Birmingham
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.
WBHM’s Guide to the 2017 Solar Eclipse
[View the story “WBHM’s Guide to the 2017 Solar Eclipse” on Storify]
Seven-Year-Old Golf Prodigy Drives Hard Toward Success
Little Jerrell Anthony has been playing golf since he was two years-old. Now, at age seven, he competes against, and often beats kids twice his age.
Birmingham Gentrification Task Force To Meet This Month
A new task force to address gentrification in Birmingham is set to meet for the first time later this month.
Philemon Hill: Birmingham Needs Economic Development and Strong Schools
Philemon Hill is a sports marketer. He’s promoted sporting events from baseball to golf around the Southeast. But he’s also become a fixture at Birmingham City Council and School Board meetings. Now, he’d like to make the leap from gadfly to mayor.
Bell, Woods, and Woodfin Top Poll and Fundraising in Birmingham Mayor’s Race
A WBRC Fox 6 News poll in the Birmingham mayor’s race shows incumbent William Bell, building contractor Chris Woods and Birmingham school board member Randall Woodfin leading the race as the Aug. 22 election approaches. Those same three candidates are leading in fundraising, according to a WBHM analysis.
Fernandez Sims Says Birmingham Needs A Servant Leader
Brother Fernandez Sims is a Birmingham minister. From his time in the pulpit and counseling people in the community, he says he sees the needs of Birmingham residents. He says he wants to be mayor to address those some of those needs.
Crowded Field of Eight Battle For District 2 Council Seat
There’s only one seat for the Birmingham City Council in District 2, and eight people want it – including the incumbent. The district, which includes the east Birmingham communities of East Lake, Roebuck Springs, Liberty Highlands, Crestwood South, Huffman and several others, has attracted a combination of young professionals and community leaders.
Filling in the Gaps: New Project Connects Lakeview to Pepper Place
There’s a new multimillion-dollar development coming to Lakeview: it’ll have apartments and condos, room for retail and restaurants, and some green space. It’ll be at the former Davis School property at 29th Street and 4th Avenue South. WBHM’s Gigi Douban talked with Birmingham Business Journal editor Ty West about how the project could tie hot […]
Crime, Education, Jobs Among Top Issues For Birmingham Voters
Many of those running for office in Birmingham, whether for mayor or city council or school board, have their own ideas on how to improve life in the city. But ask some of the city’s 212,000 residents what keeps them up at night, and you’ll hear the same concerns come up over and over again: jobs, education, and crime.
Birmingham Weekly Newspaper Halts Publishing
Weld general manager, Heather Milam Nikolich, tells WBHM's Esther Ciammachilli the move is temporary.
New Elyton Hotel Blends Old Birmingham With New
The old Colonial Bank Building at the corner of 1st Avenue North and 20th Street downtown stood vacant for years. It now opens as an upscale hotel with a polished face and a plush interior, reminiscent of the city’s history as a center for industry and commerce.
Charlemagne Records Celebrates 40 Years
The Birmingham institution has endured several music format changes from cassette tapes to online streaming. WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli popped in to Charlemagne to see what this little shop has done to stay afloat during a time when record stores have almost disappeared.
Birmingham Election Qualifying Ends This Week — Who’s In?
The list of candidates so far includes several incumbents and other familiar names. Qualifying ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 7.
New Report: Lack of Regional Cooperation Hinders Birmingham’s Growth
Birmingham Business Journal's Ty West talks about one of the biggest factors hindering Birmingham's growth, a lack of regional cooperation.
Marchers Urge Birmingham to Become Sanctuary City
Immigrant advocates and residents marched in downtown Birmingham Saturday from Kelly Ingram Park to City Hall. They want Birmingham to become a “sanctuary city” – one that does not use city resources to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
Focus on Birmingham Mayor’s Race as Election Revs Up
Between the mayor’s race, city council and school board – 19 seats in all are up for grabs in the Birmingham City Elections set for August 22.
Qualifying Begins For Birmingham City Elections
Seventeen people have already signed up for various races. All city elected jobs – mayor, council, and school board – will be on the ballot on August 22.
UAB Unveils Completely Solar-Powered House for Upcoming Competition
The project is part of the 2017 Solar Decathlon competition taking place in Denver this October. UAB is competing against 12 other teams from around the world to see which team can build the best, completely solar-powered, full-size home.
Business Community Concerned about I-20/59 Bridge Project
The I-20/59 bridge replacement project has Birmingham's business community concerned as investors and developers work to revitalize the area in and around downtown. We talk more about that in this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Changes to Mayor-Council Act Deepening Rift at Birmingham City Hall
Weld investigates changes to the Mayor-Council Act and what Mayor William Bell is doing with his new authority.
Mayor Bell Takes Interest in Delinquent Water Works Customers
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald talks about why all of a sudden Mayor William Bell is voicing concern about the Birmingham Water Works' decision to start cutting off service to customers who are behind on their bills.
Tesla to Boost Charging Sites in Alabama to 10
Tesla is known for fast electric cars with price tags that can easily reach six figures. But this summer, the company plans to produce its first mass-market model. To prepare for more Teslas on the road, the company says it’s expanding its network of charging sites in North America by 150 percent, including in Alabama.
Birmingham’s VA Faces Challenges Keeping Wait Times Down
Wait times have been shrinking at the Birmingham VA after zooming up last year, but challenges with space and hiring still remain.
On the job problem solving…
Telephone technician, Matthew King, of Birmingham…
More than just the shoes…
Alabaster shoeshiner Ronald Grant…
Condoleezza Rice’s Book Explores Democracy, Segregated Birmingham
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has just come out with a new book, "Democracy: Stories from the Road to Freedom." While in Birmingham Monday, she told WBHM’s Sherrel Wheeler Stewart how memories of a segregated Alabama during her childhood have stuck with her and laid the foundation for her latest work.
First Public Charter School Approved for Birmingham
The Alabama Public Charter School Commission voted this month to approve a request to open STAR Academy, which will be the state’s first public charter school and will open in Birmingham. Charter schools are a contentious subject, with both opponents and supporters both citing statistics supporting their opinions.
The Heritage Band: Keeping Birmingham’s Big Band Spirit Alive
The Heritage Band was founded in 1976 by late saxophonist J.L. Lowe. The group is keeping the big band spirit alive in Birmingham, long after the days of the Duke Ellington-style big bands have disappeared.
Alabama’s Exotic Pet Laws Could Soon Change
Nick Patterson, editor of Weld, discusses how Alabama lawmakers are considering changing the state’s regulations on exotic pet ownership.
Birmingham Hires New School Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools have a new leader. The school board voted last night to hire Lisa Herring of Louisville, Kentucky, following days of controversy after no candidates from Birmingham or Alabama were named finalists for the job.
