Joshua LeBerte

As Alabamians enter the month of August, many are preparing for back-to-school season. However, some families may be unable to purchase the school supplies their children or teens need to succeed. A Birmingham-based nonprofit is looking to change that.

Hundreds of Gulf Shores residents and day trippers are heading to the beach for a staple summer treat. The city is hosting its second S’mores on the Shore event of the year this Thursday (August 3) at Gulf Place off Gulf Shores Parkway. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m.

Fewer Alabama teachers are retiring. That is according to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), which compiled the retirement rates of all 142 public school districts in the state during the 2022-23 school year.

Crime among young people is on the rise in Montgomery County. In fact, just earlier this month, Montgomery police charged an 8-year-old child with first-degree robbery and other charges for carjacking and pursuing a vehicle chase with law enforcement officials.

One of the nation’s largest environmental organizations recently purchased thousands of acres of Alabama land in an effort to protect an endangered animal species.

Registration for after-school programs opened July 10 and is quickly filling up. During these programs, children can complete their homework, enjoy a snack and participate in various arts and crafts and recreational activities. Programs begin Monday, Aug. 7.

July is coming to a close, and so is this month’s round of free microchipping at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. The animal adoption and rescue service has held popup microchip clinics in Central Alabama every Saturday since July 1.

For many Alabamians, school starts next month. As children go outside for recess or physical education, some schools may lack the shade structures needed to protect their students from skin cancer. The Alabama Department of Public Health is offering grants to all Title I public schools in need of such shade structures. The grant program is part of ADPH’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition.

An industrial plant has polluted North Birmingham’s air, groundwater and soil for generations, but Alabama nonprofits look to combat this by filing an intent to sue. Groups including Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Southern Environmental Law Center discovered that Bluestone Coke has violated the Clean Water Act as well as its permit with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).

Registration will soon close for Alabama Audubon's third annual Black Belt Birding Festival. Novice and advanced birdwatchers will visit the Black Belt's various natural habitats and meet some of the region's wildlife firsthand. The festival is Aug. 4 and 5.