COVID-19 In Birmingham Area Schools + Train Station Improvements

Hello, Birmingham neighbors! It's me again, Michael Seale, your host of the Birmingham Daily. Wanna be in the know? Well I have you covered this morning. We are going to look at COVID numbers in Birmingham area school systems, which are decreasing. That's some good news. But Alabama's death rate from the pandemic is certainly not good news. Read on!

First, today's weather:

Overcast throughout the day. High: 84 Low: 65.

Here are the top stories in Birmingham today:

1. As I mentioned above, Birmingham metro school systems have reported a decline in COVID-19 cases among students, but the Alabama Department of Public Health is urging schools to keep mandating masks for students, faculty and staff. (Birmingham Patch)
2. Also on the school front, a bill has been filed in Montgomery that would delay until the 2024-2025 school year a provision that schools must hold back third grade students who don’t demonstrate sufficient reading skills. (birminghamwatch.org)
3. In the last few days, two pedestrians in Birmingham have been hit by trains and died. One of them, who was struck on Vanderbilt Road Sunday has been identified as a 64-year-old man (WBRC)
4. Speaking of trains, improvements are coming to Birmingham’s Amtrak station after the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority received federal grant money this week. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
5. We need to read more stories like this one. Marc Parker of Birmingham gave a little boy thousands of miles away a new chance at life by donating bone marrow. This is such a heart-warming story. (WVTM)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Unity of Birmingham in the Highland Park neighborhood is hosting their weekly Unity Market, with fresh produce, arts and crafts and more. (4 p.m.)
• Come support the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of Alabama at Rojo on Highland Avenue. Rojo will donate 15 percent to the organization, which will go to supporting our mission of empowering and nurturing the next generation of professionals to improve the health of communities. (Details)
• The Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens is pleased to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Antiques at the Gardens, a four-day antique lover's event. (Details)
• Band of Horses is playing live at Avondale Brewing Co. (7 p.m.)

Birmingham Patch Notebook

• Here are 5 Birmingham fall treats to get you in the festive spirit! (Bham Now)
• The cat's out of the bag! St. Paul & the Broken Bones are playing a SECOND night on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at Saturn! (Instagram)
• Ruffner Mountain's Native Plant Sale is this weekend! This is one of my favorites, and always has tons of great plants for sale that look fantastic in the yard! (Instagram)
• Birmingham City Schools congratulates Mrs. Aulundria Grace, the former Assistant Principal of Wilkerson Middle, as she steps into her new position as the newly appointed principal at Epic Elementary School. (Facebook)
• Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department congratulates Rodger Cofer, from Fire Station 10, for receiving a Letter of appreciation/recognition for his commitment and dedication to assist with Camp Conquest. (Children's burn victim camp). (Facebook)
• Judge Andra Sparks and his wife Karen M. Sparks found love on the campus of Tuskegee. Hear their beautiful story ahead of the historic Morehouse Tuskegee Classic, coming Oct. 9 to Legion Field. Visit morehousetuskegeeclassic.com. (Instagram)
• Tickets to The Birmingham Zoo's fabulous fundraiser are limited, so purchase yours now at the discounted price of $45! (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! See you tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Birmingham Daily? I'm all ears. You can contact me at michael.seale@patch.com.