What would you do if you woke up tomorrow with millions of extra dollars in your bank account?
At some point, most Alabamians have probably daydreamed of such a scenario. Perhaps you would buy a new house, a fancy car, or give it away to causes important to you.
Here’s the catch, if you don’t spend all the money in the next three months, you have to give it back. (more…)
The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has been awarded a $3.7 million Department of Defense (DoD) grant under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP) by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). As part of the Alabama Defense Advanced Manufacturing Community (ADAMC), UAH is tasked with utilizing this grant to undertake a $6.2 million project to focus on the visibility, workforce training and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies in the region, with an emphasis on the modernization of aviation, missiles and ground vehicle systems.
This award follows a competitive selection process culminating in Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment’s designation in August 2020 of six Defense Manufacturing Communities (DMC). UAH served as the lead for proposal development and grant funding and will act as the spokesperson presenting the consensus opinion of the consortium, as well as coordinating strategy implementation for the ADAMC that has just been designated as a DMC. (more…)
Imagine there’s a simple way to save your family money, help the environment and support the creation of American jobs in one simple step.
It’s not science fiction. It’s the reality for motorists who have chosen to drive electric vehicles (EVs) instead of gasoline-powered cars and trucks and explains how EVs have emerged as the fastest-growing transportation vehicle segment.
Anyone wanting to get an up-close look at electric vehicles and learn more about them can visit The Market at Pepper Place in Birmingham (in the parking lot in front of Betolla restaurant on Third Avenue South) on Saturday, Oct. 3. Electric car owners will be on hand from 8 a.m. until noon as part of a National Drive Electric Week EVent co-sponsored by the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (ACFC), UAB Sustainability, Alabama Power Company, the City of Birmingham and the Zero Emissions Owners Group (ZEOG). (more…)
Opinion polls consistently find that young Americans view socialism favorably. For example, in a recent Gallup poll, 49% of millennials and Gen Z’ers held a favorable view of socialism versus 32% of Baby Boomers. Does support for socialism indicate a need for more economic education in America’s high schools and colleges?
As an economics professor, I would certainly like more college students to take economics! States could emulate Texas’ requirement of a high school class in economics teaching the benefits of free enterprise.
Does learning about economics and markets necessarily reduce support for socialism? Or would economic education about markets just amount to indoctrination? (more…)
Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Alabama Democratic Executive Committee member Lisa Handback take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories, including:
— Now that it appears Republicans have the votes for President Donald Trump’s SCOTUS nominee, is there anything Democrats can do?
— Why did U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) make his decision without meeting Trump’s nominee?
— With new polls showing Tommy Tuberville up 18 points on Senator Jones, is the U.S. Senate race in Alabama over? (more…)
The mask order instituted by Gov. Kay Ivey under the COVID-19 health state of emergency is set to expire on October 2. However, indicators are suggesting that the order will be extended by Ivey in the coming days.
Despite Alabama’s southern neighbor Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis having issued an order to stop local governments from fining people for not wearing mandated face coverings last week, there is no sign that Alabama will follow suit.
Ivey told Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal” host Don Dailey that she was willing to do what works to maintain what appears to be an improving trend in Alabama on the coronavirus.
MOBILE, Alabama – The Airbus manufacturing facility in Alabama has marked a significant milestone – five years of aircraft production in its growing U.S. industrial home.
The Airbus manufacturing center in Mobile began producing its first passenger jet — an A321 christened “BluesMobile” and destined for JetBlue — on Sept. 14, 2015.
Since then, the Alabama plant has delivered more than 180 A320 family aircraft to eight airline customers. These Alabama-made passenger jets have flown 60 million passengers 500 million miles, according to Airbus. (more…)
Childersburg High School principal Dr. Quentin Lee has posted another YouTube video imploring students to follow CDC guidelines for staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This one – Germ Busters – is a parody of the 1984 earworm “Ghostbusters,” by Ray Parker Jr.
The video begins with Lee cruising into his school parking space driving a clean BMW X5 with the song “Fame” by David Bowie playing in the background. The setup is an apparent self-jab at the popularity of Lee’s last COVID video, a parody of MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This,” which went viral and gained the principal international, um, fame.
He exits the car but doubles back to grab, what else, his face shield. Upon entering the school, he’s immediately confronted by a staffer who alerts him: “Dr. Lee, there are germs in this school!” (more…)
As the focus turns from post-storm response to long-term recovery, government agencies, individuals, corporations and nonprofits are coming together to help the victims of Hurricane Sally.
On Sunday President Donald Trump granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Alabama, triggering the release of federal funds to help people and communities recover from the hurricane. Individuals in Baldwin, Escambia, and Mobile counties, as well as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, can register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for assistance by going online to https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, calling 1-800-621-3362 or by downloading the FEMA app. (more…)
Even Gary Danielson sounded good yesterday. That is how badly college football fans were craving a return to the field.
The next several days will be about assessing what happened. We start with this week’s power rankings, which are determined by the combined votes of our experts. Their individual votes can be seen with an explanation of their rankings.
Here is where we are after week one of SEC play:
(more…)
Each September, National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized as we draw attention to the causes, warning signs, and treatment options for those affected by this tragedy. You may think to yourself that this annual campaign is certainly important, but how does it impact you? The truth is, we can all help to reduce and prevent suicide.
As you know, the Second District is home to thousands of veterans. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an average of 20 veterans die by suicide every day – a rate of 1.5 times higher than non-veteran adults. I have spent my tenure in Congress fighting for better care of our veterans and sponsoring legislation to address these significant issues. We cannot allow suicide rates to be just a number. We must do what we can to ensure we are all educated on this crisis in order to help prevent it. (more…)
The Alabama Crimson Tide beat Missouri in its 2020 opening game, coasting to a 38-19 win. The Tide’s trip to Columbia mainly wielded dominance even though head coach Nick Saban will undoubtedly find a few things about which to be unhappy.
Here are a three of our takeaways:
Alabama is without peer in 2020. Saban’s squad looked sharp, deep and like the most talented roster in the country. ESPN game reporter and NFL draft expert Todd McShay said he has twelve Bama players with “draftable grades.” There is no phase of the Tide’s game that does not look elite. Meanwhile, the defending champion LSU Tigers have reverted back to their pre-2019 existence. Clemson is trying to get by as a two-man football team. Oklahoma lost to a Kansas State team which had lost to Arkansas State. And then there is Kirby Smart who cannot seem to solve Georgia’s quarterback riddle.
ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer said on Saturday, “The Big 12 and the SEC are a lot more open than we think.” We are not sure what he means. The only things between Alabama and an SEC championship are two months of COVID-19 tests.
(more…)
U.S. News & World Report places Tuskegee University fourth among the nation’s best Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the magazine’s latest rankings.
According to the report for 2021, released Sept. 14, improved student retention and alumni giving helped move Tuskegee forward from eighth place in the 2020 ranking. It is the second time in a row that Tuskegee has been ranked among the top 10 HBCUs.
“We are thrilled that U.S. News & World Report has ranked Tuskegee among the nation’s top collegiate institutions,” said Tuskegee University President Lily D. McNair. “The new rankings reflect the university’s focus on student success and the enthusiastic support of our outstanding alumni. (more…)
Charles Latham can never forget the 16 men he has spoken to, one-on-one, over the years about the need to be screened for prostate cancer.
They included friends and even two of his own brothers. Fifteen of the men heeded his advice and were tested, diagnosed and successfully treated for prostate cancer. Still, the one man who waited too long to get his screening will forever remain at the forefront of Latham’s mind.
“He said, ‘Tell my story. I should have listened to you,’” Latham said, remembering a conversation with his late friend in his final days. “I always have to talk about the one who asked me to tell his story.” (more…)
President Donald Trump on Saturday made official his intent to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the seat on the Supreme Court of the United States once held by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Barrett is widely beloved by conservatives across the United States, especially for her writing and past decisions on abortion. Trump announced the nomination at a White House ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
Elected officials and political candidates across Alabama reacted on Saturday to the decision by Trump to nominate Barrett, who was present along with her family at the ceremony.
(more…)
With a Supreme Court confirmation fight looming in the throes of a presidential election cycle, former Gov. Robert Bentley argues it did not have to be this difficult for Republicans to get President Donald Trump’s picks confirmed.
Bentley spoke about the decision by his successor, Gov. Kay Ivey, to hold a special election for the U.S. Senate seat he appointed then-Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the after Jeff Sessions resigned the seat to take the U.S. Attorney General post under President Donald Trump.
Bentley made mention of that 2017 special election, in which Democratic Party nominee Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore to give Democrats an additional vote for Republicans to overcome in the U.S. Senate, during an interview with Mobile radio’s FM Talk 106.5 on Friday. He argued had the election been held in 2018, the outcome would have been in favor of a Republican.
It was a strange day at Jordan Hare Stadium. There was no tail gaiting, no TigerWalk, no marching band on the field and only about 18,000 fans attendance. Gus Malzahn also ditched his traditional sweater vest and visor for a throwback Auburn hat and an orange and blue tie to honor the late Pat Dye.
Once the game started, things did not look very normal for Tiger fans either. The University of Kentucky Wildcats arrived in Auburn with the intention to dominate the line of scrimmage and come away victorious. The first 29 minutes and 34 seconds of the game pointed toward that happening.
(more…)
Just in time for the University of Alabama football season, the Paul W. Bryant Museum is reopening to visitors.
The museum, which closed in mid-March due to the coronavirus, is now Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (more…)
It’s the final week of the 2020 Census, and Alabama is counting on every household to submit its survey by Sept. 30. This quick, easy questionnaire collects information that determines Alabama’s federal representation in the U.S. Congress and funding levels for the next decade. (more…)
Paddlers from across the United States will be racing each other down 650 miles of Alabama’s scenic rivers later this month in the Great Alabama 650, the world’s longest annual paddle race.
The second annual Great Alabama 650 begins Sept. 26 on Weiss Lake in Centre. Racers will have 10 days to reach Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay via the core section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, the longest river trail in a single state. Laura Gaddy, communications director of the trail, said this year’s race will be different. (more…)
Alabama coach Nick Saban said his Crimson Tide football team is showing the right effort and intensity in practice, but it’s time to flip the switch and start finishing plays like they would in a game.
“We haven’t played a game in a long time,” Saban said. “We’ve got to get out of practice mode and make sure we’re practicing to develop the habits that are gonna become a part of our DNA as competitors in terms of how we play in a game.”
Alabama opens the season on the road against Missouri at 6 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Nick Saban: Crimson Tide focuses on finishing as season kickoff approaches from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)
The Season of Sankey officially gets underway today. The SEC takes the field for the first time this fall as a result of conference commissioner Greg Sankey’s well-planned approach to playing football amid COVID-19 conditions.
During the last two weeks, a parade of conferences have backtracked on plans to cancel their seasons and put in place schedules set to kick off beginning next month. If only they had followed one simple rule: be more like Sankey.
No doubt the season will be unusual. Expect the unexpected. And, as always, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Here are a few picks.
(more…)
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said he is happy game week has finally arrived, even though he knows his Auburn Tigers football team will be tested by the visiting Kentucky Wildcats.
“It’s been a long time coming to get to this point,” Malzahn said. “We’re playing a really good Kentucky Wildcat team. When you look at them offensively, last year they were one of the best rushing teams in all of college football. To be able to do that in this league says a lot.”
But Malzahn said he is also impressed by his own squad. (more…)
One aspect of living on Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast is the realization that the best-laid plan is no match for Mother Nature.
The original plan was to gather on September 16 at the Gulf State Park Pier to celebrate the grand reopening of the 1,542-foot pier after a $2.4 million renovation.
Although I’m a veteran of many tropical storms and hurricanes in my 28 years on the Gulf Coast, including back-to-back hits by Ivan and Katrina, the system that turned into Hurricane Sally threw me and many Gulf Coast residents a wicked curveball. (more…)