🌱 Murders Up By 24% + $800,000 For Birmingham Fire And Rescue

Morning, people of Birmingham! It's me again, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 83 Low: 61.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. Murders have risen by 24 percent since 2021, according to the Birmingham Police Department. In contrast, the department says that violent crime as a whole is down by 15 percent. Birmingham officials released annual crime statistics to the public on Thursday to help track what is happening in the city. To see the full list of statistics, visit the link. (WBRC)
2. The Little Professor bookshop in Homewood will be holding its first local author showcase. The bookshop is one of the oldest independent bookstores in the state, and will be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day on May 1 for the event. It will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will be free to the public. Learn more at the link. (AL.com)
3. Birmingham Fire and Rescue will receive $800,000 from the city for recruitment purposes. The funds come from the city's surplus budget and are aimed at helping with recruitment and retention. The recruitment plan seeks to raise salaries for newly hired paramedics and EMTs. The President of the Birmingham Firefighter Association says that this money doesn't go to hiring new firefighters, which he says are in short supply right now. (WBRC)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Teen Poetry Contest at Homewood Public Library (All Day)
• Spring Reading Program at Homewood Public Library (All Day)
• Earth Day Volunteer Roadside Litter Cleanup at Grants Mill Road (9:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Greater Birmingham Humane Society has a tail-wagger you'll want to meet! Bluebelle is a sweet dog with some special circumstances - find out if your home is right for her. (Facebook)
• Birmingham Police Department reminds people to be careful of their unattended vehicles. According to police, in three days 10 guns have been stolen from unattended vehicles. Watch the video to learn more. (Facebook)
• Birmingham Public Library invites you to come hear Auntie Litter's Recycle Rap this Saturday. Auntie Litter will be in the Youth Department at the Central Library to celebrate Earth Day. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new 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.