Low birth weights in blacks tied to racial identity, mom’s age
WAFF-NBC (Huntsville) – July 19
A University of Alabama researcher is looking at why African-American babies die at a faster rate than Caucasian infants. According to a birth weight study from the University, black infants weighing smaller than others is the leading cause for their infant mortality rate. Assistant Professor Dr. Wanda Burton says that in Alabama, the low birth weight rate for black babies is nearly double the national average. Burton says after examining a sample of 72 women living in West Alabama, she found that racial stereotypes can also influence the health of expectant moms.
WTVM-ABC (Columbus, Georgia) – July 19
Moundville will host Knap-In and Birdfest this weekend
Tuscaloosa News – July 19
Two educational events at the University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park are scheduled this weekend. The annual Knap-In will take place Saturday and Sunday at the park. Expert knappers will demonstrate how Native American arrowheads, points and stone tools are made. There will also be a children’s area, food and other outdoor demonstrations.
Alabama unemployment low, part-time jobs up, but why?
Al.com – July 20
It’s true. At 4.9 percent, Alabama is enjoying its lowest rate of unemployment since April 2008 when it sat at 5 percent – low enough that former Gov. Robert Bentley would be able to take a salary had he not been forced to resign … “One reason it’s so high is that it’s more cost-efficient for businesses to employ part-time workers,” said Viktoria Riiman, a socioeconomic analyst at the University of Alabama. “They don’t have to pay as many benefits.”
UA hosts cybercrime camp
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – July 19
The next generation of cybercrime investigators got a crash course in how police solve cybercrimes. More than 50 rising 9th graders are taking part in a week-long camp at The University of Alabama. They are learning how to retrieve deleted data from thumb drives, and also the information people can access from their social media accounts.
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – July 19
Open Source – July 19
One of the nation’s oldest writers’ organizations teams up with millennials, unveils rebrand
Al.com – July 19
The Alabama Writers’ Conclave partnered with Capstone Agency, the student-run communications firm at The University of Alabama, to debut its complete organizational rebrand Friday, June 30 at its annual conference held at The Hoover Public Library.
Health Matters: Smoking
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – July 19
Smoking is without a doubt one of the top risks for developing health problems and shortening your life, but there are plenty of folks who continue putting themselves at risk. Dr. Alan Blum with the University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences has been studying smoking cessation for decades, and he’s responsible for UA’s campus-wide nonsmoking policy. “I think it’s a tragedy that we’re still talking about this issue at all more than 50 years after the Surgeon General’s report on smoking showed proof positive this is the leading cause of cancer, the leading cause of heart disease,” Blum said.
The Obamacare Architect, Western Wildfires, Fighting Fake News
WNYC.org – July 19
Coming up on today’s show … How have the alt-right and fringe conservative media sources been covering the investigation into possible Russian collusion with the Trump campaign? George Hawley, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama author of the forthcoming book “Making Sense of the Alt Right,” answers.
Publication on communicating science issues wins ‘Article of the Year’ award
All Daily News – July 19
A publication by two Penn State faculty members and an alumna of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications was recognized as the “Article of the Year” by Communicating Science, Health, Environment and Risk (ComSHER), a division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The article, written by associate professors of advertising-public relations Lee Ahern and Colleen Connolly-Ahern, and Jennifer Hoewe, assistant professor at the University of Alabama, demonstrated how political framing can affect attitudes toward science issues.