🌱 Car Chase Ends In Birmingham + UAB Hospital IV Contrast Shortage

Hello again, Birmingham! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Birmingham Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Birmingham Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Birmingham long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny, nice and warm. High: 86 Low: 66.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is searching for two suspects after a stolen vehicle chase ended in Birmingham on Wednesday morning. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle after they were found speeding through a neighborhood, but the driver refused to stop and a chase began. The chase with the vehicle, which was stolen out of Birmingham, ended at Pratt Highway and Dora Avenue, and a 21-year-old man was taken into custody. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
2. On Wednesday, UAB Hospital gave an update on the IV contrast shortage. IV contrast is the dye shot through your blood for CT scans and MRIs. According to the hospital, they are currently trying to make a three-week supply last five to six weeks by modifying dosages. The shortage is due to shutdowns in Shanghai, China — where the main supplier is located — because of a COVID-19 outbreak. (WBRC)
3. A 41-year-old orangutan at the Birmingham Zoo is recovering after surgery to remove a testicular tumor. The zoo's Animal Care Team members noticed that Oliver, the second-oldest male Sumatran orangutan living in a North American zoo, had swelling between his legs, which an ultrasound later revealed to be a tumor. Oliver's tumor was extracted and later determined to be benign. (WIAT - CBS42.com)

Today in Birmingham:

• Spring Into Fitness, At Birmingham Public Library (10:30 AM)
• First Step Tech: Get The Most Out Of Your iPad And iPhone, At Homewood Public Library (4:00 PM)
• Classic Anime Club, At Birmingham Public Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Good People Brewing in Birmingham was named the top craft brewery in Alabama, according to Yelp. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
• The Rotary Club of Birmingham Foundation awarded scholarships to five amazing seniors. (Bham Now)
• If you're in the market for a new home, don't miss these two nearby open houses coming up in Birmingham! (Birmingham Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Jewish Food and Culture Fest (May 15)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.