🌱 Birmingham Parental Leave Policy Change + Major Highway 280 Closure

Hello all. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Daily — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Partial sunshine. High: 51 Low: 31.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Birmingham today:

1. On Friday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a change to the current City of Birmingham parental leave policy. The new policy will give every city employee 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Mothers, fathers, adopters, and foster parents are all eligible. Woodfin hopes this new policy helps continue to make Birmingham an "equitable and just society." (WBRC)
2. Commuters currently relying on Highway 280 should start planning alternative routes now. Tentatively beginning on Feb. 1, Birmingham Water Works will be conducting a major repair project on the highway that's estimated to take 20 days. According to BWW, a 36-inch main infrastructure pipe has leaks in two sections across Highway 280. However, the leaks are said to be of no danger to those living in the area. (Bham Now)
3. Pack Health, a Quest Diagnostics company, plans to bring 200 new jobs to the Birmingham community with a planned expansion. Pack Health offers online health coaching which attracted many new customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To account for the influx of business, its $5.66 million expansion project will allow Pack Health’s square footage to nearly double and open up at least 200 new positions. (Yellowhammer News)

Today in Birmingham:

• Tiny Book Of The Month Club At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Crafty Monday & Happy Hour At Saw's Juke Joint (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Birmingham Police Department congratulates and celebrates its administrative assistant, Ms. Catherine Guinn, on her retirement with the City of Birmingham after 23 years! The Police Department appreciates Guinn's commitment to her work and many years of service. (Birmingham Police Department, Alabama via Facebook)
• The deadly EF-3 tornado from Jan. 12 broke into the top 10 longest Alabama tornado tracks at No. 6, according to the US National Weather Service of Birmingham. While long-track tornadoes do occur in this area, it's uncommon to see such during the winter, let alone in January. (US National Weather Service Birmingham Alabama via Facebook)
• The Farmers Market at Pepper Place returns next Saturday, Jan. 28, and will open at 8 a.m. Check out the vendor list and make plans to support local farmers in 2023! More information can be found here. (Railroad Park via Twitter)

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Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (January 25)
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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow 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.