On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey introduced the Siemens family of Dothan as participants in Alabama’s CHOOSE Act, the state’s education savings account program. Parents Brady and Hannah Siemens have three children—Gabriel, an 11th grader; Remington, a 7th grader; and Annalise, a 3rd grader—who are all enrolled with support from the program. “Brady and Hannah Siemens […]

A South Alabama family stumbled onto quite the discovery while fishing along a riverbank — the fossilized shell of a 32-million-year-old leatherback sea turtle, according to a news release issued jointly by the McWane Science Center, Poarch Creek Indians, and the Learning Campus. The specimen, nearly four feet long and three feet wide, represents a […]

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that it will stop awarding discretionary grants to a range of Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs over concerns that the funding is unconstitutional because it is tied to racial and ethnic quotas. The decision follows a determination by the U.S. Solicitor General in July that Hispanic-Serving Institution programs […]

The Alabama Forestry Association drew record-breaking attendance at its 2025 annual meeting this weekend in Orange Beach. More than 450 industry leaders from across Alabama and the Southeast took part in the three-day gathering. AFA President and CEO Chris Isaacson praised the event’s momentum. “This year’s Annual Meeting was a tremendous success for the forest […]

Beth Chapman’s life and career read like a portrait of what it means to live with purpose, integrity, and an unyielding commitment to others. As Alabama’s 51st Secretary of State, a three-time statewide elected official, a respected national leader, and now the founder of her own successful government relations firm, Chapman has spent decades shaping […]

The University of South Alabama (USA) is reporting its largest freshman class in school history this fall, marking the third consecutive year of overall enrollment growth, according to data released by the university. Total enrollment climbed to 14,285 students, an increase from 14,003 last year. The surge was driven largely by undergraduate growth, including 2,137 […]

State Rep. Mark Shirey (R-Mobile) has officially announced his re-election campaign for Alabama House District 100. Shirey, who has represented the district for almost a full term, said he plans to continue drawing on his three decades of experience in healthcare and business to continue serving West Mobile. “As a lifelong Republican, I believe in […]

For Birmingham attorney and author Erin Brown Hollis, life has been a winding path of professional achievement, family devotion, and a calling to encourage others. A member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group, she has built a career handling complex litigation while balancing the roles of wife, mother, author, and mentor. Her early career included a […]

A coalition of Alabama business leaders has announced support for Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate in his campaign for Lt. Governor in 2026, citing his record as a business owner and commitment to economic growth. The group, called Business Partners for Rick Pate, launched this week and is actively recruiting other leaders from across the state. […]

For State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), public service is more than a title or career path — it’s a calling. A Mississippi native who built a successful career in finance with Compass Bank before spending 20 years as a stay-at-home mother, DuBose has emerged as one of the most active voices in Montgomery, balancing deeply […]

Alabama-born supermodel Abby Champion has married actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, in a ceremony held over the weekend at the Gozzer Ranch country club in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Champion, a native of Vestavia Hills, graduated from Vestavia Hills High School where she was a cheerleader before pursuing her modeling career. […]

Lee Marshall’s life story is one of resilience, vision, and devotion to a mission bigger than herself. Born into foster care and adopted at the age of two, she experienced firsthand the life-changing power of a forever family. That foundation not only shaped her path but gave her a calling: to be a voice for […]

The TumTum Tree Foundation has announced Nov. 6-8 as the dates for its annual wine auction weekend, one of the nation’s leading charity wine events. For more than three decades, the Birmingham-based nonprofit has brought together top chefs, world-class winemakers, and generous supporters to raise millions for Alabama children facing life-altering and life-threatening illnesses. That […]

State Sen. April Weaver, (R-Brierfield), has been chosen to help steer a statewide effort aimed at strengthening healthcare access in Alabama’s rural communities. She will serve as co-chair of the Rural Roadmap Initiative’s healthcare committee, a panel tasked with drafting policies and legislation to address longstanding gaps in rural medical care. Weaver will serve as […]

Charisse D. Stokes has built her career at the crossroads of technology, innovation, and community leadership. As president of Tidal IT Solutions, she helps government and commercial clients adapt and grow in a rapidly changing digital economy. She also serves as executive director of TechMGM and leads The Alabama Collective, both dedicated to strengthening Alabama’s […]

The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) reports that it is on track to welcome the largest freshman class in school history this fall. Preliminary figures show about 500 more first-time, full-time freshmen than in 2024, when just over 2,000 students enrolled. That increase would bring the 2025 freshman class to approximately 2,500 students — a […]

Bill Morris, a longtime public servant and community leader, has announced his candidacy for Alabama House District 50. Morris said he hopes to bring decades of local government experience and a commitment to St. Clair County to the Alabama Legislature. State Rep. Jim Hill (R-Moody), who has represented HD50 since 2014, recently announced he will […]

Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan has built her leadership around a simple but powerful idea: protecting and preserving what makes Fairhope special while preparing it for the future. Elected in 2020, Sullivan’s work has been defined by a balance of growth and preservation, ensuring that Fairhope remains both a destination and a beloved hometown. Her leadership […]

Spirit Airlines will discontinue service at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, effective October 3, according to the Birmingham Airport Authority. The low-fare carrier will end flights to Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and Detroit, as part of a broader exit from Birmingham and ten other U.S. airports following its second bankruptcy filing in August. Spirit Airlines first entered the […]

Alice Lessmann’s story is one of perseverance, service, and leadership across the military, healthcare, business, and civic life. Rooted in North Alabama, she has built a career and a reputation defined by resilience, quiet grit, and a steady commitment to serving others. Definitional accomplishments When asked what she is most proud of, Lessmann doesn’t hesitate […]

One of Alabama’s most storied sporting estates is now available. The historic Maytag Plantation, a 1,579-acre recreational retreat in Union Springs, has been listed for $11.1 million. The plantation traces its origins to the 1920s, when L.B. Maytag of the Maytag appliance family acquired the land as a private retreat. It later became known as […]

Guy Fieri is bringing ‘Flavortown’ to Alabama with the opening of its first location in the state this week. Chicken Guy! is the name of the new restaurant. Created by celebrity chef and TV personality Guy Fieri, the restaurant will open Thursday at 9:30 a.m. inside the Walmart Supercenter in Gardendale. Fieri, known for his […]

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) announced his support for the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act of 2025, a proposed bill that would hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its role in the nation’s fentanyl epidemic. The bill would impose sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals involved in the manufacturing or trafficking of fentanyl and other […]

Nominations are officially open for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2026 National Small Business Week Awards — with Alabama categories included. Entrepreneurs in areas such as manufacturing, rural communities, veteran-owned ventures, and women-led firms can take center stage. “During National Small Business Week, we honor America’s job creators and the vital role they play in […]