Hannah Denham
@hdenham.bsky.social
Investigative reporter in Alabama covering money, business, power for @al.com | hdenham@al.com | previously Washington Post, Tampa Bay Times, Washington Business Journal | she/her 🌈
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...
An Alabama community facing pushback from residents over a proposed data center has just made the path easier for other future data center projects.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
Bessemer clears way for more data centers with zoning change
The Bessemer City Council voted Tuesday to allow data center development on land zoned for industrial use.
www.al.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
An Alabama community facing pushback from residents over a proposed data center has just made the path easier for other future data center projects.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
NEW: A small Alabama airport is among dozens of other airports serving 200+ rural communities around the country that could lose federal support. That's if the government shutdown continues past this Sunday.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Money is running out for this Alabama airport amid government shutdown
A small Alabama airport could lose federal support if the government shutdown extends past Oct. 12.
www.al.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
NEW: A small Alabama airport is among dozens of other airports serving 200+ rural communities around the country that could lose federal support. That's if the government shutdown continues past this Sunday.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: A health care company that previously announced big plans for expansion and hiring at its Birmingham headquarters is now shutting down.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
98 layoffs planned as Birmingham health care company closes
The local health care company launched an expansion in 2023.
www.al.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
NEW: A health care company that previously announced big plans for expansion and hiring at its Birmingham headquarters is now shutting down.
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
NEW: This Alabama mayor-elect raised roughly $1.8 million throughout his campaign – more than any other candidate for municipal office across the state this year.
www.al.com/news/2025/09...
www.al.com/news/2025/09...
Mobile’s mayor-elect raised $1.8M, leading Alabama’s local campaigns this year
Spiro Cheriogotis raised more than any other candidate running for municipal office across Alabama this year.
www.al.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:14 PM
NEW: This Alabama mayor-elect raised roughly $1.8 million throughout his campaign – more than any other candidate for municipal office across the state this year.
www.al.com/news/2025/09...
www.al.com/news/2025/09...
NEW: More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor, as Alabama State Rep. Barbara Drummond faces former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis in the runoff on Sept. 23. w/ @johnsharp99.bsky.social: www.al.com/news/mobile/...
Mobile mayor’s race: Candidate with more votes trails $1M behind opponent’s fundraising
More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor ahead of the runoff on Sept. 23.
www.al.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
NEW: More cash is pouring into the race to be Mobile’s next mayor, as Alabama State Rep. Barbara Drummond faces former Mobile County District Judge Spiro Cheriogotis in the runoff on Sept. 23. w/ @johnsharp99.bsky.social: www.al.com/news/mobile/...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
Most people won't be able to tell you were tiny Lipscomb, Ala. is located, but more thanks to social media more than 1 million people have seen the tense showdown between the town's police officers and three teenage girls.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
Social media transforms Alabama town arrests of teen girls into national news story and debate
The viral spread of videos showing a tense exchange and arrest of teen arrest girls in Lipscomb demonstrates how technology can rapidly elevate local incidents to the national level.
www.al.com
September 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Most people won't be able to tell you were tiny Lipscomb, Ala. is located, but more thanks to social media more than 1 million people have seen the tense showdown between the town's police officers and three teenage girls.
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
The former lawyer for the Birmingham Water Works has sued the utility seeking backpay & demanding cash to end his contract. Damages could exceed $1.3 million. A new regional board cancelled the old contact & fired Mark Parnell shortly after talking over. www.al.com/news/birming...
Former lawyer for Birmingham regional water works is suing the utility
Former attorney Mark Parnell claims the utility must honor his severance terms after board members allegedly conspired to terminate him illegally.
www.al.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:57 PM
The former lawyer for the Birmingham Water Works has sued the utility seeking backpay & demanding cash to end his contract. Damages could exceed $1.3 million. A new regional board cancelled the old contact & fired Mark Parnell shortly after talking over. www.al.com/news/birming...
Reposted by Hannah Denham
Big bucks flowed through Birmingham's recent mayoral race where Mayor Randall Woodfin ran a political juggernaut flushed with cash.
@hdenham.bsky.social breaks it all down. al.com/news/birming...
@hdenham.bsky.social breaks it all down. al.com/news/birming...
September 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Big bucks flowed through Birmingham's recent mayoral race where Mayor Randall Woodfin ran a political juggernaut flushed with cash.
@hdenham.bsky.social breaks it all down. al.com/news/birming...
@hdenham.bsky.social breaks it all down. al.com/news/birming...
Birmingham's incumbent mayor brought in more than 80% of all the fundraising in the race that concluded last week
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
$1.6 million in donations propelled Woodfin to dominant election win in Birmingham
The incumbent brought in nearly more than 80% of all the in campaign funding in the entire mayoral election.
www.al.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Birmingham's incumbent mayor brought in more than 80% of all the fundraising in the race that concluded last week
www.al.com/news/birming...
www.al.com/news/birming...
NEW: Alabama employers have announced more jobs cut in mass layoffs so far in 2025 than all of last year. But employment in the state is also up. So what's going on?
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...
Alabama’s mass layoffs this year seem high. What’s going on?
Alabama employers have announced more than 3,100 jobs cut in mass layoffs this year.
www.al.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
NEW: Alabama employers have announced more jobs cut in mass layoffs so far in 2025 than all of last year. But employment in the state is also up. So what's going on?
www.al.com/business/202...
www.al.com/business/202...