Noelle Annonen

2 weeks ago | wbhm.org | Noelle Annonen

In 1981, James Jones of Birmingham robbed a shoe store and it changed the course of his life. “Things went awry and we got busted,” Jones said. He was in his 30s at the time and already had a criminal record. The robbery was his third strike under the Habitual Offenders Act. This made Jones one of thousands of men in Alabama prisons serving life without parole. He would spend the next 43 years of his life in the St. Clair Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison.

3 weeks ago | wbhm.org | Noelle Annonen

After a four month wait, Birmingham has a new police chief. Tuesday morning, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced that interim chief Michael Pickett is taking on the role permanently. Woodfin said he asked himself three questions before appointing Pickett to the position. “Can I trust you? Are you committed? And do you care?” Woodfin said.

4 weeks ago | wbhm.org | Noelle Annonen

Birmingham residents had questions for their Republican representatives. But instead of people, commenters at a town hall at the Woodlawn Theatre on Saturday, March 22, talked to cardboard cutouts acting as stand ins for Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville and Rep. Gary Palmer.  “How can you not speak out and support our veterans?” Peggy Patton asked. “You people are criminals,” Tracy Cron said. “You’re going to hurt these children.

1 month ago | wbhm.org | Noelle Annonen

Alabama, like all states, has a program to compensate victims of violence. But very few survivors take advantage of such programs. Sheree Kennon is hosting an event Friday evening trying to change that. In 2021, Kennon lost her son to gun violence. Now, she is an advocate for survivors and their families across Alabama. “I wasn’t able to get those services because I didn’t know about them,” Kennon said.

1 month ago | wbhm.org | Noelle Annonen

When Governor Kay Ivey commuted 63-year-old Robin “Rocky” Myers’ death sentence, his attorneys say, he was in disbelief. “No!” He exclaimed over the phone. “Are you serious?” Myers has been on Alabama’s death row for more than 30 years. Then, on February 28, he became the first Alabamian this century to have his death sentence commuted. In her statement commuting Myers’ sentence, Ivey cited the lack of evidence tying Myers to the scene of Ludie Mae Tucker’s murder.