Severe weather warnings: Why you need to pay attention more than ever
AL.com – Dec. 23
When it comes to weather in Alabama, no matter what time of year, there’s just one thing to do: “Prepare for it to be bad.” That’s according to Kevin Laws, the science and operations officer at the National Weather Service in Birmingham and one of many meteorologists and researchers in Alabama taking a hard look at severe weather warnings, false alarms and how to improve the warning process. . . . There’s been some progress on that front since 2011, when a historic outbreak killed more than 250 people in Alabama alone. “The warning process has improved so much that there is less opportunity for desensitization,” said Dr. Laura Myers, deputy director and research scientist at The Center for Advanced Public Safety at the University of Alabama. “Warnings are more accurate now, so people have begun to have more faith in them.”
Obama mum on New York police officer murders as de Blasio, Sharpton seize spotlight
Washington Times – Dec. 23
President Obama has opened himself up to criticism in the wake of the slaying of two New York police officers by allowing other prominent outspoken figures — such as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton — to seize the spotlight. Mr. Obama has been either unable or unwilling to completely take control of the narrative, political analysts say. . . . The president “has been in the background. Why is it we’re talking about the mayor of New York City on this? He’s been the out-front spokesperson,” said Montre Carodine, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law who has written extensively on race relations. “It’s coming back to bite him. He’s getting the backlash. They need someone to blame.”
Tickets still available to the Sugar Bowl, but the Alabama Alumni Association says be prepared for higher prices
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Dec. 22
The Alabama Crimson Tide is less than two weeks away from playing in one of the first college football playoff games in New Orleans. There are plenty of tickets still out there to buy, but travel plans are going to be a little more tricky. The University of Alabama Alumni Association’s travel coordinator tells you to be prepared for higher prices on everything, because not only is it the Sugar Bowl, but New Year’s in New Orleans is a big draw, too. At this point, if you’re looking for a hotel, she suggests looking outside of New Orleans. The Alumni Association’s Travelin’ with the Tide hotel packages are all sold out, but there is still a one day air charter available to and from Birmingham for seven hundred dollars a person. Ashley Clayton: “Most of those New Orleans hotels are a three night minimum, with a much higher special event rate, and if you’re taking that into consideration it’s actually cheaper to do the one day charter and not have to worry about fuel cost and driving and meals and all of that while you’re there. That charter flight does not include a ticket to the game. As far as what that’s costing, we found tickets at all different price points, the lowest around $230 a person.”
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – Dec. 22
WAFF-NBC (Huntsville) – Dec. 22
31 vintage Christmas cards sent in Alabama from 1900-1970, plus a history of holiday cards
AL.com – Dec. 23
(The University of Alabama Libraries contributed images of Christmas cards to this story.) You may have heard Alabama was the first U.S. state to recognize Christmas as a holiday in 1836, but do you know where the first holiday card was created? While creating a photo gallery of vintage Christmas cards sent to and from Alabama over seven decades, including war and peace times, I decided to look up the history of holiday cards.GreetingCard.org says the first Christmas card was designed in London in 1843: “Sir Henry Cole hired painter and illustrator John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card to send to his friends and acquaintances.”