Posts by Will Blakely

Summer is winding down, but don't think that means concert season is over. Here are 10 huge concerts coming to Alabama from September to October:

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach tourism achieved record-shattering numbers in 2021 following a weak year due to COVID-19 in 2020. But how did Alabama beaches do in their most popular season this year?

Birmingham Police Department Chief Scott Thurmond held a press conference Tuesday morning to address the spree of homicides that plagued the city over Labor Day weekend.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) investing is the left’s new way of imposing their worldview on the country.

A Jefferson County inmate was found dead on Thursday, potentially due to an opioid overdose.

More than $107,000 in grants will be going to Birmingham to reduce violent crime in crime-heavy areas.

Rising costs of living, restrictive policies and flexibility accompanying the rise of at-home work are all factors leading people to immigrate between states now more than ever. 

The Birmingham Water Works may have appointed an interim purchasing manager after suddenly retiring the former manager last week.

Madison City School (MCS) teachers were told to take down rainbow flags, according to a statement from the school district superintendent Ed Nichols. 

According to new statistics from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) for July 2022, Alabama had the sixth lowest labor participation rate in the country, despite recently announcing record unemployment.

An effort to increase property taxes in Daphne is catching voters by surprise during Tuesday’s special election. According to a group of critics, this was deliberate.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin went live on Facebook Monday morning to tell the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) to step out of the way and let the general manager fix billing issues. 

After years of controversy and conflict, Confucius Institutes remain at certain Alabama universities, despite criticism over ties to the Chinese government. 

Adults with autism with an IQ above the age of 70 might not have access to new state services.

Singer-songwriter and Muscle Shoals music producer Walt Aldridge is the mind behind many popular hits, including Conway Twitty’s “She’s Got a Single Thing in Mind” (1989) and “ Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” (2000) by Travis Tritt.

Listen to 1819 News Reporter Will Blakely on The Jeff Poor Show as they discuss Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and the fiduciary implications of not investing in the best-performing security and instead investing in a "woke" security that doesn't perform nearly as well.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries responded to the upcoming closure of Borden Dairy production in Dothan and suggested Alabama schools could potentially be turning to milk that doesn't require refrigeration. 

The Birmingham Water Works Board accepted the retirements of most of its purchasing department on Wednesday amidst accusations of poor practices and kickbacks.

A dangerous scam has been attempted on some Lee County businesses, local officials say. According to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement received reports about a person contacting local businesses claiming to be from the U.S. Marshals Office investigating counterfeit bills.

The Birmingham Folk Festival will be held this Saturday at Avondale Amphitheater and will feature all-day music free for all to hear.

The Autauga County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) is searching for 33-year-old Brittany Denise Baker, who has not been in contact with her family since August 13.

The Birmingham City Council voted to fork up $5 million to cover the $14 million owed by the World Games to private vendors and other businesses.

The Alabama Department of Education (ADE) may begin requiring seniors to prove they are ready for a job or college before they can graduate.

One might not expect to find so-called Environmental, Social Responsibility and Governance (ESG) policy in Alabama, but elements of it are around.

On Monday, World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers released a statement addressing the $14 million deficit of the World Games, in which he said he was working with both public and private partners to satisfy the event’s debts.

Scientists discovered a new turtle species in Alabama, which they say is from 83 million years ago, and chose to name it after a paleontologist in Birmingham.

“The co-op kind of helps do all that behind the scenes work and provides the parents with the assignments and the lesson plans and all of that instead of the parent having to figure it out on their own,” said Sarabeth Schneider.