🌱 Rents Lower Than 2022, Higher Month-To-Month + Jobs For Students

Hello again, everybody! I'm back with your new copy of the Birmingham Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

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Now, today's weather:

Cloudy, a t-storm or two. High: 80 Low: 68.

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Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. According to Rent.com, rent prices in Birmingham are lower than they were a year ago, although still rising month-to-month. Currently, the median rent price in the city is $1,618 per month, which is a six percent decrease from last year. Rent Researcher Jon Leckie says that Birmingham rent prices bottomed out around September 2022 and have been creeping back upwards since. When looking at yearly data, Leckie says that suburbs are growing faster than core metro areas, which may make it difficult to find affordable apartments in the suburbs. (WBRC)
2. A summer job program is kicking off this year at Birmingham City Schools, enabling more than 30 students to earn $15 an hour. Students can work in the technology or operations/maintenance departments. Dr. Corvetta V. Clasberry with Birmingham City Schools said that the program is designed to provide students with some structured activity for students over the summer. (WVTM 13)
3. In nearby Shelby County, a Pride Month display at the North Shelby Library sparked a heated debate within the community. The display was in the library's children's section and featured a selection of LGBTQ-themed books as well as a sign that said, "Take pride in reading." Community members spoke out both in support and in opposition to the display at Monday's library board meeting. Some residents felt that the sign brought adult themes into the children's section, while others spoke in defense of seeing LGBTQ stories and characters on display. The board ultimately decided that the display is age appropriate and the display could remain in place. (CBS 42)

Today in Birmingham:

Wednesday, June 21

• Ada Long Creative Writing Workshop At Spencer Honors House (9:00 AM)
• Config Watch Party At Cahaba Brewery (11:00 AM)
• Open Mic Night With Zach Austin At Ferus On 41st (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Major League Baseball recently announced that Rickwood Field will host a special regular season game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals on Jun. 20, 2024. Rickwood Field is the country's oldest professional ballpark and is the former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League. Read more here. (City of Birmingham Government via Facebook)
• Birmingham Public Library Head Archivist James Leo Baggett Jr. has announced he will be retiring on Jun. 23. Baggett has overseen the library's Archives and Manuscripts Department since 1997. (Birmingham Public Library via Facebook)
• Saturn Birmingham has events scheduled every day through Saturday. Today, Michael Cera Palin will be performing, and on Friday, Jun. 23, the venue will be hosting a Go Go Gorilla Dance Party. (Saturn Birmingham via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 22)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.