Former KU dean named president of University of Alabama
Lawrence Journal-World (Kansas) – July 27
A former Kansas University engineering dean has been named president of the University of Alabama. It’s actually a homecoming for Stuart Bell, who spent 16 years at the University of Alabama — first as assistant professor of mechanical engineering and, later, as department head — before he worked at KU, according to a University of Alabama announcement. At KU, Bell was dean of engineering from 2002 to 2012. His time at the school included the construction of Eaton Hall and the attraction of several major engineering gifts. Bell left KU in 2012 to become provost and executive vice chancellor at Louisiana State University, a post he held until being hired at the University of Alabama. Bell’s appointment as president of the University of Alabama began this month, according to the school’s announcement. He and his wife, Susan, have three adult children, Stuart, Stacy — a University of Alabama graduate — and Stephen.
University of Alabama to hold graduation ceremony on Saturday
Tuscaloosa News – July 27
The University of Alabama will award more than 1,500 diplomas Saturday at Coleman Coliseum during the summer graduation ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and degrees will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students from all colleges and schools. Stephen Katsinas, director of the Education Policy Center and professor of higher education administration at UA, will serve as commencement marshal. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Internet. The webcast will be archived at ua.edu/commencement/, and it will be available for viewing for 30 days after the ceremony.
Church leaders preach collaboration
Tuscaloosa News – July 27
Churches can have a positive impact on their communities, but it takes partnerships and collaboration — one church cannot go it alone, according to a panel of speakers at a faith-based conference Monday at the Bryant Conference Center at the University of Alabama. The conference, “Achieving Excellence Through Communal Empowerment and Creative Collaboration” focused on how churches and organizations can come together to improve people’s lives. “We all have a part in this,” said Brooks Mouchette of Unity Tuscaloosa. “It takes more than one church in a community. We are all in this together.” While there are some good partnerships already in West Alabama between churches, organizations and city officials, there is also a lot of duplication too between faith-based groups, said the Rev. Jessie White of Trinity Baptist Church.
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – July 27
In Wall Street Versus Mississippi County, the Underdog Won Big
Washington Post – July 28
Officials in Hinds County, where one in four residents live in poverty, didn’t know what they were getting into, according to an independent audit. They couldn’t explain the mechanics of the interest-rate swaps they negotiated with Rice Financial Products Co., a New York derivatives dealer. They couldn’t say how semi-annual payments on the leveraged bets were determined. Yet, in the decade since the contracts were first signed, Hinds County netted $6.7 million on the deal due to collapsing short-term rates in the municipal bond market. That bucks the trend of cities, states and localities exiting interest-rate swaps on much less favorable terms. “It’s like walking out of the casino with $6 million,” said Robert Brooks, a finance professor at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce in Tuscaloosa. “It could’ve gone the other way.” It’s gone the other way for so many others. Since the 2008 financial crisis, municipalities have paid at least $9 billion to cancel the swaps, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The contracts were supposed to reduce borrowing costs and protect them against rising payments on floating-rate bonds.
Bloomberg Business – July 27
Bloomberg – July 28
Columnist and commentator shares Alabama political stories and legends in new memoir
Trussville Tribune – July 27
Few states have as fascinating a political history as Alabama, especially in the post-World War II era. Moving onto and off the state’s electoral stage during this time period of remarkable transformation have been some of the most interesting figures in 20th century American government and politics. Now the backstage intrigue of Alabama politics receives a lively treatment in Of Goats and Governors, the high-spirited new memoir by former Alabama Representative Steve Flowers. Flowers is Alabama’s most watched and read political columnist and commentator with a column on Alabama politics that appears weekly in 66 Alabama newspapers. He also serves as the political analyst for the University of Alabama radio and television network. His weekly radio commentary for the University is listened to statewide on Alabama Public Radio, and he is also the political analyst for WAKA/the Alabama news network in Montgomery.
A 40-Year National Vision Or Development Plan For Ghana? Modern Ghana – July 27
At long last, it’s refreshing to learn the National Development Planning Commission is initiating a 40-year national development plan for Ghana. A national development plan is an official document that contains a vision for the growth and development of a nation and policies for attaining the vision. It guides decision-making regarding the future of a nation just as architectural plans guide the construction of complex structures or buildings. Its preparation establishes a process for identifying national needs and goals with the participation of the general public. Involving the general public in identifying national goals and aspirations ensures widespread support for the plan. It also brings new and important information to the attention of planners, minimizes opposition, and gives the public the pride of authorship and knowledge that their concerns are addressed in the plan. The content of a national development plan can be categorized into four components, namely a statement of goals and objectives; a description of existing socioeconomic, physical, natural resources and environmental conditions; a prediction of future conditions and national needs based on empirical data and analysis; and proposals or policies for attaining the goals and objectives of the plan. The plan’s objectives must be quantifiable, measureable, and attainable. The average time horizon for an effective development plan is between 5 to 20 years. (Professor Seth Appiah-Opoku teaches land use regulation and planning at the University of Alabama.)
Tuscaloosa County aims to expand recycling efforts
Tuscaloosa News – July 27 Tuscaloosa County will soon expand its recycling program in the unincorporated areas of the county with the help of a recent grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The county will receive two new recycling trailers and will distribute small recycling bins at two county schools, said Jim Patrie, solid waste director for Tuscaloosa County. The new trailers will be added to the four trailers now in use for recycling drop-off that were awarded as part of ADEM’s recycling fund grant in 2014. The county’s drop-off recycling program has been a success, particularly the trailers at the Bobby Miller Activity Center in Taylorville and the Faucett Brothers Activity Center near Northport, Patrie said. Those trailers are emptied about twice a week. “We are really happy with all of that,” Patrie said … The county’s portion of the grant is $49,000. Other recipients in the partnership include: The city of Tuscaloosa, which is getting $14,000; The University of Alabama, which is getting $51,000; Shelton State Community College, which will get $19,000.
Callie Walker crowned Miss Hoover 2016, Lindsay Fincher named Miss Hoover’s Outstanding Teen 2016
Shelby County Reporter – July 27
A new Miss Hoover has been crowned. Callie Walker, a freshman at the University of Alabama, was crowned Miss Hoover 2016 at the 2016 Miss Hoover Scholarship Pageant on July 11. Contestants from across the state traveled to Hoover High School to compete for a total prize package worth $15,860. In addition to being crowned Miss Hoover 2016, Walker received the Talent Award and earned cash scholarships of $5,075 to further her education. For her talent, Walker performed a ballet en pointe to “The Hoedown” from the classical ballet, “Rodeo.” Her personal platform is “Be a Game Changer: Empowering Youth to Volunteer.” Walker will represent the city of Hoover at the 2016 Miss Alabama Pageant. Walker made her first appearance in the Miss Alabama Pageant this past June, where she was named a top 12 semifinalist and won a preliminary talent award.