Birmingham Woman Walked Away from a Dream Job. Now Being Recognized for Oscar-Nominated Film

Birmingham Woman nominated for Academy Award
Beth Shelburne, co-producer of Oscar-nominated documentary, The Alabama Solution

By David Sher,

I have the deepest respect and admiration for people who are brave and unselfish enough to go out and make the world better.

Not people who talk about making the world better.

Not people who share articles about it on social media.

People who actually give something up — real comfort, real security, real stability — to go do the hard, unglamorous, sometimes thankless work that changes lives. Continue reading Birmingham Woman Walked Away from a Dream Job. Now Being Recognized for Oscar-Nominated Film

Most prominent Newspaper in Canada Declares Canada is Poorer than Alabama

Mercedes-Benz US International plant in Vance, Ala., The beginning of Alabama's transformation
Mercedes-Benz US International plant in Vance, Ala., The beginning of Alabama’s transformation

By David Sher

Quite frankly, I am stunned.

Year after year, Alabama has been a punching bag for the press.

What a breath of fresh air.

Canada’s Globe and Mail — widely regarded as Canada’s most influential national publication —sent a reporter to the Deep South to figure out how Alabama had become richer than their country. Continue reading Most prominent Newspaper in Canada Declares Canada is Poorer than Alabama

Nashville’s gain was Memphis’ loss. What Birmingham and Huntsville can learn

Reed Baskin, M.D.
Reed Baskin, M.D.

By Reed Baskin, M.D.

Editor’s note: It’s often insightful to read what is published about Birmingham in media outside of Birmingham. This piece was published by Doug Martinson  last month in Huntsville on al.com under the same title.

Doug Martinson:  “I was in Birmingham recently, and when our Uber driver asked where we were from, she talked about all the jobs in Huntsville and how Huntsville kept gaining population while Birmingham was losing population. Continue reading Nashville’s gain was Memphis’ loss. What Birmingham and Huntsville can learn

My love/hate relationship with Birmingham

Blake Guthrie
Blake Guthrie

By Blake Guthrie

Editor’s note: This column, authored by Blake Guthrie, appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on November 9, 2025. 

When he emailed permission to publish, he wrote this personal note to me…

“I have a lifelong love/hate relationship with Birmingham. Having grown up there, all I wanted to do was get the hell out as a young man. Now, I love coming back and seeing all the changes in the right direction.” Continue reading My love/hate relationship with Birmingham

Alabama Paid $1.9M to Destroy Louisiana Monroe. Playing UAB for Free Makes Too Much Sense

Jay Taylor
Jay Taylor

By Jay Taylor

The dawn of 2026 was a rare wet morning on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California.

For only the 11th time in 137 years, rain fell on the Rose Parade. Still, the Homewood High School band persevered for every inch of the 5.5-mile route. We parents beamed even if the sun didn’t.

In the afternoon, it was reversed. The clouds parted. But our Crimson hearts were overcast as we took the grandest whoopin’ of them all. Continue reading Alabama Paid $1.9M to Destroy Louisiana Monroe. Playing UAB for Free Makes Too Much Sense

The Surprising Change That Could Save Greater Birmingham in 2026

Jefferson County Courthouse
Jefferson County Courthouse

By David Sher

Editor’s note: PIease read entire column before jumping to conclusions–the proposed change may not be what you expect.

I was asked by al.com to write about the best thing that happened to Birmingham in 2025.

I’m still thinking.

Meanwhile, huge economic development announcements keep rolling in from across the South. Many come from Huntsville. If you’re tired of reading about their wins in ComebackTown, I understand. But I’m writing about them because Birmingham isn’t making these headlines–not because I’m jealous of Huntsville.

Huntsville’s successes are great for our state and prove what’s possible. Continue reading The Surprising Change That Could Save Greater Birmingham in 2026

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham