What's up Birmingham! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What are the two favorite words for a shark to hear? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. 'Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond's son arrested on drug, assault charges (ktvu.com) — A 23-year-old foster son of TV personality Ree Drummond was arrested at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is now being held at Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham on drug and assault-on-an-officer charges. Court documents describe officers responding to a suspicious-person call, a brief chase, and the alleged discovery of methamphetamine and paraphernalia before he was booked on multiple counts.
2. Lessons in Truck Company Operations and Leadership (fireengineering.com) — A longtime Birmingham Fire Department captain shares how 26 years on local trucks and heavy rescue shaped his disciplined, team-focused approach to fireground operations. Now serving with the Cahaba Valley Fire District, he reflects on transitioning ranks, staying humble, and keeping Birmingham-area fire service standards high through technical skill and leadership.
3. The Significance of Louisville & Nashville and Alabama Great Southern Railroad Systems on Sloss Furnaces (birminghamal.gov) — Sloss Furnaces' history in Birmingham is traced through the crucial role two major railroads played in moving coal, ore, and finished pig iron in and out of the city. The piece explains how this rail access helped Birmingham become an industrial powerhouse and encourages you to visit the Sloss Furnaces museum today to experience that legacy firsthand.
4. Suicide Awareness Month: Why law enforcement officers face higher risk, and why so many stay silent (wbrc.com) — Law enforcement leaders connected to the Birmingham area are using Suicide Awareness Month to urge officers to speak up about mental health struggles and seek help. Calera's police chief and a Shelby County task force commander describe how repeated trauma, stigma, and a culture of self-reliance raise suicide risks, while highlighting peer support teams, clergy partnerships, and other local resources for officers.
5. Who owns model risk? (economistwritingeveryday.com) — A recent continuing education session in Birmingham brought together 36 internal auditors, many from a local regional bank, to debate who should own the risk appetite built into AI models. Their split responses revealed there's still no clear consensus, highlighting how accountability for AI risk remains unsettled compared with traditional areas like credit risk, which are firmly owned by first-line business units.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Birmingham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "MAN OVERBOARD!" (Thank you M J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Birmingham Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.