Virginia Martin

What a Difference a Year Makes, but COVID’s Still Around

One year ago, Alabama was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the state’s peak, on Jan 21, 2022, the 7-day average of new COVID cases per day was 12,918, according to the New York Times’ COVID tracker. The year before, in February, 2021, deaths hit their high with an average of 147 Alabamians a day succumbing to the disease. This week, as of Wednesday, Jan. 18, the 7-day average of new cases per day statewide was 963, and the daily average of deaths was 3.1 on Thursday. Despite the steep drop, health officials have urged people to remain vigilant, keep up with their vaccinations and mask if their community is at risk of COVID or if they are at heightened risk from the virus. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Moody Landfill Fire Now a Federal Affair as EPA Is Called in to Extinguish Nuisance

The landfill fire in Moody is now a federal affair. At the request of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will lead the effort to put out the underground fire at a privately operated vegetative waste disposal site near Moody in St. Clair County, the agency said in a press release Wednesday. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham-Southern President Says He’ll Do Everything Possible to Keep the College Open

Birmingham-Southern College, a private institution, is asking the state to help bail it out after financial troubles. School President Daniel Coleman shared with WBHM what he sees as the path ahead for the college. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Bham Council Nixes Church Plan for a Car Wash

The Birmingham City Council has nixed a church’s request to build a car wash in the city’s Huffman neighborhood proposed to help pay for church ministries. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

‘Is It Soup Yet?’: Engineer Submitting Plans for Putting Out Landfill Fire

Dan Dahlke was reminded of a 1970s TV commercial when he was asked about his submission to Gov. Kay Ivey to put out the months-long smoldering landfill fire in Moody. “Is it soup yet?” “It's getting there,” the St. Clair County engineer said Friday. “I've sent stuff over to the county attorney and I think he's putting it all together and trying to figure out exactly who we need to send this to (in) the governor's office. “When he finds that, we'll probably shoot this off to whoever this afternoon.” Dahlke has received proposals from a number of contractors with varied ideas for dealing with the fire that has been burning for about two months and irritating residents as far as 30 miles away. Residents have been complaining not just about the smell and the smoke, but about health effects such as asthma, coughing and nausea. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Lawsuit Filed Over Landfill Fire Near Moody Seeks Class Action Status

A pair of Trussville residents have filed a lawsuit over the landfill fire that’s been burning for almost two months near Moody. The suit alleges, among other claims, the owners and operators of Environmental Landfill Inc. have been negligent and calls for compensatory and punitive damages. Read more.

by Zoe McDonald

Plan to Put Out Underground Landfill Fire in the Works

Dan Dahlke is preparing a package to send to Montgomery that he hopes contains the cure to what ails residents who have suffered from the smoke of a Moody landfill fire that’s been smoldering since November. “This has gone on way too long already,” said Dahlke, the St. Clair County engineer. “That's sort of my feeling but, regardless of that, I want to make sure whatever we send to the state, I want to feel as positive as I can be that we're not gonna create a bigger problem.” Speaking with BirminghamWatch on Wednesday, Dahlke said he is still awaiting some information and getting things together to send to state officials. He hopes to have the plans together by the end of the week to send to the state. Read more. Related: Lawsuit Filed Over Landfill Fire Near Moody Seeks Class Action Status

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Almost Ripe: Major Projects May Come to Fruition This Year, County Manager Says

Joe Knight had kind words for County Manager Cal Markert, his staff and county department heads as the Jefferson County Commission’s committee meeting neared its end today. “All these people have put in the hard work on this,” Knight said. “I think you've got a good vision. I think you're trying to pursue that vision. I know it's a hard job. This isn't easy stuff to do. It's meticulous and it's time consuming.” Knight’s acknowledgement came after Markert listed several long-awaited projects that could this year come to fruition, including a new animal care facility, youth detention facility and several road projects. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham to Invest in Temporary Housing for Homeless Residents

Taking the first steps in a community-focused plan to combat homelessness, the city of Birmingham has signed on to purchase 50 units of transitional housing for the unsheltered. The purchase, totaling nearly $1 million, is the first step in a program that will require significant participation from third-party nonprofits and for which details remain fuzzy. Where the new shelters will be placed, for example, is still up in the air. That will be dependent on the results of a request-for-proposal process, through which local nonprofits can pitch locations and operational plans, including wraparound services they would offer on-site. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Officials Break Ground on a New $120 Million Cooper Green Facility

Health care leaders say the current building is more than 50 years old and too expensive to maintain. Read more.

by Cody Short, WBHM