Hannah Denham

Water board CEO controversy continues: Questions swirl after veteran exec passed over Tony Petelos led Jefferson County through bankruptcy but couldn't get past first round for water utility CEO position that serves 770,000 customers.

He didn't even get an interview: Accusations of secrecy 'backroom deals' and favoritism surrounding the search for a CEO for Birmingham’s regional water system intensify after a veteran executive was rejected early in the process without explanation. www.al.com/news/birming...

Once promising Alabama company failed to reach goals tied to incentives Now Pack Health is shutting down, and taking nearly 100 jobs with it.

NEW: Pack Health is shutting down after lapsed incentive agreements with Alabama, Jefferson County

www.al.com/business/202...

460 layoffs expected for Alabama manufacturer moving operations to Tennessee The apparel company expects the cuts to start in December.

NEW: The apparel company said it plans to move its manufacturing operations out of northeast Alabama, though it will keep its warehouse and distribution operations there.

www.al.com/business/202...

86 layoffs coming for Huntsville aerospace company The defense contractor expects the cuts to start in December.

NEW: The defense contractor expects the cuts to start in December.

www.al.com/business/202...

Can confirm it feels impossible. I've not heard the "taxpayer privacy" excuse before! seems like an oxymoron

Alabama pledged nearly $500M in incentives for 40 companies since 2023 Many of those incentives are tied to job creation and investments made by the companies with new projects in Alabama.

NEW: Here's what we know about Alabama's incentives since the state started publicly reporting them two years ago
www.al.com/business/202...

Washington leaders throw money behind GOP opponents running for open Alabama US House seat State Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, banked nearly $495,000 in donations to ex-U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl's $320,000.

Here's what we know about the money pouring into the race for Alabama's open U.S. House seat so far:

www.al.com/politics/202...

Secrecy agreements fuel pushback of $14 billion Alabama data center Amid a growing push for data center development in Alabama, this city government faces calls for more transparency.

NEW: NDAs, heightened security at City Hall, and Facebook fighting. This all comes ahead of an official vote by the Bessemer City Council to rezone rural land proposed for a massive data center campus. Here's the latest on the controversial project:

www.al.com/news/2025/10...

Birmingham hospital worker not guilty of 1 of 7 charges of abusing psychiatric patients The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on 6 charges, prompting another trial.

NEW: A case that has dragged for years resulted in a hung jury today, as a Jefferson County jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on the other six charges facing a former Grandview Medical Center employee accused of sexually assaulting patients

www.al.com/news/2025/10...

Birmingham mayor issues conditions to water board for $183 million loan Mayor Randall Woodfin sets three conditions including a rate freeze and an in-house legal department before supporting the water board's $183 million federal funding application

From @newsmanbryant.bsky.social:

www.al.com/news/birming...

Bessemer clears way for more data centers with zoning change The Bessemer City Council voted Tuesday to allow data center development on land zoned for industrial use.

An Alabama community facing pushback from residents over a proposed data center has just made the path easier for other future data center projects.

www.al.com/news/birming...

Money is running out for this Alabama airport amid government shutdown A small Alabama airport could lose federal support if the government shutdown extends past Oct. 12.

NEW: A small Alabama airport is among dozens of other airports serving 200+ rural communities around the country that could lose federal support. That's if the government shutdown continues past this Sunday.
www.al.com/business/202...

98 layoffs planned as Birmingham health care company closes The local health care company launched an expansion in 2023.

NEW: A health care company that previously announced big plans for expansion and hiring at its Birmingham headquarters is now shutting down.

www.al.com/business/202...

Mobile’s mayor-elect raised $1.8M, leading Alabama’s local campaigns this year Spiro Cheriogotis raised more than any other candidate running for municipal office across Alabama this year.

NEW: This Alabama mayor-elect raised roughly $1.8 million throughout his campaign – more than any other candidate for municipal office across the state this year.

www.al.com/news/2025/09...

Mobile mayor’s race: Candidate with more votes trails $1M behind opponent’s fundraising More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor ahead of the runoff on Sept. 23.

NEW: More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor, as Alabama State Rep. Barbara Drummond faces former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis in the runoff on Sept. 23. w/ @johnsharp99.bsky.social: www.al.com/news/mobile/...

Social media transforms Alabama town arrests of teen girls into national news story and debate The viral spread of videos showing a tense exchange and arrest of teen arrest girls in Lipscomb demonstrates how technology can rapidly elevate local incidents to the national level.

Most people won't be able to tell you were tiny Lipscomb, Ala. is located, but more thanks to social media more than 1 million people have seen the tense showdown between the town's police officers and three teenage girls.
www.al.com/news/birming...

Former lawyer for Birmingham regional water works is suing the utility Former attorney Mark Parnell claims the utility must honor his severance terms after board members allegedly conspired to terminate him illegally.

The former lawyer for the Birmingham Water Works has sued the utility seeking backpay & demanding cash to end his contract. Damages could exceed $1.3 million. A new regional board cancelled the old contact & fired Mark Parnell shortly after talking over. www.al.com/news/birming...

Big bucks flowed through Birmingham's recent mayoral race where Mayor Randall Woodfin ran a political juggernaut flushed with cash.
@hdenham.bsky.social breaks it all down. al.com/news/birming...

$1.6 million in donations propelled Woodfin to dominant election win in Birmingham The incumbent brought in nearly more than 80% of all the in campaign funding in the entire mayoral election.

Birmingham's incumbent mayor brought in more than 80% of all the fundraising in the race that concluded last week

www.al.com/news/birming...

Alabama’s mass layoffs this year seem high. What’s going on? Alabama employers have announced more than 3,100 jobs cut in mass layoffs this year.

NEW: Alabama employers have announced more jobs cut in mass layoffs so far in 2025 than all of last year. But employment in the state is also up. So what's going on?

www.al.com/business/202...

Controversial $14 billion data center proposal delayed again by Bessemer council The unanimous decision sends the proposal for 18 data centers back to planning committee for further review after significant opposition from nearby residents.

A contentious $14 billion data center proposed for Bessemer is on hold for now following a delay by city leaders. Even supporters say more due diligence is needed before the massive project gets an ok.
www.al.com/news/birming...

Longtime Alabama sports clothing brand closing distribution with 80 layoffs A company with Alabama origins for more than 120 years is now consolidating its business, impacting operations in its home city.

NEW: A company with Alabama origins for more than 120 years is now consolidating its business + shutting down distribution in the same city it was founded in.

www.al.com/business/202...

$14 billion data center vote postponed as dozens protest project in rural Alabama Data centers are a growing industry, including in Alabama. But opponents are loud in this rural community.

NEW: The Bessemer City Council postponed their vote today on rezoning nearly 700 acres of mostly timber to make way for a data center campus

www.al.com/business/202...

New Birmingham bar pauses opening, lays off staff: ‘We wanted to take this space back’ The drag bar was planned at the site of the old Hush Lounge where a mass shooting happened last fall.

NEW: The drag bar was planned at the site of the old Hush Lounge where a mass shooting happened last fall.

www.al.com/business/202...

Brookside blasted for deleted police emails in federal lawsuit Attorneys for the drivers and the town are currently in settlement talks.

NEW: Someone in Brookside deleted the police department’s emails, per attorneys for a group of drivers suing the town over allegations of ticketing for profit. Here's the latest in the federal case, one of more than a dozen filed against the town:

www.al.com/crime/2025/0...

8-year-old Mountain Brook girl among the many killed in Texas flooding: ‘She will live on in our hearts’ Sarah Marsh was attending Camp Mystic, a Christian retreat near Hunt in Kerr County.

NEW: An eight-year-old girl from Alabama is among the victims of a deadly flash flood that struck central Texas on Friday. Here's what we know:

www.al.com/news/2025/07...

Workers lose benefits as UNA hires private contractor: ‘It wasn’t worth staying’ The University of North Alabama has transitioned its custodial services. Here's what it means for workers.

NEW: The University of North Alabama has transitioned its custodial services to a private company. Here's how it's affecting workers: www.al.com/business/202...

Birmingham metro keeps growing in the south and east: ‘More bang for your buck’ Birmingham, Mountain Brook among cities that shrank as far-flung suburbs boom.

NEW: Birmingham, Mountain Brook are among cities that shrank as far-flung suburbs in the metro boom.

w/ @ramseyarchibald.bsky.social:

www.al.com/news/2025/05...

Tommy Tuberville stock trading: Which Democrats, Republicans trade more than Alabama senator? Here’s how Tuberville’s trading compares to other politicians like Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House.

NEW: Here’s how Sen. Tommy Tuberville's trading compares to other politicians like Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House.

www.al.com/politics/202...

Then there's just how prolific his trading has been.

"Generally speaking, members of Congress do not trade that often,” said Danielle Caputo, with the Campaign Legal Center.