MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) -- Medical cannabis was legalized in Alabama in 2021. With the licensing process still in limbo, the Patients Coalition for Medical Cannabis said access to the drug is needed more than ever. "It's time to stop playing all the games and stop acting so befuddled about this," said Mike Dow, the former mayor of Mobile. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is charged with awarding licenses to dispensaries. The commission faces an onslaught of lawsuits after some applicants say they did not receive a fair consideration for a license. The coalition said the lawsuits are kee ..read more

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The City of Birmingham's Poet Laureate Salaam Green spoke to CBS 42's Sherri Jackson about her new poetry chapbook and efforts to improve literacy. Over 200 copies of "Once Upon a Magic City" have been distributed for free in Birmingham ..read more

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Habitat for Humanity has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz team up to dedicate their 11th home built in Tuscaloosa. On Wednesday morning, Lazonta Boykin was given the keys to her new house after a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. "I am excited and happy because they are here to support me and it's great for the first time my kids can see the new home," Boykin said ..read more

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Nick Dunlap walked away from Pinehurst No. 2 less than a year ago with a shiny trophy to show for his work. Very little remains the same as he returns for the U.S. Open. The 20-year-old champion of the North & South Amateur, played over the same Donald Ross classic that courses its way through the North Carolina pines, earned his spot in this week's field by winning last year's U.S. Amateur. Thing is, Dunlap is no longer an amateur at all, having instead turned professional shortly after turning heads at the American Express in January, when he became the first amat ..read more

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – On Tuesday the Birmingham Board of Education authorized the sale of their administration building downtown. Birmingham City Schools is poised to sell the property to A&R Development Company for $5.2 million. This move comes as the school district is consolidating three buildings into one new location. “We’re extremely grateful for this opportunity and it was just perfect timing,” BCS operations officer Don McCrackin said ..read more

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Birmingham Police Department is searching for a woman who is charged with murder after her teenage son died from malnutrition and dehydration in March. According to BPD Sgt. LaQuitta Wade, 43-year-old Serena Starkey is wanted in connection to the death of 13-year-old Aston Starkey. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel were dispatched on a person down call to the Extended Stay America on Cahaba Park Circle around 7:20 a.m. March 2. BFRS personnel transported Aston Starkey to Grandview Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead ..read more

HOMEWOOD, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham community is continuing their support for the teenage girls bitten by a shark in Florida last week. According to Lulu Gribbin's mom, her daughter's first words after surviving the horrifying ordeal were “I made it.” David Knight, owner of Bandwagon Sports in Homewood, knew he had to help once he heard the incredible story. “We thought that was a really unbelievable phrase that she could say to her parents, in a really difficult time for her,” Knight said ..read more

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- A new initiative in Birmingham is aiming to improve workplaces for the city’s workforce. In a press conference Wednesday morning, U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the city of Birmingham’s signing of the "Good Jobs Alliance." The alliance is a part of the labor department's "Good Jobs Summer Tour," which is making stops across the nation ..read more

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Birmingham Police Department announced a man's arrest in connection to a fatal shooting from last week. Keena Deon Creer, 39, of Birmingham is charged with capital murder in the death of 39-year-old Obray Carter ..read more

Tonight: Mostly clear, not as cool, but still comfortable with low humidity. Lows will be in the lower to middle 60s. Tomorrow: Thursday will be mostly sunny and it will be hotter as an upper-level high pressure builds toward Alabama from the west. High temperatures will be in the lower 90s. There is an Air Quality Alert on Thursday. If you have respiratory illnesses, please remain inside in the A/C. The rest of us can conserve energy by carpooling, refueling your car after 6 PM, cutting the lawn after 6 PM, and combining all your errands in one trip. On Friday, the upper-level ridge of hig ..read more