Birmingham
Why Metro Birmingham Homicides Are Up
Metro Birmingham had a streak last fall – eight killings in six days. The rash of homicides stretched from Hueytown to Homewood to Tarrant. The area’s murder rate rose in 2017 for the third consecutive year. Government and law enforcement officials in Birmingham and Jefferson County say there are challenges to what some have dubbed a crisis.
City Offers Emergency Shelter For Hundreds Escaping Cold
Brutal cold prompted the City of Birmingham to open an emergency warming shelter over the weekend. City officials say they’ll keep it open through Friday, but they need more volunteers […]
How the Shipt-Target Deal Could Affect Birmingham
Target wants in on the same-day delivery business. And last week it announced it’s spending $550 million to buy the Birmingham-based startup, Shipt. The deal could have ripple effects for Birmingham.
Kids, Dogs and the Culture of Breweries
For WBHM’s food series, “Sound Bites” we look at why breweries have become such popular places for families to spend quality time.
Apathy and a Divide Among Some Black Voters
If he has a chance at defeating conservative Republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s US Senate election, Democrat Doug Jones needs lots of votes, especially from African Americans. But some in the black community say it’ll take more than a history of prosecuting the KKK members responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing to energize them to support Jones.
Woodfin Inaugurated as Birmingham’s 30th Mayor
Randall Woodfin, a 36-year-old former Birmingham school board member, was inaugurated Tuesday as Birmingham's 30th mayor.
How to Solve Birmingham’s Food Service Worker Shortage
There are too many restaurants in Birmingham and not enough people to staff them.
Woodfin Shocked the Old Guard. Now What?
In about three weeks, Randall Woodfin takes office as Birmingham’s next mayor. Woodfin worked for years as an attorney at City Hall. During his year-long campaign for mayor, Woodfin shined a light on the city’s problems and sold most Birmingham voters on his ability to fix them. Recently he spoke with WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart about what’s next and how he won.
New Birmingham Council Pledges To Work Together
Birmingham has a new city council – six returning members and three new ones. They took office this morning, pledging to do things differently --– mainly working with the new mayor and working together.
New Documentary Highlights Lesbian Struggle for Equality in Alabama
The film follows three lesbian couples, a group that directors say has historically been invisible in Alabama.
The Accidental LGBT Activist: Jim Obergefell Speaks to Students at UAB
Jim Obergefel was at the center of the U.S. Supreme Court case legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. He spoke at the University of Alabama at Birmingham last night about what’s he’s been doing since that landmark day in 2015.
Voters Hope Woodfin Fulfills Promises For Better Birmingham
Randall Woodfin takes over as mayor of Birmingham on Nov. 28. He overwhelmingly beat incumbent Mayor William Bell in this month’s runoff. On the campaign trail, the 36-year-old Woodfin promised a better Birmingham. Now residents say they expect him to deliver on those promises.
California Dreamin’ With a Heart of Dixie: Writer Charlie Wyatt
The Birmingham native has lived in San Diego, California, since the 1960s, but his soul stayed in the South. Wyatt began writing short stories a few years ago, releasing a little bit of that Southern soul in the process.
Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin Announces Transition Leaders, Inauguration Date
Birmingham Mayor-elect Randall Woodfin began his transition into office today with a press conference at Vulcan, echoing some of the same themes from his campaign.
Birmingham Mayor, Council To Start Terms On Different Dates
Birmingham’s mayor and council were elected at the same time, but they will not take office the same day because of state law.
Woodfin Wins. Birmingham Voters Deny Bell Another Term
Birmingham voters on Tuesday elected Randall Woodfin the city’s new mayor. Woodfin took 59 percent of the vote to incumbent Mayor William Bell’s 41 percent, according to unofficial results. The […]
In Tuesday’s Mayoral Runoff, Bell Touts Experience, Woodfin Pushes Change
There’s a runoff election in Birmingham Tuesday. A few school board seats and city council places are on the line. And there’s the big race for mayor – a runoff between incumbent William Bell and Randall Woodfin, an assistant city attorney.
Graham Boettcher’s Mission: Breaking Down the Ivory Tower
Graham Boettcher came to Birmingham just over a decade ago and says he's seen vast changes in the city's art scene and culture.
Regional Governments Team Up to Lure Amazon to Birmingham
Government and corporate leaders from throughout Jefferson County announced a joint effort today to lure a proposed Amazon headquarters to Birmingham.
“God wants to paint you different…so let him paint you different.”
Cashier Ledreshia Jackson of Birmingham
When I told them I had ovarian cancer….
Lois Caldwell of Birmingham
Dueling Endorsements for Mayor Among Birmingham Police
Talk about choosing sides -- Birmingham police are split on who they support for mayor in the upcoming runoff election on Oct. 3.
Selfies and Handshakes and Smiles, Oh My! Birmingham Mayor’s Race Heats Up
The Birmingham city election runoff is less than two weeks away, and in the mayor’s race, almost any street, coffee shop, boutique or park can turn into a battleground for votes.
Preview of the Birmingham Mayor’s Race: The Woodfin-Bell Divide
The results are in for the Birmingham Municipal Election. But while these numbers don’t lie, they do leave lots of questions
Roland Martin: ‘Is School Choice The Black Choice?’
Two years ago, Alabama passed a law authorizing charter schools to operate in the state but the concept has been slow to catch on. Alabama has only one charter school so far in Mobile and the state earlier this year approved a second to open in Birmingham. These schools are meant to offer access to better quality public education but many black families have been resistant to the idea. Washington based television host Roland Martin is trying to change that.
The Breakdown: How Woodfin and Bell Fared Around the City
If you want to know how 36-year-old former school board President Randall Woodfin captured the largest percentage of votes in his bid to win out over incumbent Mayor William Bell, just look at the numbers.
Low Voter Turnout So Far at Some Birmingham Polls
Turnout appears low at several Birmingham polling places as voters go to the polls to elect a mayor, city council and school board.
Has Your Birmingham Polling Place Changed?
Polls open for voting in Birmingham at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, as Birmingham voters cast their ballots for mayor, city council and school board.
Trudy Hunter Wants To Tackle Education, Poverty
For Trudy Hunter, a law school grad and a social worker from southwest Birmingham, this run for the city’s top job has been 10 years in the making. She says she wrestled with God about whether to step out on faith and run.
Patricia Bell Wants a Better City For Future Generations
Patricia Bell, no relation to William Bell, has run for mayor several times. But she isn’t discouraged. She's one of 12 candidates vying for the office in Tuesday's election. The community activist and marketer says the city still needs good leadership.
In Birmingham, Debate Over Confederate Monuments Renewed After Charlottesville
Birmingham has a complicated relationship with racism. Some of the most notable events from the Civil Rights era took place in the city. Now, there's renewed debate about the fate of the city's Confederate monuments.
Bell Calls Birmingham’s Revitalizing Neighborhoods the Next Challenge
Birmingham Mayor William Bell has been a Xerox marketer and a probation officer, but since 1979, he’s been somewhere in local government. Voters will decide Tuesday during municipal elections whether he'll continue to serve in his position. After almost eight years as mayor, Bell tells WBHM’s Sherrel Stewart he wants to do it again.
