Virginia Martin

An old school in Birmingham’s Bush Hills is now an urban farm. Residents are thinking bigger.

At west Birmingham’s old Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, on the near-four acres that were once the school’s grounds, area residents tend to their own small garden plots with all manner of fruits and vegetables. The potatoes, greens, squash and other produce raised here — as much as 50,000 pounds a year — is distributed within the community, free of charge. What started as a means to prevent the old school from becoming a blight on the neighborhood is now the Bush Hills Community Garden and Urban Farm. Located about a mile from Legion Field, plans are underway for more than just agriculture. Some residents believe it is a model for other projects that adapt existing structures to the needs of their surrounding communities. Read more.

by Richard Banks, WBHM

Damar Hamlin’s Horrifying Collapse Gives Some Football Writers Pause

I’m well aware of the many ways I benefited in my years as a sports journalist from the popularity of football. That’s true for all the sports media that report on, and therefore indirectly promote, football at any level. More readership and ratings. More status and money. It’s all good until a moment comes along that demands a look in the mirror and an answer to the question “Should I really be doing this?” I saw some of that in the aftermath of Monday night’s horrifying collapse of Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin seconds after a normal tackle on live national TV. Emergency medical staff administered CPR and electrical shock while players kneeled and prayed and cried. Fans in the stadium hushed. Read more.

by Tom Arenberg

In the Fight for Environmental Justice, Birmingham Tells Jackson to Stay Loud

Gulf States communities have been living in contaminated environments for years. Jackson and Birmingham residents share strategies that can help. Read more.

by Danny McArthur, Gulf States Newsroom/WBHM

St. Clair County Declares State of Emergency to Address Smoldering Landfill in Moody

In an emergency meeting Tuesday, the St. Clair County Commission declared a state of emergency to deal with the underground landfill fire that’s been smoldering for more than a month, annoying and aggravating residents from as far as 30 miles away. The commission action put wheels in motion for a plan to put out the fire at the environmental landfill in Moody and seek funds through the state to pay for it. Fighting the fire is complicated by the fire burning underground and then breaking through at multiple locations on the surface. A packed commission chamber saw the panel go into executive session to be briefed on possible litigation that could come as a result of the action. After 15 minutes away from the crowd and then instruction from County Attorney Jim Hill, the commission unanimously approved the resolution to address the matter. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham in Line for Grant to Develop ‘Transformational’ Housing in Smithfield Area

A “transformational” housing redevelopment project could be headed to the Smithfield Community — if the city can obtain a highly competitive federal grant. Birmingham is applying for a Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which would supply the city with up to $50 million to construct up to 1,000 new and replacement mixed-income housing units in the neighborhoods of Smithfield, Graymont and College Hills. The scope of the grant would include redevelopment of the Smithfield Court public housing community, though the affordable housing would be decentralized and blended with market-rate housing. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

The Downtown YMCA is closing. Will other Birmingham recreation centers be able to fill the gap?

The closure will leave only one full-service YMCA that’s technically in Birmingham city limits — the Mountain Brook branch. Read more.

by Cody Short, WBHM

COVID on the Rise in Alabama

COVID-19 has been creeping upward in Alabama during the holidays. The new daily average of COVID-19 cases in Alabama increased by 27% in the two weeks leading up to Dec. 21, the last day for which complete information was available. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Advocacy Group Helps Mexican Families in Alabama Reunite After Decades Apart

Some Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. hadn't seen their parents for decades. An advocacy group in Alabama is working with Mexican officials to reunite dozens of families in time for the holidays. Read more.

by Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM

Investigation Accuses Alabama Power of Funneling Money to Local News Sites for Favorable Coverage

A trove of leaked documents appears to show Alabama Power indirectly and covertly paid news outlets for favorable coverage. A story from NPR and the nonprofit news collaborative Floodlight says the practice continued for almost a decade and hid transactions by utilizing nonprofits and shell companies. Read more.

by Richard Banks, WBHM

Students and Faculty Nervous About Birmingham-Southern’s Financial Stress, Possible Closing

Students, alumni and faculty of Birmingham-Southern College are nervous after school officials revealed the campus could close as early as next year. The private college is now asking for $37 million in public money, most of it from the state, to keep the doors open. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM