As is my custom for the past 21 years, my year end column illuminates Alabama political luminaries that passed away last year. We lost some good ones. Former State Senator and Lt. Governor George McMillan passed away in Birmingham at 81. George was a vivacious, delightful gentleman, who never met a stranger. I never knew […]

In the SEC, it just means more. However, that phrase has clearly begun to make its way north of the Mason-Dixon line, as students from the Northeast continue to flock to the South in record numbers. According to The Sunday Times, as relayed by Fox News, SEC colleges and universities saw a 91 percent increase […]

Alabama’s commitment to career and technical education earned national recognition this month as the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (Alabama ACTE) received top honors from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) for exceptional membership growth during fiscal year 2025. ACTE recognized Alabama ACTE for welcoming the largest number of new national […]

At the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), the future isn’t something to fear. It’s something to shape. As the nation’s only high school fully dedicated to integrating cyber technology and engineering into every academic discipline, ASCTE is leading the way in preparing students for a rapidly evolving world, including the new era […]

A quiet promise made within a family has grown into something much bigger for children across Sumter County. What began as an extension of an effort to support students facing food insecurity has now delivered a different kind of comfort: a safe, stable place to sleep. The Sumter County bed program has exceeded its original […]

A major philanthropic gift is helping drive momentum behind Tuscaloosa Academy’s Building Excellence Capital Campaign, courtesy of Chloé and Ric Mayers. Tuscaloosa Academy’s Building Excellence campaign aims to address longstanding facility limitations by constructing a modern athletic center that can better support the school’s growing academic and athletic programs. Ric Mayers, a real estate developer […]

Alabama families can now begin applying for education funding through the state’s CHOOSE Act, with application portals opening in phases for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. The CHOOSE Act, passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2024, created Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) that allow eligible families to receive refundable income tax credits to help cover a […]

Madison and Jared Powell arrived in Auburn as newlyweds with different dreams and separate career goals. Now, they will walk across the same graduation stage as Dr. Powell and Dr. Powell, earning Ph.D.s. Their fields could not be more different, but a shared Auburn experience turned two individual journeys into a milestone achieved together. Jared […]

While the holiday season can be a time of joy and celebration, it can also bring stress, exhaustion and burnout. With what can seem like an endless roster of social events, gift-giving obligations and the pressure to create the perfect holiday experience, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Burnout does not have to ruin […]

Governor Kay Ivey highlighted the Moseley family of Wilcox County this month as an example of Alabama families using the CHOOSE Act, the state’s education savings account (ESA) program. Laura Moseley has two children, Christopher “Cayden,” a 10th grader, and Kynslie, a seventh grader, who attend Wilcox Academy. “Laura Moseley’s story embodies exactly what the […]

Longtime benefactor Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. has gifted the first endowment to support The University of Alabama School of Leadership and Policy through the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. Endowed Professorship in Leadership and Policy. Culverhouse’s $500,000 gift will help the School attract and retain nationally recognized scholars and experts in public policy and leadership. The endowment is […]

At the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), the future isn’t something to fear. It’s something to shape. As the nation’s only high school fully dedicated to integrating cyber technology and engineering into every academic discipline, ASCTE is leading the way in preparing students for a rapidly evolving world, including the new era […]

As part of an ongoing effort to encourage young women to become engaged in Alabama government, State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) will host the third annual “Girls’ Day at the Capitol” on Tuesday, December 16. More than 100 girls from across Alabama, ranging from seventh through twelfth grade, have registered to attend the event, which […]

Troy University has launched a new Accelerated Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) track, an innovative pathway designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field and seek to transition into a professional nursing career. The new pathway will include both online and in-person classes. The in-person courses will be held at […]

Huntingdon College President Anthony Leigh has been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the accrediting agency that oversees more than 750 institutions across the South. The announcement was made during the organization’s annual meeting this week in Nashville. Leigh will serve a three-year […]

The North Pole meets North Alabama. Improving student attendance has been a major focus for the Alabama State Department of Education this year, and schools across the state have been exploring creative ways to keep students in the classroom. At Forest Hills Elementary School in Florence, that creativity comes with a pointy hat, curly shoes […]

The Alabama Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, is joining a growing list of Alabama cities suing the state over the Simplified Sellers Use Tax, filing a new lawsuit that argues Alabama’s current online sales tax structure shortchanges public schools. According to the AEA press release, the organization has formally entered litigation challenging how […]

At the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), the future isn’t something to fear. It’s something to shape. As the nation’s only high school fully dedicated to integrating cyber technology and engineering into every academic discipline, ASCTE is leading the way in preparing students for a rapidly evolving world, including the new era […]

The University of Alabama System proudly introduces the 18 students selected for the 2026 class of Capitol Scholars. The program provides exceptional UA System students pursuing government-related careers with immersive summer internships and experiential learning opportunities in Washington, D.C. “The Capitol Scholars Program offers students across the UA System an unmatched opportunity to develop professional […]

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is declaring victory after the Islamic Academy of Alabama withdrew their application to relocate a new school to a busy area in Hoover. Earlier this week, the Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to deny its request to relocate earlier this month. This came after considerable pushback from Tuberville […]

Removing cell phones from classrooms felt like progress — a collective sigh of relief from parents worn out by the digital tug-of-war. But as I’ve spoken with families across Alabama, one concern keeps coming up: even without personal devices, our children are still immersed in screens throughout the school day. Chromebooks. Online worksheets. Digital reading […]

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has been awarded a $2.8 million National Institutes of Health grant to support a groundbreaking biomedical experiment that will send human brain tissue models into space in hopes of unlocking new insights into Alzheimer’s disease. The project — officially titled “Exploiting accelerated aging associated with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) […]

Even in retirement, Nick and Terry Saban continue to make it clear that their greatest work in Alabama extends beyond football. Their long-standing commitment to helping children grow into their fullest potential remains at the heart of their mission, and this week, that dedication was on display once again in Tuscaloosa. At the Tuscaloosa River […]

Anniston High School students, faculty and staff will have Friday, December 5, off as the Bulldogs prepare to compete in the 4A AHSAA Super 7 Championship — and the entire City of Anniston is rallying behind the team with a full week of celebrations. Anniston City Schools announced Monday that classes will be canceled, so […]