Birmingham

A mural honoring baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays has been unveiled in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Mays died Tuesday at the age of 93. The mural depicts a smiling “Say Hey Kid” and his bevy of athletic accomplishments.

The annual spring Alabama State Fair recently rolled through the Birmingham Racecourse. Alabama Public Radio explored the sights and sounds of the state showcase.

Authorities say they are searching for an Alabama man wanted in connection with three homicides in Oklahoma. Arkansas State Police said Wednesday that local law enforcement agencies are working to locate 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake.

Alabama residents are being invited to visit the state’s first cat café to consider giving a feline friend a home during Adopt-A-Cat Month in June. Gatos and Beans opened in 2019 in the Birmingham neighborhood of Avondale, where patrons can latte and relax among feline friends looking for forever homes.

Hoyt Garland Harwell, a longtime reporter for the Associated Press who covered key events in the American South, has died. He was 93. Harwell covered the aftermath of the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham and the civil rights activists protesting against segregation in the South.

Willie Mays will not be in attendance when the San Francisco Giants face the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field on Thursday in a game honoring him and the Negro Leagues. Mays, who began his career in Alabama with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues and played for the Giants from 1951-72 will enjoy the game at home.

The Alabama State Games were founded in 1982 at the request of the United States Olympic Committee. Each year the games host thousands of athletes through a collection of 20+ sports. Over $364,000 scholarships have been given out over the years at the opening ceremony and this year $50,000 will be awarded.

It's called Birmingham’s longest running event, and it's returning this Saturday for another year of celebration.

Birmingham is opening the Tamika Hall Sensory Room at Boutwell Auditorium, a project supported by the nonprofit KultureCity in honor of Autism Acceptance Month. The city states the collaborations emphasizes the dedication to inclusivity and support for individuals with sensory needs, reflecting a broader commitment to create sensory-inclusive environments.

What’s billed as one of the most highly anticipated art festivals in Alabama is being celebrated for its 41st year. The Magic City Art Connection brings artists from around the country to Sloss Furnaces in downtown Birmingham from April 26 to April 28.