🌱 Security Officer Saves Choking Man + Birmingham Sewer Improvements

Good morning, everybody. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Daily — here to tell you all the most important things happening in town these days.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy and cooler. High: 43 Low: 30.

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Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. While out to eat in Bessemer, a Jefferson County security officer saved a man from choking. On Dec. 22, Officer Suzette Whitted was in uniform at her favorite restaurant, Bright Star, when a man stood up and motioned toward her while unable to breathe. Whitted's training kicked in and she saved the man with the Heimlich Maneuver. Once the man could breathe, she was met with a burst of applause from the entire room. (WSFA)
2. On Thursday, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the man who was shot to death at a south Birmingham apartment complex. The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Jayvonne David Banks of Birmingham. Banks was shot on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Adona apartments on Aspen Run at 5:09 p.m. and was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:40 p.m. (AL.com)
3. The Birmingham City Council has approved funding to repair the city's storm sewer system. The goal of the $340,000 project is to determine the cause of the localized flooding around the city, along with a solution. “We have over 27,000 storm water inlets in the city of Birmingham. And about 18,000 of those have been looked at and found to be not up to standard... So this begins part of that long process,” City Council President Wardine Alexander said. (WIAT - CBS42.com)

Today in Birmingham:

• Pickleball Open Play, At Levite Jewish Community Center (9:00 AM)
• Always Write, Never Wrong, At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Selma: A Movie Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., At Springville Road Regional Branch Library (10:00 AM)
• Nature At Noon, At Birmingham Botanical Gardens (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Several school systems closed early on Thursday due to the severe weather threat. (WBRC)
• Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Check out these seven events happening this weekend in the Birmingham area, including exciting concerts and basketball games! (Bham Now)
• Construction at the 2900 block of Norwood Blvd is underway and expected to be finished by early June, according to City Engineer Mike Eddington. (WBRC)

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Events:

• Roaring 20’s Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner Event at Birmingham’s Historic Arlington House (January 21)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— 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.