(Video Above: Lisa Harris shares how the lemonade stand has grown to something much bigger) By Karim Shamsi-Basha Lisa Harris spotted a rainbow in the sky. If this were any other afternoon, her joy would have been immense. But today, joy was way in the back of her mind and heart. Lisa had just attended […]

(Video Above: Hand in Paw 2015 from Alabama NewsCenter) By Nick Patterson If you had a loved one, gravely ill in a hospital, how much would it mean to you to see him or her smile? Liz Wilson has seen just that many times, witnessing a hospital stay brighten because a door opened and in […]

By Bob Blalock About this time last year, Quintin Pridgen, of Norfolk, Virginia, met Logan Rafter in Birmingham. It was no chance encounter. A year earlier, the Navy petty officer first class had donated the bone marrow that would save Logan’s life. Logan, a Children’s of Alabama patient, had battled a rare form of leukemia […]

(Video above: Sidewalk Film Festival preview from Alabama NewsCenter) By Michael Tomberlin With 250 films from 26 countries, it’s a good bet that Sidewalk Film Festival will have something for everyone in this, its 17th year. But with the largest slate of Alabama-produced feature films and shorts the Birmingham festival has ever had, this year’s […]

By Carla Davis For thousands of people living in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, life changed forever 10 years ago when Hurricane Katrina swept ashore, flooding homes and businesses and washing away nearly everything in its path. Chris and Laura Zapalowski, chefs and owners of Homewood Gourmet, were among the hordes of people […]

(Video Above: Curtis Saucier shares his story with Alabama Bright Lights by the Alabama NewsCenter) By Karim Shamsi-Basha At 12:21 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2015, Curtis Saucier woke up to his phone ringing. When he heard his daughter’s voice, he knew it wasn’t good. She told him that her 8-year-old daughter, Madison, was not breathing. […]

(Video Above: Deontay Wilder in a press conference discussing his next bout) By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. Deontay Wilder announced the second defense of his World Boxing Council heavyweight championship today with a challenge to fans to buy tickets quickly. “You better go on and get your tickets right now,” the Tuscaloosa native said of his […]

(Video above: A clip from the Birmingham “Festival of Hope”) By Alabama NewsCenter’s Karim Shamsi-Basha “Our cars can become an idol, sports, football. Uh-oh, stepping on toes!” Franklin Graham on Saturday drew laughter out of more than 8,000 people who descended on UAB’s Bartow Arena for the Greater Birmingham Festival of Hope. The evangelist was […]

By Keisa Sharpe Birmingham native Sergeant Noah Galloway has seen and overcome major obstacles in his 33 years. The Army veteran was injured while on duty back in 2005, losing his left arm above the elbow and his left leg above the knee. But Galloway, now a personal trainer and motivational speaker, said he refused […]

By Ike Pigott When big storms strike, life can come to a screeching halt. Our modern everyday habits and routines are rooted in electricity – and when power is gone, options become limited. A utility that streamlines the restoration process gets business back to normal more swiftly, enhancing the lives of its customers and its […]

(Video Above: Project Night Night from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.) By Keisa Sharpe There’s perhaps nothing as heart wrenching as the real-life stories of children deserted by those who care for them – those left at risk, through no fault of their own. That’s what fuels a relentless drive, the “push” that moves Julie Wahnish, […]

By Marie Leech Retailers across the state are preparing for big business this weekend as Alabama holds its 10th annual back-to-school sales tax holiday, beginning Friday. Throughout the weekend, consumers can buy school-related items, including school supplies, computers and clothing, without having to pay the state’s 4 percent sales tax or participating counties’ and cities’ […]

(Video Above: A cappella group Voices of the South) By John Herr Making friends, making music, and making people smile. Doing just one of these is a worthy goal. But all three at once? Cue Voices of the South. Based in Birmingham, Voices of the South is an a cappella barbershop-style singing group with 22 […]

(Video Above: Alabama native Ray Williams competes in the International Powerlifting Federation world championship) By Freddy Padilla Demopolis native Ray Williams is making a name for himself across the globe. He recently set the world raw squat record of 938 pounds at The International Powerlifting Classic World Championships in June in Salo, Finland. He also […]

(Video Above: Alabamian Travis Perry demonstrates the ChordBuddy) By Carla Davis When Travis Perry introduced his revolutionary invention, ChordBuddy, to America on the ABC TV show “Shark Tank” in 2012, he had no idea it would become a nationwide success, bringing in millions in sales in three years. “When I went on ‘Shark Tank,’ that […]

(Video Above: Belinda Ringpfiel shares about Ocean Camp with the Alabama NewsCenter) By Karim Shamsi-Basha The water surface was devoid of fins. Tension built up as everyone looked around for dolphins at Bear Point Bay. Then someone from another boat down a bit farther came on the radio: “Two dolphins at 11 o’clock.” Everyone tried […]

(Video Above: The Southern Foodways Alliance shares “The Gospel of the Alabama Oyster”) By Michael Tomberlin Alabama’s oyster reefs have historically harvested an average of one million pounds of oysters per year and have made it one of the top oyster producing states in the nation for more than a century. But changes to water […]

By Michael Tomberlin It is Alabama’s oldest industry and, by some measures, it is still the largest commerce sector in the state. In these days of advanced auto manufacturing and Google data centers, agribusiness should not be overlooked, officials say. Agribusiness was one of the focus areas of the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s summer […]

(Video Above: Alabama NewsCenter reports on how Noah Galloway and Homes for Our Troops are working together to build accessible homes for wounded veterans) By Erin Searson While Noah Galloway spends much of his time traveling the country after his “Dancing with the Stars” run, Homes for Our Troops (HFOT) is working to build a […]

(Video Above: Carla Davis: Turning disability into ability by Alabama NewsCenter) perseverance By Joseph Allen Many of us take the simple things for granted, like walking in the park, spending time with family, and driving to work each day. Here’s the story of an Alabama Power employee who’s living – and working – against the […]

By Michael Tomberlin Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said the state’s new incentives are being used to woo prospective companies to the state and are attracting interest from new projects. Addressing members of the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) at their annual summer conference on Monday, Bentley thanked them for their help in helping pass […]

(Video Above: Zarinah & the Zaratans on the Alabama music scene from Alabama NewsCenter) By Nick Patterson When St. Paul and the Broken Bones take the Blast Stage on Sunday night at the Sloss Music and Arts Festival, they will prove a point in their own way about the power and the potential of music […]

(Video Above: Students at Avondale Elementary participate in the SEEK program) By Allison Westlake School may be out for the summer, but few would know it walking the halls of Avondale Elementary School. Laughter and cheers are heard from one classroom, while another classroom of students sits quietly listening to a team of college mentors. […]

By Minnie Lamberth The Auburn-Opelika area is expected to benefit from a $25 million economic boost this month, thanks to the Barbasol Championship. The PGA TOUR’s first event in Alabama – a premiere domestic tournament featuring top players including several major winners – will be held July 13-19 at the Lake Course at the Grand […]