Posts by Will Blakely

Opioid overdoses topped the list of leading causes of death in the U.S., surpassing vehicular-related death, in 2019 ... But where does Alabama stand in the opioid epidemic?

According to a 2016 study by the Pew Research Center, Alabama is tied with Mississippi for the most religious state in the country. The most popular religion by far in Alabama is Christianity, particularly Evangelical Protestantism. Alabama is also home to a handful of other Christian denominations, including Catholics, Mainline Protestants and even Eastern Orthodox Christians. It's no surprise that churches play a big role in our history, culture and way of life. Here are 10 historic churches from each major denomination:

Inspired by jam icons Dave Matthews and the Grateful Dead, the Joe Cagle Band’s namesake, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Joe Cagle called his band “a fusion of country, rock and jazz.”

The Birmingham Water Works may be raising rates again for an average of 8.3% for 2023 to fund a $128 million budget, part of which will be used to pay for new public relations (PR) positions. 

Former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Jay Town took to Twitter on Tuesday to address eight demands of Alabama prison workers who started striking on Monday morning.

The Birmingham Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division arrested a BPD correctional officer on Sunday who it believes assaulted an inmate.

Amidst a plethora of other problems for Alabama prisons, a Facebook post from last week showed a man in one Alabama prison in extremely poor health, causing backlash from the public. The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) said the man denied his own medical treatment.

Vandals targeted an Alabama construction company executive’s home in Mountain Brook last week, apparently because the company was hired to build a police training facility in a forested area near Atlanta.

Environmental groups are suing Alabama Power over the storing of coal ash on the banks of the Mobile River.

The rate of new Type 2 diabetes cases almost doubled among children in Alabama during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study conducted by UAB.

Inmates at all major Alabama prisons are refusing to work.

Hurricane Ian is expected to impact East Alabama, per the latest updates.

Police said a Birmingham Police Department (BPD) officer shot an armed man on Saturday while responding to a call on the city's west side.

Alabama is home to 565 public high schools, each ranging from under 400 students to almost 3,000.

Opelika native, former real estate agent and Dothan elementary Spanish teacher Anessa Sewell Kent is about to release her debut novel, “The Bitter and the Sweet,” a Character-driven historical fiction drama set in 20th-century Alabama.

An Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) correctional officer was placed on leave after what reports say was potentially a fight with an inmate.

America was founded on Christian principals, but the number of people practicing Christianity may soon fall into the minority if current trends continue.

State Rep. Danny Garrett said Thursday that he is “unsure” of what the state should do in response to the loss of gas tax revenue that would likely come with a transition to electric vehicles (EV). 

Blount County is switching ambulance contracts after experiencing issues getting ambulances to arrive on time to emergencies.

A city attorney in Tuscaloosa recently told businesses to get a grip on the overcrowding issues brought about by Crimson Tide football season or the police would begin making arrests. 

The Birmingham Water Works currently serves over 600,000 Alabamians in Birmingham and five surrounding counties. It’s the largest water system in Alabama and has largely been the center of controversy in the city over the summer.

A Limestone County judge declared a mistrial on Monday in the case of Mason Wayne Sisk, who is accused of killing five of his family members in 2019. 

The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) received a total of $10 million on Monday to reduce crime and drive economic growth in Birmingham.

On September 17, 1923, country music star Hiram “Hank” Williams was born in Butler County. 

Early fall is the perfect time of year to get out, tee up and play a round of golf.

Birmingham Water Works Board chairman Chris Rice might not be allowed to rescind his resignation, according to a letter from a city attorney on Thursday.

Aerial drones have become a popular tool for police departments across the country over the past five years.