Monthly Archives:
US Senator Richard Shelby Spends Big in Alabama Primary
What does $5 buy you in Chilton County? All the chili you could eat, line dancing, and door prizes galore. Oh, and a chance to meet Senator Richard Shelby, who spent a recent Saturday campaigning at the Chilton County Chili Cookoff.
Alabama Democrats Trying to Get Their Groove Back
Being a Democrat in Alabama wasn’t always taboo. They held a majority in state government for more than a century. But that changed in 2010 when they lost those seats to Republicans. In one of the state’s most conservative counties, Democrats are working on getting their groove back. “We have to get Democrats to come […]
Metro Birmingham’s Growth Hotspots
The Birmingham metro area has seen steady, albeit modest population growth since the great recession. However, that growth though isn’t even with some communities seeing growth rates far higher. We talk about this week’s Magic City Marketplace.
Clinton, Rubio Among Presidential Hopefuls Pushing Through Birmingham
It was a politics-heavy weekend in the state as presidential candidates swept through in the days leading up to Super Tuesday. The Clintons, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, and Donald Trump all held events throughout Alabama.
Clinton, Cruz and Trump to Visit Birmingham and Huntsville this Weekend
Presidential hopefuls Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator Marco Rubio will each make a final push campaigning in Alabama this Saturday, just days before Tuesday's SEC Primary. They will campaign separately in Birmingham. Republican front-runner Donald Trump will hold a rally in Madison on Sunday.
Bentley Signs Bill Blocking Minimum Wage Hikes, Senate Approves Lean General Fund Budget
The fourth week of the Alabama legislative session ended with a bang. Governor Robert Bentley has signed a bill blocking local governments from setting their own minimum wage. The governor signed the bill yesterday afternoon just after the Alabama Senate approved the bill 23 to 10, largely along party lines. Republican legislators supported the bill to push back against the Birmingham City Council, which voted to raise their city's minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Shelby County Residents to Vote on Sunday Alcohol Sales
During Tuesday’s primaries residents of Shelby County will vote on whether to allow alcohol to be sold on Sundays.
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 […]
Arc Stories: February 2016 Edition
Stories about growing up during the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham. A young black boy who lives in the basement of a wealthy white family’s home and then becomes a key player during the civil rights movement; a young woman who was arrested by Bull Conner, then driven in his car to be dropped off […]
In 2015, Prescription Opioid Overdoses Increased by 131 Percent
In Jefferson County, the number of people killed by prescription opioids more than doubled last year. That’s according to the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner's Office 2014 annual drug report, released Wednesday.
Showdown Over Birmingham’s Minimum Wage
The Birmingham City Council and the state legislature are in a showdown over the minimum wage. The Birmingham City Council passed an ordinance on Tuesday to raise the city's minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and make it effective Wednesday. It was an attempt to get ahead of a bill in the legislature which would prevent local governments from setting their own minimum wages. That bill has passed the House and is being considered by the Senate Thursday. We talk about the situation with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald. He also remembers To Kill a Mocking Bird author Harper Lee, who died last week at age 89.
Raymond L. Johnson Jr. (D)
Name: Raymond Johnson Jr. Date of birth: May 4, 1951; age 64 Residence: Birmingham Political experience: State executive committee member, Alabama Democratic Party. Professional experience: Private practice and shareholder, The Johnson Law Firm, LLC, Birmingham, 2004-present; adjunct professor, Cumberland School of Law, 1988-present; shareholder, Thomas, Means, Gillis & Seay, 2000-2004; assistant U.S. attorney, Birmingham, 1991-2000; […]
Charles Todd Henderson (D)
Name: Charles Todd Henderson Date of birth: July 18, 1964; age 51 Residence: Pleasant Grove Political experience: Ran for Jefferson County Sheriff, 2014; executive committee member, Jefferson County Democratic Party, 2014-present; member, Jefferson County Progressive Democratic Council. Professional experience: Private practice, 2003-present; accredited veterans attorney, 2013-present; special counsel to the Mayor of Brighton, 2014-2015; general […]
Priming the Pipeline for STEM in the South: Student Incentives in Alabama
Given thousands of related job openings but only hundreds of computer science college graduates, Alabama is trying to ramp up its computer science education. That includes a new policy allowing those classes to count toward core math graduation requirements. WBHM's Dan Carsen concludes the Southern Education Desk series "Priming the Pipeline for STEM in the South" with a visit to a Birmingham-area class that's leading the way.
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.
Priming the Pipeline for STEM in the South: Coding as a Foreign Language Credit
Computer coders have found a champion in Florida Senator Jeremy Ring. Ring, a former Yahoo! executive who helped build the company, believes coding and technology is an art, rather than a science. He wants to attract more students to STEM studies. As part of the Southern Education Desk series, Priming the Pipeline for STEM in the South, Lynn Hatter of WFSU reports on Ring’s proposal to allow Florida students to choose coding in order to fulfill a foreign language requirement for college.
The mental_floss Trivia Show benefiting WBHM, Feb. 25
This is not your typical pub trivia night. The mental_floss Trivia Show, hosted by mental_floss co-founder Will Pearson, along with special guests, Reed and Will Lochamy, is a fast-paced audience-engaging night of entertainment. With a few surprise guests, you’ll have the opportunity to win big prizes and even hop on stage (if you choose) to […]
Elections Could Change the Face of the Judiciary in Jefferson County
When Alabamians vote in the primaries next week, there’s a lot more on the line than who might be the presidential nominees. Judicial races at the county level arguably have a greater impact on resident’s lives, but receive less attention. In Jefferson County, judicial retirements have cleared the way for a new generation of Judges.
Birmingham City Council Ups the Minimum Wage
The Birmingham City Council’s agenda was long, but all anyone seemed to care about was what the minimum wage would be come Wednesday. The council passed the initial minimum wage ordinance unanimously in August (Councilor Valerie Abbott abstained), but today, members were divided. Councilors Kim Rafferty and Valerie Abbott voted against the ordinance. Abbott said she’d received multiple […]
Priming the Pipeline for STEM in the South: A Look Across the Region
Over the next ten years, the number of jobs in science, technology, engineering and math fields are expected to outpace other industries by about five to ten percent. That’s according to the group Change the Equation, an organization that pushes for greater STEM education in schools. Yet, throughout the South, particularly in rural and high poverty communities, administrators have trouble attracting educators qualified to teach STEM.
Birmingham City Council Strikes Back Over Minimum Wage Bill
The Birmingham City Council is once again trying move up the effective date of its minimum wage increase. This is in response to the fast tracked steps the State Legislature is taking to block this action. The council could vote to move up the effective date from March 1 to Wednesday, February 24. Republican Representative […]
Alabama Judge Nomination Sparks Tension
Several prominent lawyers, judges, and U.S. Representative Terri Sewell held a press conference on Saturday in downtown Birmingham, in support of Judge Abdul Kallon’s nomination to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Voter ID Law Creates Hurdles for Homebound Man
When Alabama primary voters go to the polls on March 1, they’ll have to show a government-issued photo ID. The law has been in place since 2014 and most people use their driver’s license. But for those who can’t get to a driver’s license office, the law creates difficulties. Samuel Stayer is one voter who ran into problems.
Business Community Watching Bills in the Alabama Legislature
With the Alabama legislative session in full swing, the business community has a number of bills they’re watching closely. These bills could have a significant effect on companies around Birmingham. We highlight a few of them in this week's Magic City Marketplace.
ID You’ll Need at the Polls
By Kesha Drexel To vote in Alabama’s March 1 primary, voters must present photo identification or a free Alabama Photo Voter ID card. Forms of identification accepted include a valid Alabama driver’s license or non-driver ID card, a valid state or federal-issued ID, a valid U.S. passport, a valid employee ID from the federal, state, […]
Research Election Financing
Want to know more about the contributions received and expenditures made by a state candidate? You can look at their financial disclosure forms on the Secretary of State Office’s Alabama Votes website. You also can search by contributor to find out which candidates people, companies, and political action committees are supporting through their wallets. Alabama […]
League of Women Voters’ Vote411 Guide
At the League of Women Voters’ Vote411.org site, you can put in your address and get a list of the state and national candidates who will be on your ballot. You also can read answers to a series of issues-based questions the League asked each state and national candidate and compare their answers side by […]
Tea Party Group Angered After Gun Store Owner Calls Off Senate Debate
An event featuring candidates for U.S. Senate took a bizarre turn Thursday evening. The Rainy Day Patriots had organized a debate for all five republican candidates at Hoover Tactical Firearms. But when Senator Richard Shelby didn’t attend, things quickly began to unravel.
Andrew Bennett (D)
Name: Andrew Bennett Date of birth: July 1938; 77 Residence: Birmingham Political experience: Bessemer Division tax assessor, 2009-2015. Professional experience: Bessemer Division tax assessor, 2009-2015; director of parks and recreation, city of Bessemer, 2001-2008; building inspector, 1977-2000; chief of contracts and administration, International Commission of Contracts, and supervision of the national delegations, 1965-1975. Civic experience: […]
Eric Major (D)
Name: Eric Major Date of Birth: April 6,1968; age 47 Residence: Fairfield Political experience: Alabama House of Representatives District 55, 1998-2006; ran for Jefferson County Commission, 2007; executive committee member, National Conference of Black State Legislators, 2002; former executive committee member, National Conference of Mayors. Professional experience: Executive director, Alabama Minority Health Institute; executive director, […]
Mike Miles (D)
Name: Michael “Mike” D. Miles Date of birth: August, 1954; 61 Residence: Birmingham Political Experience: Jefferson County treasurer, 2013-present; elected member of Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee; assistant Alabama secretary of state, 1994-1995; director, Intergovernmental relations for Birmingham, 1983-1990; ran political campaigns on city, county, state, legislative and congressional levels, 1977-2007. Professional experience: Jefferson County […]
Tea Party Senate Debate Featuring Shelby Opponents Halted
A debate featuring Alabama candidates for U.S. Senate was shut down Thursday evening and attendees suddenly asked to leave. The event was to showcase Republican opponents to incumbent Senator Richard Shelby.
