Week In Review: Newsmakers In Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, AL - This past week was not short on national news, with President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech, news from the ongoing FBI investigation into Trump's staff, a train crash that involved several lawmakers - some from Alabama - and a school shooting in California. Here are the stories that made headlines in and around Birmingham during the week of January 29-February 2:

Hoover Bus Driver Gets DUI - A bus driver with the Hoover school system crashed his bus off Interstate 459 Wednesday afternoon. His Blood Alcohol Content was .15. Luckily, no children were on board.

Mall That Has Been Empty Since 2009 Sold - Century Plaza, on the corner of Crestwood Boulevard and Oporto-Madrid, was once a state-of-the-art shopping mall in the center of a retail mecca in Birmingham. It closed in 2009 and has been empty ever since. Now, an investor has purchased the property for $3 million.

Vestavia Hills Hires A School Superintendent - After a long search process, the Vestavia Hills Board of Education finally chose its candidate to lead its school system.

Birmingham Mayor Pledges $90 Million Toward New Stadium - Talk of a new football stadium downtown near the BJCC has been thrown around for years now. But Mayor Randall Woodfin has now recommended that the city pledge $90 million toward the project.

Fire At Music Venue In Avondale Causes Evacuation - Saturn, one of Birmingham's premier music venues, caught fire Sunday night. Although the Birmingham FD was able to contain the fire, water and smoke damage forced the business to close temporarily.

Photo courtesy of Saturn Birmingham