New director of museum research, collections named at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 11
The University of Alabama’s new director of museum research and collections was drawn by the chance to return to research and collections as well as the staff at Alabama. “I spent most of my career in collections,” John Abbott said. “I saw this as an opportunity really get back into collections.” Abbott started his new role as director of Museum Research and Collections at the University of Alabama on Jan. 4. Most recently, he was the director of the Wild Basin Creative Research Center at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and, before that, a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin for 14 years. Abbott, an entomologist studying systematics and biogeography (why species are where they are), said the staff in place at UA made an impression on him during the interview process.
Cuban novelist Leonardo Padura will speak at University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa News – Jan. 11
Cuban novelist and screenwriter Leonardo Padura will present a free public lecture at the University of Alabama on Jan. 21. Padura will present “The Birth of Mario Conde (Divine Breath: The Creation of a Character)” at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 21, in room 30 of ten Hoor Hall. Beforehand, there will be an informal chat with Padura at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 20, in Room 203 of B.B. Comer Hall. Padura’s lecture, sponsored by the Center for Cuba Collaboration and Scholarship, will discuss his character Mario Conde, a detective who appears in his works, and the probing the cultural, historical and political trajectory of Cuba from 1959 to 2015. The author will sign copies of two of his books, “Adios Hemingway” and “The Man Who Loved Dogs,” after the lecture.
UA holds Watch Party for students at Ferguson Center
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 11
University of Alabama students are watching the game at the Ferguson Center. (Live reports)
ABC 33/40 (Birmingham) – Jan. 11
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – Jan. 11
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 11
Free tax preparations available for families
Gadsden Times – Jan. 11
Free tax preparation services for working families in Etowah County are now available at the Family Success Center, 821 E. Broad St. The services are being provided by Impact Alabama in coordination with RSVP of Etowah County. Services are available to working families making up to $52,000 a year with children in the home or $20,000 a year without children in the home. Tax services are provided by students from the University of Alabama. They are targeted at families eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Trumpet Player from Madison, Mississippi at National Championship Game
WAPT-ABC (Jackson, Miss.) – Jan. 11
A player for Madison is on the field right now for the college football national championship. Now this player plays the trumpet. Caleb McCollum is a freshman at The University of Alabama. The Madison-St. Jo Alumni is playing tonight with the Million Dollar Band.
Friends from South Carolina get to twirl together at National Championship Game
WJHL-CBS (Tri-Cities, TN-VA) – Jan. 11
Laura Burckhalter and Riley Ridgeway have been friends since the 9th grade, when they were both majorettes at Bardwell High School. Now, college freshman Riley is a Crimsonette at The University of Alabama and Laura a majorette at Clemson. They’ll share the same football field again on Monday for the national college football championship.
WJBF-ABC (Augusta, GA) – Jan. 11
WSFA-NBC (Montgomery) – Jan. 11