🌱 Armed Man On UAB Campus + FedEx Driver Arrested

Happy Tuesday, Birmingham! Here's everything happening around town today. In what has become somewhat of a viral story beyond Alabama, a FedEx driver who is accused of dumping more than 400 undelivered packages in a ravine in Blount County was arrested, and has been charged with cargo theft. Also in the news, a man with a gun was spotted on UAB's campus Monday morning, and UAB police were able to recover the weapon, bu the suspect fled the campus. Read more below, and as always, have a great day!

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and beautiful. High: 66 Low: 47.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Birmingham:

1. Like I was saying above, UAB students and staff were forced to shelter in place Monday morning when a man was spotted with a gun near UAB Hospital. The weapon was dropped by the man when he fled police, but he is still at large. (Birmingham Patch)
2. A FedEx driver who is accused of dumping more than 400 undelivered packages into a ravine in Blount County has been arrested. The driver faces Class D felony charges for cargo theft. (Birmingham Patch)
3. The man who kidnapped Birmingham business man Elton B. Stephens Jr. was apparently released from Jefferson County Jail "in error." (WIAT - CBS42.com)
4. The Birmingham Zoo announced their herd of three southern white rhinoceros have moved to a private facility in partnership with The Association of Zoos and Aquariums based on a recommendation from the White Rhino Species Survival Plan. (WBRC)
5. A Birmingham woman from one of the hardest-hit Kentucky cities talks about the deadly weekend tornadoes that ravaged the state. (WIAT - CBS42.com)

Today's Birmingham Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Birmingham!

Today in Birmingham:

• Join the Homewood Chamber of Commerce at the December Membership Luncheon and Annual Meeting. (11:30 a.m.)
• Ride with Tropicaleo in Avondale to see the best of the worst and the wackiest holiday light displays in the city. (6 p.m.)
• Cheer on UAB Men's Basketball vs Grambling at Bartow Arena. (6:30 p.m.)
• The Birmingham Squadron takes on the Memphis Hustle at the BJCC Legacy Arena. (7 p.m.)
• Get a good laugh with Birmingham's Disturbingly Good Improv Comedy: Ugly Baby Improv at Red Mountain Theatre. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A bunch of progress has been made in the renovation of historic Magnolia Point. (Bham Now)
• This Huffman High School alum is making it happen with her food truck and catering. Self-taught culinary artist-turned-entrepreneur, Whitney “Simone” Generette worked in corporate America before moving on to her true passion. (Facebook)
• Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department's Station 30 is making bike donations. (Facebook)
• Alabama Ballet has one-of-a-kind nutcrackers, apparel, ornaments, pendants, teddy bears and special edition 40th Anniversary merch that will all be sold at its Nutcracker Boutique. (Facebook)
• This Christmas Eve gathering in Birmingham has been going for 25 years—find out why people love it. (Bham Now)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update!

— Michael Seale

About me: I am a lifelong Alabama resident with more than two decades of media under my belt. I have worked for a daily newspaper, a weekly newspaper, a monthly magazine, a television station and a couple of radio stations. I also tried my hand at marketing for a little while. But I love writing news. This opportunity to bring Patch to Birmingham is a chance for my hometown to benefit from a new - and better - way to read and receive news.