Census shows county’s growth
Tuscaloosa News – March 24
The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the population of Tuscaloosa County grew by about 7 percent in the last seven years, though most surrounding counties in West Alabama saw declines during the same period … The latest census estimates are similar to growth projections released last year by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama.
Austin bombings renew debate: What crimes do we label as terrorism?
Washington Post – March 23
The string of bombings in Austin this month revived an ongoing debate over how the government investigates and prosecutes terrorism, revealing a split between the way many Americans think about terror and the way U.S. law defines it … “A lot of people feel like there’s a double standard being used,” said Adam Lankford, a professor at the University of Alabama and an expert on mass killers.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) – March 23
Cetus News – March 23
Standard Examiner (Ogden, Utah) – March 23
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) – March 23
Why People Are Reluctant To Call The Austin Bomber A Terrorist
APR – March 26
This week began with the city of Austin, Texas, terrorized after a series of bombings. It ends with the suspect dead and investigators trying to answer the why behind the attacks. In between, the bombings themselves and their coverage spurred a national conversation around race and how we talk about perpetrators of violence. The suspect in the Austin bombings, who is white, has been described as troubled by both police and the media. NPR Code Switch reporter Gene Demby has been looking at this. Welcome to the studio. . . . And I spoke to someone named Erin Kearns at the University of Alabama. She studies terrorism and how it’s covered in the news. She pointed to research that shows that – how the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando was covered versus how the shooting at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston was covered. The shooter at the Pulse nightclub was of Arab descent, and Dylann Roof, the shooter at the Charleston church, was white.
National Public Radio – March 23
Theatre students showcase performances in New York
Crimson White – March 25
As odd as it is to think that a student you pass on the Quad could be the next star of a Broadway hit, that might be just the case. During spring break, a group of graduating theatre and musical theatre students flew to New York City with hopes of landing roles in professional productions by way of the Bama on Broadway showcase.
UA students cultivate garden, nutrition knowledge
Crimson White – March 25
Leafy green plants stand tall in the garden at Aliceville Elementary School in Pickens County, Alabama. If you look closely, you can see these are tomato and basil plants. You might even notice that this is a hydroponic garden, meaning the plant buckets are filled with water instead of soil … “We work together to create the next generation of social entrepreneurs and solve really cool and hard problems,” said Omer Bensaadon, a senior management information sciences major and one of the studio leads in the organization. “So we pick a problem every year and then we tackle it head-on.”
Dance Alabama! celebrates the unexpected
Crimson White – March 25
When it comes to dance performances, viewers may not expect much beyond what they’d see in a traditional ballet. One on campus group is trying to change this. Dance Alabama! is a student choreography organization that performs one concert each semester. Dance Alabama!’s concerts are intended to expose students to various types of dances while showcasing the talent of UA student dancers. The shows are built from the beginning to the end by students. The spring concert, opening March 27, will feature 24 pieces.
BEAUTIFUL NEWS! More Black Women Are Running For Political Office In Alabama Than Ever Before
Hello Beautiful – March 25
Thanks to Donald Trump’s nonsense, Doug Jones’ historic Senate win last year and perhaps the #MeToo Movement, there are now more Black women running for political office in the state of Alabama than ever before! … According to Richard Fording, a professor of public policy at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, this is something to definitely celebrate. “Alabama is not a state that is known for electing women to office, so, in some sense, this is surprising, historic and much needed,” he explained.
NBC News – March 23
Good Black News – March 25
93.9 WKVS (Washington, D.C.) – March 25
95.9 News Talk (Washington, D.C.) – March 25
NBC 41 (Macon, Georgia) – March 23
Politics of Hope – March 23
Saxophone quartet to perform in UA concert event
Tuscaloosa News – March 24
The University of Alabama’s Sonic Frontiers concert series presents the Rova Saxophone Quartet in its final concert of the 2017-18 season. At 7:30 p.m. Monday, the quartet, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary as an ensemble, will perform at UA’s School of Music Moody Concert Hall at 810 Second Ave.
Easter egg hunt Sunday at President’s Mansion
Tuscaloosa News – March 24
The University of Alabama’s Panhellenic Association will present its annual Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m. Sunday on the lawn of the President’s Mansion on the UA campus. The event is free and open to children 12 years old and younger. Refreshments and face-painting will be provided.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – March 25
Representatives from UA share wisdom with JSU officials
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – March 23
The University of Alabama knows first-hand the devastation a tornado can cause. Rebuilding Tuscaloosa after the April 27th tornadoes was a long fought battle…Also 6 representatives from the University of Alabama were on campus this morning and met with administrators.
An interview with Dr. Ed Richardson
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – March 23
The average ACT of graduating seniors in Alabama is 14.5. To put it into perspective, Richardson says he just learned 40 percent of incoming freshman at the University of Alabama scored 30 or more on the ACT, and the average ACT score for incoming freshman at Auburn is 27. 14 on the ACT he says is unacceptable, because he says schools are just not setting the achievement bar high enough.
LEND A HAND: Alabama Wildflower Society to hold annual plant sale
Tuscaloosa News – March 24
On Saturday, April 7, the George Wood Chapter of the Alabama Wildflower Society is holding its 39th annual plant sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine, in the Kentuck Center courtyard in downtown Northport … Smaller amounts help support the Cahaba Lily Society and its annual Cahaba Lily Festival as well as local projects, including support for the Wildflower Garden and rhododendron collection of the University of Alabama Arboretum.
Maine Voices: It’s time for a gun abolition movement
Long Room – March 24
As students under fire in Florida speak out to end mass shootings, many hope this time it’s different. Indeed, their demand is compelling: Our representatives in Washington must act less like politicians and more like parents. Most of them have children; they should act like it … It’s also tempting to blame mass shootings on an intractable American culture of violence. But as Max Fisher and Josh Keller reported in The New York Times last November, a 2016 study by University of Alabama criminologist Adam Lankford shows that the most compelling cause of mass shootings is the prevalence of guns. More guns equals more deaths.