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. Soon we’ll be offering Recommends via email. Sign up here to receive it. You can also sign up for The WeeklyWatch, the stories we’ve published over the previous seven days, and Monday Morning Watch, a roundup of public meetings scheduled for that week.
Donate today to help Birmingham stay informed.
Birmingham moves closer to regulating short-term rentals (WBHM)
Birmingham is moving closer to regulating short-term rentals, such as Airbnb or Vrbo, but city leaders still have questions about where those properties should be allowed and how repeat violations would be handled. The City Council is scheduled to take up an ordinance on Oct. 27 that would create a permitting system for short-term rentals, but it does not address zoning for the rentals.
Birmingham mayor says wife has no involvement in massive data center property sale (AL.com)
Kendra Woodfin, the wife of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and the founder and broker for Iron City Premier Realty, was named in a proposed subpoena for records in a lawsuit brought by residents trying to stop the Nebius data center. Woodfin says her company was not involved with the deal. A judge will hear objections to the proposed subpoenas Monday.
The Summit sells for $508M to out of state firm (Bham Now)
The Summit, Birmingham’s largest retail destination, has been acquired for $508 million by Maryland-based Federal Realty Investment Trust. Purchased from its original local owner Bayer Properties, the 100-acre, 870,000-square-foot open-air property is the most-visited retail destination in Alabama, drawing nearly 9 million visits annually.
Gov. Kay Ivey dismisses five members of Alabama Public Television governing board (Alabama Reflector)
Gov. Kay Ivey dismissed five of the Alabama Educational Television Commission’s seven members Friday evening, including two who had pushed the board to disaffiliate from PBS.
Black Warrior Riverkeeper unveils 25-year map of 170+ Wins (Bham Now)
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Black Warrior Riverkeeper released an interactive showing more than 170 “Watershed Moments” throughout its storied history. The timeline shows how one group grew to protect the watershed.
Trump stumps for candidates in deep red Alabama and says he’ll be back again next week (Associated Press)
President Donald Trump rallied supporters in deep red Alabama Friday, returning to the place where he drew his first mega crowd but that is hardly considered a top midterm battleground. With just weeks to go before elections that will determine control of Congress, Trump urged his supporters to back Republicans including Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for Alabama governor, and state Rep. Rhett Marques, who is seeking to flip Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District.
America’s Largest Producer of Foundry Coke Is Operating Under an Expired Permit. Who Is at Fault? (Inside Climate News)
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed in court last week asking a judge to force local health officials to act on a 2023 air permit renewal application for ABC Coke, the nation’s largest producer of foundry coke. Filing on behalf of the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution, SELC argued that the county’s health officer’s failure to take action resulted in the facility continuing to operate with an up-to-date permit.
