Birmingham

Analysis Shows Great Voting Divide in Jefferson County, A Win for Ben Carson

Less than half of Jefferson County's 411,838 registered voters went to the polls on Tuesday. A total of 82,928 voted in the Democratic Primary and 93,985 voted in the Republican Primary.

A Party for Smarties with Says You! Live

Says You! returns to Birmingham for one spectacular performance — just in time for Mother's Day!

Issues & Ales: Crime in the Greater Birmingham Area

Join us on Thursday, March 10 for "Issues and Ales: Crime in the Greater Birmingham Area.” Local law enforcement officials and community members will discuss crime and brainstorm solutions.

Storms Couldn’t Keep Alabamians Away From Polls

Alabamians hit the polls yesterday for what’s been dubbed the "SEC Primary" and voter turnout was high despite severe weather.

Alabama Clinton Supporters Look to November After Super Tuesday Win

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton stormed through Alabama and much of the South on Super Tuesday, clinching victories. Clinton claimed a commanding primary victory over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders with 78 percent of the vote in the Alabama Democratic primary. Clinton was propelled by heavy support from African-American voters. Nine in 10 black Democrats supported Clinton.

Dr. Tommy Bice, State Schools Chief, Announces Retirement

Dr. Tommy Bice, Superintendent of the Alabama State Department of Education, today announced his retirement, set to go into effect at the end of this month.

Multi-Million Dollar Contract Awarded for Phase Two of I-20/59 Project

In a deal totaling more than $208 million, the Alabama Department of Transportation has entered a contract with a California construction company that will begin Phase Two of the I-20/59 Bridge Project. Phase Two involves redesigning and constructing the new interchange ramps at I-65. Granite Construction Incorporated will build new ramps to 17th Street and […]

A Look Ahead to the “SEC Primary”

The SEC Primary, also known as Super Tuesday is next week. A look ahead at what we can expect to see when Alabamians go to the polls, and an update on the ethics trial of House Speaker Mike Hubbard. State Legislators are now getting involved. Hear the latest from Kyle Whitmire the state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL dot com.

Alabama in Need of Road Repairs to Spur Economic Development

A report out this week from a Washington think tank outlines the top transportation maintenance projects it says are needed to improve economic growth in Alabama.

Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM Launches Magic City Sounds

Starting today, Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM will air Magic City Sounds, a new project featuring the voices and sounds that make up the Magic City in brief audio segments. WBHM will air these daily fragments of life, engaging moments, and personal reflections on air throughout regular programming and on-line at MagicCitySounds.org.  The station hopes […]

Birmingham Becomes First City in Alabama to Ban the Box

The mayor of Birmingham announced today new hiring practices aimed at curbing discrimination against those with past criminal convictions. Birmingham now joins the ranks of other states and cities banning the box. Mayor William Bell said too often, those with past criminal convictions are automatically rejected by employers. “And it’s all because of that box […]

Alabama Actress Keeps Fannie Lou Hamer’s “Little Light” Shining

“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” ~Fannie Lou Hamer~ Actress and Alabama native Billie Jean Young has has done something not many have; she’s performed the same show more than 800 times on four continents. Her one-woman tribute tells the story of a Mississippi sharecropper turned civil rights activist, whose courage […]

UAB Athletics Hits Another Fundraising Milestone

UAB Athletics announced yesterday that they exceeded a second crucial fundraising mark in the Finish the Drive campaign.

Mother Angelica and the Eternal Word Television Network

Roman Catholics around the globe know the name Mother Angelica. She’s the founding matriarch of a small monastery in Irondale that grew into one of the largest religious media networks in the world, spanning 145 countries.

Losing History in One of Birmingham’s Oldest Neighborhoods

Birmingham city leaders are stepping up efforts to deal with dilapidated  or abandoned properties. In communities overshadowed by blight, preservation is rarely an option, since resources are devoted to cleaning up and demolishing hazardous properties. In these neighborhoods, residents want to document the past before it’s destroyed. A Crumbling History Andre Brown drives a blue […]

More Computer Education Training Coming For Alabama Teachers

Alabama school teachers will get more opportunities to train as computer science teachers through an expanded partnership with At College Ready, the Alabama State Department of Education and CODE.org

Alabama Chief Justice Orders Stop to Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

Alabama Chief Justice, Roy Moore, issues an order to all probate judges regarding the state’s law on same-sex marriage, and Alabama lawmakers and community leaders address issues of gun rights in the wake of President Barack Obama’s executive order that expands background checks for gun buyers. More on this from Kyle Whitmire, political columnist for […]

Birmingham Leaders Look to Curb Gun Violence

“We ought to have an increased presence in our neighborhoods. We need to be safe," says Councilman Steven Hoyt.

Weather Service Crews to Survey Damage Saturday in Southwest Birmingham, Tuscaloosa

National Weather Service crews will assess damage Saturday morning in southwest Birmingham and east Tuscaloosa, locations where tornadoes possibly touched down Christmas Day as storms roared through the state.

Success More Than Jokes For Birmingham’s Roy Wood Jr. On Daily Show

For me, I think I have been very, very lucky to have a career up until this point where pretty much everything I have done, prepared me for what I am doing today on The Daily Show – from the acting, to the stand ups, even the prank phone calls. Roy Wood Jr.

Museum Exhibit Tells Spiritual Story of African Slaves in Haiti

A new exhibit opening at the Birmingham Museum of Art shows the marriage of African spirituality and Western traditions. The exhibit is called Haitian Flags and consists of ceremonial tapestries used by people of the Vodou faith. Vodou is still practiced on Haiti today. WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli spoke to curator Emily Hanna at the museum to learn more.

Bell Withdraws Complaint Against Lundy

Birmingham Mayor William Bell has withdrawn his complaint against City Councilman Marcus Lundy after a fight at city hall left both men hospitalized with minor injuries. In a statement Wednesday evening Bell says he is withdrawing his complaint against the councilman for "the good of the city." A warrant had been issued for Lundy’s arrest on an assault charge.

Fight at City Hall Not Craziest Thing to Happen in Alabama

A fight broke out at Birmingham City Hall between the mayor and a council member, Alabama is now under investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation for closure of driver license offices and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) prepares for active shooter scenarios. The latest conversation with Kyle Whitmire, political columnist for The Birmingham […]

Warrant Issued for Arrest of Birmingham City Councilman

Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Birmingham City Councilman Marcus Lundy following an altercation between Lundy and Birmingham Mayor William Bell during Tuesday's council meeting. A police report says Lundy attacked Bell as the two talked behind closed doors.

Birmingham Mayor, Councilman Involved in Altercation

Details are still coming in, but Birmingham Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy reportedly had a physical confrontation in a back room during the council's meeting this morning. Both men received medical treatment.

Water Works Ends Longtime Ties With Lawyers Waldrep, Stewart and Kendrick

The Birmingham Water Works Board cut ties today with its longtime lawyers Waldrep, Stewart and Kendrick. The board’s vote ends a lucrative relationship valued at more than $ 1 million a year and had lasted almost three decades. The contract ends on Jan. 11, says Mac Underwood, General Manager for the utility. Charlie Waldrep, a […]

JeffCo Residents Left Paying Bill on Billion Dollar Utility Scandal

Another Alabama lawmaker uses social media as a political podium, this time encouraging his followers to buy more guns, a settlement regarding a major banking institution may have a lasting and negative impact on Jefferson County residents and is Kyle Whitmire the Archie Bunker of the new millennium? The answer in this week’s conversation with […]

Birmingham LGBTQ Community Leader Honored by White House

Steven Romeo is founder of the Change Project here in Birmingham. It highlights the lives of LGBTQ people in Alabama and other areas of the South. Recently, Romeo received the White House “Champions of Change” recognition, given to just a handful of LGBT community leaders in the U.S. He stopped by to talk to WBHM […]

Kyle Whitmire: Donald Trump, Alan Harper and “Safe Spaces” on College Campuses

An Alabama state legislator asks constituents on Facebook to avoid shopping at stores that aren’t owned by “God-fearing Christians;” College students around the country are demanding their schools provide “safe spaces,” on campus and Alabama’s fascination with Donald Trump. A look at these issues in this week’s conversation with Kyle Whitmire.

Teaching Tough Topics: The South’s Real History

Teaching subjects that trigger strong emotions and political divides is challenging. In the South, many of those fault-lines — racial, religious and otherwise — are intimately tied to its history. This week the Southern Education Desk is exploring how teachers tackle tough topics. WBHM’s Dan Carsen starts with an overview of some the major challenges, and […]