Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Hannah Denham

@hdenham.bsky.social

1.3K followers 230 following 76 posts

Investigative reporter in Alabama covering money, business, power for @al.com | [email protected] | previously Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times, Washington Business Journal | she/her 🌈

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: A case that has dragged for years resulted in a hung jury today, as a Jefferson County jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on the other six charges facing a former Grandview Medical Center employee accused of sexually assaulting patients

www.al.com/news/2025/10...

Birmingham hospital worker not guilty of 1 of 7 charges of abusing psychiatric patients

The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on 6 charges, prompting another trial.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · 2d

From @newsmanbryant.bsky.social:

www.al.com/news/birming...

Birmingham mayor issues conditions to water board for $183 million loan

Mayor Randall Woodfin sets three conditions including a rate freeze and an in-house legal department before supporting the water board's $183 million federal funding application

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · 7d

An Alabama community facing pushback from residents over a proposed data center has just made the path easier for other future data center projects.

www.al.com/news/birming...

Bessemer clears way for more data centers with zoning change

The Bessemer City Council voted Tuesday to allow data center development on land zoned for industrial use.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · 7d

NEW: A small Alabama airport is among dozens of other airports serving 200+ rural communities around the country that could lose federal support. That's if the government shutdown continues past this Sunday.
www.al.com/business/202...

Money is running out for this Alabama airport amid government shutdown

A small Alabama airport could lose federal support if the government shutdown extends past Oct. 12.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · 14d

NEW: A health care company that previously announced big plans for expansion and hiring at its Birmingham headquarters is now shutting down.

www.al.com/business/202...

98 layoffs planned as Birmingham health care company closes

The local health care company launched an expansion in 2023.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · 19d

NEW: This Alabama mayor-elect raised roughly $1.8 million throughout his campaign – more than any other candidate for municipal office across the state this year.

www.al.com/news/2025/09...

Mobile’s mayor-elect raised $1.8M, leading Alabama’s local campaigns this year

Spiro Cheriogotis raised more than any other candidate running for municipal office across Alabama this year.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Sep 9

NEW: More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor, as Alabama State Rep. Barbara Drummond faces former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis in the runoff on Sept. 23. w/ @johnsharp99.bsky.social: www.al.com/news/mobile/...

Mobile mayor’s race: Candidate with more votes trails $1M behind opponent’s fundraising

More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor ahead of the runoff on Sept. 23.

Reposted by Hannah Denham

newsmanbryant.bsky.social @newsmanbryant.bsky.social · Sep 8

Most people won't be able to tell you were tiny Lipscomb, Ala. is located, but more thanks to social media more than 1 million people have seen the tense showdown between the town's police officers and three teenage girls.
www.al.com/news/birming...

Social media transforms Alabama town arrests of teen girls into national news story and debate

The viral spread of videos showing a tense exchange and arrest of teen arrest girls in Lipscomb demonstrates how technology can rapidly elevate local incidents to the national level.

Reposted by Hannah Denham

newsmanbryant.bsky.social @newsmanbryant.bsky.social · Sep 8

The former lawyer for the Birmingham Water Works has sued the utility seeking backpay & demanding cash to end his contract. Damages could exceed $1.3 million. A new regional board cancelled the old contact & fired Mark Parnell shortly after talking over. www.al.com/news/birming...

Former lawyer for Birmingham regional water works is suing the utility

Former attorney Mark Parnell claims the utility must honor his severance terms after board members allegedly conspired to terminate him illegally.

Reposted by Hannah Denham

newsmanbryant.bsky.social @newsmanbryant.bsky.social · Sep 2

Big bucks flowed through Birmingham's recent mayoral race where Mayor Randall Woodfin ran a political juggernaut flushed with cash.
@hdenham.bsky.social breaks it all down. al.com/news/birming...

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Sep 2

Birmingham's incumbent mayor brought in more than 80% of all the fundraising in the race that concluded last week

www.al.com/news/birming...

$1.6 million in donations propelled Woodfin to dominant election win in Birmingham

The incumbent brought in nearly more than 80% of all the in campaign funding in the entire mayoral election.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Aug 27

NEW: Alabama employers have announced more jobs cut in mass layoffs so far in 2025 than all of last year. But employment in the state is also up. So what's going on?

www.al.com/business/202...

Alabama’s mass layoffs this year seem high. What’s going on?

Alabama employers have announced more than 3,100 jobs cut in mass layoffs this year.

Reposted by Hannah Denham

newsmanbryant.bsky.social @newsmanbryant.bsky.social · Aug 19

A contentious $14 billion data center proposed for Bessemer is on hold for now following a delay by city leaders. Even supporters say more due diligence is needed before the massive project gets an ok.
www.al.com/news/birming...

Controversial $14 billion data center proposal delayed again by Bessemer council

The unanimous decision sends the proposal for 18 data centers back to planning committee for further review after significant opposition from nearby residents.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Aug 5

NEW: A company with Alabama origins for more than 120 years is now consolidating its business + shutting down distribution in the same city it was founded in.

www.al.com/business/202...

Longtime Alabama sports clothing brand closing distribution with 80 layoffs

A company with Alabama origins for more than 120 years is now consolidating its business, impacting operations in its home city.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Jul 15

NEW: The Bessemer City Council postponed their vote today on rezoning nearly 700 acres of mostly timber to make way for a data center campus

www.al.com/business/202...

$14 billion data center vote postponed as dozens protest project in rural Alabama

Data centers are a growing industry, including in Alabama. But opponents are loud in this rural community.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Jul 15

NEW: The drag bar was planned at the site of the old Hush Lounge where a mass shooting happened last fall.

www.al.com/business/202...

New Birmingham bar pauses opening, lays off staff: ‘We wanted to take this space back’

The drag bar was planned at the site of the old Hush Lounge where a mass shooting happened last fall.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Jul 15

NEW: Someone in Brookside deleted the police department’s emails, per attorneys for a group of drivers suing the town over allegations of ticketing for profit. Here's the latest in the federal case, one of more than a dozen filed against the town:

www.al.com/crime/2025/0...

Brookside blasted for deleted police emails in federal lawsuit

Attorneys for the drivers and the town are currently in settlement talks.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Jul 5

NEW: An eight-year-old girl from Alabama is among the victims of a deadly flash flood that struck central Texas on Friday. Here's what we know:

www.al.com/news/2025/07...

8-year-old Mountain Brook girl among the many killed in Texas flooding: ‘She will live on in our hearts’

Sarah Marsh was attending Camp Mystic, a Christian retreat near Hunt in Kerr County.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · Jun 24

NEW: The University of North Alabama has transitioned its custodial services to a private company. Here's how it's affecting workers: www.al.com/business/202...

Workers lose benefits as UNA hires private contractor: ‘It wasn’t worth staying’

The University of North Alabama has transitioned its custodial services. Here's what it means for workers.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · May 21

NEW: Birmingham, Mountain Brook are among cities that shrank as far-flung suburbs in the metro boom.

w/ @ramseyarchibald.bsky.social:

www.al.com/news/2025/05...

Birmingham metro keeps growing in the south and east: ‘More bang for your buck’

Birmingham, Mountain Brook among cities that shrank as far-flung suburbs boom.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · May 16

NEW: Here’s how Sen. Tommy Tuberville's trading compares to other politicians like Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House.

www.al.com/politics/202...

Tommy Tuberville stock trading: Which Democrats, Republicans trade more than Alabama senator?

Here’s how Tuberville’s trading compares to other politicians like Democrat Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · May 14

Then there's just how prolific his trading has been.

"Generally speaking, members of Congress do not trade that often,” said Danielle Caputo, with the Campaign Legal Center.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · May 14

There's a lot there. Agricultural commodities: he's the only senator on the Agriculture committee to report owning or trading them. Frequent options trading, which experts call risky. "Suspicious" timing of trades ahead of market downturns.

Hannah Denham @hdenham.bsky.social · May 14

NEW: Delved into the last six years of the Alabama senator's stock trading. He's one of the most prolific traders in Congress, and some of his trades raise questions about potential conflicts with his committees.

w/ Howard Koplowitz: www.al.com/politics/202...

Tommy Tuberville is one of the busiest stock traders in Congress. Some deals raise ‘red flags’

The senator's trading activity has drawn attention and scrutiny. Here's what we know about how he invests.

Reposted by Hannah Denham

Ashley Remkus @aremkus1.bsky.social · May 14

Alabama's Tommy Tuberville is not the richest member of Congress and he may not be the most successful stock trader. But his trading does catch a lot of attention. (New from @hdenham.bsky.social + Howard Koplowitz for @al.com)

www.al.com/politics/202...

Tommy Tuberville is one of the busiest stock traders in Congress. Some deals raise ‘red flags’

The senator's trading activity has drawn attention and scrutiny. Here's what we know about how he invests.