Jesse Jackson to speak at UA
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 27
The Rev. Jesse Jackson will speak at a free event Wednesday night on the University of Alabama campus. Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader who ran for president in 1984 and 1988, will discuss “New South, New Challenges” at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom at the Ferguson Student Center, 751 Campus Drive W.
Twitter A Major Platform In The Growth Of The Anti-Vaxxer Movement, Study Finds
Study Finds – Feb. 27
Anti-vaccination sentiment has been building in the United States over the past five years, with Twitter being one of the most instrumental vehicles for those who oppose traditional vaccines, a new study finds. Using a machine-learning algorithm, researchers from the University of Colorado and the University of Alabama analyzed more than 500,000 tweets from across the U.S. between 2009 and 2015. The researchers limited their range to only include tweets that mentioned autism and vaccines.
Daily fantasy sports resurfaces in Alabama: Model legislation, or political firecracker?
AL.com – Feb. 27
Alabama could be on the verge of enacting a “model” law setting out rules for online fantasy sports gaming. . . . Andrew Billings, the University of Alabama’s chair of its broadcast journalism and creative media department, explains it this way: “Traditional ranking sheets, and one’s own experience, easily tells you who the best players are,” he said. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback. With daily, perhaps Aaron Rodgers costs a player twice as much as Joe Flacco. Now that equation is much more difficult to predict.”
UA tech startup receives first round of seed funding
Birmingham Business Journal – Feb. 27
A chemical catalyst company that was founded at the University of Alabama has completed a $540,000 seed round.
Walkers to take the Brussels sprouts challenge
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 27
The University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences will host the Brussels Sprout Challenge on Saturday during the American Heart Association West Alabama Heart Walk.
Missouri House Passes Bill Requiring Parental Notification Before a Teen Can Get an Abortion
Life News – Feb. 27
Missouri House lawmakers gave their final approval of a bill to require that both parents be involved when their underage daughter wants to abort an unborn baby … These common-sense laws have been effective in reducing abortion rates across the country. A 2011 study by Michael New, Ph.D. at the University of Alabama found that parental involvement laws reduce in-state abortion rates for minors by approximately 15 percent.
Terpsichord presenting dance concert contrasting light, shadow
Times Free-Press (Chattanooga, Tennessee) – Feb. 27
Terpsichord, the contemporary dance company of Girls Preparatory School, will present “Chiaroscuro,” a dance concert contrasting light and shadow, at the school, 205 Island Ave., this weekend … Terpsichord’s contemporary dance pieces feature student and guest choreographers. This year, dancers received instruction from Lawrence Jackson, an assistant professor of dance at the University of Alabama, and Daniel Gwirtzman, artistic director of his New York City-based dance company.
COMMENTARY: ‘Deeply libertarian’ plan seeks to curb gun sales
Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette – Feb. 27
After this month’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, support for restricting access to firearms has seen a sharp rise. Ranged against the movement are Second Amendment activists who, if increasingly unpopular, are nevertheless refusing to budge. This might therefore be a good time to consider a middle-ground proposal by two law professors, Fred Vars of the University of Alabama and my Yale colleague Ian Ayres.
City aims to revive loan program in tornado recovery area
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 27
Tuscaloosa officials are preparing to revive loan programs for businesses seeking to locate in the path of the April 27, 2011, tornado. Both the City Council and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have signed off on $250,000 in loan programs that are meant to attract businesses to the tornado recovery zone … The other $50,000 program is meant as a companion loan to a University of Alabama grant for student entrepreneurs.