Good morning, Birmingham.

Witches Rides are back in October across Birmingham — with parades on Oct.

18 in Hoover, Oct. 24 in Hueytown and Vestavia Hills, and Oct. 25 in Homewood, Trussville and Hoover, featuring costumed riders tossing candy to support local causes.

The Melting Pot plans to return to Birmingham this winter 2026 by opening at The Village at Lee Branch Shopping Center (611 Doug Baker Blvd., Suite 201) to offer its signature fondue dining to local guests.

Today, Buffalo Rock opened its renovated Oxmoor Campus in Homewood at 800 Lakeshore Parkway with an in-house blow molding operation that boosts efficiency and creates 18 skilled jobs – a milestone in its 125-year investment in local infrastructure upgrades.

McWane Science Center in Birmingham houses thousands of fossils, including a nearly complete duck-billed dinosaur found in Montgomery County which shows a glimpse of prehistoric life.

The collection features specimens from over 500 million years ago to the Ice Age and continues to yield new discoveries.

During the 2025 season, the National Hurricane Center & Google DeepMind tested a new AI hurricane forecast model that learned from past storm patterns to boost its accuracy.

Meteorologists explained the tool helps refine warnings for clearer guidance to the public.

The Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office is asking the public to help locate family members of five individuals who died of natural causes in Jefferson County, including cases in Hoover, Birmingham, and Center Point.

Please call 205-930-3603 if you have information (previous searches have failed).

Researchers at UAB uncovered that the BACH2 protein directs the immune system to either produce antibodies or mount cellular responses to infection.

The discovery may lead to improved vaccine designs and better understanding of immune disorders.

Pink Topps, a non-profit from Bessemer, held its Breast Cancer Awareness Day Saturday in Bessemer to honor its late president Natasha Tatum and promote self-exams for younger women amid rising rates noted by the CDC.

UAB named Tapan Mehta the inaugural Heersink Endowed Professor in Primary Care to honor his leadership in research and community health improvement.

His work has built patient-centered programs — expanding primary care initiatives to manage chronic disease and boost health statewide.

AL.com's college football staff released their Week 6 picks for games played on Oct.

3, highlighting UAB's field goal at Protective Stadium in Birmingham (a local highlight) as experts weighed different point spreads.

Alabama TE Josh Ford broke his forearm against Mississippi State and had surgery last Sunday; coach Kalen DeBoer remains optimistic he will play against Georgia Saturday night.

His determination may boost the team's performance & morale.

ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said on Thursday that coach Kalen DeBoer has changed Alabama’s approach this season by trusting his own style while improving both offense and defense.

He noted quarterback Keelon Russell and the defense have stepped up as Alabama prepares to host Georgia soon.

Tonight, high school football games kick off across Alabama as experts release predictions ahead of Hurricane Isaias’ landfall on the Gulf Coast.

The matchups cover contests in Birmingham & coastal areas, offering forecast scores for key games.