New National Water Center at University of Alabama is first to study threats to and from water
Tuscaloosa News – May 26
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially opened its National Water Center on Tuesday at the University of Alabama. The center is the first facility in the United States dedicated to improving the nation’s ability to manage threats to its water resources and mitigate the impact such threats pose to communities. The 65,000-square-foot “green” building houses a water resources forecasting operations center with situation rooms, an applied water resources research and development center, a geo-intelligence laboratory, a systems proving ground and an airborne snow and soil moisture observation analysis facility to monitor, measure, plan and manage water situations. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said the facility will bring together multiple government agencies that deal with water. Those agencies include NOAA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Army Corps of Engineers. It establishes one place for information about the implications of water from floods to droughts, she said.
Tuscaloosa News (gallery) – May 26
Alabama Public Radio – May 26
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University of Alabama Early College to offer high school students college credits
Tuscaloosa News – May 27
UA to offer class to help high school students earn college credit. The University of Alabama Early College is offering a class in June to help prepare high school students take advantage of opportunities to earn college credit this fall under a new state policy. UA Early College has scheduled a special Gateway class beginning June 16. The registration deadline is June 2. Under a new statewide policy allowing high school students to simultaneously obtain high school and college credit, the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education has partnered with the Early College to allow rising 10th-grade students to earn dual credit by taking online courses, according to a release from UA. Juniors and seniors may take courses either online or on the UA campus.
Can a Child Be a Psychopath?
Newsweek – May 22
In many ways, Steven was a typical 7-year-old. He went to school, attended birthday parties and played sports with his classmates and younger brother. Steven (not his real name) wasn’t perfect—he consistently defied his parents and teacher, turning arguments over trifles into battles that would last hours, and he frequently behaved aggressively toward his younger brother. It was difficult for the adults in Steven’s life to manage him, but nothing triggered concerns about his psychological state. Then Steven’s behavior became more alarming. At a cousin’s birthday party, he broke some of the birthday boy’s toys and showed no remorse. His parents hypothesized that he acted out because another child was the center of attention—Steven had always been spiteful toward other children, they said … Parents, it turns out, can make or break a psychopath. Often, they will punish children behaving violently or callously, ignorant to the fact that their child’s brain may be hardwired not to understand the punishment. This breeds resentment, making the relationship colder and inspiring a child to act out in more extreme ways, according to Randy Salekin, a psychology professor at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
FHLBank of Atlanta Announces 2015 AHP Competitive Offering: “$19.6 Million Available for Affordable Housing Development “
Al.com – May 26
Applications for the 2015 AHP Competitive Program become available on June 1, 2015, with submission deadline of by July 2, 2015, according to Grayson Glaze, ACRE executive director and member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council. “FHLBank Atlanta is a strong partner to Alabama’s affordable housing community,” said Glaze.”As a member of the Bank’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council, I am proud of the economic development opportunities the AHP awards offer our state.” FHLBank Atlanta AHP Competitive funds can be used to help finance the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and development of affordable rental and ownership housing. AHP Competitive is also a unique product offering that can help financing institutions reach new customers and borrowers, achieve business development and community lending goals, and facilitate economic development … The Alabama Center for Real Estate‘s core purpose is to advance the real estate industry in Alabama by providing relevant resources in the areas of research, education and outreach. ACRE is housed within the Culverhouse College of Commerce at The University of Alabama.
Alachua County high schoolers get National Merit college scholarships
Gainesville Sun (Fla.) – May 26
Twelve Alachua County high school seniors will receive college-sponsored National Merit scholarships, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced Tuesday. The scholarships provide $500 to $2,000 a year for up to four years of undergraduate study at the college or university sponsoring the scholarship … Additionally, the University of Alabama will provide a scholarship to Spencer P. Douglas, of Buchholz High, whose probable career field is statistics.
Gorgas House Museum opens post office exhibit
Crimson White – May 27 (Print edition only)
With the gift of a 19th-century post office desk from David Nelson, Gorgas House Museum Director Lydia Ellington has recreated the first floor of the Gorgas House Museum.
Plates to benefit Eagles’ Wings (Print edition only)
Crimson White – May 27
When Baylee Smith started doing pageants four years ago, she found a cause that she could really believe in. A winner of the Miss Alabama High School America pageant, Smith said one of her first pageant’s platforms was anti-bullying. … Last year, Smith became a client for the University of Alabama’s upper-level graphic design class. The students in the class were all assigned the same project – to design a license plate that promoted anti-bullying. Smith was the last client for the class, so it was a final project of sorts for ART 414.
Study abroad series: Student finds joy serving others in Costa Rica
Crimson White – May 27 (Print edition only)
I once read that the best way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy. Now, I have no doubts that I could be happy living alone in Costa Rica, but my job here has given me an even greater opportunity: to create unforgettable experiences for others. I work as a group assistant for Centro Panamericano de Idiomas, a Spanish immersion school with three distinct campuses in Costa Rica. University groups from the U.S. come here to study abroad and live pura vida, and CPI provides itineraries and assistants (like me) to ensure unique and memorable experiences for each student.
Crimson Tide pride shines as USS Alabama nuclear sub turns 30
Al.com – May 26
Is there a better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the USS Alabama than with a big University of Alabama flag and a dose of “Roll Tide?” The Blue and Gold crews of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine celebrated the vessel’s 30th anniversary with a ceremony held at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. The celebration included the formation of a human “30” by crew members and the unfurling of an Alabama flag. A banner at the front included the words “Roll Tide.” The event marked a unique milestone for the USS Alabama, making it the second active Ohio-class sub to go beyond its originally planned 30-year service life. “Today was originally supposed to be our decommissioning date,” said Cmdr. Paul Reinhardt, Alabama Blue crew commanding officer. “Due to the Ohio-class submarine replacement remaining in development, Alabama has been extended for another 12 years, so she’ll now be in commission for 42 years.”