Good morning, Birmingham.

Tricia Kirk — former president of Homewood’s Exceptional Foundation that served individuals with special needs — died Saturday at 71.

A visitation is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook with a service at 11 a.m.

A AAA study finds many drivers in Alabama view speeding as normal + many accept going up to 10 mph over the limit even though nearly 30% of traffic deaths in 2024 were linked to speeding.

Experts urge drivers to follow posted limits and maintain steady speeds.

Birmingham-based EBSCO Industries ranked third nationally on TIME’s Best Private Companies list released in July, with seven other local firms also making the list.

This ranking highlights their long-standing economic and community impact (a source of local pride).

Pop superstars the Jonas Brothers announced a 2026 tour with a stop in Birmingham on Oct.

9 at Legacy Arena in BJCC. Ticket presales start Aug. 18 at Ticketmaster with public sale on Aug. 21 while fans can look forward to opening acts Magnus Ferrell & Deleasa.

Alabama’s labor market added 109,660 jobs since 2022, with Huntsville recording 27,600 new jobs and Birmingham nearly 19,500.

Average wages climbed to about $57,500 as some metros saw larger increases, highlighting gaps among regions & spurring attention to local growth.

Birmingham-metro schools lead the state’s public high school rankings for 2026-27, with six of the top 10 ranked based on college readiness and graduation rates and Homewood High School placed second.

The list reviewed over 27,000 schools to spotlight Alabama’s best.

Drive Electric Alabama is set to host six free electric vehicle showcases from Aug.

29 through Oct. 10 that let local drivers see various EV models and ask EV owners questions — with stops in Irvington, Cullman, Rickwood Caverns, Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham.

Vestavia Hills city leaders propose spending $9 million from the Fiscal Year 2027 budget to improve Liberty Park athletic fields that flood, a move that may delay the east-side library project by about a year with the City Council meeting on Sept.

9 at 3 p.m.

Residents in Brookwood attended Tuesday evening’s City Hall meeting to seek clarity on a planned development near Industrial Parkway and Brookwood Middle School — officials will host a Sept.

1 meeting to share details — as city leaders continue evaluating the project.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport approved a $19M runway rebuild and $4.9M parking guidance system (with digital signs and an app) to boost safety and reduce congestion.

Design will start in September with the parking system launching around Christmas while runway work begins in May or June, lasting 181 days.

Sarah Stewart, a 27-year-old with autism from Shelby County, uses Floreo’s virtual reality tool to practice everyday skills with live support as her mother noted that Medicaid funding issues keep the program out of reach for some families; Floreo is seeking FDA approval for its specialized FloreoRX program.

The AP Poll has been released and Alabama is now ranked No. 13.

Local college football fans note that nine SEC teams made the top 25 — a sign of a competitive season ahead.

The Birmingham Park and Recreation Swim Team clinched the Small Team Division title at the 2026 Jefferson Shelby Swim Council Senior County Championship as 6-year-old Nicole Williams set six records and 13-year-old Cameron Johnson earned a national ranking.

Pool Supervisor Tevin Harris led the team in a standout season.