New Transit Authority CEO + Fish Spill In Downtown Birmingham

Happy Friday, Birmingham! And welcome to Labor Day weekend (sort of). Hope all of y'all have had a great week, and are looking forward to a nice holiday weekend. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in town.

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First, today's weather:

Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 87 Low: 65.

Here are the top stories in Birmingham today:

1. Health Officials in Alabama have launched a new vaccination initiative for college football fans, and urge precautions for Labor Day weekend. Alabama has now surpassed its highest total for COVID-19 hospitalizations. (WBHM)
2. The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority named a new CEO, this time promoting someone from within the city's ranks, Charlotte Shaw, who currently serves as deputy director of the division of capital projects for the City of Birmingham and oversees the construction of the Birmingham Xpress Bus Rapid Transit system.. (Birmingham Patch)
3. Something fishy was going on in downtown Birmingham yesterday. Okay, puns aside, a truck really did spill a load of fish in front of the Birmingham Police Department headquarters. (WBRC)
4. Students at Bessemer City High School left class Thursday morning in what some called a protest to learn more about COVID-19 and how the school system is handling the situation. (WBRC)
5. The convicted killer of a man in the parking lot of a Trussville Cracker Barrel has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. (WIAT - CBS42.com)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Enjoy Chicken Biscuits on the Green at UAB this morning! (8:30 a.m.)
• Come out for a weekend of great shopping and home improvement ideas at the Riverchase Galleria Home and Lifestyle Show. (10 a.m.)
• UAB Men's soccer takes on the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley at BBVA Field on the UAB campus. (7 p.m.)
• Do you think Sloss Furnace is haunted? Well, many people do (I am not sure what I believe, to be honest), and if you want to know the history of the place and why people think it is, check out the Historic Night Tour at the Sloss Furnaces Visitor Center tonight! (7:30 p.m.)
• Hear the awesome music of Julien Baker live at Saturn in Avondale. Should be a great show at a fantastic venue. (8 p.m.)

Birmingham Patch Notebook

• I'm gonna miss this spot. Be sure to go pay a visit to the award-winning Atomic Lounge before they close their doors for good on September 11. There's nothing like it! (Instagram)
• Vendor Registration for the 2022 Market at Pepper Place season is open now through September 30. Online registration and all the details you'll need are available at the Pepper Place website. (Instagram)
• Several students at Ramsay High School rolled up their sleeves and received their COVID Vaccinations Thursday, with Birmingham City Schools Partner Cahaba Medical Care. (Facebook)
• This is your last chance to sign up for the Russ Bailey Memorial Beginner Bird Outing on Labor Day at Birmingham Botanical Gardens from 8–10 a.m. (Facebook)
• Nick and Terry Saban and the Nick's Kids Foundation dedicated the 18th Habitat For Humanity Championship Home on Sept. 2. (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon! If you're enjoying 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? I'm all ears. You can reach me at michael.seale@patch.com.