Fighting drunk driving with technology
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – May 4
According to the University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety, or CAPS, about a third of car crashes on Cinco de Mayo in the past five years involved alcohol. CAPS has created a mobile app to help users find a safe ride home. It’s called “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” and it is a free mobile app for smart phones. It was developed through funding from the Office of Highway Safety. The app allows you to look up taxi services in any city in Alabama as well as phone a friend if you need a ride. If you are out on the road and see someone you believe is driving under the influence, the app also allows you to contact law enforcement and report it. CAPS Associate Director, Rhonda Stricklin, told ABC 33/40 the goal is to keep people under the influence out from behind the wheel. “It’s a danger not only to you but to others because we have found from our studies too that there’s much more likelihood of fatalities with impaired driving. Its like five times higher your chances of a fatality crash if you’re impaired then just regular crashes,” said Stricklin.
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – May 4
Madison Wrenn happy she stuck with SEMA class
Gadsden Times – May 5
Madison Wrenn had fulfilled her childhood dream three years into her college career at the University of Alabama. As a member of the Crimsonettes, she’d twirled in two NCAA football national championships and Southeastern Conference title games. Then, she had to walk away. As she sat in Dr. Jeremy Zelkowski’s office during an advising session during her junior year, she learned that two classes in her econdary math education curriculum conflicted with her practice schedule. “Dr. Z told me point-blank, it was one or the other,” Wrenn said. The moment was so gut-wrenching that she remembers the exact day of the news: March 14, 2013. However, walking away from the Crimsonettes ultimately became the smartest decision she’d make as an undergraduate.
Obama likely to focus on race relations post-presidency
Washington Times – May 4
President Obama still has 20 months left in the Oval Office, but he appears to be laying the groundwork for his post-presidential career — a focus on racial reconciliation and improving economic opportunity for young blacks and Latinos. On Monday Mr. Obama spoke in New York City at the launch of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the nonprofit spinoff of a task force the president formed last year. The alliance aims to have a hands-on approach in America’s cities working not just on race relations but also on education, jobs and infrastructure.
While the White House wouldn’t say whether Mr. Obama will serve in a prominent role with the group once he leaves Washington, the president has been clear that race relations — including the often-strained relationship between minority communities and law enforcement — is part of his life’s work … “I think this would be a great avenue for him to pursue when he’s out of the White House. Of course he’ll be able to speak more frankly, more openly, more honestly about what’s really going on in the streets of America with black youth. And I think it will be well received,” said Montre Carodine, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law who has written extensively on race relations and the criminal justice system.
Gov. Bentley isn’t sold on gambling solving state’s budget problems
Tuscaloosa News – May 4
Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday said gambling is not the solution to the state’s budget woes and will not provide enough money to prevent deep cuts to law enforcement and other state agencies. Bentley told The Associated Press that draft lottery and casino legislation proposed by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh would bring Las Vegas-style gambling to the state of Alabama. The governor said he met with Marsh late last week to discuss a plan that would create a state lottery and casinos at four state dog tracks. He said lawyers for the administration are reviewing the proposal … Bentley’s remarks came after speaking at the Houston County trooper post, where he announced Alabama would lose 130 law enforcement officers if legislators fail to make up the budget shortfall. The governor said the post is one of 13 that would close under the budget cuts. “We need to protect our law enforcement officers to keep them working not only here in Dothan but also everywhere in Alabama,” Bentley said. Officials said Alabama is already short on troopers. A study by the University of Alabama said the state’s trooper total is already less than half of what’s needed to properly cover each county.
Gadsden Times – May 4
Chattanooga Times Free Press – May 4