🌱 Hospital Employee Arrested + Childhood Literacy Program Expanded

Hello, everybody. Miranda Fraraccio here with your copy of the Birmingham Daily, filled with all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds yielding to sun. High: 66 Low: 47.

📢 I’m looking for business owners and marketers in Birmingham who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our Birmingham Daily readers to local businesses they need to know about. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. The Birmingham Police Department reports that a former Grandview Hospital employee has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting at least two victims. Cornell Richards, 39 years old, has been charged with first-degree rape, two charges of first-degree sodomy, and two charges of first-degree sexual abuse. He is being held at the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Special Victims Unit. (WBRC)
2. The City of Birmingham will be expanding the citywide early childhood literacy program. Birmingham Talks will be getting $1 million in city funding to triple its reach over the next three years. The program focuses on developing vocabulary for children from infancy to five years old. (BirminghamWatch)
3. The Birmingham Police Department is asking for the community's help in identifying a robbery suspect. The incident occurred on Sunday at the Best Convenience Store on Pearson Avenue Southwest. The suspect robbed the store at gunpoint. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department. (Trussvilletribune)

Patch deals of the day:

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(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Birmingham:

• Halloween Hygiene Drive At Ryals Public Health Building (All Day)
• Scavenger Hunt At The West End Branch Library (9:00 AM)
• Mystery At The Library At North Birmingham Regional Branch Library (9:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Is the current housing market making you feel a little overwhelmed? Consider this list of the latest properties in the Birmingham area to hit the market. Click to view the full list of properties that includes prices, photos, and property dimensions. (Birmingham Patch)
• The Alabama Museum of Natural History will be offering spooky scavenger hunts this week. Click to learn more about this fun Halloween event series. (The University of Alabama via Facebook)
• The City of Birmingham is currently hiring. Click to view open positions and apply today. (City of Birmingham)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— 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.