BirminghamWatch Contributors Win National Awards From the NFPW
Solomon Crenshaw Jr. recently won two first-place awards and a third-place award from the National Federation of Press Women for stories he wrote for BirminghamWatch in 2020. Read more.
Virginia Martin
Club for Growth PAC Endorses Mo Brooks
MONTGOMERY — Club for Growth PAC, the campaign arm of the Washington, D.C.-based conservative group, endorsed Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, in the race for U.S. Senate. Read more.
‘Retain Alabama’ Effort Looks to Keep Bachelor’s Degree Recipients in State
Knowing that nearly half of Alabama’s public university bachelor’s degree earners are working in other states five years after they graduate, state leaders are funding more efforts to keep that talent pool at home. In the 2022 state education budget, lawmakers allocated $800,000 for a new “Retain Alabama” initiative to introduce college students to opportunities for them in the Yellowhammer state. “Our state has been a low-growth state and we have to do all we can to retain that knowledge capital that we’re losing every year when they leave,” said Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, chairman of the Senate education budget committee. Read more.
To Curb Gun Violence in Gulf States, Activists Are Taking a Closer Look at Policing Alternatives
Over Memorial Day weekend, at least 26 shootings were reported in major cities across Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. At least 10 people were killed and 17 others were injured. It was the latest example of rising homicides and gun violence across the Gulf states this year. Read more.
UAB Urges Vaccinations After Post-Memorial Day COVID Bump
UAB public health officials are encouraging everyone eligible to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as it sees an increase in hospitalizations in the aftermath of Memorial Day. Read more.
$125,000 Fund Set Up for Rewards in Shootings of Children
On May 18, Katrina Grady, a nursing assistant for more than 20 years, stopped on the side of Warrior Road to provide aid to what she believed was an injured person in a car. The car was empty, and Grady’s family came under fire. Her 8-year-old daughter, Katilynn, was hit by a rifle bullet and injured in the shoulder and head. Grady was told by doctors that it was a miracle she was alive. “The doctors told me that if she had moved her head any other kind of way, it would have been another situation right now,” Grady said. Tuesday, Grady stood before a crowd at a press conference arranged by Mayor Randall Woodfin and made an emotional plea for change as her daughter stood off to the side. Woodfin announced formation of a $125,000 Gun Violence Against Children Fund, a collaboration with more than 20 churches and organizations to combat gun violence against children in the city. Crime Stoppers will administer the fund to pay $25,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of individuals responsible in each of five cases involving children under the age of 10. Arrests already have been made in a sixth case involving another child. “Never in a million years would I have expected something like that to happen,” Grady told the crowd. “For six kids to get shot, we’ve got to do better. Somebody knows who (did) this to my child and I want justice. It hurt me more than anything.” Read more.
Birmingham Council OKs Law to Allow Museum to Return Native American Art
The Birmingham Museum of Art will soon return several works of art to two Native American tribes that have requested them back. An ordinance passed Tuesday by the Birmingham City Council has cleared the way for the return of several items to the Tlingit and Haida tribes of Alaska. Read more.
Controversial New Alzheimer’s Drug Approved Despite Reservations
The FDA has approved the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in 20 years, but some doctors, including one at UAB, warned patients’ families not to expect much from the drug any time soon. Read more.
Why Alabama’s Declining Vaccination Rate Could Spell an ‘Uncomfortable Summer’
Close to 70% of Alabamians are still not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but many people have stopped wearing masks and returned to normal activities. Read more.
Five Things You Need to Know About Alabama’s New Medical Marijuana Law
Alabama's new medical marijuana law is more than 100-pages long. We did the hard work and pulled out the highlights that may impact you. Read more.