During this year’s Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, a new song made its debut. The song is a spiritual called Just Like Selma. Todd Prater had an opportunity to talk with the composer, Nolan Williams Jr., about his inspiration for the song and his other creative endeavors.
The Selmont community held a town hall meeting last week where organizers wanting to incorporate into its own municipality answered question for residents. Organizers also say they got enough signatures to put the incorporation effort on the ballot. Todd and Cindy talk about that in this seg…
Selma Mayor Johnny Moss III gave his 100-day report last week. He took over the job in November after winning the 2025 municipal election. Todd and Cindy talk about the state of the city address in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
Vaiden Field Airport regained its operating license after the Alabama Department of Transportation confirmed that all previously cited safety deficiencies have been corrected. ALDOT suspended Vaiden's license in October after an inspection in September found several violations from repeat fi…
The city of Demopolis is getting tough on code violations, with a push to reinforce actions against those breaking city codes including a trailer park and burned building. Todd and Cindy talk about the efforts in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
Top headlines this week: Selma mayor gives 100-day report, Vaiden Field gets license reinstated, SRA says $6M investments made downtown, Selmont moves forward with incorporation, Demopolis gets tough on code violations and more!
There are many stories about people running away and joining the circus. Gallion, Alabama's Warren Adams Bacon IV not only joined the circus, he influenced the circus world for years to come. This is the story of Warren Bacon, human cannonball and circus instructor who passed away in 2025. B…
Warren Adams Bacon IV left Gallion, Alabama, to join the circus and came back years later to teach others the skills of acrobatics and being a "human cannonball." Todd and Cindy talk about how Bacon influenced the circus world for years to come in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast. See…
Voting and democracy took center stage in a photo exhibit at Selma Social during the annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee. In the alley on Lauderdale Street next to Selma Social, large photos documented the fight to vote in action across two dozen states, including in Selma. The photographs …
Black Belt Community Foundation got a new leader in 2025: Christopher Spencer, who replaced Felecia Lucky after she served for 21 years. Spencer talks about his experience with BBCF for the last two decades and his plans for the future. Todd and Cindy also talk about the scholarship in his n…
SABRA Sanctuary, a nonprofit that helps women and children in domestic violence situations, has a new executive director. Susan Youngblood, who helped start SABRA many years ago, has returned to lead the organization that is an emergency shelter and advocacy agency for women and children lea…
The Dallas County community of Selmont is nearing a major milestone in its effort to become Alabama’s newest municipality, with organizers saying they are now only about 20 signatures away from the number needed to move incorporation forward.
Top headlines this week: Selmont continues push to incorporate, SABRA gets new leader, meet BBCF's new Executive Director Chris Spencer, photo exhibit about voting comes to Selma, Gallion man changes circus acts, Selma Renfair is back and more!
For this episode of Voices & Visionaries, Black Belt Community Foundation's new Executive Director Christopher Spencer talks about taking on the nonprofit and growing it for the future.
The Keith High School journalism class on Friday handed out copies of their first school newspaper that was made in partnership with the Black Belt News Network and Dallas County Schools. The class - with help from Keith teacher Kiesela Foster and BBNN Publisher Cindy Fisher - wrote the stor…
The Selma City Council may have a buyer for the city-owned Dallas Academy building that has been shuttered for years in Old Town. A developer is looking to buy the property for $30,000, with plans to put another $100,000 in repairs to use it as a studio and event space, according to city doc…
A dispute between the Marion City Council and the city’s mayor about how the city handles sealed bids could delay critical water system repairs. Marion residents went a week without water around Thanksgiving when a water line pump broke, one of many problems in the city's aging water system.…
The George Building, located in a prominent location of downtown Demopolis, is being renovated into office space for H&M Construction Company. Another historic property in downtown Demopolis on Strawberry Street was reopened by the developer and the area chamber during a ribbon cutting l…
After two shootings occurred during the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee weekend March 6-8, organizers tell the Black Belt News Network they will increase security next year. Thousands came for the event that commemorated the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday when marchers protested for equal v…
Top headlines this week: Jubilee safety for the future, two big projects announced in downtown Demopolis, Marion water projects delayed, Dallas Academy redevelopment and more.
The Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting Tuesday evening to celebrate the renovation of a historic downtown building that will soon house a bank and two new apartments.
Selma police are investigating two shootings that happened over the weekend when the Queen City was hosting the annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee. Friday night, six were injured at a gathering on Alabama Avenue that was not part of the Jubilee. On Saturday, two 18 year olds were injured in a sh…
Todd and Cindy talk about this year's Jubilee and share video from the weeklong event marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Thousands came to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma for the commemoration.
A new restaurant opened in Selma - Clay Seafood on Citizens Parkway next to the Marathon. Todd and Cindy talk about the new restaurant in this segment of the Black Belt Newscast.
Bernard LaFayette, civil rights leader who was scheduled to be honored at the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee this weekend, passed away on March 5 of a heart attack. He was 85.
A patch of concrete where nearly 600 voting rights marchers assembled before the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march was formally recognized Monday with the unveiling of a historical plaque at George Washington Carver Homes.
Historic Brown Chapel AME reopened its sanctuary for the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee on March 6. Todd and Cindy talk about the renovations over the last several years that closed the church for years and its reopening this year. The also talk about the history of its pulpit being the spot …