Hannah Denham
@hdenham.bsky.social
Investigative reporter in Alabama covering money, business, power for @al.com | [email protected] | previously Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times, Washington Business Journal | she/her 🌈
NEW: Richard Scrushy lost his attempt to get former law firm ousted from a related case this week. Here's where one of Alabama’s most powerful and controversial business leaders stands with his renewed legal battles:
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Ex-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy loses push to reopen $3B fraud case
Richard Scrushy lost his attempt to get his former attorneys ousted from a related case this week.
www.al.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
NEW: Richard Scrushy lost his attempt to get former law firm ousted from a related case this week. Here's where one of Alabama’s most powerful and controversial business leaders stands with his renewed legal battles:
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
Not so fast: Former Birmingham Water Works board members dispute new state audit findings of poor management, incorrect payments and lackluster compliance under their watch as a politically motivated PR stunt. The audit was requested by the new board after it took over.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
Audit blames water board for theft and waste, former leaders call it a political trick
The state report details a lack of inventory tracking and other policy violations while former board members question the audit's legitimacy and timing.
www.al.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Not so fast: Former Birmingham Water Works board members dispute new state audit findings of poor management, incorrect payments and lackluster compliance under their watch as a politically motivated PR stunt. The audit was requested by the new board after it took over.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
NEW: It's no secret that ICE arrests and detentions of immigrants are surging across the country. In Alabama, monthly arrests have more than doubled in roughly the last year.
www.al.com/news/2025/12...
www.al.com/news/2025/12...
Alabama’s arrests of undocumented immigrants are rising
Roughly 3,300 immigrants from 55 countries have been detained this year, through mid-October.
www.al.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:35 PM
NEW: It's no secret that ICE arrests and detentions of immigrants are surging across the country. In Alabama, monthly arrests have more than doubled in roughly the last year.
www.al.com/news/2025/12...
www.al.com/news/2025/12...
NEW: Hiring in Alabama stayed consistent in August, while the number of job openings dipped. The data is late to release because of the government shutdown:
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Alabama reports fewer job openings in August, new data shows
The data was late to release because of the federal government shutdown.
www.al.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
NEW: Hiring in Alabama stayed consistent in August, while the number of job openings dipped. The data is late to release because of the government shutdown:
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: “The John Boy and Billy Show” is signing off at the end of 2025, after nearly five decades on air
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Beloved radio duo ending after nearly 50 years
"The John Boy and Billy Show" is syndicated for more than 30 radio stations across the country.
www.al.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:05 AM
NEW: “The John Boy and Billy Show” is signing off at the end of 2025, after nearly five decades on air
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Didn't anticipate explaining 6-7 for AL.com's audience today, but that's why journalism teaches you to expect the unexpected
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Wendy’s jumps on viral ‘6-7’ trend with discounted Frostys: How to get yours
The deal extends through Dec. 7 with online ordering.
www.al.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Didn't anticipate explaining 6-7 for AL.com's audience today, but that's why journalism teaches you to expect the unexpected
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: McDonald’s is launching a new Disney-themed Happy Meal to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Disneyland Resort.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
McDonald’s launches special-edition food item this week
The collectible toy line includes 70 toys total.
www.al.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
NEW: McDonald’s is launching a new Disney-themed Happy Meal to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Disneyland Resort.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: A break in a sewage line resulted in Thanksgiving Day flooding at a Selma hotel, prompting an outcry over a lack of response from the county.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Selma hotel experiences Thanksgiving sewage flooding, claims no help from county
The hotel affected by the plumbing issues is in Selma.
www.al.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
NEW: A break in a sewage line resulted in Thanksgiving Day flooding at a Selma hotel, prompting an outcry over a lack of response from the county.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: These employers reported the highest combination of severe workplace injuries and deaths in the last decade.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
OSHA reports: Which Alabama employers report most injuries, deaths?
Walmart is among Alabama's employers reporting the highest number of injuries and deaths across most of the state's 67 counties.
www.al.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
NEW: These employers reported the highest combination of severe workplace injuries and deaths in the last decade.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: U.S. Sen. Katie Britt weighed in on the $14 billion data center campus proposed for rural Alabama and what it could mean for nearby residents.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Katie Britt voices concern over Bessemer data center, power demand
The Republican senator spoke about the Bessemer data center during a virtual presser this week.
www.al.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM
NEW: U.S. Sen. Katie Britt weighed in on the $14 billion data center campus proposed for rural Alabama and what it could mean for nearby residents.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
Central Alabama Water in turmoil: The new CEO of Birmingham's regional water utility places all executives on leave while two members of the board sue to block his appointment.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
Water in turmoil: New CEO benches executives as board members sue to block his hiring
Two board members claim they were excluded from the selection process as the new CEO places all senior managers on administrative leave.
www.al.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Central Alabama Water in turmoil: The new CEO of Birmingham's regional water utility places all executives on leave while two members of the board sue to block his appointment.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
The project has been met with resistance from local residents, who have packed out public meetings.
Bessemer greenlights $14 billion data center with rezoning vote
Just two city councilmembers voted against the rezoning.
www.al.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The project has been met with resistance from local residents, who have packed out public meetings.
BREAKING: The plan to develop a $14 billion data center campus in rural Alabama that developers tout as among the “largest private investments in Alabama’s history” is moving forward
Council voted finally, after months of delays, 5-2
www.al.com/business/202...
Council voted finally, after months of delays, 5-2
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
BREAKING: The plan to develop a $14 billion data center campus in rural Alabama that developers tout as among the “largest private investments in Alabama’s history” is moving forward
Council voted finally, after months of delays, 5-2
www.al.com/business/202...
Council voted finally, after months of delays, 5-2
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to protect a fish species only found in Jefferson County, near land slated for a massive data center campus.
www.al.com/news/2025/11...
www.al.com/news/2025/11...
Activists ask federal agency to protect rare fish near Bessemer data center site
The Birmingham darter is a newly discovered fish species in Jefferson County.
www.al.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
NEW: Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to protect a fish species only found in Jefferson County, near land slated for a massive data center campus.
www.al.com/news/2025/11...
www.al.com/news/2025/11...
NEW: More than half of Alabama employers that have shut down or reported mass layoffs in the last several decades have done so without providing enough notice to the state. Here's how that impacts workers:
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Alabama workers caught up in mass layoffs often notified late, data shows
A federal law called the WARN Act requires employers with at least 100 full-time workers to provide at least 60 days’ notice.
www.al.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
NEW: More than half of Alabama employers that have shut down or reported mass layoffs in the last several decades have done so without providing enough notice to the state. Here's how that impacts workers:
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
He didn't even get an interview: Accusations of secrecy 'backroom deals' and favoritism surrounding the search for a CEO for Birmingham’s regional water system intensify after a veteran executive was rejected early in the process without explanation. www.al.com/news/birming...
Water board CEO controversy continues: Questions swirl after veteran exec passed over
Tony Petelos led Jefferson County through bankruptcy but couldn't get past first round for water utility CEO position that serves 770,000 customers.
www.al.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
He didn't even get an interview: Accusations of secrecy 'backroom deals' and favoritism surrounding the search for a CEO for Birmingham’s regional water system intensify after a veteran executive was rejected early in the process without explanation. www.al.com/news/birming...
NEW: Pack Health is shutting down after lapsed incentive agreements with Alabama, Jefferson County
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Once promising Alabama company failed to reach goals tied to incentives
Now Pack Health is shutting down, and taking nearly 100 jobs with it.
www.al.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
NEW: Pack Health is shutting down after lapsed incentive agreements with Alabama, Jefferson County
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: The apparel company said it plans to move its manufacturing operations out of northeast Alabama, though it will keep its warehouse and distribution operations there.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
460 layoffs expected for Alabama manufacturer moving operations to Tennessee
The apparel company expects the cuts to start in December.
www.al.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
NEW: The apparel company said it plans to move its manufacturing operations out of northeast Alabama, though it will keep its warehouse and distribution operations there.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: Here's what we know about Alabama's incentives since the state started publicly reporting them two years ago
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Alabama pledged nearly $500M in incentives for 40 companies since 2023
Many of those incentives are tied to job creation and investments made by the companies with new projects in Alabama.
www.al.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
NEW: Here's what we know about Alabama's incentives since the state started publicly reporting them two years ago
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Here's what we know about the money pouring into the race for Alabama's open U.S. House seat so far:
www.al.com/politics/202...
www.al.com/politics/202...
Washington leaders throw money behind GOP opponents running for open Alabama US House seat
State Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, banked nearly $495,000 in donations to ex-U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl's $320,000.
www.al.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Here's what we know about the money pouring into the race for Alabama's open U.S. House seat so far:
www.al.com/politics/202...
www.al.com/politics/202...
NEW: NDAs, heightened security at City Hall, and Facebook fighting. This all comes ahead of an official vote by the Bessemer City Council to rezone rural land proposed for a massive data center campus. Here's the latest on the controversial project:
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
Secrecy agreements fuel pushback of $14 billion Alabama data center
Amid a growing push for data center development in Alabama, this city government faces calls for more transparency.
www.al.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
NEW: NDAs, heightened security at City Hall, and Facebook fighting. This all comes ahead of an official vote by the Bessemer City Council to rezone rural land proposed for a massive data center campus. Here's the latest on the controversial project:
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
NEW: A case that has dragged for years resulted in a hung jury today, as a Jefferson County jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on the other six charges facing a former Grandview Medical Center employee accused of sexually assaulting patients
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
Birmingham hospital worker not guilty of 1 of 7 charges of abusing psychiatric patients
The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on 6 charges, prompting another trial.
www.al.com
October 13, 2025 at 10:16 PM
NEW: A case that has dragged for years resulted in a hung jury today, as a Jefferson County jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict on the other six charges facing a former Grandview Medical Center employee accused of sexually assaulting patients
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
www.al.com/news/2025/10...
