Senate hopefuls attempt to ride Trump’s popularity in Alabama
AL.com – May 19
The first sentence in a ringing endorsement for U.S. Sen. Luther Strange’s candidacy reads: “The best decision of my political life was the day I joined candidate Donald J. Trump in his campaign to Make America Great Again.” The release was sent out by Perry Hooper, co-chairman of Trump’s campaign in Alabama. And who can blame him for making such a boast? In Alabama, Trump remains popular with the conservative GOP base in a state that has long elected Republicans statewide. . . . Said Richard Fording, a political science professor at the University of Alabama: “So far, there is no hint that the Republican candidates will distance themselves from President Trump.” . . . “I certainly have no doubt that if another presidential election were held today Trump would carry the state by about the same margin,” said William Stewart, professor emeritus of political sciences at the University of Alabama, and a longtime observer of state politics.
Homegrown Theaters You Should Know: New Orleans’ Mondo Bizarro
Backstage – May 18
New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are considered the epicenters for American actors. But what about all of the work happening underneath and in between? When the Regional Theater Movement took off in the 1960s, the intent was to keep American acting from being defined by a few flashy blocks in New York or some studios in L.A. Aligned with the anti-establishment tone of the times, regional theater strived for artists to be successfully rooted around the country. . . . Alex Ates is a director, actor, and educator rooted in New Orleans, Louisiana. . . . In the fall, he will be attending the University of Alabama as the only person selected into their MFA Directing program, serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.
Interns join STJ newsroom for summer
Selma Times-Journal – May 19
The Selma Times-Journal welcome two students to its newsroom this summer as interns. Mary Stewart, a sophomore at Auburn University, and Justin Smith, a junior at the University of Alabama, will work in the Times-Journal newsroom over the next 10 weeks.
Organization gives kids opportunity to work on wrestling skills
Tuscaloosa News – May 19
This summer, kids age 5-12, can learn the sport or work on polishing skills, by joining the Tuskaloosa Wrestling Coalition. The program is designed to help young wrestlers prepare for not only the upcoming season but help place them on the road to success once they age into the high school wrestling level. Robert Kronable is a father of a young wrestler and is one of the driving forces, along with Tuscaloosa County High School coach Patrick Griffin and Northridge High School coach E.J. Love, in organizing the program. . . . “We recruited four other coaches as well. They are University of Alabama students who are not from this area — they’re from other states. They all have wrestling backgrounds and wanted to be involved in the sport here in this area,” Kronable said.
CBER Hosts Alabama State Data Center Conference
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – May 18
The University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research hosted its second annual Alabama State Data Center Conference today. People from local governments, regional planning commissions, and businesses throughout the stat were updated on the latest data tools from the U.S. Census Bureau. Four speakers from the Census Bureau Headquarters discussed the latest census methodologies and technologies that will be used to bring down and track geographic boundaries and addresses.