Hannah Denham

$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.

There's a lot there. Agricultural commodities: he's the only senator on the Agriculture committee to report owning or trading them. Frequent options trading, which experts call risky. "Suspicious" timing of trades ahead of market downturns.

Tommy Tuberville is one of the busiest stock traders in Congress. Some deals raise ‘red flags’ The senator's trading activity has drawn attention and scrutiny. Here's what we know about how he invests.

NEW: Delved into the last six years of the Alabama senator's stock trading. He's one of the most prolific traders in Congress, and some of his trades raise questions about potential conflicts with his committees.

w/ Howard Koplowitz: www.al.com/politics/202...

Tommy Tuberville is one of the busiest stock traders in Congress. Some deals raise ‘red flags’ The senator's trading activity has drawn attention and scrutiny. Here's what we know about how he invests.

Alabama's Tommy Tuberville is not the richest member of Congress and he may not be the most successful stock trader. But his trading does catch a lot of attention. (New from @hdenham.bsky.social + Howard Koplowitz for @al.com)

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

65 layoffs slated for major tech company’s Alabama presence The layoffs are scheduled for the end of June, according to a notice the company filed with the state.

NEW: A cloud technology company says it is laying off 65 workers in Montgomery.

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

Mobile SWAT team takes murder suspect into custody after deadly domestic shooting The incident happened on Sunday morning.

A man is dead after Mobile police say another man potentially shot him during a “domestic-related” homicide on Sunday morning.

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

James Spann: ‘Hold off on the rage’ when he says Gulf of Mexico this hurricane season "It has always been called that. Habits are hard to break," Spann said.

The Birmingham meteorologist asked viewers to "hold off on the anger and rage" as weather personnel adjust to the Gulf of America's name change.

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

‘Law and Order’ star donates $1 million to historically Black Alabama college The college honored her with an honorary degree: a Doctorate of Humane Letter.

‘Law and Order’ star donates $1 million to historically Black Alabama college

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

Patients ask for penalties for hospital in sexual abuse case; Grandview blasts ‘false narrative’ The fight over Grandview Medical Center's records is playing out in Jefferson County.

NEW: Women who sued a Birmingham hospital, alleging they were sexually assaulted by a man working in the psychiatric unit, are again asking a judge to hold the hospital in contempt. Here's the latest:

www.al.com/news/2025/04...

How many federal workers have been fired in Alabama? Here’s what we found Employees at the Social Security Administration employees and potentially other agencies in Alabama have been impacted by the Trump administration's cuts to federal workers.

NEW: Alabama is home to nearly 100,000 federal workers, as of the latest data. Here's what we know about them amid mass firings. w/ @ramseyarchibald.bsky.social

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

Where are Alabama’s federal workers? These 5 counties have the highest share Alabama’s federal workers are scattered around the state, reaching far beyond the concentrated clusters at sites like Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal.

NEW: A small county in Alabama’s rural Wiregrass region is home to the state’s highest share of federal workers. Here are the others in the state's top five counties. w/ @ramseyarchibald.bsky.social

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

$14 billion data center faces early setback in Alabama town: What we know about 700-acre project A court fight has moved back plans for a $14 billion data center in a small city outside Birmingham.

A court fight has moved back plans for a $14 billion data center in a small city outside Birmingham. Here's what we know: www.al.com/business/202...

Alabama chicken plant under investigation for 165 layoffs AlaTrade Foods announced the layoffs at its largest facility at the end of March.

NEW: A law firm is investigating an Alabama poultry processing company for laying off 165 people without adequate notice to employees or the state.

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

As Birmingham airport raises parking rates, hundreds of workers will have to pay $10 a day The airport authority blamed the change on the need for $50 million in parking upgrades.

NEW: Parking at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is about to get more expensive for some travelers -- especially workers who commute via the airport.

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

‘Cowardice’: Birmingham Water Works Board slammed for rules that silence customers New Birmingham Water Works restrictions unleashed a torrent of criticism and recollections of past political and customer service controversies involving the utility.

Critics slam Birmingham Water Works Board of "cowardice" move for limiting public input with new rules. The utility is accused of dodging criticism and hiding from its customers with the new restrictions.
www.al.com/news/birming...

Alabama defense contractor targeted in new export ban from China China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday added the Huntsville company to a new list of export restrictions.

NEW: China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday added the Alabama company to a new list of export restrictions.

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

Longtime Alabama lawmaker John Rogers goes home from prison early Second lawmaker convicted in federal kickback scheme also sent home from prison.

NEW: Former longtime Alabama lawmaker John Rogers has been released early from his 13-month prison sentence. Now he's home. W @hdenham.bsky.social
www.al.com/crime/2025/0...

Longtime Alabama lawmaker John Rogers goes home from prison early Second lawmaker convicted in federal kickback scheme also sent home from prison.

NEW: Longtime Alabama lawmaker John Rogers has been released early from his 13-month prison sentence. Now he's home. w/ @newsmanbryant.bsky.social:

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

220 layoffs coming as Alabama plant ceases manufacturing after 50 years Grede LLC started production at its Brewton facility in 1976.

NEW: A manufacturing plant is shutting down its operations in Alabama and laying off 220 employees.

Statewide, mass layoffs are really high this year so far:
www.al.com/business/202...

Here are the top recipients of Jefferson County’s pork money Many of the top recipients received multiple grants over the past six years, according to county records.

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

$25 million in giveaways: Inside Jefferson County’s pork barrel bonanza The people elected to run Alabama’s largest county haven’t been getting the receipts from their favorite nonprofits and local projects.

NEW: The people elected to run Alabama’s largest county haven’t been getting the receipts from their favorite nonprofits and local projects. Barnett Wright (The Birmingham Times) and I dug into it:

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

165 layoffs announced at Alabama poultry plant The company recently invested in a new $2.8 million project at its largest plant.

NEW: The expected job cuts bring Alabama’s tally of employees impacted by mass layoffs in 2025 to nearly 2,300 – already surpassing the count for last year.

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