Jerry Lee Lewis tells Rick Bragg his story
Monroe News-Star (La.) – Oct. 28
Northeastern Louisiana is proud of its characters, though often they seem to move too quickly out of the present and into the past, with the word “legendary” attached — whether they are dead or alive. It is that way for Jerry Lee Lewis, a famous and infamous son of Ferriday who has lived in Mississippi for many years. Now, at 79, Lewis has a biography “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg. Bragg will be a featured speaker at Saturday’s 11th Annual Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge where he will read excerpts from “Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story” beginning at noon in the State Capitol in the House Chamber. “I went and sat by his bedside in Nesbit over two summers,” Bragg said in a telephone interview. “He just kind of talked. Sometimes we talked about some very sad things. He talked about his addictions and the fistfights and sometimes the gunfights.” Bragg is a professor of journalism at the University of Alabama and columnist for Southern Living magazine (his column is always on the last page).
Student Researchers Recognized at NanoBio Summit 2014
University Herald – Oct. 29
Four undergraduate and three graduate students, representing various universities, were recognized for their work during the NanoBio Summit 2014. Judges selected student presenters as winners for their research poster presentations given during the forum. “The summit brought 200 students, faculty, researchers and state and federal program officials to The University of Alabama campus,” Dr. Carl A. Pinkert, vice president for research and economic development at the University of Alabama, said in a statement. “Dr. Patty Sobecky and her organizing committee, representing eight Alabama universities, did a tremendous job bringing together science, engineering and technology-based expertise that clearly benefitted the many students in attendance.” Sarah McFann, of University of Alabama’s chemical and biological engineering department, won first place in the undergraduate division. The poster was titled “Automated, Tablet-Based Microscope for Imaging 3D Culture Models of Breast Epithelia Growth and Behavior.”
Criminal justice to offer cybercrime minor
Crimson White – Oct. 28
Starting next semester, the department of criminal justice will offer a new cyber criminology minor. The criminology minor will offer students a more specific look at technology’s role in changing the nature of crime. “The department of criminal justice recognized that traditional crimes are being committed using new forms of technology; we call this ‘old crimes with new tricks,’ such as cyberbullying and human sex trafficking,” said Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, an assistant professor in the department. “In addition, new criminal activities have emerged, such as computer hacking. Finally, cybercrimes have the ability to impact not only individuals and businesses, but our nation’s security, so there is a growing need for students to have an understanding of cybercriminal behavior.” Seigfried-Spellar assisted associate professor Jimmy Williams in the creation of the new minor. Both said students were very supportive of the addition.
University of Alabama to hold Crimson Couch to 5K/10K
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 28
The community is invited to participate in the fifth annual Crimson Couch to 5K/10K at 2 p.m. Nov. 16. The event will feature live entertainment, a kids dash and a 5K/10K course for runners and walkers. The course will begin and end in the parking area just west of UA’s Outdoor Pool Complex on Campus Drive East. A nine-week training program precedes the Crimson Couch to 5K/10K event. This year, more than 800 UA faculty and staff registered for the program, designed to improve overall health and fitness in a supportive environment. On-site registration will begin at 12:30 p.m. with children’s activities, Big Al and Crimson Couch photo opportunities. The kids dash at 1 p.m. will be followed by a group warm-up at 1.30 p.m. 10K runners will start at 1:45 p.m., followed by 5K runners-walkers at 2 p.m. Refreshments, health vendors and door prizes will be available before the event and at the finish line.
Rise program holds Halloween party
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 28
Halloween is for all ages, especially kids. Kids from the University of Alabama’s RISE Program had a ball at their Halloween party today. They were all in costume, sang and danced to Halloween songs. The Alabama Power Service organization threw the party. It allowed students from all the classes to get together with their families for some fun and to learn something at the same time.
Sorority Row Trick-or-Treat
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Oct. 28
Kids got a head start on their trick-or-treating last night … “They’re so original this year … there’s a little Captain Hook and some girl dressed up as a bubble bath … so it’s just cute seeing the kids bring out their creative side. While lots of kids chose cute costumes, some, chose creepy … “It’s nice to have something at the University that supports the community and something that shows that you want to kind of give back even though really what you’re doing is giving out candy, but it’s really nice to have.”
Alabama health official speaks in Tuscaloosa on state’s Ebola safety effort
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 28
New York and New Jersey are requiring stances with mandatory quarantine for people who travel to the U.S. from Ebola-affected regions in West Africa, but Alabama’s policy is more lenient, said Dr. Albert White, health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health for Area 3, which includes Tuscaloosa. Alabama is following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to track the travelers and ask that they voluntarily quarantine themselves. All travelers from the Ebola-stricken countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are being given self-monitoring kits when they arrive at the five designated airports in the U.S., which include New York City’s Kennedy International Airport, Washington Dulles International, O’Hare-Richard Daley International in Chicago, Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta and Newark Liberty International in New Jersey … The student health center at the University of Alabama is working closely with the state health department, and is prepared to identify symptoms and act if a student has traveled to the affected countries, said Margaret Garner, the center’s director. “We are on top of it,” she said. “We look at this as part of our responsibility.” UA, like universities across the nation, are in contact with students, faculty or staff from the affected region in West Africa and are tracking anyone who travels to that region, she said.
Alabama legislative candidates debate education, lottery at Tuscaloosa forum on Tuesday
Tuscaloosa News – Oct. 28
A state lottery, the Alabama Accountability Act and immigration laws were among an array of questions put to candidates in the Alabama House District 16 and Senate District 21 races during a forum Tuesday night at the Bryant Conference Center at the University of Alabama. The election on Nov. 4 pits Republican incumbent Gerald Allen against Democrat Phil Poole in the District 21 race. Incumbent Democrat Rep. Daniel Boman will face Republican Kyle South for the House District 16 seat. The forum was co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Tuscaloosa, Delta Sigma Theta sorority’s Tuscaloosa Alumnae Chapter, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the UA Retirees Association.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Oct. 28