Dr. Bonner visits Montgomery to read to kindergarten students
WCOV-Fox (Montgomery) – Dec. 18
The president of the University of Alabama, Judy Bonner, makes a stop in Montgomery. Bonner visited Bear Exploration Center to read to Mrs. Brown’s kindergarten class. Bonner read the book, “George Washington’s Teeth,” and the class had a discussion about Washington’s wooden teeth. Bonner said she was invited to read to the class by a family friend, and wants to show students the importance of loving books.
WAKA-CBS (Montgomery) – Dec. 18
University of Alabama: Educated guesses for 2013
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Dec. 19
For the 32nd consecutive year, The University of Alabama’s Office of Media Relations offers predictions from faculty experts for the coming year. While these “educated guesses” don’t always come true, our track record over the years has been good. So, what’s ahead for 2013? Look for self-driving cars in showrooms, rural hospitals to face tough choices, health care reform to bring “seven stages of grief,” and a ride over the “fiscal cliff” that won’t be as dire as some depict.
UA students and alumni to team up with students and alumni from Notre Dame for service project in Miami before BCS National Championship Game
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Dec. 18
Students and alumni from the University of Alabama and the University of Notre Dame will come together to have a positive impact on the Miami community during the Discover BCS National Championship game service project. Representatives of the two universities will work together within the city on an urban gardening project aimed at promoting community development and beautification in inner-city areas.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 18
Students in UA School of Business help build Habitat for Humanity house
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 18
Construction is nearly complete. This home is unique in two ways. It is a “blitz” home and will be complete after two weeks. “Get Jackie Home for Christmas” … the home is a result of Habitat for Humanity and the University of Alabama business school. “It’s a great present.”
Capstone Village holds Christmas party
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Dec. 18
The Capstone Village held a Christmas party for their community. The residents came out tonight at the student rec center… everyone mingled with family and neighbors. They also had the opportunity to take pictures.
Miss Alabama USA/Gadsden
TV24 (Oxford) – Dec. 18
A University of Alabama Graduate student from Gadsden has been crowned Miss Alabama USA for 2013. 22-year old Mary Margaret McCord was one of thirty-three young women vying for the title this year. The 61st annual pageant was held in Montgomery last week and was McCord’s third attempt to win the crown. McCord is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Marketing at the Capstone, but will also spend some time traveling around the state as Miss Alabama USA. She says that she hopes to spread a special message to the state’s young women. McCord will represent Alabama in the Miss USA pageant that will be held this coming summer in Las Vegas and will be televised on NBC.
Lots of unknowns with proposed defense cuts
Anniston Star – Dec. 18
Whatever plan Congress approves to reduce the country’s deficit next year will likely include some type of military cuts, defense and financial experts said this week. But exactly how those will affect the state’s defense industry remains unknown. The White House and Congress are hashing out a deficit reduction plan in lieu of the impending fiscal cliff, a general term referring to laws that will initiate $500 billion in tax increases and across-the-board spending cuts in January – including billions of dollars in military spending cuts. However, even if the fiscal cliff is adverted, an alternate plan is expected to still contain considerable defense spending cuts, financial experts say. And as local military contractors, the Anniston Army Depot and even Department of Defense officials brace for spending decreases, they and financial experts are still unsure of how those cuts might impact the defense industry … To Ahmad Ijaz, director of economic forecasting at the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, said any cuts to military spending would be bad for the state. “Absolutely, especially in north Alabama … there are a lot of different businesses in north Alabama with defense contracts,” Ijaz said. However, Ijaz was unsure of the pain because Congress’ budget plans are still in flux. “Nobody really knows how much the cuts are going to be,” Ijaz said. Ijaz said the loss of military work and jobs would eventually be felt throughout the state’s economy. “The direct effect is it hurts the main contractor itself,” Ijaz said. “But when you lose jobs, that results in less spending and less tax revenue.”
UA professor says random mass shootings on the rise
WHEC-NBC (Rochester, NY) – Dec. 18
As the nation mourns the loss of life in Sandy Hook, the drum beat surrounding gun control is getting louder. But is it an issue of gun control, or something deeper, and much harder to legislate and control? New tonight, Don Hudson looks at the numbers, the truth about random shootings and what can be done. However, random mass shootings like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary are increasing. Let me show you something. A University of Alabama professor studied data and says in the 1980s there were 18 random mass shootings. In the 90’s there were 54. But from 2000 to 2010 there were 87. Now another question why?