BW Recommends is a rundown of stories you might have missed this week. It offers insight into issues important to our area and sometimes tickles your curiosity.

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New Alabama Law Targets Birmingham’s Vacant Properties With Registry, Fees (WBRC)

The Alabama Legislature passed a law in its final days that will require owners of vacant properties in Birmingham to register, maintain and pay fees for buildings sitting empty for more than three months. The city pushed for the law as a tool in its fight against blight. The legislation creates a vacant property registry aimed at holding property owners accountable and speeding up the process for addressing dilapidated buildings across the city.

Alabama’s Largest Water Utility No Longer Testing Water Quality in House (WBHM)

Central Alabama Water closed its in-house water testing lab last month and contracted with an external lab to perform all regulatory compliance sampling and analytical services. Added to the utility’s operations in the 1990s, CAW’s EnviroLab was the largest certified laboratory operated by any public water system in Alabama and was the backup lab for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, according to CAW’s website and its social-media posts. The lab also tested water for smaller public systems in Alabama. The change move came as the utility has made a series of cost-cutting moves, including mass layoffs. CAW also revealed last week that it had closed its fleet department and outsourced vehicle management. Laid off employees have complained of delayed severance payments, which ABC 33/40 reported CAW had resolved Friday.

On Final Day of 2026 Legislative Session, Alabama Senate Tensions Doom Several Bills (Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama Legislature’s 2026 regular session ended Thursday in a fight over a closed primary bill that ratcheted tensions in the Senate and helped doom several other pieces of legislation.

Alabama Legislature Gives Final Approval to Bill Mandating Ten Commandments School Displays (Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama House of Representatives gave final approval Thursday to a bill requiring school districts to display the Ten Commandments in various locations in schools. The bill would require schools to display a poster of the religious document in fifth through 12^th grade classes and within common areas, such as cafeterias and school libraries, in every school within the district.

Alabama Lawmakers Wrap Up 2026 Legislative Session (WBHM)

WBHM debriefed Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television, as the Legislature wound down its regular session for 2026.

3 Changes on the Horizon for the Birmingham Airport (Bham Now)

The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is adding service by Breeze Airways this summer, with flights to cities including Fort Lauderdale and Raleigh-Durham. Other airlines also will be adding another flight a day to Denver, Orlando and Nashville. Upgrades also are coming to restrooms in concourse C.