service to Fairfield following a vote this week by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority to stop service to the area on June 1.
Birmingham Revitalization: The View from a City School
You could call schools the glue of a community. They're starting points for friendships and networks, and they affect property values and economic development. For our series on revitalization in Birmingham, WBHM's Dan Carsen returns to a redeveloping neighborhood to see how that's playing out in the local school.
Birmingham Revitalization: Feelings of Hope, Fear in Woodlawn
Woodlawn was a predominantly white neighborhood until it was integrated in the 1970s. After that, many whites fled, migrating over the mountain and Woodlawn became predominantly black. And many of them left too. The Woodlawn Foundation is trying to change that with projects like the Park at Wood Station, a 64-unit townhouse complex on First Ave. South.
Birmingham Revitalization: Some Neighborhoods Feel Ignored by City Hall
When David VanWilliams moved to Birmingham, he was looking for a fixer-upper and fell in love with the neighborhood of Inglenook. Inglenook sits just north of the airport. Like its southern neighbors, Crestwood and Avondale, Inglenook has turn of the century brick bungalows and wide streets with sidewalks. But unlike those other neighborhoods, potholes mark the road and many houses are in disrepair. Residents don’t have the money to fix them.
UAB Doctor Developing Blood Test to Predict Depression
Beth Seibels of Birmingham is 62 years old and has suffered from anxiety and depression for more than 30 years. Two years ago, things got worse. For the first time, she was feeling suicidal.
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.”
New Mayor Council Act Leaves Pronounced Rift Among Birmingham City Leaders
Earlier this week, the Birmingham City Council narrowly reelected Johnathan Austin as council president. Steven Hoyt was elected the new president pro-tem. This shuffle was the result of changes to the Mayor Council Act, approved recently by the Alabama Legislature. This move is causing some new tensions among council members. To discuss this and other […]
Birmingham Mayor Proposes Budget With Employee Pay Raises, More Neighborhood Funds
The $420 million budget represents an increase of about 4 percent over the previous year.
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.
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.”
Meeting Over Changes to Mayor-Council Act Incites More Debate
At a public meeting Monday night, more than a hundred people huddled into a tight room in the Jefferson County courthouse. Residents poured out into the hallway. They gathered to discuss proposed changes to the Mayor Council Act, legislation that divides powers between the mayor and city council.
New Bill Would Make Birmingham Civil Rights District a National Park
Federal and state leaders from Alabama announced a bill that would designate Birmingham’s Historic Civil Rights District as a National Park.
UAB Minimum Wage Increase Goes Into Effect This Weekend
Alabama’s largest employer is increasing its minimum wage to $11 an hour, officials say. The decision was made before a contentious minimum wage fight between city and state lawmakers.
Crime in Greater Birmingham: Literacy as Long-Term Prevention?
Police and prosecutors try to fight crime in the streets and in the courts every day. But how do you fight the long-term root causes of crime? Some people think you do it in small school rooms, one lesson at a time.
