🌱 Fatal Morning Shooting + New Habitats At The Birmingham Zoo

Good morning, Birmingham. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick review of the most important things happening these days in town.

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:

Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 82 Low: 61.

Business owners and marketers in Birmingham: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. Early this morning, police responded to a shooting inside a southwest Birmingham home that left one man dead. A little after 2 a.m., police officers at the West Precinct were dispatched to the 3600 block of Hemlock Avenue S.W. due to reports of a person being shot. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office confirmed the victim as 44-year-old Fredrick Carnell Sykes. (AL.com)
2. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport showcased an assortment of items that have been confiscated from travelers and prohibited to bring with you during air travel. Some of those items included a metal rake, bats, an axe, a drill, and brass knuckles. TSA agents running the display also offered advice on how travelers can make their airport visits a lot more seamless. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
3. On Saturday, Mar. 25, two new exhibits will be opening at the Birmingham Zoo. The zoo's president and CEO, Chris Pfefferkorn, announced that De Brazza's monkeys will be featured in the Barbara Ingalls Shook Foundation Primate Trek and Eastern black rhinoceroses will be located in the new Daniel Foundation Alabama Rhino Habitat. (Over the Mountain Journal)

Today in Birmingham:

• Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt at West End Branch Library (9:00 AM)
• Romeo And Juliet: The Classic Rediscovered at the Alys Stephens Center (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Today (Thursday, Mar. 23), the Greater Birmingham Humane Society will be celebrating National Puppy Day. All canine adoptions from then through the end of March will only cost $23, so if you've been looking to bring home a new furry friend, now's your perfect opportunity. (Greater Birmingham Humane Society via Facebook)
• The US Weather Service Birmingham Alabama says as highs reach into the 80s by today and tomorrow, there will likely be a chance for severe storms around 9 p.m. on Friday through to Saturday morning. A strong cold front is expected to move through the Birmingham region, but forecasts may change throughout the next couple of days. (US National Weather Service Birmingham Alabama via Facebook)
• West End Academy will be spending a lot of time during Intersession this week learning the ins and outs of film production. Film and videography professionals are stopping by to show students interested in the filmmaking industry how to put their creative thoughts on television. (Birmingham City Schools via Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with 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.