Heads and tales: Heat strike
By Wade Kwon
Lake Soon-be-Gone: It is so hot … How hot is it? It is so hot, the lakes are drying up. Let us remind you, we’re in a drought. If you’re watering your plants at midnight or washing your car, you’re killing us all down the road. It’s likely we won’t see significant rainfall until November — or the first hurricane. Either way, it’s going to be ugly. Hot and ugly.
• Lakes’ water levels dwindling, utilities say [Birmingham News]
Gimme shelter: Speaking of nasty weather, three cities have invested in public storm shelters able to withstand (fingers crossed) an F-5 tornado with winds up to 318 mph. Bagley and Graysville already have one shelter each, for a total of 110 people and a total cost of $47,000 (federal dollars covered 75 percent of the cost). Trussville is spending $110,000 (must be the deluxe model) to protect 100 people. Applause all around for these cities on the lookout for residents who don’t always have some place to hide when the sirens go off.
• Public shelters help weather storms [Birmingham News]
New edition: A long time ago, yours truly was a cub reporter for The Birmingham News. And then for a long time, I worked for the Post-Herald in the same building as the News. So I’m a little wistful to see the new building finally complete. After $21 million and 14 months, the state’s biggest newspaper has a grand new home. I can’t wait to see it in person. Congratulations to the folks down at the intersection of Fourth Avenue North and 22nd Street.
• The News’ building for new century [Birmingham News]
Also:
- City mass transit cut to one route, one moped, two days a week
- Homewood students pray intently for flagpole
- Almost time to rake leaves unconsumed by wildfire, tropical storms
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