BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Birmingham Zoo is welcoming two young cougar cubs to its newly opened Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing habitat, marking an exciting addition to the city’s beloved institution. Spruce, a male cougar cub from California, will arrive in April to join a female cub already residing in the habitat. The six-month-old female cub, weighing…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A new chapter is unfolding in Birmingham’s Five Points South neighborhood as Opulence Drag Lounge & Taqueria prepares to open this June. The venue, which will serve tacos by day and host drag performances by night, aims to breathe life into a space marked by tragedy—the site of a mass shooting that…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s public health system is facing a major setback after the federal government abruptly terminated a $190 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funding, which supported 140 full-time employees across county health departments statewide, was cut as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative,…

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) early Tuesday morning at his home in Tuscaloosa. Doroudi, who entered the U.S. on an F-1 visa in January 2023, reportedly had his visa revoked six months later for unclear reasons. Despite…

DECATUR, Ala. — A historic marker commemorating the African American heritage of Old Town, Decatur’s oldest neighborhood, was vandalized last week, raising concerns about the preservation of the city’s rich cultural history. Authorities are investigating the incident, which occurred on March 24. Old Town holds a significant place in Decatur’s history as a hub for…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — AMC Classic Lee Branch 15, a long-standing fixture in Birmingham’s moviegoing scene, closed its doors Sunday after 21 years in operation. Located along U.S. 280, the theater was a convenient alternative to the more crowded AMC Summit 16 and featured amenities like its Big D auditorium, known for superior picture and sound…