Football Friday: Rebels head to Prattville

Friday night means gameday for the local high school football teams, and Under the Lights is back to cover Football Friday. Vestavia Hills heads to Prattville in the final Class 6A, Region 3 contest for both teams. For updates throughout Friday nights and all season, follow sports editor Kyle Parmley...

Briarwood cruises to regional finals, state tournament with pair of sweeps

HOOVER – It was business as usual for the Briarwood Christian Lions as they sealed their second-straight state quarterfinals appearance and put themselves in position to take the top seed once they get there. Briarwood swept the Westminster Christian Wildcats in the first round of the North Super Regionals...

SGA seeks to preserve traditions

Samford University and the Student Government Association (SGA) have launched a new Traditions Council, bringing students from across campus together to protect the university’s longstanding traditions and help build new ones. The council held its first meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14, where members began discussing its vision and what the...

Thompson HS announces cancellation of final regular season home football game

ALABASTER, Ala. (WBRC) - Thompson High School announced Monday what was meant to be their final home football game of the 2026 season will not be played. The game was set to be played against Choctawhatchee High School, a school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. However, due to Hurricane Isaias hitting the Gulf Coast on Friday, Oct. 9, the school is still experiencing “lingering effects” from the storm, including scheduling conflicts, according to Thompson Athletics.

Birmingham City Schools hiring tutors

UAB opens $192M Shelby Biosciences Research Building

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The University of Alabama at Birmingham officially opened the Shelby Biosciences Research Building on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The eight-story building off University Boulevard is 228,735 square feet. It is expected to expand UAB’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research capacity, which could lead to advancements in treating cancer, mental health, aging, chronic disease, neuroscience, precision medicine and artificial intelligence-enabled health care.

Football Gameday: Spartans at home

Thursday night means gameday for the local high school football teams, and Under the Lights is back to cover Football Friday (a day early this week). Mountain Brook is back in action Thursday night with a home game against region foe Pelham, in a pivotal game for both teams. For...

UAB to dedicate $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is scheduled to formally open its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building Tuesday, expanding laboratory space for biomedical and behavioral research. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Retired U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, university leaders, elected officials, faculty, staff and community partners are...

Saban Center receives funding from Alabama STEM Council

The Alabama STEM Council is investing nearly $252,000 in the Saban Center to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students and educators. The council, part of the Alabama Department of Workforce, on Oct. 15 announced the $251,939.59 investment. The $120 million Saban Center, currently under construction on the former site of The Tuscaloosa News building , is projected to open in the spring of 2028. The council's funding is part of a broader effort to support Alabama's three state-designated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) hubs. The Saban Center, the McWane Science Center in Birmingham and the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur will serve as regional connections among educators, industry and communities. The hubs are intended to expand access to STEM while connecting educational opportunities with regional workforce needs. More: Tuscaloosa and UA prepare for major openings by 2028 "Hands-on STEM learning helps students see how the skills they develop in the classroom connect to careers here in Alabama," Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed said in a statement. "Supporting our STEM hubs gives educators and community partners more resources to prepare young people for the opportunities available across our state," Reed said. The funding for the Saban

Penn State Lehigh Valley Student Expands Research Horizons Through Selective NSF Program

Applying to a physics-based research program as a biology major felt like “the ultimate leap of faith,” said Penn State Lehigh Valley student Daniela Fernandez. That leap took Fernandez to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she was one of 15 students selected from 255 applicants for a highly competitive, 10-week Research Experience for Undergraduates supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Alabama High School Football Week 8 Rewind: Prattville Stuns Thompson. Leeds & Oneonta Win Big

Alabama high school football Week 8 recap: Prattville shocks Thompson 28-27, Leeds defeats Alexandria, Buckhorn erupts and Oneonta wins a region title.

Samford ranks as best Christian college in Alabama, most conservative

Samford University ranks among the Best Christian Colleges in America and the Most Conservative Colleges in America, according to the school search platform Niche.com.  Samford ranks highest in both categories among all Alabama universities. Niche’s 2027 rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial, and student-life data from the U.S. Department of Education […] The post Samford ranks as best Christian college in Alabama, most conservative appeared first on Yellowhammer News .

UAB Libraries Elected to Association of Research Libraries Membership

University of Alabama at Birmingham Libraries is the newest member of the Association of Research Libraries, the leading and most prestigious association of academic and research libraries in North America. ARL members made the invitation after voting during their fall 2026 meeting Oct. 5. Membership in ARL is reserved for...

Homewood High's New Grading System Sparks 675-Signature Petition Backlash

A new grading system at Homewood High School has triggered a petition with more than 675 signatures from parents who say the change is confusing their kids and adding unnecessary stress — even as the district insists nothing about college transcripts is actually changing. The school began phasing in what it calls Evidence-Based Grading this year, replacing traditional point averages with a model built around student proficiency, and not everyone in the top-ranked district is on board.

Birmingham City Schools seeking reading, math tutors for middle, high schoolers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Birmingham City Schools is looking for tutors to work with middle and high school students in reading and math. Tutors are needed Monday through Friday for up to five hours a day. Pay and hours. Tutors without a teaching certification will be paid $25 an hour....

Thompson’s Seaborn, Moseley, Pritchett, SP’s Evans tabbed for Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic

MONTGOMERY – Four of Shelby County’s finest are heading to Mobile to represent the state of Alabama in their annual showdown with the best of Mississippi. Thompson’s Trent Seaborn, Darion Moseley and Cam Pritchett will join Spain Park’s MJ Evans on the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. The Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association announced the rosters on Friday, Oct. 16.

Homewood spoils Tigers’ homecoming in dominant fashion

Thank you to Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and Central Access for sponsoring our football coverage this season. After nearly securing its first win of the season last week, Chilton County High School aimed to finish the job this time around as it welcomed in Homewood High School on homecoming night.

No. 7 Leeds Upsets No. 2 Alexandria 23-14 in Class 4A Top-10 Showdown

LEEDS, AL — Jacarrious Davis broke around the left side and raced 65 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown Friday night, sealing No. 7 Leeds’ 23-14 upset of No. 2 Alexandria in a clash between two of Class 4A’s top 10 teams. The win lifted the Green Wave...

Woodlawn High School Basketball Scores $50,000 Investment from Hibbett’s First String, Nike in Birmingham

Birmingham-based Hibbett and Nike on Tuesday awarded $50,000 to Woodlawn High School’s boys and girls basketball programs through First String, their philanthropic program supporting high school student-athletes on and off the court. The surprise investment was announced at Birmingham’s historic Boutwell Auditorium as Hibbett and Nike marked the third year of First String and extended the community impact of Ballin’ in Boutwell.

Oak Mountain rolls past Tuscaloosa County behind dominant defensive performance

NORTHPORT — The Oak Mountain Eagles defense set the tone early, while a four-touchdown performance from Kentrell Tolbert helped the Eagles cruise to a 33-6 victory over the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats on Friday night at Tuscaloosa County High School. The Eagles controlled the game from the opening possession, forcing...