Every year, at the point in late fall when the weather was transitioning from warm to winter, young Brad Wright’s grandfather would dispatch one of the pigs he raised on his farm in Autauga County. Brad loved watching Big Daddy – as his grandfather, A.C. Gilliland, was called – breaking it down into cuts that […]

UAB Hospital was once again named the best hospital in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report, in its 2023-2024 Best Hospital rankings. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital also claims the No. 1 ranking as the best hospital in the Birmingham metro area. In addition to the hospital’s local and statewide distinction, eight adult specialties are […]

In greater Huntsville, a mere week is not enough to celebrate all that the city’s culinary scene has going on. That’s why city promoters now set aside the entire month of August for exploring the flavors and diversity of its restaurants, dessert shops, breweries, and bars. The month’s main course is Huntsville Restaurant Week, actually […]

Alabama has been a part of a number of innovative initiatives over the last several years. Utilizing new technology for the improvement of homes and neighborhoods is one of these initiatives. Alabama Power now offers Smart Neighborhoods with a variety of impressive innovative features that utilize new technology to make living simultaneously more connected and […]

Alabama students can “adopt” a calf from a dairy in Pickens County and spend the upcoming school year learning about how cattle are raised on the small family farm, how milk is produced, and even how the business runs. Adopt a Cow pairs classrooms with farms, providing students with insight into where foods like milk, […]

Greater Birmingham is moving on up. When it comes to barbecue, the ’Ham is fire, according to the data crunchers at Clever Marketing.  They rated the Birmingham-Hoover metro area as the nation’s fourth-best for fans of smoked and pit-cooked meats, not to mention those who count macaroni and cheese as a side vegetable. The area […]

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield told the state’s economic developers that competition for new and expanding industry is fierce in the Southeast, likening it to chumming the waters for sharks, followed by a feeding frenzy. That feeding frenzy has led to deals in other states that Canfield said “don’t make sense.” Rather than getting caught […]

HUNTSVILLE — One million dollars. There was an audible “wow!” from the audience Wednesday when Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair and CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, presented a $1 million check to Mary Elizabeth Marr, chief executive officer of Thrive Alabama. The presentation kicked off a capital campaign to build a Thrive healthcare […]

Agua fresca may be the ultimate summertime drink. Made mostly with fruit, it takes full advantage of Alabama’s bounty of berries, stone fruit, and melons. Fully refreshing, it has a fraction of the sugar found in soft drinks and sweet tea. Agua fresca translates as “fresh water.” The drink originated in Mexico but variations are […]

In its first four years, Birmingham’s Sloss Tech conference earned growing attention in technology, innovation and entrepreneurial circles in the Southeast and across the nation. Beginning in 2016, all four annual conferences sold out, with a collective attendance of about 3,000 people coming to Birmingham from 47 states to compare notes and hear from renowned […]

Job creation tied to international investment in Alabama has been rapidly outpacing the state’s general employment growth rate, according to a report that tracks the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) across the U.S. The Global Business Alliance analysis says employment in Alabama tied to FDI surged 12% between 2015 and 2020, compared to overall […]

Huntsville Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s 2023 Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. The flagship campus of the not-for-profit Huntsville Hospital Health System, Huntsville Hospital treats more stroke patients […]

Less than an hour north of Birmingham, Cullman offers great food, a stunning lake, and a handful of important sights to see. Here is SoulGrown’s guide to 24 hours in Cullman. Morning at The Grotto Ave Maria Grotto is one of Alabama’s most intriguing historical sites that proves the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful […]

A new school psychology program from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education is being launched to address the state’s critical shortage of school psychologists. School psychologists play a vital role in the educational system. They provide assessments and interventions for students with learning and behavioral problems, and they work with teachers and […]

MOORESVILLE — The legend is true. Strange musical notes are floating over the face of the Singing River’s waters. It sings a song of health and wellness, of a flourishing economy, of education, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for people and for communities along North Alabama’s Singing River Trail. Thanks go to U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), […]

Have you ever heard the phrase “life is a movie”? It’s a classic cliché that helps us romanticize our lives and see beauty in the mundane. The phrase is a nice way to look at things, and we enjoy seeing our lives through a cinematic lens. For many, their summertime “movie” would include some combination […]

HUNTSVILLE – The winning streak began in 2019 and now, for the fifth year in a row, PeopleTec has been named a Best Workplace for Millennials in 2023. The Huntsville company was ranked No. 14 among small and medium companies and is the only Alabama-based company to appear on the list.  PeopleTec has some 200 […]

Over the past several years, North Alabama has seen an incredible amount of growth. With a long and fascinating past, places like Florence and Muscle Shoals have brought an impressive degree of historical significance and depth to the North Alabama region. With a recent renaissance, its ongoing transformation bears a striking resemblance to that of […]

Thanks to the many farmers markets around the Yellowhammer State, it’s now relatively easy to find Alabama-grown vegetables and fruit. Cheese? Well, that’s a bit more challenging. Dairy farming is tough and ever-demanding. Once an ultra-local product, mass-production of cow’s milk and related goods has squeezed out most family farms. Eighty years ago, the state had […]

National Oyster Day, August 5, arrives just in time for that final family trip to Alabama’s coast before school starts back. Coincidence? Shucks, who cares? From farmed oysters served raw to fried, baked, grilled, and steamed preparations, you’ll find the best bivalves from the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama’s bays at coastal restaurants like these. […]

The Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Clinic at UAB Hospital has been named a Center of Excellence by the Cure HHT foundation. HHT is an uncommon but serious genetic disease that prevents blood vessels from developing properly. The condition can lead to stroke, heart failure, anemia and serious bleeding — most often from the nose. The UAB HHT Clinic is led […]

With summer in full effect, many are looking for fun in the sun. Swimming is known as the staple activity of the season, and many in Alabama tend to enjoy the numerous natural bodies of water found across the state. However, while fun, unlike man-made pools which are cleaned and regulated, natural bodies of water […]

Moonshot Creamery, located in the Shops at Riverwalk Place in Tuscaloosa, is a new ice cream parlor and bottle shop that opened in June of 2023. The establishment is owned by Audrey and Paul Vermilyea, who also own Monarch Espresso Bar in downtown Tuscaloosa. Prior to being Moonshot, the pair opened Domo, an artisanal market […]

HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville was recently named one of eight “Most Charming Cities in the Appalachians” by map experts World Atlas. Ranked alongside Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tenn.; Greenville, S.C.; Asheville, N.C.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Youngstown, Ohio; and a twist of irony: World Atlas said Huntsville’s space program, specifically, is what makes the “Rocket City” charming. […]