Was Oklahoma School Destroyed by Tornado Built Right?
NBC News – May 19
A year ago this week, Briarwood Elementary was torn apart — and Amanda McCalister’s three kids somehow survived. “That day was the most terrifying day of my life,” she said, choking back tears as she remembered the panic of that afternoon. … The EF5 tornado that swept through Moore on May 20, 2013 killed 25 people — including seven children — and injured nearly 400 others. About two dozen students and parents were hurt at Briarwood, but no one died. … Andrew Graettinger, an associate professor of engineering at the University of Alabama, was part of another team that conducted a separate study of the Moore tornado funded by the National Science Foundation. Graettinger studied wood structures, not schools. “People are starting to look at designing for tornadoes,” he said. “I think it’s going catch on across the country in tornado-prone areas.”
Researchers recommend new homes have safe rooms for tornado survival
Housing Zone – May 16
Researchers, including faculty and students from the University of Alabama, who studied the aftermath of a devastating 2013 tornado in Oklahoma, say simple design changes could improve the survivability of wood-frame structures during tornadoes. The researchers recommend that tornado-prone areas adopt more robust design standards similar to those used by coastal regions to help homes survive hurricanes. They also say the addition of safe rooms or storm shelters could help inhabitants survive twisters.
UA researcher says hurricane straps can help hold a building together during a tornado
KSHB-NBC (Kansas City, Mo.) – May 18
Tuesday marks one year since a huge and devastating tornado swept through Moore, Oklahoma, killing 25 people and injuring hundreds. Since then, engineers have been studying the damage to determine how buildings might be built differently. Among the suggestions, metal straps holding a building’s roof to its walls and the walls to its foundation. Andrew Graettinger, PhD, University of Alabama: “I think it’s gonna catch on across the country in tornado prone areas.” Briarwood and nearby Plaza Towers Elementary, where seven children died, are both being rebuilt with storm shelters.
UA physician says half of counties in U.S. have no obstetric services
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – May 18
Now a problem the 12 News defenders have been investigating … imagine if you needed immediate medical help and couldn’t get it. That’s the situation thousands of women living in rural Alabama counties deal with on a daily basis. It’s an obstacle that could be life threatening to some expectant mothers. In Lowndes County for example, there is no prenatal care and no delivering hospital, forcing women to travel to bigger cities for care. … And they’re not alone, many families in rural counties are being forced to travel more than 50 miles for doctor’s visits and hospitals that deliver their babies … Dr. Daniel Avery, who chairs the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, says half of the counties in the U.S. have no obstetric services, leaving some 10 million reproduction age women short of any OB care. And women who live in rural areas, including Alabama, are hit the hardest by the shortage.
Alabama unemployment rate increases again; forecaster says numbers still good despite third straight monthly increase
Tuscaloosa News – May 16
Alabama’s unemployment rate inched up from 6.7 percent to 6.9 percent in April, according to a report released Friday by the Alabama Department of Labor. It’s the third consecutive monthly rise in the state unemployment rate, which is now higher than the national rate. At the same time, however, the unemployment rates in all but one of the state’s 67 counties decreased — a result of comparing apples to oranges. The official unemployment rates for all 50 states are seasonally adjusted, allowing for comparisons across the country. County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Had the state rate not been seasonally adjusted, it would have fallen from 6.9 percent to 6.2 percent. Amad Ijaz, director of economic forecasting at the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said there were two reasons the state’s unemployment rate rose. “One reason was the increase in labor force,” he said, “meaning more people looking for work. The other was an increase in number of unemployed. “But overall the numbers look good; the state added 10,000 nonfarm jobs last month, primarily in administrative support and remediation services, and health care and social assistance. There were also some jobs added in automotive products and parts manufacturing.”
Assistants gather to discuss changing field
Anniston Star – May 16
Across Alabama, 76.8 percent of workers in administrative support positions for the three year period between 2010 and 2012 were women, according data contained in the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The median income for men in the field was $27,871 and the median income for women in the field is $25,711. In Calhoun County, 75 percent of administrative assistants are women, and 25 percent are men. Male administrative assistants in Calhoun County earn a median income of $49,074 and women in the field earn a median income of $22,222. Carolyn Trent is a socioeconomic analyst for the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama. She tracked down the data late Friday and said it was not clear why men in Calhoun County earn so much more in the field.
University of Alabama bass club team finishes second
Tuscaloosa News – May 17
The University of Alabama’s college bass fishing club team finished second Saturday at the Fishing League Worldwide Southeastern Invitational. The tournament was held at Lake Guntersville. The University of Georgia team of Byron Kenney and Will Treadwell won the event with five bass weighing 26 pounds, 15 ounces. … Alabama’s team of Logan Shaddix of Cullman and Charles Hurst of Arley caught five bass weighing 26 pounds, four ounces and won $1,000 for their club. … The top 15 teams advanced to the Southern tournament and included, in order, Georgia, Alabama….
Autauga County technology students at state convention
Montgomery Advertiser – May 16
Recently (April 3 and 4), students from the Autauga County Technology Center Engineering Program attended the state TSA (Technology Students Association) convention in Tuscaloosa. They competed in the Technology Bowl, 3D computer aided design and extemporaneous speech competitions … The University of Alabama UA Early College program recently accepted Ashley Otwell from East Memorial Christian Academy. UA Early College students are high school students from across the United States who earn college credit online, and are eligible for the UA Summer Residential/Honors Ready Experience. The highly motivated students may earn up to 30 hours of college credit from The University of Alabama, and still enter UA eligible for freshmen scholarships.
COLLEGE NEWS: May 18
Tuscaloosa News – May 18
… University of Alabama: One hundred high school sophomores who have shown an interest in leadership through service were selected to participate in the Capstone Leadership Academy at The University of Alabama. The sophomores participated in recent two-day leadership and fellowship activities, sponsored by UA’s Honors College. The Honors College selected the sophomores from more than 200 nominated by their schools. The students participated in discussions focusing on values, vision and voice. Among the speakers was Lew Burdette, president of King’s Home, and members of UA’s Capstone Council. The Capstone Council, which is made up of former Crimson Girls, Capstone Men and campus leaders from the 1970s, hosts the Capstone Leadership Academy. The academy’s purpose is to give the tools and training to apply to leadership opportunities in their communities for the chosen outstanding high school sophomores in Alabama.
Former UA swimmer competes in triathlon in honor of John Servati
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – May 17
Nearly three weeks since the death of University of Alabama swimmer John Servati, a former UA swimmer competed in a triathlon in his honor. When Sam Morgan crossed the finish line at the Xterra Triathlon in Pelham, he didn’t have just the race on his mind. “I decided to come out and do this race in honor of John, and in honor and support of our team and coaches and staff and his family and everybody who is still having to go through with the grief of losing John.”
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – May 17
Last Game played at Sewell Thomas Stadium
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – May 17
Today was the very last game to be played in the University of Alabama’s Sewell Thomas Stadium. The home of the Crimson Tide baseball team will be demolished and a new stadium will be built in its place. The project is expected to take about a year-and-a-half to complete. Next season, Alabama will play all of its home games at the Hoover Met.
Alas, clothes, plants come and go in style
Andalusia Star News – May 17
Last week the Portly Gentleman told us of the Alabama Writers’ Symposium over in Monroeville. Let’s hear him report on his last day there. … “We sat upstairs in the courtroom made famous by the movie version of Harper Lee’s novel. “The last author to speak in the morning sessions was Mark Childress, born in Monroeville but reared elsewhere. Childress has written seven novels, including the popular Crazy in Alabama, based in Greenville and made into a motion picture. … “Childress was introduced by Don Noble, professor emeritus of English at the University of Alabama and host of the Sunday morning review of books, Bookmark, on Alabama Public Television.