After decades of limited progress, a full restoration of the old Marengo County Courthouse in Linden is underway to turn the historic structure into a venue for community events. Led by the Linden Historical Society and President Mike Peppenhorst, the 1848 Greek Revival structure is one of t…
Greensboro, Alabama, resident and real estate agent Pride Forney has spent years dreaming about two things: helping the Black Belt region thrive and creating a place where music and art could bring people together.
Developer Pride Forney has bought the former Uniontown United Methodist Church to turn into an arts and performance venue. Learn more about events coming up at the venue and plans in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
Wallace Community College Selma hosted the annual Aviation Day at Craig Field on Thursday to introduce area high school students to job opportunities in aviation at the airfield in Selma. Todd and Cindy talk about it in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
After seven years of serving as a creative hub, technology lab and safe haven for young people across Dallas County, Best Buy Teen Tech Center in Selma is closing at the end of April as national grant funding from Best Buy comes to an end. The center, housed through a partnership with Wallac…
Selma’s city attorney will work with the owner of the St. James Hotel to settle a tax issue that has stalled the hotel’s sale and eventual reopening, Selma Mayor Johnny Moss III said April 27. The Selma City Council authorized City Attorney Graham Mosely to negotiate a settlement with Lewis …
Selma High School has grabbed two winning coaches from nearby Black Belt schools to head up the Saints football and basketball programs. During a press conference on Monday, Selma Athletic director Reginald Glover announced a major recruiting coup: the hiring of crosstown rival Southside Hig…
Almost 100 people gathered in downtown Demopolis on April 30 to get more information about a proposed data center in Marengo County. Black Belt Women Rising hosted a town meeting at the Hangout on Washington Street with Southern Environmental Law Center and Alabama Rivers Alliance representa…
A standing-room-only crowd filled the Lowndes County Commission chamber on April 28 as residents delivered hours of testimony opposing a proposed billion‑dollar data center. The 800-acre site is in the Burkville area near the intersection of Highways 80 and 21 and being brokered by Cloverlea…
Top headlines: Lowndes County residents meeting about data center, Marengo and Hale residents also meet about a data center, St James Hotel to make deal with Selma to reopen, Best Buy Teen Tech Center closes, Selma hires new coaches, Uniontown gets updated building and more!
After decades of limited progress, a full restoration of the old Marengo County Courthouse in Linden is underway to turn the historic structure into a venue for community events. Led by the Linden Historical Society and President Mike Peppenhorst, the 1848 Greek Revival structure is one of t…
Owners of property in downtown Demopolis will have 45 days to tell the city their plan for getting their building up to code. The Demopolis City Council April 16 approved a letter giving property owners 45 days to tell the city council what “known or suspected issues requiring correction” ex…
Craig Field Executive Director Ryan Corrigan gave an update on progress of projects at the former Air Force base since he took over in August. Todd and Cindy talk about the projects in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
St. James Hotel's owner Jim Lewis will be going before the Selma City Council on Monday night to show proof of taxes being paid so he can reopen. The hotel closed in August. Todd and Cindy talk about the St. James in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
The new owners of Judson College’s campus in Marion unveiled plans on April 20 to turn the campus into what they’re calling Atlas Complex that they say will bring hundreds of jobs and a major pharmaceutical logistics presence to the Black Belt.
Top headlines this week: Judson College project announced, St. James Hotel owner tries again next week, update on Craig Field projects, Demopolis warns downtown property owners, Linden courthouse getting facelift, Selma skateboard to get new look and more!
The new owners of Judson College’s campus in Marion unveiled plans on Monday to turn the campus into what they’re calling Atlas Complex that they say will bring hundreds of jobs and a major pharmaceutical logistics presence to the Black Belt.
The Alabama Legislature approved annexing land near Gallion into the city limits of Demopolis during its 2026 session that recently concluded. The intersection of U.S. Highways 80 and 69 in Hale County will become Demopolis land on Oct. 1. Cindy and Todd talk about the development in this se…
Residents in Selmont who want the Dallas County community to become a municipality filed paperwork last week with the probate judge office. The paperwork would put the request to create their own municipality on the ballot for residents to vote. Todd and Cindy talk about it in this segment o…
The City of Marion is set to announce the new owner and development coming to Judson College in a press conference at noon Monday, April 20. Todd and Cindy talk about the news in this Black Belt Newscast segment.
The St. James Hotel in Selma may reopen by July, but only if a complicated tax issue can be resolved quickly. The historic hotel closed in August 2025 but the owner is looking to reopen it under Marriott hotels if the city can figure out of the previous management firm paid taxes properly. T…
Selma’s interim police chief told the Selma City Council April 14 that he was “called to duty by God.” Michael R. Perry was named interim chief April 10 after the city council placed Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford on administrative leave. He was introduced to the council at the Tuesday mee…
Top headlines this week: Selma names interim police chief, St. James Hotel may reopen, Gallion annexation approved, Marion to make announcement about Judson College, EM Brown center opens, Selmont files incorporation paperwork and more!
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival is bringing an arts education program to Selma this summer, offering a free weeklong theater camp for local students at the historic Walton Theater.
After jumping back into the saddle as the Director of SABRA Sanctuary that helps families in need in the Black Belt, Susan Youngblood has identified problems and has SABRA back on track. In this second part of the interview with Youngblood, she talks about some of the causes of domestic viol…
Selma's Susan Youngblood returned to SABRA Sanctuary as executive director, three decades after founding the agency to help families in need in the Black Belt. Youngblood, a longtime victims advocate and one of the founding leaders of SABRA Sanctuary, has stepped in as director at a time whe…
Black Belt News Network invited readers and community members to share their thoughts about local news and community issues during a Community Listening Session held April 9 at Selma Social.
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TORNADO WATCH 187 REMAINS VALID UNTIL 11 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ALABAMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 37 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL ALABAMA AUTAUGA BARBOUR BIBB BLOUNT BULLOCK CALHOUN CHAMBERS CHEROKEE CHILTON CLAY COOSA DALLAS ELMORE ETOWAH FAYETTE GREENE HALE JEFFERSON LAMAR LEE LOWNDES MACON MARENGO MARION MONTGOMERY PERRY PICKENS PIKE RUSSELL SHELBY ST. CLAIR SUMTER TALLADEGA TALLAPOOSA TUSCALOOSA WALKER WINSTON THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALABASTER, ALEXANDER CITY, ALICEVILLE, ANNISTON, ASHLAND, AUBURN, BIRMINGHAM, BRENT, CARROLLTON, CENTRE, CENTREVILLE, CLANTON, COLUMBIANA, DEMOPOLIS, EUFAULA, EUTAW, FAYETTE, FORT DEPOSIT, GADSDEN, GREENSBORO, HALEYVILLE, HAMILTON, HOOVER, JACKSONVILLE, JASPER, LANETT, LINDEN, LINEVILLE, LIVINGSTON, LOWNDESBORO, MARION, MILLBROOK, MONTGOMERY, MOODY, MOUNDVILLE, ONEONTA, OPELIKA, PELHAM, PELL CITY, PHENIX CITY, PRATTVILLE, ROCKFORD, SELMA, SULLIGENT, SYLACAUGA, TALLADEGA, TROY, TUSCALOOSA, TUSKEGEE, UNION SPRINGS, UNIONTOWN, VALLEY, VERNON, WETUMPKA, AND YORK.
.Heavy thunderstorms are forecast through early Thursday morning. This activity has the potential to produce several inches of rainfall for portions of Central Alabama. A broad area of Central Alabama is included in a Flood Watch as there is some uncertainty regarding exactly where the heaviest corridors of rain may occur. ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. * WHERE...A portion of central Alabama, including the following counties, Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore, Etowah, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa and Tuscaloosa. * WHEN...Through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
Currently in Selma
