Good morning, Birmingham.

UAB students assembled over 750 hygiene care kits on Saturday to support veterans, active service members, and first responders.

Serve205 will deliver the kits to Three Hots and a Cot (fueled by a national 9/11 Day grant) later this week.

U.S. Steel broke ground on its $475 million Quench & Tempering facility in Fairfield on Monday, Sept.

21, which will add 600 construction and 250 full-time jobs. Construction will begin in Q4, with the facility set to boost local production of heat-treated steel and finish in 2029.

Talbots has reopened its store at The Summit with a refreshed 8,732 sqft space located between LOFT and Woodhouse Day Spa (near Saks Fifth Avenue).

The women’s apparel brand plans its grand opening in mid-October and is the only location in the area.

America's Thrift Stores is set to open soon in the former Party City space at Eastwood Village shopping center on Birmingham’s east side, located at 1608 Montclair Rd. The new location adds to a growing number of thrift spots in the local market.

Virginia Samford Theatre celebrates 100 years of local artistry as it launches its Centennial Season in historic Caldwell Park; the season will open with the new work Growing Up with Atticus, running Sept.

24-27.

UAB was named the top public institution in the Southeast for faculty research performance by U.S. News and World Report and ranked highest in social mobility in Alabama— it also expects to welcome an estimated 2,600 first-year students, the largest freshman class in its history, this fall.

UAB will host its Fall Undergraduate Research Expo from Nov.

30-Dec. 4, where undergraduates can present research at Sterne Library (oral presentations) and Alumni House (poster sessions) or online; students must submit abstracts by the 16th. The event is free and open to the public.

AmFirst says first-time car buyers in Birmingham should set a clear budget and get pre-approved by a local credit union before visiting dealerships.

The tips explain that advertised prices may not include fees & optional coverages, so asking the right questions can help shoppers avoid surprises.

UAB is conducting a clinical trial of NTB-928, a drug that redirects the immune system to fight platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

The BiTE trial, led by Rebecca Arend (M.D.) and Ben Buelow (M.D.), may offer a new treatment option for patients.

UAB expert Stephen Russell, M.D. advises residents to get a flu shot in September through early November to build protection against severe illness before flu season peaks (it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop); UAB patients can schedule their vaccine at the Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital.

Alabama celebrated National Opioid Awareness Day on Sept.

21 after provisional federal data showed a 46% drop in substance-related overdose deaths from March 2024 to March 2026. Officials credited the decline to coordinated efforts that distributed over 222,000 naloxone kits and invested over $34 million in prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

Onelife Fitness will open a new gym in Lee Branch on Doug Baker Blvd in the coming weeks, offering reformer Pilates + boxing classes and modern workout amenities.

The facility will also hire Pilates instructors and offer special membership deals at its preview center.

Arc of Central Alabama is expanding into a new headquarters at 500 Beacon Parkway West after purchasing the building for $1.56M.

Watsonbruhn Builders will start renovations for accessibility improvements and modern updates following a Sept. 14 permit approval in Birmingham.