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 […]
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
