Addressing mental illness concerns in Tuscaloosa County Jail inmates
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 25
Caring for mentally ill inmates in the Tuscaloosa County Jail is not getting any easier according to the jail’s chief psychiatrist. “It’s an enormous problem. It’s a crisis,” says Dr. Marisa Giggie. That’s the message she shared with a crowd of law enforcement officers and court personnel at DCH Regional Medical Center. Giggie led a roundtable discussion on the issue with Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Brad Almond and Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy … On average, 30 to 40 percent of the inmates in the jail have some form of mental illness according Sheriff Abernathy. “So we created mental health officers with Judge McCollum and the probate judges. We’ve partnered with the University of Alabama to get psychiatric care. We’ve partnered with the judges to actually create a mental health court which absolutely has been incredible to reduce those numbers,” Abernathy added.
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 25
NBC 10 (Albany, Georgia) – April 25
Holt High students to address lawmakers about pets in hot cars bill
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 25
Students from Holt High school get in one final round of practice before they address members of the Alabama House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Wednesday. “We do also want to step in for these animals. Because obviously they can’t talk. But we can be their voice,” Holt High school student Koby Flannery told WBRC … Several University of Alabama students mentoring the group will join them in support. They leave Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. for Montgomery.
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – April 25
WALB 10 (Albany, Georgia) – April 25
NBC 5 (Memphis, Tennessee) – April 25
WTVM 9 (Columbus, Georgia) – April 25
WDAM 7 (Moselle, Mississippi) – April 25
WTOC 11 (Savannah, Georgia) – April 25
Oysters Hold Secrets To Chesapeake Bay’s Past
Public – April 25
People began to negatively impact the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay earlier than previously thought, a new study finds. Heather Black conducts research at Chesapeake Bay … Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the planet found in air and water. But when too much of it enters the environment, usually from human activities, the air and water can become polluted … The study was conducted when Black was a master’s student at the University of Alabama. It was co-authored with researchers from the University of Alabama, the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and Union College.
Wiregrass natives make $5 million gift to University of Alabama
Dothan Eagle – April 25
A couple with Wiregrass roots recently gave a $5 million endowment to the University of Alabama’s college of arts and sciences, the biggest academic endowment that college has received in decades. The endowment, provided by Dr. E. Gaylon McCollough and Susan Nomberg McCollough, will establish the Dr. E. Gaylon McCollough Institute for Pre-Medical Scholars and the Susan N. McCollough Art Biennale. Dr. McCollough is an Enterprise native. Susan McCollough grew up in Dothan.
What role will God play in Alabama’s elections for senator, governor?
AL.com – April 26
Disgraced former Gov. Robert Bentley ladled out the religious juices in his resignation speech, invoking God and pleading for forgiveness. And it caused plenty of chagrin for church and social conservative political leaders in a state long described as one of the most Bible-believing in the U.S. . . . Michael Altman, a religious studies professor at the University of Alabama, said, “All the Republican candidates will have the same basic positions on the issues important to evangelical voters. But which one can sound, act and communicate in a way that makes evangelicals feel that they are ‘one of us’?” In the short term, the spotlight falls on Moore and his decision coming Wednesday. William Stewart, a professor emeritus of political sciences at the University of Alabama, said that Moore’s authentic approach toward his religious convictions – not matter who may view them as over-the-top – stands him in good stead with his base. “Whatever one may think of Roy Moore, to the best of my knowledge he has practiced what he has preached.” Stewart said, pointing to the contrast with Bentley, who had been a church deacon and even an opponent of Sunday alcohol sales in Tuscaloosa.
Excellence in Education
Meridian Star (Mississippi) – April 25
Morgan Ross of Meridian, Miss., was selected to present a research project titled “Thermo-mechanical Testing and Evaluation of Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramics using a Novel Non-contact Loading Method” at the recent University of Alabama Research and Creative Activity Conference. . . . The following area students were named to the Dean’s List with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the President’s List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s) for Fall 2016:
Event happening in Tuscaloosa County to educate on human trafficking
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 25
Tuesday begins two days of events in the Tuscaloosa area aimed at stopping a horrific crime, which is often described as being “hidden in plain sight.” Human trafficking affects thousands of children each year, right here in the United States. “Rescuing Hope – West Alabama” will be held Tuesday at the Tuscaloosa County High School stadium at 7 p.m., and again Wednesday at the Hillcrest High School stadium at 7 p.m. Several University of Alabama organizations, as well as law enforcement from Tuscaloosa County, the City of Tuscaloosa and the City of Northport are also involved.
WTVM 9 (Columbus, Georgia) – April 25
UA Public Relations students help Tuscaloosa Police with their image
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 25
Tuscaloosa police want to make sure they have a positive image, and some UA students are lending a hand. Groups of students from UA’s Public Relations Department put together marketing campaigns which they presented to TPD today. The students’ work could help officers reach out and build more trust within Tuscaloosa. Two groups’ campaigns were chosen as winners, but Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson hopes to implement all of the students’ ideas.
PREVIEW: Three-minute Thesis Watch Party
Crimson White – April 26
To unveil a documentary about the “Three Minute Thesis” competition, the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association are hosting a watch party with free food and door prizes on Thursday night. Three-Minute Thesis is a competition that began about five or six years ago in Queensland, Australia, and spread throughout the world. There are over 100 universities in America that do a Three Minute Thesis competition, said Cori Perdue, graduate school programs director.