🌱 Birmingham Mural Damaged By Storm + Missing 15-Year-Old Girl

Hello, hello. I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Birmingham Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Birmingham long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; a stray p.m. t-storm. High: 65 Low: 52.

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. A collaborative mural in downtown Birmingham, which was created to support essential workers during the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, has been destroyed by severe winds during a storm. While nobody was hurt, the debris damaged some nearby cars. The project, which involved over 18 local artists and was organized in part by Blank Space Bham, may be rebuilt in the future, according to founder Meghan McCollum, who expressed sadness over the mural's destruction but also saw it as an opportunity to create something new. (Bham Now)
2. The Birmingham Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating a 15-year-old girl named Sammorie Morris, who has been missing since Feb. 11. Morris was last seen getting into a white truck while wearing a black hoodie and black joggers. She is 5'1" tall and weighs 120 lbs. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department at 205-834-5899. (Alabama's News Leader)
3. Hannah Morrison, a University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry student and Tuscaloosa native, has been awarded the Optometry Cares 2023 Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship for developing a social media campaign advocating for comprehensive eye exams for children from six months of age. Morrison created a superhero-themed social media toolkit, including a two-minute video and templates for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, to highlight the importance of good vision and glasses for children. The $10,000 scholarship was awarded by Optometry Cares, an organization supporting the future of the profession by offering scholarships to optometry students in their third or fourth year of school. (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Today in Birmingham:

• Wiggle Time! Storytime Read Across America with Dr. Seuss, At Powderly Branch Library (10:00 AM)
• Free-To-Shop Mobile Store, At Birmingham Public Library (10:00 AM)
• 2023 This is Alabama Women Who Shape the State, At The Club, Inc (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• James PJ Spraggins, a local Jefferson County school bus driver who doubles as a jazz drummer, is spreading joy through the power of music! Click the link to watch the video. (Bham Now)
• Are you in the market for a new home? There are plenty of houses available in the Birmingham area, including a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home for $169,900 on Highpoint Terrace. Click the link to learn more about the available properties. (Birmingham Patch)
• Attention Birmingham City Schools families: The next Parent and Family Engagement Program Parent Power session is Monday, Mar. 13. The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Scan the QR code at the link or text "Register" to (205) 941-6585. (Birmingham City Schools via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Red Diamond Coffee & Tea - Girls Tournament (March 10)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop 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.