Montana view: Don’t stigmatize the mentally ill
Montana Standard – Aug. 27
Words matter when uttered or tweeted by the president of the United States. Lately, President Trump’s words have scapegoated mentally ill Americans in the aftermath of massacres in El Paso and Dayton. He has suggested reverting to punitive, counter-productive policy of locking up people simply because they are ill. At any given time, one in five adults has a diagnosable mental illness, yet fewer than half of us who are ill get treatment. If Trump’s going to lock us all up, he is talking about millions of Americans. A country’s rate of gun ownership is a far better predictor of public mass shootings than indicators of mental illness, Adam Lankford, a University of Alabama criminologist who published a 2016 analysis of data from 171 countries, told The Associated Press.
Letter | Face it, the root cause of this health crisis is guns.
East Oregonian – Aug. 27
After lamenting the carnage of the latest mass shootings, it quickly absolved guns of blame, then spouted a “best hits” list of NRA talking points, touching on everything but the guns that do the killing. Many of those talking points have merit and deserve attention, but ignoring the “tools” that make mass killings predictable is a bit like acknowledging the West Nile virus is a problem while excusing the mosquitoes of any culpability. It’s wonderful the EO agrees solid research is needed into the underlying factors of gun violence — something the NRA and its congressional minions have successfully blocked for decades. What research has shown is the countries and states with the most guns have the most gun deaths (2015 study by Adam Lankford, University of Alabama).
UA Research Examining How Heat Waves Are Getting Bigger
WVUA – Aug. 26
Although we’ve been experiencing cooler temperatures the past two days due to rain, a researcher from The University of Alabama and scientists at Michigan State University will work together to study the relationship between the size of heat waves and what causes them across the U.S. David Keellings, an assistant professor of geography at UA, was awarded a three-year, $340,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the grant is to develop models to help predict when and where heat waves will occur.
NBC (Mobile)
NBC 13
ABC (Huntsville)
ABC (Toledo, Ohio)
WBHM-FM (Birmingham)
ABC (Detroit, Mich.) – video not available
CBS 42
NBC (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
CBS (Huntsville)
Fox (Detroit, Mich.)
AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s illusory claims of gains from tariffs
Aurora Sentinel – Aug. 26
President Donald Trump is painting a false picture of a U.S. economy unaffected by his trade war with China and other countries. He describes a blue-sky world in which rapidly escalating tariffs have no impact on American consumers even as a raft of businesses and economists say otherwise, chastising those who caution of potential weakness in the economy as partisans. A country’s rate of gun ownership is a far better predictor of public mass shootings than indicators of mental illness, said Adam Lankford, a University of Alabama criminologist who published a 2016 analysis of data from 171 countries.
Breitbart
Heat waves getting larger, lasting longer, Alabama researcher finds
Al.com – Aug. 26
It’s not just your imagination. It really is getting hotter and staying hotter for longer. As average temperatures rise across the globe (although less so in Alabama), heat waves are happening more often, lasting longer and spreading over larger geographic areas, according to a researcher at The University of Alabama.
Boot camp teaches UA law students secrets to success
Crimson White – Aug. 26
While some students may shudder at the thought of being picked at random to analyze a case, Aaliyah Locke doesn’t sweat the cold calls. “Whatever you put into law school, you’re going to get that back,” Locke said. That’s something she learned this summer at the Susan B. Livingston Boot Camp for Success, an initiative to provide incoming law students from diverse backgrounds the preparation they need for the next three years of their life. Locke and two other University of Alabama law students were at the camp, which was facilitated by Balch & Bingham LLP, a corporate law firm in Birmingham, and featured practicing lawyers such as University of Alabama law professor Brian Fair.
New lights installed at Bryant-Denny Stadium
NBC 13 – Aug. 25
Gameday at Bryant-Denny Stadium is about to have a whole new look and feel. The University of Alabama released this video giving fans a first-hand look at what they can expect this football season.
UA physician says to stay hydrated in the heat
WVUA – Aug. 23
Doctors remind us that being out in the heat can bring on some health problems if you don’t take precautions. Of course, staying hydrated is key. Dr. Ray Stewart with The University of Alabama Medical Center says you should have water handy.
Bama Fast Pass Simplifies the Student Transfer Process
WERC-FM (Birmingham) – Aug. 23
The University of Alabama making it easier for community college students to transfer in. It’s called the Bama Fast Pass program. It gives students the chance to apply for admissions during their first semester of community college.
Moundville Archaeological Park (Live Interview)
CBS 42 – Aug. 23
Dr. Alex Benitez, we were talking about the partnership with The University of Alabama. UA actually owns this site and some of the digging is still being done. You said this park is only about 10-15% excavated? Yes, we think most of the site is still preserved, and about 15% has been excavated.