Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a celebrity’s son is now jailed in Birmingham

Also, don't miss Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness on the Birmingham Patch calendar

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Sunday September 27th Patch AM
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What's up Birmingham! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a celebrity's son is now jailed in Birmingham
  • How a veteran Birmingham truck captain keeps fireground standards high
  • How two railroads helped make Birmingham's Sloss Furnaces an industrial giant

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What are the two favorite words for a shark to hear? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 85 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 85, low: 58.
  • Tuesday: Warm with plenty of sunshine, with a high of 89 and low of 62 degrees. 🌶 Hot!

📰 News we're reading

1. 'Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond's son arrested on drug, assault charges (ktvu.com) — A 23-year-old foster son of TV personality Ree Drummond was arrested at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is now being held at Jefferson County Jail in Birmingham on drug and assault-on-an-officer charges. Court documents describe officers responding to a suspicious-person call, a brief chase, and the alleged discovery of methamphetamine and paraphernalia before he was booked on multiple counts.
   

2. Lessons in Truck Company Operations and Leadership (fireengineering.com) — A longtime Birmingham Fire Department captain shares how 26 years on local trucks and heavy rescue shaped his disciplined, team-focused approach to fireground operations. Now serving with the Cahaba Valley Fire District, he reflects on transitioning ranks, staying humble, and keeping Birmingham-area fire service standards high through technical skill and leadership.
   

3. The Significance of Louisville & Nashville and Alabama Great Southern Railroad Systems on Sloss Furnaces (birminghamal.gov) — Sloss Furnaces' history in Birmingham is traced through the crucial role two major railroads played in moving coal, ore, and finished pig iron in and out of the city. The piece explains how this rail access helped Birmingham become an industrial powerhouse and encourages you to visit the Sloss Furnaces museum today to experience that legacy firsthand.
   

4. Suicide Awareness Month: Why law enforcement officers face higher risk, and why so many stay silent (wbrc.com) — Law enforcement leaders connected to the Birmingham area are using Suicide Awareness Month to urge officers to speak up about mental health struggles and seek help. Calera's police chief and a Shelby County task force commander describe how repeated trauma, stigma, and a culture of self-reliance raise suicide risks, while highlighting peer support teams, clergy partnerships, and other local resources for officers.
   

5. Who owns model risk? (economistwritingeveryday.com) — A recent continuing education session in Birmingham brought together 36 internal auditors, many from a local regional bank, to debate who should own the risk appetite built into AI models. Their split responses revealed there's still no clear consensus, highlighting how accountability for AI risk remains unsettled compared with traditional areas like credit risk, which are firmly owned by first-line business units.
   

📸 Around Birmingham

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • If today feels heavier than usual, please remember: one difficult day does not define your whole story.
    You may be carrying something others cannot see. Keep moving forward… You matter, your life has value, and there is still hope ahead. (Nextdoor Merrywood Estates)
  • Ashley is a wonderful groomer and person.
    She is skilled and so kind and gentle. I adopted my mom's 15-year-old poodle mix when Mom could no longer care for him. Ashley was not only very… (Nextdoor Crestwood North)
  • Ventura Foods, LLC posted a job opening for Forklift Operator II in Birmingham. Apply here.
  • Magna International, Inc. posted a job opening for Material Handler 1&2 shift in Birmingham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Birmingham here.

Ok Birmingham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "MAN OVERBOARD!" (Thank you M J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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