The Alabama Mining Association (AMA) recently announced the results of its inaugural Alabama Surface Mine First Responder Competition. The competition was held in early July at the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa. Hosted by the Alabama Mine Safety & Training Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by AMA, the event consisted of six teams participating in […]

Mobile-based shipbuilder Austal USA has been awarded a U.S. Coast Guard contract, which has the potential to reach $3.3 billion in value, to construct 11 medium-endurance Offshore Patrol Cutters. The shipbuilding award, which includes $209 million in immediate obligated funding, is in support of the maritime branch’s Offshore Patrol Cutter program. The program will commission […]

Industry-leading security and compliance provider Summit 7 Systems has been recognized as the 2022 Microsoft US (MSUS) Compliance Partner of the Year. According to a release, the award recognizes partners that have extensively utilized Microsoft’s Compliance product portfolio, which leads to the formulation of solutions that enable long-term customer success. Summit 7, which supports the […]

A recent partnership formed between the Alabama Association of Realtors (AAR) and Alabama State University (ASU) will promote opportunities for ASU students to gain in-depth education relating to the real estate industry. The partnership, which is a first-of-its-kind between a realtor association and a historically black college and university (HBCU), will offer students a microcredential […]

A phrase often heard these days is “date the rate, marry the house.” As homebuyers have watched interest rates rise over last year, this has been the advice to cautious purchasers. Today, buyers are reacting in one of two ways: they’re either making the decision to buy now before rates climb higher, or they’re waiting […]

Montgomery-based personal injury and consumer protection attorney Gibson Vance, a principal at Beasley Allen Law Firm, recently assumed the position of president of the Alabama State Bar. Gibson has been a partner at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis and Miles, P.C. for 22 years. The attorney, who has handled cases throughout Alabama, will continue his […]

In recent years, AT&T has displayed its commitment to expanding its presence in Alabama by making significant investments in the state’s digital infrastructure. Demonstrating its dedication to closing the digital gap for Alabamians, the telecommunications giant invested nearly $1.5 billion in Yellowhammer State wireless and wireline networks from 2019 to 2021. The following are AT&T’s […]

A phrase often heard these days is “date the rate, marry the house.” As homebuyers have watched interest rates rise over last year, this has been the advice to cautious purchasers. Today, buyers are reacting in one of two ways: they’re either making the decision to buy now before rates climb higher, or they’re waiting […]

Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles & Defense are two names in Alabama’s robust defense industry that are best known for their roles in supporting the warfighter in protecting the homeland against foreign threats. Recently, the companies stood shoulder-to-shoulder to battle a different type of threat: food insecurity. Partnering with Rise Against Hunger, a nonprofit movement […]

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is in the final stages of preparation for the launch of an Atlas V 541 rocket in support of a U.S. Space Force mission relating to missile defense. The USSD-12 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) features two satellite payloads, which will be delivered into orbit approximately […]

Merry Michael Smith, director of media at Birmingham-based Big Communications, has been recognized as one of the top women in her profession by Ragan Communications. Smith was named to Ragan’s 2022 Top Women in Communications Awards List in the Mentor category, which is an annual national program that honors female communications professionals for their excellence […]

HUNTSVILLE — Lockheed Martin Space on Monday held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) Missile System Integration Lab. The $16.5 million, 25,000-square-foot facility will initially serve to meet the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) needs relating to its efforts to modernize the United States’ defensive capabilities in the realm of missile warfare. The […]

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recently selected Raytheon to continue its development of the first-ever interceptor designed to eliminate the threat of hypersonic missiles. The MDA’s announcement regarding the Glide Phase Interceptor’s (GPI) development ensures that Huntsville will continue to play a vital role in developing new technologies aimed at deterring the threat of foreign […]

The reborn United States Football League has completed its first regular season. USFL players made $4,500 per game, or $45,000 for the season. By contrast, top NFL players make one thousand times more than this. How can such salary differentials exist across the same profession? Pro athletes earn what economists call rent, a concept first […]

Birmingham-based Bronze Valley recently added two new companies to its investment portfolio of startups. The addition of Stimulus and Pruuvn brings to 17 the number of investments by Bronze Valley since its launch in 2017. “Both of these companies are geared to the present and future of business in a changing landscape,” said Neill S. Wright, president and CEO of Bronze […]

The pursuit of adventure and a desire to fulfill a higher purpose has led Auburn alumnus Marc Tunstall through an illustrious career in the military and government agencies, and now is taking him across the globe to the frozen tundra of Antarctica. The 1990 Auburn University graduate has enjoyed a varied and meaningful career since his days […]

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) is this year’s recipient of Manufacture Alabama’s “Friend of the Industry” award. Alabama’s senior senator was recognized with the honor during the association’s annual Washington, D.C. fly-in earlier this month. Manufacture Alabama is the state’s only trade association solely focused on representing the interests of the industry. Its membership includes […]

Last week, medical equipment manufacturer InTech held a groundbreaking ceremony to expand its operations facility in Athens. The company, which now employs over 500 worldwide, began as Turner Medical in 1985 in Athens. It later developed into a specialty precision and machining for medical devices. In the mid-2000s, it was purchased by French company InTech. […]

The one word we in Alabama want and need to hear when a child needs serious medical attention is “Children’s.” At Children’s Hospital of Alabama, we know a child will receive the absolute best health care and most up-to-date medical treatment available. U.S. News & World Report has again recognized that fact and named Children’s […]

The February shutdown of an Abbott Laboratories plant in Michigan due to contamination precipitated the nationwide baby formula shortage. The plant finally resumed production this month. Whether these events reflect corporate greed or bureaucratic bungling illustrates why we so often disagree about policy. Let’s start with some facts. Abbott is one of the four largest […]

They say dogs are a man’s best friend, but a Birmingham-based nonprofit is proving that they can also be much more than that. Animal-assisted therapy provider Hand in Paw has been serving Central Alabama since 1996 when former Greater Humane Society of Birmingham Executive Director Beth Franklin founded the organization. After years spending day in and day […]

To help make higher education more accessible for active-duty military members, University of Alabama Online is launching a new grant that will help cover tuition costs. The UA Online Military Tuition Grant is designed to help remove financial barriers for service members who want to earn a bachelor’s degree. “By reducing the financial obstacles and resolving the limitations presented […]

Trade association political endorsements are typically noncontroversial in nature. However, a statement one organization offered in a recent endorsement may have overshadowed the promotion of its preferred candidate. Earlier this week, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of North Alabama announced its support of former Huntsville City Schools superintendent Casey Wardynski’s congressional bid. Wardynski and […]

The state of Alabama has once again recorded a new historic low unemployment rate, according to May’s jobs report released Friday by the governor’s office. May’s 2.7% unemployment rate is down from April’s rate of 2.8%. The rate this time last year sat at 3.6%. In a statement touting the updated unemployment statistics, Gov. Kay […]