One of the images that stick out in my mind when I reflect on the World Games is how welcoming our city was to athletes, coaches and fans from all over the world. From the standing ovation and message of solidarity that was given to the Ukrainian athletes, to stories of local volunteers driving to […]

The 2023 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest will begin accepting entries on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. This year’s contest is a joint project between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Alabama Tourism Department. The deadline to enter is October 31, 2022. The 2023 photo contest will focus on traditional photography techniques […]

Tuesday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that it had awarded a $150,000 grant to Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma. The grant, which was awarded from the organization’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, will address termite and water issues. Additionally, the funds will be utilized to replace the tower cupolas’ […]

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation that would designate areas within the 19 counties of Alabama’s Black Belt region as a National Heritage Area. Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham), the designation would preserve the region’s rich history and pave the way for enhanced funding and tourism opportunities. The bill passed […]

Hosted in Leighton, Alabama, at the crossroads of Old Highway 20 and County Line Road, Sledgefest celebrates the legacy of Percy Sledge, a legendary soul singer. The event is an all-day commemoration of the historic city and culture that permeates throughout. A city of fewer than 1,000 citizens, Leighton is known for being the hometown […]

The Montgomery Zoo is set to unveil a bachelor herd of four Nile lechwe. The African antelope, the first of its species, will be introduced to the public on July 19. According to a release, these antelope are native to hot, wet climates in Africa, such as the Bahr-el-Ghazel district of the Southern Sudan and […]

When the nonprofit group Main Street Alabama announced June 1 that it would partner with the city of Demopolis to support efforts to revitalize its downtown, it was hard for local supporters to contain their excitement. “Downtown is our heart,” said Rhae Darsey, executive director of Main Street Demopolis, the local organization dedicated to re-energizing the historic […]

Birding enthusiasts from across Alabama and the Southeast will be flying to Greensboro and the surrounding area later this month for the Second Annual Black Belt Birding Festival, and there’s still time to join this growing celebration of nature. Hosted by Alabama Audubon, the event on July 29-30 spotlights the diverse varieties of birds that flock into […]

A college student applied for the music position in our church. She was a good musician and had a pleasant personality. One Sunday she dressed very casually. The next week I discussed this with her, explaining that the pastor and congregation thought worship leaders should dress more formally on Sunday. She took this as a […]

If you are into paddling, there is probably no better place to do it than in North Alabama. If you’re new to paddling, or interested in taking up a new adventurous hobby, you have also come to the right place. And if you are trying to come up with something family-friendly to add to the […]

Dr. John Lehrter and the University of South Alabama School of Marine and Environmental Sciences will play a lead role in a $3.1 million project to study water and sediment quality along the Alabama Gulf Coast. The three-year program will be funded by the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council with money from the BP oil spill settlement. […]

The Bailey Cove Farmers Market in Huntsville leads Alabama at the quarter-way mark in balloting for the America’s Farmers Market Celebration, a summer-long promotion that allows local-food fans to vote for their favorite direct-from-grower outlets. The competition, sponsored by the American Farmland Trust and the Farmers Market Coalition, carries a $10,000 prize package for the top five […]

Logan Black, a Conservation Enforcement Officer with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, approached Nate Jacobs and said she’d heard about him hunting a certain piece of property. Black played her part in the ruse well and had Nate squirming, wondering where he’d run afoul of the […]

Following Jesus is never easy, but it is always an adventure. Michelle Raftery is living this out in real-time. In this episode, Michelle shares how her family moved from Texas to California following the Lord’s call. She outlines how they started a business based on a prompting from God, then gave up that business to […]

It’s 2022, and Alabama finds itself ranked 50 out of 51 (including the District of Colombia) on Mental Health America’s 2022 Report for states with the best access to mental health care for adults. This statistic alone is one of the reasons Better exists. Better is a nonprofit funding therapy for women in Alabama and […]

In an effort to help Alabama’s youth better their knowledge and understanding of the founding and history of the United States, Troy University and the American Village in Montevallo are joining forces. The two institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a leadership program that targets high school juniors and seniors and educates […]

When members of the Air Force and other military personnel are deployed overseas, they often know little about the people and customs of the country where they will be stationed. Because they may be dispatched almost immediately to their new post, it’s important for them to get up to speed as quickly as possible. The […]

The last two years have been filled with an ebb and flow of trends throughout the pandemic. While some have faded, like bread baking and the popularity of Tiger King, others like board games and Zoom have remained. Another of the biggest lasting trends has been an increased interest in birdwatching. Businesses that sell birdfeed […]

Singer Tony Orlando recorded “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” in 1973, the story of a man after release from prison. He tells his sweetheart to tie a yellow ribbon to the oak tree if she’ll welcome him, but if he doesn’t see the ribbon, he’ll stay on the bus and travel on. When he drew nearer […]

It’s 2022, and Alabama finds itself ranked 50 out of 51 (including the District of Colombia) on Mental Health America’s 2022 Report for states with the best access to mental health care for adults. This statistic alone is one of the reasons Better exists. Better is a nonprofit funding therapy for women in Alabama and […]

I was blessed to be able to attend several events during the Olympic Games when Atlanta hosted in 1996, including velodrome cycling, team handball, and the Gold-Medal soccer match when Nigeria beat Argentina. It’s funny, when you watch international sports on television—whether it’s the Olympics, World Cup or The World Games—the standard practice is to […]

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Space Hardware Club robotic rover team finished third among U.S. teams and sixth overall in recent competition at the University Rover Challenge (URC) Finals in the desert of southern Utah. The 21-member SHC team from UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System competed for the first […]

One of the fastest non-motorized sports in The World Games will be held at one of the most historic venues in downtown Birmingham. The parking lot at the former Powell Steam Plant is being converted into a course to host the inline speed skating competition July 8-11. Skaters can reach speeds between 30 and 35 miles per hour and […]

Birmingham, AL –  This Miss Alabama program held their 100th Anniversary event Saturday evening at the Wright Center on the Samford University campus. The exciting week of competition culminated with Lindsay Fincher, of Wedowee, being crowned Miss Alabama 2022 and winning the $15,000 cash scholarship that comes with the title. Fincher, a graduate of the University […]