ELMORE COUNTY, Ala. — In a decision that has sparked widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of Alabama’s correctional system, an Elmore County grand jury has declined to indict anyone in connection with the death of Daniel Williams, a 22-year-old inmate at Staton Correctional Facility. Williams died from injuries sustained during a horrific assault that involved…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After 35 years as a cornerstone of Birmingham’s live music scene, Zydeco has announced its immediate closure, with plans to relocate and reopen in 2025. Nestled in the historic Five Points South district, Zydeco has been a vibrant hub for music lovers since its establishment in 1989. Housed in a building with…

HOOVER, Ala. — Trader Joe’s has announced plans to open a new location in Hoover, Alabama, by 2025, marking the retailer’s second store in the Birmingham metro area. The new Trader Joe’s will be located at 1771 Montgomery Highway, taking over the former Bed Bath & Beyond space. City officials, including Mayor Frank Brocato, collaborated…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Wendell Corey Hines, a 54-year-old inmate at William Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, was found dead Wednesday night, marking yet another death in Alabama’s troubled prison system. Hines’s death follows a string of fatalities within the state’s prisons, reflecting a crisis in conditions that advocates warn is reaching emergency levels. Within the…

BESSEMER, Ala. — Amazon’s Bessemer, Alabama, facility is set to hold a third union vote, as a federal judge ruled Wednesday that the company violated labor laws during earlier elections. The decision follows years of efforts by the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) to unionize the warehouse, claiming Amazon suppressed previous attempts through…

MCCALLA, Ala. — The J.M. Smucker Co. celebrated the grand opening of its new $1.1 billion Uncrustables manufacturing facility in McCalla, Alabama, today, marking a major expansion for the brand and a transformative moment for the Birmingham region. As the largest plant of its kind globally, this facility will specialize in producing Smucker’s popular frozen…