🌱 Tourism Hits Records Levels + Birmingham Xpress Fares Suspended

Hello all. I'm back with your new edition of the Birmingham Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny with a t-storm. High: 82 Low: 69.

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Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. According to an announcement from the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, the city's tourism has returned to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, tourism generated a record $2.4 billion in economic impact for Jefferson County in 2022. The announcement also shared that the Greater Birmingham area hosted $3.9 million overnight visitors in 2022, a 7 percent increase over 2021. (Bham Now)
2. On Tuesday, Birmingham City Council approved an amendment that will add $300,000 to cover the cost of suspending fares for the Birmingham Xpress while a consolidated payment system is developed. This means that fares for the Birmingham Xpress will be temporarily suspended while a consolidated payment system is created for both fixed-route MAX Transit buses and the Birmingham Xpress rapid transit system so that riders using both systems won't have to pay separate fares for each. (AL.com)
3. Prepare yourself (and your stomach) — the 2023 FOOD + Culture Festival is set to take place this fall from Oct. 12-15, with five signature events taking place during the four-day festival. The event is set to feature over 50 featured chefs, mixologists, and brewers, plus an expanded farmers' market at Pepper Place. Tickets will go on sale in mid-July, but you can submit your email here to be among the first to know when they're available. (Bham Now)

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Today in Birmingham:

Thursday, June 15

• Steel City Smooth Jazz Festival At Lit On 8th (5:00 PM)
• Birmingham Barons Vs. Tennessee Smokies At Regions Field (7:05 PM)

From my notebook:

• Birmingham City Schools are currently hiring. A summer hiring event will take place on Thursday, Jun. 22 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at A.H. Parker School. You can sign-up for the event here. (Birmingham City Schools via Facebook)
• Did you know that you can experience the Birmingham Zoo after dark? You can sign up for the next Twilight Tour taking place this Friday, Jun. 16 to learn more about what goes on at the zoo as night falls. Sign up here. (The Birmingham Zoo via Facebook)
• Country music fans, listen up: Johnny Cash-The Official Concert Experience will now be a part of the Broadway in Birmingham Series' 23–24 Broadway Season as a season add-on. The production will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. Don't "walk the line" on getting tickets, because there will only be one show. (Broadway World)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another 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.