🌱 City Awarded Federal Food Grant + 107-Year-Old Business Closes

Hello again, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh edition of the Birmingham Daily. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm. High: 66 Low: 58.

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Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. Birmingham was awarded nearly $300,000 by a U.S. Department of Agriculture's grant program to help the city improve access to food resources in the community. An estimated 70% of city residents don't have access to affordable fresh foods. (Birmingham Times)
2. Southwest Airlines continued to cancel flights in and out of numerous airports throughout the U.S. The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport saw approximately 19 canceled Southwest flights on Thursday. (AL.com)
3. A local Birmingham-based family business with a 107-year history closed its last store. The owners of Ensley Fairfield Mattress discussed their reasons for closing the store, which are related to the shift of customers to online shopping, the pandemic, and the opportunity to retire. (Alabama's News Leader)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Pickleball Open Play At Levite Jewish Community Center (9:00 AM)
• Jigsaw Puzzle Club At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Always Write, Never Wrong At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)

Special notice:

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From my notebook:

• This weekend we say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023! If you're looking for a great way to ring in the New Year, check out this list of New Year celebrations and events in the Birmingham area, including a concert by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, a masquerade party, and a night at the Birmingham Museum of Art. (Bham Now)
• It's never too early to plan activities for the new year! Here's a list of seven events where you can enjoy the beautiful nature of Birmingham, like Nature at Noon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and a sunrise hike to King's Chair. (Bham Now)
• With winter in full swing and the local area seeing record-freezing temperatures, do you know what to do if you're a renter and the pipes in your house burst? The president of the Birmingham Urban League discusses who's responsible for fixing burst pipes in a rental house and where you can turn for help if it happens to you. (WBRC)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.