🌱 Gas Leak At Parker High School + Coyotes In Birmingham

Morning, Birmingham! Let's get this Tuesday started off right. Here's everything worth knowing today in Birmingham. Any of you who have reported seeing coyotes in your neighborhood are not alone. This has been a more common problem in several Birmingham neighborhoods, namely Crestwood South, Crestline and Avondale. I have some tips from some experts on what to do and what not to do about the problem. Also, Parker High School had to send kids home Monday due to a gas leak. Luckily, they'll be back today. Read more below.

First, today's weather:

Nice with sunshine. High: 77 Low: 54.

Here are the top stories in Birmingham today:

1. First, take a look at this story about a Birmingham teacher who is concerned about safety during ongoing school repair at Ramsay High School. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
2. There are still a lot of folks around the Birmingham metro dealing with flood damage from earlier in the month. See how residents can assess damages. (Bham Now)
3. Students at Parker High School will return to the classroom Tuesday following a gas leak that sent them home for the day Monday. (WBRC)
4. Development, traffic and loss of wooded areas have all contributed to coyotes entering residential neighborhoods in Birmingham. Here is what you can do about it. (Birmingham Patch)
5. This is a very inspirational story. A Birmingham domestic violence survivor carries a bullet in her brain, and wants others to know they’re not alone. (AL.com)

Today's Birmingham Daily is brought to you by GoodRx, a Patch Brand Partner. Recognizing the early signs of the common cold is important in helping prevent yourself and others from getting sick. Here's what you need to know about the causes of the common cold, its symptoms and how you can combat this seasonal malady.

Today in Birmingham:

• Want to learn how to better defend yourself against an attack? Check out this Self-Defense Seminar at UAB. (11:30 a.m.)
• Get to know your ancestors as individuals with a fresh look at them and the records they left behind in "How Our Ancestors Lived" at the Birmingham Public Library. (Noon)
• Homewood City Schools Board Meeting at Homewood High School. (6 p.m.)
• Check out Sophie Allison, aka Soccer Mommy, live at Saturn. Cool show. (8 p.m.)
• This is Homecoming Week at UAB. Tonight is the Blazer Showdown, when Spirit Teams showcase their talent in dances and skits using this year's Homecoming theme. (7 p.m.)

Birmingham Patch Notebook

• Your guide to Birmingham's beautiful murals in 2021—Part 2 (Bham Now)
• Alabama Wildlife Center's Owl-oween is set for Oct. 30. (Shelby County Reporter)
• Dig Cheesecake, Last Call Baking + more delicious NEW openings headed Birmingham's way (Bham Now)
• Congratulations to the West End Academy Cheerleaders for winning the Most Improved trophy at the Birmingham Cheer Clinic event. (Facebook)
• Alabama's Free College Application Week started Monday! This week, students will have the opportunity to apply for FREE to several colleges and universities. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around, however, I am taking a couple of days off and another one of my Patch colleagues will handle newsletter duties for the next couple of days. If you're feeling 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? Contact me at michael.seale@patch.com.