🌱 2020 Skeletal Remains IDed + Gunfire Hits Water Works Truck

Up and at 'em, Birmingham! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right. Here's everything worth knowing today in Birmingham.

First, today's weather:

A couple of severe t-storms. High: 75 Low: 37.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. A set of skeletal remains found behind a Birmingham shopping center in July of 2020 have now been identified, and police are now seeking the deceased individual's family. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office used DNA to determine the remains belong to Wesley Howard Kitchens, a 61-year-old transient man who was found in a wooded area behind the Roebuck Shopping Center two and a half years ago. According to officials, there was no evidence of trauma or foul play in Kitchens' death. Anyone with information about any living relatives or associates is asked to call the coroner’s office at 205-930-3603. (AL.com)
2. A Birmingham Water Works utility vehicle was struck by gunfire on Tuesday night while an employee was on duty. The employee was driving on a meter route in the 900 Block of 39th Street North when a gunshot hit the truck. BWW said the employee was unharmed and that the situation is currently under investigation by law enforcement. (Birmingham Patch)
3. In celebration of Black History Month, select Birmingham buses have been transformed into tributes to the city's historic Black residents. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority has designed and rolled out bus wraps depicting images and quotes from three impactful Black leaders in Birmingham, including BJCTA Executive Director Charlotte Shaw, 1963 Children's Crusader Janice Wesley Kelsey, and Pastor Thomas Wilder of Bethel Baptist Church. Keep an eye out for these Black History buses on city streets! (WIAT - CBS42.com)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Birmingham Restaurant Week 2022 (Winter Edition) At Restaurants Across Birmingham (9:00 AM)
• Business Career Fair At University Of Alabama At Birmingham (9:00 AM)
• Next Step Webinar: Smart Money Habits, Hosted By UAB (9:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Birmingham metro area is currently under a severe weather threat. Here's what to expect today. Stay safe! (Birmingham Patch)
• Buy your tickets now for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert" with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra! The magic happens on April 9 and 10 at The BJCC. (Facebook)
• For anyone who is interested in joining the Birmingham Police Department, take the open Physical Agility Ability Screening on Saturday, Feb. 19th at 7 a.m. at the Birmingham Police Academy. Click to learn more. (Facebook)
• The Alabama Power Foundation is accepting applications for its annual Classroom Grant program, which offers local teachers an added resource to help them improve the learning experience for their students. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Kayla Harrison

About me: Kayla Harrison is a Writing Arts professor, as well as a freelance writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.