The Terminal

25/07/2025

Hello, Birmingham! This is a quick note/update/request from founder André Natta.

Yes, it's been a long time. I returned to Birmingham full-time in 2020 and to local journalism last January as the executive director of the nonprofit that operates BirminghamWatch. It's been great focusing on how to best support a great team of contributors dedicated to covering Birmingham, AL (The City Built to Change the South) and Jefferson County. Like several organizations in 2025, BW is in need of support and visibility so it can continue to carry out its work as a valuable resource of information for the region.

Here's the letter I posted on July 20. As I post this, we've received nearly $7,800 in donations and commitments towards our goal of $50,000 by next Friday, July 31. Please donate, share, or like as you're able, and "Thank you!" in advance for the support both past and present.

The Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism will temporarily suspend publication of BirminghamWatch at the end of July 2025 until early fall if it is unable to secure enough bridge funding to operate until grant funds are scheduled to arrive in October.

24/05/2017

Friends and family are already mostly aware, but here's the reason for the recent radio silence. This opportunity to study at Stanford beginning in the fall would not be possible without this website and this community. Thank you very much, Birmingham. I'm sure we'll talk again before the fun starts in September.
Cheers,
André

Eighteen journalists and journalism innovators have won John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University for the 2017-18 academic year.

08/04/2017

In other news, this announcement late today RE: this year's Rickwood Classic:

annual Rickwood Classic, scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, will not take place at the storied ballpark this season. Necessary structural repairs to the 107 year-old ballpark will begin immediately with an eye on the ballpark re-opening in 2018.

14/03/2017

Happy , everybody! BTW, today, we turn 10!
We know, it surprised us too… There are some questions at the end of the column. If you could take a look at them, answer one or two, and share the link so others can too, it would help a lot.

Some thoughts on the tenth anniversary of the launch of this website about Birmingham.

28/10/2016

Last night, hundreds packed 16th Street Baptist Church to participate in the public comment portion of the effort to secure a recognizing its role in the civil rights movement. Joining Birmingham mayor William Bell on the dais was Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, National Park Service director Johnathan Jarvis, and U.S. Representative Terri A. Sewell.

25/10/2016

Some changes on the Google Fiber front (though our neighbors to the north should not be affected by the decision).

Alphabet ISP shifting to wireless tech, but not giving up entirely on fiber.

24/08/2016

Take note, artists! The deadline for next year's Magic City Art Connection has been moved up…

2017 has moved up its primary deadline for the 34th annual festival. It was formerly Oct 30th. NOW IT IS SEPT 15th. Tell all your artist friends!

Pictured: Ellie Ali, Painting, NYC -

Photo by: Larry O. Gay

28/07/2016

Big night for Oak Mountain High School alum David Dahl as he hits his first MLB home run against the Orioles…

BALTIMORE -- Two batters after Nick Hundley's two-run homer ended Orioles starter Dylan Bundy's no-hitter in the sixth inning on Wednesday night, Rockies No. 2 prospect David Dahl blasted his first career home run -- a two-out solo shot -- to give Colorado a 3-0 lead. It chased Bundy from the game.…

23/03/2016

This morning's vote is the latest chapter. The buzzword of the day is "alterations."

The latest chapter in the saga of “the Sign” atop Two North Twentieth unfolded Wednesday as the Design Review Committee voted unanimously to disapprove the current proposal as “an…

14/03/2016

Happy Monday, everybody! Andre here, checking in to wish you a happy Pi(e) Day and Happy National Potato Chip Day! It's also the website's NINTH (?) anniversary! While there's no formal plan for pie today, there's definitely already something in the works for its 10th next year. Thanks to those of you who've supported it from the beginning. You'll see a slow return to frequent posts in the coming weeks.

Also, the Cliffs Notes reason for the severe lack of activity on the site in recent months is my recovering from some pretty bad panic attacks last year. For those aware of what happened, thanks for checking in on me.

Enjoy the ride!

10/03/2016

In other news from Wednesday's Design Review Committee meeting, we now know when demolition of a certain building will begin on 's Southside for a new development.

The $13 million, four-story, mixed use development was first announced last spring. Demolition of the building currently sitting on the project’s proposed corner Southside site was approved v…

09/03/2016

You've probably been missing us (at least a little), so here you go -- a recap of where we now sit with "The Sign."

The Pepsi sign has come down from atop Two North Twentieth. There’s already been a new sign announced. Now, we learn the rest of the story (& how soon it may join our skyline and become &…