🌱 Transplant Games Of America In Birmingham + The Way Station Opening

Hey, everybody! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Birmingham Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Birmingham long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler with periods of rain. High: 58 Low: 55.

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Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. The Transplant Games of America will be held in Birmingham in 2024, according to officials from the Transplant Life Foundation on Wednesday. The national festival-style event, which celebrates the lives of transplant recipients, living donors, and donor families, is expected to attract nearly 10,000 members of the transplant community, including international guest teams. The games, which will take place Jul. 5-10, will feature 20 competitions, including badminton, ballroom dancing, and three-on-three basketball, with free and open access for spectators. (AL.com)
2. Birmingham's first-ever shelter for homeless youth, the Way Station, is set to welcome its first residents in the coming weeks, with services including transitional housing and emergency shelter. Caroline Bundy, the Way Station's Operations Manager, has emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about the project and the many reasons young people become homeless. Community groups, such as the Corner High School Student Council, have been volunteering to support the project, helping with tasks such as decorating and organizing the clothing closet. (Bham Now)
3. On Tuesday, the University of Alabama System Board voted in favor of leasing two mobile medical units to create temporary treatment spaces. The move is due to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) emergency room seeing 20 percent more patients with 25 percent requiring specialized care. UAB President Dr. Ray Watts stated that the long-term plan is to expand the emergency department in a major renovation, which will take approximately 24 to 30 months. The short-term expansion is being done under a COVID-19-related relaxation of rules, but this will end in May, and the full board will vote on the proposed expansion at its April meeting. (WBRC)

Today in Birmingham:

• Basketball Open Play At Levite Jewish Community Center (6:00 AM)
• UAB Mobile Wellness Unit At Birmingham Public Library Titusville Branch (10:00 AM)
• Save First Tax Services At Birmingham Public Library Titusville Branch (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for something fun to do in the upcoming spring and summer? These six splash-worthy lakes are within a two-hour drive of Birmingham! (Bham Now)
• In the market for a new home? Here are five upcoming open houses taking place soon in the Birmingham area! (Birmingham Patch)
• Yesterday (Mar. 8), the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department highlighted Inspector Debbie McCluney as its Inspector of the Month. Click the link to view photos. (Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right. I'll see you around!

— 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.