Lauren Harksen

Birmingham

Reporter and Multimedia Journalist at WBRC-TV (Birmingham, AL)

@WBRCNews Reporter/MMJ | Previously: @WHNT, @TroyTVNews | Send News Tips: [email protected]

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Articles

Cullman County intermediate school providing free school supplies for students

2 days ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - Though there are still months left in summer break, one school is taking a burden off parents this upcoming school year. West Point Intermediate School is giving all of their students school supplies for free. This is the first time the school has been able to offer free school supplies to their 4th and 5th grade students. There’s around 260 of them, and Principal Mike Jones said his staff worked extremely hard to make this happen.
Birmingham family searching for food after someone steals SNAP benefits

3 days ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - WBRC is hearing from yet another Alabamian on SNAP who tells WBRC their benefits were stolen. Criminals have spent years now draining people’s accounts before they can buy food for their families. Patrice Leonard is one of their latest targets. WBRC viewers might recognize her and her son, Christian Savage. Savage is the teenager who was shot in the head while playing video games nearly three years ago.
New Regional Board approving changes within Birmingham Water Works

4 days ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The new Birmingham Water Works Regional Board is making changes to senior leadership and rescinding agreements made by the previous board. These decisions took place at just their third time together on Monday, June 2. The board first voted for temporary leadership: Tommy Hudson as acting chair and Jarvis Patton as acting vice chair. They will lead the board until all bylaws are passed which is expected to happen in July.
Senator Katie Britt on negotiation expectations for ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’

5 days ago | wsfa.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” heads to the Senate for negotiations this week. It passed the House of Representatives within the last two weeks. Some of the key proposals in the bill include tax cuts on tips, overtime, and social security income while increasing the funding for border security and modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration.
Senator Katie Britt on negotiation expectations for ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’

5 days ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” heads to the Senate for negotiations this week. It passed the House of Representatives within the last two weeks. Some of the key proposals in the bill include tax cuts on tips, overtime, and social security income while increasing the funding for border security and modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration.
Birmingham nonprofits hold town hall about possible federal cuts on Medicaid, SNAP

6 days ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Federal funding cuts to food assistance and health care could be coming. To get ahead, several Birmingham nonprofits used a town hall to share how this could impact you and what you could do to help stop them. The“Big Beautiful Bill”was at the center of discussions at East Lake United Methodist Church Saturday morning.
After nearly a year, Gardendale Post Office now has a collection box

1 week ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

GARDENDALE, Ala. (WBRC) - As of Wednesday, you can now drop off mail without going inside Gardendale’s post office. Since July 2024, people saw an empty slab of concrete where those blue collection boxes used to be. They were removed by USPS after two separate break-ins. Nearly a year later, one collection box is back in its spot. Many people said the lack of boxes have been a huge inconvenience, especially for those who are physically challenged.
Sen. Katie Britt, Jefferson County leaders say Northern Beltline project making progress

1 week ago | wbrc.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - We’re getting an update on the Northern Beltline, a 52-mile interstate project that’s been in the works for decades. Senator Katie Britt joined other Jefferson County leaders to review the progress Wednesday. The project is going to extend from I-59 in northeast Jefferson County to the I-459 interchange near Bessemer. When completed, it will be named Interstate 422.
When you should and shouldn’t turn car flashers on

1 week ago | wtvy.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - AAA Alabama spokesperson Clay Ingram is sharing when you should and shouldn’t have your hazard lights on while in the car. You’ve probably seen it before: Someone is zooming through traffic above the speed limit with their flashers on. Ingram says it’s a problem we don’t talk about enough. He says drivers should know that just because your emergency lights are on, that doesn’t make your car an emergency vehicle.
When you should and shouldn’t turn car flashers on

1 week ago | wsfa.com | Lauren Harksen

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - AAA Alabama spokesperson Clay Ingram is sharing when you should and shouldn’t have your hazard lights on while in the car. You’ve probably seen it before: Someone is zooming through traffic above the speed limit with their flashers on. Ingram says it’s a problem we don’t talk about enough. He says drivers should know that just because your emergency lights are on, that doesn’t make your car an emergency vehicle.