Huntsville is never going to be Alabama’s largest city

Tom Cosby
Tom Cosby

Today’s guest columnist is Tom Cosby.

There is a steady drumbeat in the clickbait news of how Huntsville is poised to overtake Birmingham as the state’s largest city.

While shocking in a man-bites-dog context, it is only true in the narrowest of contexts, that of comparing populations within a single municipality’s border. Continue reading Huntsville is never going to be Alabama’s largest city

The story behind the greatest Bama basketball team ever

Bill Ivey
Bill Ivey

Today’s guest columnist is Bill Ivey.

For all the right reasons, University of Alabama basketball is currently a hot topic.

Coach Nate Oats has it figured out: He recruits at a high level, he understands how to create a structured atmosphere that allows for creativity, and he knows that he can win big at Alabama.

It seems that Coach Oats is building a foundation that could lead to a national championship. Continue reading The story behind the greatest Bama basketball team ever

Mountain Brook man has epiphany about Birmingham

Maury Gaston
Maury D. Gaston

Today’s guest columnist is Maury D. Gaston.

Having lived all over the country I moved back to Birmingham 24 years ago—first to Homewood and then Mountain Brook.

For much of that time, even though I worked within the city limits of Birmingham and paid the occupational tax, I had very little interest in Birmingham itself.

Then everything changed. Continue reading Mountain Brook man has epiphany about Birmingham

Jeffco Mayors pull off minor miracle

Mayor Buddy Choat of Trussville
Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat, President of Jefferson County Mayors’ Association

Today’s guest columnist is Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat.

On May 19, our Jefferson County Mayors Association endorsed an agreement that has the potential to fundamentally change our region forever. Continue reading Jeffco Mayors pull off minor miracle

Ouch! Birmingham has no Chamber of Commerce

Frank Young
Frank Young III

Today’s guest columnist is Frank Young.

Yes, you read the title right.

Birmingham has no Chamber of Commerce.

Twelve years ago, a small group of Birmingham business leaders decided to scrap the 122 year old Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and create a hybrid organization called the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). Continue reading Ouch! Birmingham has no Chamber of Commerce

Do good or make money? Now Alabama entrepreneurs can do both

Patrick J. Murphy
Patrick J. Murphy
Jonathan Murphy
Jonathan Murphy

Today’s guest columnists are Patrick J. Murphy and Jonathan Murphy.

In January 2021, a law went into effect in Alabama that allows the formation of a new kind of business entity called a “benefit corporation.” Continue reading Do good or make money? Now Alabama entrepreneurs can do both

Hypocrisy backfires on State of Alabama

J. Mason Davis
J. Mason Davis

Today’s guest columnist is J. Mason Davis.

I graduated from Talladega College, a small liberal arts college located in Talladega, Alabama, in June 1956.

Talladega College had been founded in 1867 as one of the first, if not the first, school for educating the former enslaved black man, though not limited to  his or her race. Continue reading Hypocrisy backfires on State of Alabama

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham