I’ve met many famous people throughout my career – presidents, movie stars, authors, Miss Americas, singers, athletes, politicians and more. Some have been impressive, others not so much. Some have had great personalities and seemed genuine, while others were as fake as the thick makeup they wore. Some celebrities are genuine to the core – […]

A group of Montgomery public school students recently stepped up to pitch their innovative ideas, with some real money on the table to make the winning proposal a reality. Twelve teams from Halcyon Elementary School participated in the inaugural School Pitch competition – “If It Is To Be … It Begins With Me!” The pitch event was […]

Omar Young grew up loving his mother’s cakes. He never thought he would be in the business of making them. “I got into baking by trying to lend a hand to my mom,” he said. “I never cracked an egg before.” Mary Young founded My Sweetheart Bakery in Fairfield before handing the business over to her son. […]

Though I love the classic oldies of my college days, I have, in recent months, enjoyed listening to podcasts. Everybody seems to have ambition to podcast today. There are just too many to choose from and too little drive time to hear all I wish. I like Megyn Kelly’s podcasts. She’s a good host with […]

Alabama students with special needs enjoyed the thrill of fishing at the annual Exceptional Anglers event, “Gone Fishin’ Not Just Wishin’,” at Oak Mountain State Park. Members of the Alabama Power Service Organization (APSO) were among the scores of volunteers who supported this year’s three-day event May 11-13, which was blessed with ideal spring weather. The event teaches […]

As part of its campaign to educate the public about the need to keep Alabama’s biorich watersheds free of litter that could pose threats to marine life, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has installed in Mobile County the first of several wildlife sculptures to be placed at state welcome centers. The “Help Keep Our Waters […]

Reggie White had to travel across the country, to San Jose, California, to realize he wanted to be a teacher. White, who grew up in rural Choctaw County, was a communications major at Alabama State University in Montgomery in the 1990s. He joined the Baptist Student Union, and on a mission trip to California for the summer, […]

A storied history, rich culture and fertile soil are not the only features of the Alabama Black Belt to be celebrated. The Black Belt is also an important economic driver in our state’s outdoor recreation industry. In fact, outdoor recreation in the Black Belt accounts for one-third of those economic benefits for the entire state. […]

Alabama’s Rocket City is the best place to live in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Huntsville notched the top spot in the outlet’s 2022-2023 edition of “Best Places to Live in the United States” unveiled Tuesday. The list ranks the nation’s 150 most populous metropolitan areas based on affordability, desirability […]

Last week, 10-year-old Owen Rouse was named the winner of the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s 2022 Big Gobbler Photo Contest. Owen traveled with his father Scott to Perry County to participate in an early-season hunt. According to their hunting report, after several hours of calling and hunting were over, the father and son with […]

When I was a boy preacher, I heard affirmations from congregants such as, “Preacher, you really stepped on my toes today!” This remark meant I’d either raised my voice or spoke forthrightly about known sins (known sins in that day were smoking and drinking). Another phrase was “You shelled the corn today, preacher!” This comment […]

Fifty years ago, on May 15, 1972, I was a student at the University of Alabama and in my Tuscaloosa apartment when a “Special Report” on the television announced that my father, Gov. George C. Wallace, had been shot and critically injured in an assassination attempt on his life. The frontrunner for the Democratic presidential […]

Cece Kelly knew from an early age that she wanted to make a go of acting as a career. She has the Virginia Samford Theatre and director Jack Mann to thank for that. “I did ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ at the Virginia Samford Theatre when I was 11,” she says. “That show, and the director, made me realize […]

Hiking deep into the Alabama woods, the foragers spot orange trumpet-shape mushrooms growing from the damp forest floor near several trees. After confirming the fungi are not a toxic or poisonous look-alike, they start gathering the gourmet goods, which can fetch $30 or more per pound from chefs at high-end restaurants or at nearby farmers […]

On Saturday, June 11, 2022, Alabamians and out-of-state visitors alike will have the opportunity to fish for free in most public waters including both freshwater and saltwater. Free Fishing Day allows residents and non-residents to enjoy the outstanding fishing Alabama has to offer without purchasing a fishing license. The event is part of National Fishing and Boating […]

Amazon CEO David Clark this past weekend gave the keynote speech at the spring commencement for his alma mater, Auburn University. During the speech, he challenged graduates to consider taking chances and not to fear failure. He used his own experiences to highlight “nonlinear” paths to a career and provide necessary life principles. Commenting on […]

After serving on the Yellowhammer Multimedia team for just under a year, Birmingham resident Courtney Hancock has been named CEO of SoulGrown, Alabama’s premier lifestyle brand. The 29-year-old Huntsville native holds extensive experience in the fields of media, marketing and communications. Deeply rooted within the heart of Alabama, Hancock for 12 years has called the […]

It happened twice lately, and on the same day, when I was innocently identified as a preacher. I walked into a funeral home and the director asked, “Are you the minister?” I said I was a minister but not the minister that day for that funeral. She said, “Oh, I knew you were a preacher.” […]

Automotive manufacturing is one of Alabama’s most important industries, and inspiring Alabama students for careers in the field is an ongoing mission. Last week, more than 1,500 students from across the state got a glimpse into automotive career opportunities and other engineering- and manufacturing-related fields during “Field Trip Friday” at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of […]

UAB School of Nursing Associate Professor Pariya Wheeler has been awarded a two-year, $100,000 grant to study the neuropsychological impact of COVID-19 in older adults. It is one of UAB’s first grants examining the cognitive effects of COVID-19 and one of eight awards from the National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN) and the Alzheimer’s Association. Wheeler’s study will recruit 100 adults age 65 and older who had […]

Way back in the 1930s, the Moon River gas station, roadhouse and dance hall in eastern Jefferson County was a good-time gathering place for locals and travelers. The former Moon River roadhouse and dancehall. (contributed) On Tuesday, public officials joined the nonprofit Freshwater Land Trust to proclaim the official opening of a different kind of attraction at […]

A graduate of the University of Alabama is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) about 250 miles above the Earth after successfully piloting a SpaceX craft. In his first flight to space, Bob Hines, a NASA astronaut, was responsible for vehicle performance and systems on its journey to the ISS and is now part of a science expedition mission. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Hines earned […]

A nearly 1,000-year-old collection of cave drawings is secretly embedded within North Alabama’s mountain range along the foothills of lower Appalachia. While researchers are keeping the cave’s location under wraps, they were willing to detail to academic journal Antiquity the treasure trove that they deem to be the richest prehistoric cave art site on the […]

May is an interesting month for our neighbors to the South. This year, Mexico commemorates the 200th anniversary of the coronation of Emperor Agustín I, and the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla. These seemingly obscure events are vital to a complete understanding of the Mexican experience. As a colony of Spain, the internal […]