🌱 Downtown Birmingham Starbucks May Unionize + 2023 Budget Proposed

Happy Wednesday, neighbors! Let's get this day started off right. Here's what's going on in Birmingham today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and very warm. High: 92 Low: 72.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. A downtown Birmingham Starbucks may be one of the next locations to join a growing unionization movement among those working for the U.S. coffee chain giant. On May 25 and 26, ballots will be cast to either join or reject unionizing after at least 30 percent of baristas, shift supervisors, and assistant managers signed petitions earlier this month. Starbucks has reportedly promised new benefits for 240,000 Starbucks employees, but only for those locations that are not unionizing. (WBHM)
2. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has proposed an operating budget for the 2023 Fiscal Year to the city council. Investment in youth, neighborhoods, employees, and transportation are just some of what's included in the budget. The proposed budget for 2023 is $517,017,653. (WBRC)
3. Police are investigating after two people robbed a victim in the 9800 block of Parkway East on the city’s east side. On May 10, a man and a woman who were riding a motorcycle stole from the victim and threatened to shoot them before fleeing the scene, according to officers. Click the link to view a video of the suspects and if you have any tips, contact BPD Robbery Detectives at 205-254-1753 or remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. (WBRC)

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Today in Birmingham:

• BPL Spinners: Salute To Jazz Greats, At Birmingham Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Wylam Book Club, At Birmingham Public Library (11:00 AM)
• Inaugural Dorothy Oliver And Drucilla Russ-Jackson Vaccine Lecture, At University Of Alabama At Birmingham (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Learn why these four entrepreneurs moved their businesses to Birmingham. (Bham Now)
• If you're in the market for a new home, don't miss this week's real estate roundup for the Birmingham area. (Birmingham Patch)
• Authorities have IDed the 83-year-old veteran found slain in his Birmingham home as Daniel Richard Garrick. (AL.com)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (May 26)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.