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UA in the News — Nov. 21

MHP unveils new electronic crash reporting system
WJTV – Nov. 21
The Mississippi Highway Patrol on Wednesday unveiled a new system designed to be more efficient when troopers write reports on crashes across the state. The new system is called eCrash. It allows troopers to fill out crash reports electronically. Once completed, the report is immediately submitted to a central database for troopers to easily access. Previously, MHP had to mail in paper crash forms or submit electronic reports from hand written notes. …eCrash was developed in conjunction with the Center for Advanced Public Safety at the University of Alabama.

Simpson County – Nov. 20

JAC Gas Turbine Chosen by PowerSouth to Power Economic Growth in Alabama and Florida
EE Online – Nov. 21
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) announced today (11/20) that PowerSouth has ordered an M501JAC gas turbine power train to power the Lowman Energy Center located in Leroy, Alabama. This new 640 MW combined cycle power plant will replace three aging coal-fired units with a combined output of 556 MW. New Advanced Class Gas Turbines like the ones at the Lowman Energy Center have improved fuel efficiency and have 65% less CO2 emissions than coal units of the same output. The award also includes a long-term service agreement. According to the Economic Outlook Update from the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business Alabama.
Fox (Lake Mary, Fla.) – Nov. 20
WBOC (Lake Mary, Fla.) – Nov. 21
Telemundo – Nov. 20
…and many more

Barrett Elementary Was Once Considered A ‘Failing’ School. Not Anymore.
Birmingham Times – Nov. 21
Three years ago, Nathaniel A. Barrett Elementary School had the kind of grades you wouldn’t want to show to anyone. It received a grade of F on the annual Alabama Department of Education school report card on academics, with an overall score of 47 on the state’s measure of progress and achievement.  The 118-year-old rustic brick school in the heart of East Lake was among the worst in Birmingham. Records show that students often were absent from school and less than 10 percent were reading at grade level. Joyce Stallworth, a former professor and administrator at the University of Alabama who travels around the world teaching educators how to help boost student achievement, said collaboration is the key to success.

Tara Williams to become new Honors College dean
Crimson White – Nov. 20

Tara Williams, associate dean of the Honors College at Oregon State University, has been named dean of the UA Honors College, effective March 1. “Dr. Williams will be a tremendous asset to The University of Alabama,” Provost Kevin Whitaker wrote in an email to UA faculty and students. “In her role at OSU, she helped expand international opportunities for their Honors College students and oversaw the development and expansion of programs to continually attract premier students to the honors experience.

American Archive collaborations expand scope, purpose of digital collection
Current – Nov. 20

The American Archive of Public Broadcasting has expanded its efforts to digitize and preserve historical public broadcasting content, building on its outreach to offer more archival support and new technology solutions. Through direct connections with stations and minority consortia, AAPB staff have been working to identify and preserve media created by people from historically marginalized groups. This summer, a new fellowship program at the University of Alabama’s School of Library Sciences placed graduate students at three public media stations that needed assistance with preserving their archives.

Is improving leadership even on the radar for PR?
PR Week – Oct. 11

According to the Plank Center for Leadership’s Report Card 2019, there has been no positive improvement in PR leadership in the last four years, says Bruce Berger, professor emeritus at the University of Alabama.

Soaking up sunny skies on the Quad
The Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 20
Will Cottrell, a University of Alabama student from Tuscaloosa, studies a photography segment of his art history course as he lays on the Quad beneath a radiant sun Wednesday. The forecast for Thursday calls for sunny skies and a high temperature around 70 degrees. Rain is likely Friday.

Murder Trial of Alabama Officer Begins After Tying Courts in Knots
Head Topics – Nov. 19
Opening arguments in the murder trial of a white Alabama police officer who shot an unarmed black man began on Tuesday, after a tortuous path to court A black Montgomery resident was fatally shot by a white officer in 2016. After twists and turns, only now is a trial underway. “Recusals are not unusual when judges feel as if they cannot be unbiased in a situation,” said Jenny Carroll, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law. “What is unusual is we get this many recusals for this many people.”
AJC – Nov. 18