BirminghamWatch

12/31/2025

As the calendar flips to mark the new year, the AJC will have rolled off the presses for the last time in 157 years, making Atlanta the newest (and largest) U.S. metro area with no daily newspaper. Robert Carter's About News column today explores possible lessons from Advance Media's digital transformation in Alabama.

As the calendar flips to mark the new year, the AJC will have rolled off the presses for the last time in 157 years, making Atlanta the newest (and largest) U.S. metro area with no daily newspaper.

12/20/2025

"We in the news business are accustomed to covering tragedies every day. Shootings, riots, fatal wrecks, severe weather — anything that causes people to die before their time, we deal with it.

"...[a]nd we put what we’ve seen and heard into our little professional compartment, head back to our cubicle and quickly thank the Lord that it wasn’t us. It’s almost always “other people.”

"Sometimes, though, it isn’t." Robert Carter shares his thoughts on what happens when that's the case.

Christina Chambers’ death sends ripples through Birmingham media.

12/19/2025

Here's an update to our end-of-year campaign. The link to our donation page will be available in the comments. Thanks in advance!

12/18/2025

During yesterday's Design Review Committee meeting, we learned the Birmingham skyline will look a little different from the south very soon as the current sign on the John Hand Building will soon be replaced with one for a newer area bank.

The Birmingham skyline will look a little different from the south very soon as the Landing sign on the John Hand Building will soon be replaced with one for a newer area bank.

12/17/2025

According to city leaders, the Jimmie Hale Mission plans to develop an additional facility with 100 beds, family rooms, storage areas, kennels for pets, and wrap-around services for people experiencing homelessness. The mission already serves roughly 175,000 meals annually and serves as a warming station 30 to 35 nights per season.

Councilors also approved spending $3.6 million on end-of-year bonuses for employees.

12/17/2025

During their pre-commission work session, Jefferson County commissioners moved a resolution to invest $3.5 million in KultureCity’s plan to create the National Accessibility Park at the former Alabama Power Co. property, which borders Railroad Park, to Thursday’s agenda.

The park would include training for those with sensory disabilities, a museum, amphitheater, sensory park and resource center.

12/16/2025

After a heated debate, the board that governs Alabama’s largest water utility rescinded its historically underutilized business policy, which had encouraged companies owned by women, minorities and other disadvantaged groups to bid on contracts with the organization.

Black members of the board expressed concern about the move; managers said the policy was a paperwork burden.

12/15/2025

We haven't been sharing the links to our weekly BW Recommends or Monday Morning Watch posts. But we are sharing this week's Monday Morning Watch post this afternoon as the agenda for Wednesday's Design Review Committee has been updated to reflect the removal of the five properties in Highland Park at the applicant's request. We'll still have a meeting recap shared later this week.

BirminghamWatch's weekly rundown of public meetings and agendas in the city of Birmingham and Jefferson County.

12/12/2025

The Morris Avenue Forward survey seeks opinions on the best use of Parking Lots A1 and A2. They border the railroad separating downtown from Southside, from 20th Street to 24th Street, and are accessible from Morris Avenue and 23rd Street North.

An online survey asks people for thoughts on proposed parking or development at two downtown parking lots.

12/11/2025

The $215.6 million budget represents a 16.5% decrease, with the largest cuts affecting capital projects, including the automated meter reading infrastructure project, the stabilization project for Lake Purdy Dam beyond the initial construction phase currently underway, and the replacement of aged pipelines, largely responsible for the utility losing 40% of its water to leaks. The budget could be further reduced early next year.

The $215.6 million budget doesn’t include automated meters, constricts work on Lake Purdy Dam and reduces pipe replacements.

12/09/2025

Jimmie Stephens said he is unaware of any efforts to bring a major data center to any part of unincorporated Jefferson County. However, the County Commission president said, that makes this the best time to devise a plan for such a development.

The County Commission president proposed studying rules for data center developments before one asks to move into unincorporated Jefferson County.