University of Alabama honors opera director with Blackmon-Moody Award
Alabama Newscenter – Jan. 5
Dr. Paul Houghtaling, coordinator of voice and director of opera at the University of Alabama, has received the 2019 Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award. “Paul is widely recognized as one of the most successful, innovative and respected opera directors and educators in his field on an international level,” said Dr. Charles Snead, director of UA’s School of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences. “His success at UA has been ongoing and consistent, and it has increased the productivity, reputation and national standing of our opera program.”
Tuscaloosa News — Dec. 22
20 Experts Predict The Most Significant Weather And Climate Advances Of The Next Decade
Head Topics – Jan. 3
Gene Norman, freelance meteorologist with CNN and veteran of the broadcast meteorology industry. Dr. Susan Jasko, Senior Research Scientist, University of Alabama. I think the next big advance will be more locally-focused weather communication & resilience activities. That’s the next big frontier for the social science side of our enterprise – what works in one community may be different from what works in another, and reaching people where they are will provide the best service. I see this as an integral part of the AMS Centennial Initiative focused on local action networks. All disasters are local, and so are the solutions to many of our most pressing weather and climate change-related problems!
Maharaja Ranjit Singh named 20 world’s greatest leaders.
Asia Samachar – Jan. 3
Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Mughal emperor Akhbar were among the 20 leaders who caught the attention of a group of historians and authors challenged by the BBC to name the world’s greatest leaders. They were asked to nominate the greatest leader – someone who exercised power and had a positive impact on humanity – and to explore their achievements and legacy. Ranjit, listed as the Ruler of the Sikh empire 1801–39, was great because he forged a modern empire of toleration. Dubbed the Lion of Punjab, his reign marked a golden age for Punjab and north-west India. “Though a devoted Sikh who embarked on a campaign to restore the great monuments of his religion – including the Harmandir Sahib or ‘Golden Temple’ at Amritsar – he also went to great lengths to ensure religious freedom within his lands,” writes Matthew Lockwood, an assistant professor of history at the University of Alabama.
Two UA Legends Make Forbes’ Most Powerful Women List
CBS 42 – Jan. 1-2
Two University of Alabama alums are receiving National recognition for their accomplishments. They’ve made the Forbes’ 20-19 list of 100 most powerful women. Marillyn Hewson is number ten on the list.
NASA’s Astronaut Candidates to Graduate with Eye on Artemis Missions
Paraboliac Arc – Dec. 21
A new class of astronauts will graduate basic training on Jan. 10, 2020. They will join the active astronaut corps, beginning careers in exploration that may take them to the International Space Station, on missions to the Moon under the Artemis program, or someday, Mars. The 2017 class includes (top row) Matthew Dominick of NASA, Kayla Barron of NASA, Warren Hoburg of NASA, and Joshua Kutryk of CSA, (middle row) Bob Hines of NASA, Frank Rubio of NASA, Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons of CSA, Jasmin Moghbeli of NASA, and Jessica Watkins of NASA, (bottom row) Raja Chari of NASA, Jonny Kim of NASA, Zena Cardman of NASA, and Loral O’Hara of NASA.
Is Mobile ready for electric scooters? Trendy devices bring safety and regulatory worries
Al.com – Jan. 5
In Alabama, there have been only 11 incidences of scooter crashes in the past five years, according to data compiled by the Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS) at the University of Alabama. Of those 11 crashes, nine of them occurred to youths who were under the age of 18. The data doesn’t break down into electric or non-electric scooters. “I just don’t think there are many of them out there right now and we still have 11 crashes,” said David Brown, a professor and CAPS research associate at the University of Alabama. “Just with this thing in Mobile, I expect there will be a major increase that we will detect here and it should be interesting.”
Extending ‘Healthspan’: Brain Scientists Tap Into The Secrets Of Living Well Longer
The Frederick News-Post – Jan. 3
Retired state employees Vickey Benford, 63, and Joan Caldwell, 61, are Golden Rollers, a group of the over-50 set that gets out on assorted bikes — including trikes for adults they call “three wheels of awesome” — for an hour of trail riding and camaraderie. Some of the Acts communities are participating in a two-year study about memory improvement supervised by a researcher at the University of Alabama.
Police expect increase in 911 calls on New Year’s Eve
Fox 6 – Dec. 31
The University of Alabama Police Department has a shot spotter system that helps identify when gun shots are fired on or near the university.
Tuscaloosa fans feel the power of the Force
The Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 20
Lines snaked around inside the Hollywood 16 on Thursday evening, and most were not for “Cats.” Tuscaloosa “Star Wars” fans lined up hours before the first showing for “The Rise of Skywalker,” at 6:05 p.m., in what’s become a ritual for event-film openings. Most of the screening rooms were filled, or nearly so, an hour or more before individual showings rolled. “I thought it had good emotional beats, it was beautiful as one would expect from a Disney movie, and considering where the story had left off, it pulled everything together in a satisfying end,” said Scott Barnes, digital media specialist at the University of Alabama’s Sanford Media Center.
Online Schools Report Publishes Ranking of Best Online Library Science Master’s Degrees for 2020
WEDNY News – Jan. 6
Online Schools Report has released their ranking of the Best Online Master’s Degrees in Library Science. OSR, the new student resource site, based their ranking strictly on data, prioritizing the school’s ability to deliver an online education comparable to an on-campus degree. The University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
News On 6
Fox (Lubbock, Texas)
Spoke
Markets Insider
…and many more
Tuscaloosa students return to classes this week
The Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 5
Motorists in Tuscaloosa County can expect heavier traffic volume beginning this week as students return to school from the Christmas break. Students in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system return to classes on Tuesday. The city system has around 11,000 students in its 21 schools.
Most terrorist victims are Muslims
The Island – Jan. 3
Around the world the majority of victims of terrorist attacks are Muslims and most terrorist attacks has happened in Muslim majority countries. On the 28th of December last year, in Mogadishu, Somalia a suicide truck bombing at a checkpoint killed at least 84 people, including 15 young university students and two Turkish engineers. At least 150 others were wounded and many in critical condition. All victims were Muslims. Researchers at Georgia State University and the University of Alabama found that attacks committed by the so called Muslims get 357 percent more media coverage than attacks committed by other groups.