As the pro-life debate has once again become central in the national dialogue, perhaps the most compelling stories of why women should choose adoption over abortion are coming from the families of adopted children. Jonathan Lenning, an Alabamian who recently adopted a daughter shared a tear-jerking letter to his daughter’s birthmother on Radical.net, part of […]

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 […]

(Video Above: WIAT shares the story of Rocky Mount United Methodist Church in Jemison, Ala.’s gun range ministry JEMISON, Ala. — An Alabama church is making national headlines this week for an innovative new ministry using a gun range behind their building to “reach out in the name of Jesus Christ.” Originally a kudzu patch […]

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 […]

Though the country may just now be discovering Birmingham’s dynamic food scene, locals have been talking about it for years. Birmingham Restaurant Week, now in its sixth year, plans to celebrate this local scene with style. With more than 60 participating restaurants, the event is expected to experience its best year yet with a focus […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The City of Montgomery and Infinitus Energy have been awarded the 2015 Alabama Innovation Award for Outstanding Public-Private Partnership by Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA). The 2015 Alabama Innovation Awards are part of an annual program recognizing the state’s top innovators in the areas of […]

Forty-two years ago Thursday a fledging group of long-haired musicians with a weird name released their first album. That group was Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that album came with a helpful subtitle (“Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd.”) The band went on to release another album “Second Helping” containing the Yellowhammer State’s unofficial theme song, “Sweet Home Alabama.” Though […]

Would you eat an endangered animal? The recent killing of Cecil, a now famous Zimbabwe lion, has sparked a debate on the ethics of hunting big game animals. While unsanctioned big game hunting should be condemned, it is important to recognize that big game hunting plays a vital role in preserving big game animals, such […]

(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, […]

FOLEY, Ala. — Alabama has received a lot of attention the past few years for the incredible growth of its manufacturing sector; and rightfully so. The state has attracted car companies, defense contractors, and major airplane manufacturing plants all in the past decade. But there are many companies that have been in the Yellowhammer State […]

ABC US News | World News (Video Above: Tyler Blake Kimbrell struggles to save his trapped niece after a car crash.) FLORENCE, Ala. — Alabamian Tyler Blake Kimbrell jumped into action when he saw his sister and niece plummet down a 100-foot embankment in a horrifying car wreck, last week. Though his sister was ejected […]

MOBILE, Ala. — Austal, a global defense contractor, designer, and manufacturer of defense and commercial ships, delivered their third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) built at their Mobile shipyard to the U.S. Navy on Wednesday. This milestone marks the first LCS ship built by Austal as the prime contractor as part of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tuscaloosa native and WBC Heavyweight Boxing Champion Deontay Wilder is currently finalizing a deal to defend his title in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena against Frenchman Johann Duhaupas. Reports surfaced Monday that the deal was in its final stages, but a FOX6 report also speculates that Huntsville’s Von Braun Center could be in the […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Auto supplier Kamtek announced plans today to invest $530 million in an expansion of its Alabama operation that includes opening a new aluminum casting facility to meet automaker demands for lighter parts. Kamtek, whose parent company is Canada-based Magna International, says the expansion project in Birmingham will add 354 jobs to its […]

The popular retailer Target announced Monday that the company is ditching boys’ and girls’ labels on toys after the store says customers were raising concerns about “unnecessary” gender-based signs. In a statement on their website, executives said “Over the past year, guests have raised important questions about a handful of signs in our stores that […]

For the last week I have been in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a key U.S. ally bordering areas of Syria and Iraq currently controlled by the so called Islamic State. While Jordan has remained a relatively peaceful nation in the tumultuous region, its close proximity to the Syrian civil war, the deteriorating situation in […]

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. — According to a recent ranking by personal finance and economics website NerdWallet, two Alabama municipalities are among the best small cities in the country for working parents. Coming in at Numbers 8 and 6, respectively, Madison and Vestavia Hills both made it in the top 10. “Families with children in Madison […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — This fall, underserved students in the East Lake and Roebuck communities of Birmingham will have another option for their education, and it comes with a familiar name. Banks Academy, Inc. established by alumni of the former Banks High School, held a ribbon cutting Friday, opening their doors for 9th graders this school […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — It seems most of the stories you see including the words “police officer” and “young man” in the headline are often filled with details of discord and tension. But Friday afternoon one Alabamian witnessed a refreshing sight—an Alabama police officer lifting up a young man in his community in prayer. Birmingham native […]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — According to a report from Carol Robinson at AL.com, a police office has been assaulted in east Birmingham, and is being transported to UAB hospital. According to police, a detective stopped a Yukon, the driver got out, assaulted the detective, took his weapon and pistol-whipped him. Reportedly, suspects in the case are […]

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’ […]

TUSKEGEE, Ala. — The family of Dr. Amelia Boynton Robinson says the 105-year-old Civil Rights movement heroine has been hospitalized after suffering a massive stroke late last month. “Presently, she is in stable, but critical condition,” said Dr. Boynton Robinson’s family in a letter sent to Yellowhammer. “Her physicians, nurses and other health care providers […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A new study conducted by Auburn University-Montgomery Professor M. Keivan Deravi indicates that the economic impact of Hyundai’s Montgomery manufacturing center is upward of $4.8 billion. The study stated that the company’s 2014 earnings represented 2 percent of the state’s Real Gross Domestic Product. The company’s impact on the Yellowhammer State has […]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) Thursday terminated the state’s Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood after the legitimacy of using any taxpayer dollars to fund the abortion provider was once again called into question following the release of several videos describing its harvest and sale of aborted baby organs and body parts. “The […]