🌱 City Spends $6.5M On Trash Bins + Three Day Weekend Coming To Work?

Hello all. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Daily. Let's get this Wednesday started off right, with a quick review of the most important things going on these days in town.

First, today's weather:

A shower and t-storm; humid. High: 82 Low: 70.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. The Red Mountain Cut Walkway was a spectacular way to see the layers of stone at the Red Mountain Expressway. After ALDOT renewed the "Red Mountain Cut" by removing vegetation on the stone walls, a local organization wants to restore and maintain the walkway. The group is seeking funds through a grant to rebuild the walkway, and they want people to submit letters of endorsement for the grant proposal. (Bham Now)
2. Roll carts are rolling to a curb near you. The City of Birmingham has bought 100,000 96-gallon trash bins for the purpose of giving one to every household in the city. According to a report, taxpayers are paying $6.5 million for the carts. Officials believe the purchase will make trash pickup more efficient. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
3. What if every weekend was a three-day weekend? At some Birmingham businesses, it's becoming a reality. The Jefferson County Housing Authority is one such location, which has transitioned from five 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. days to four 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. days. Click the link to read about their experience making the change, and whether a business you know is doing the same. (WBRC)

Today in Birmingham:

• Vinyasa Yoga In The Gardens at Birmingham Botanical Gardens (8:30 AM)
• Aura Tabling at Hill Student Center (12:00 PM)
• Mindful Meditation Class at Homewood Public Library (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The University of Alabama's Blackburn Symposium will feature a very important keynote speaker. The celebrated astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison will headline the symposium, which begins on Friday. Click the link to see all the event details. (The University of Alabama via Facebook)
• Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, Birmingham will receive a $13+ million investment in public transportation, including a new bus maintenance facility and new low to no emission busses. (Twitter)
• Wilkommen! The Birmingham Zoo invites you out to Oktoberfest! Saturday, Oct. 1 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. the Zoo will feature food trucks, bratwurst, and brews. (The Birmingham Zoo via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right. I'll see you soon!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.