Tommy Tuberville leads first Alabama delegation prayer breakfast
The Alabama Congressional delegation met for a prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C., this week. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, along with U.S. Senator Katie Britt and U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt, Terri Sewell, Gary Palmer, Barry Moore, Jerry Carl, and Dale Strong, joined to host an Alabama prayer breakfast. More than 100 Alabamians joined congressional leaders praying for the state and nation. “Our uniting in prayer is more important now than ever because I think we can all agree that we are facing a lot of division and brokenness in our country,” said Senator Tuberville. “And the solutions to these problems aren’t found in the Hall of Congress or the White House—but among God’s people. Our presence here today shows we recognize that God is the only one who can heal and restore. But first, America needs to turn back to God. That begins with you and me.” Honored to host the inaugural Alabama Prayer Breakfast with Alabama legislators, faith leaders, & constituents to pray for our great state & nation. Thank you to all those who joined us in prayer. May we continue to look to the Lord for guidance and remain one nation under God. pic.twitter.com/0sAGzZpznk — Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) June 21, 2023 Senator Britt said on Twitter, “Blessed to start the day in prayer with my colleagues and constituents. Thankful that we had such a great group of Alabamians join our congressional delegation for this morning’s prayer breakfast. All things are possible through Him!” Congressman Palmer said on Twitter, “It was an honor to join fellow Alabamians in prayer this morning for our state and our nation at the first annual Alabama Prayer Breakfast. Thank you to @SenTuberville for hosting.” The members were joined by faith leaders from Alabama, including University of Alabama President Stuart Bell, Dr. Jim Carter of Monroeville, Pastor Troy Garner of Huntsville, and Birmingham Theological Seminary President Ike Reeder. The leaders read passages from the Bible and took turns praying for our families, education system, churches, economy, and military. More than 100 Alabamians gathered in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rob Vaughn introduced as new University of Alabama head baseball coach
The University of Alabama has chosen Rob Vaughn to lead the Alabama baseball team. The announcement was made on Tuesday at a press conference at the Mal Moore Athletics Facility attended by University of Alabama President Stuart Bell, Coach Vaughn, and Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne. “I want my program to be known for two things: culture and development,” Vaughn said. “It’s what we’re all about. It’s what I care about as a coach. My goal is that this group of people that I get to coach and we get to work alongside, will finish their time here equipped to be unbelievable dads, unbelievable husbands, and unbelievable leaders. Vaughn spent the last six seasons coaching at the University of Maryland. “There’s a lot of excitement around your first few days on campus,” said Vaughn. “I’ve had the opportunity to spend the last day and a half around the young people from the 2023 team, around JJ (Associate Head Coach Jason Jackson) and the rest of the coaching staff just getting to be a fly on the wall and listen to the way they communicate. As you do that, it becomes very, very evident and very clear how they were able to do what they did (this past season), and I’m so proud to get to be a small part of that.” “As I looked at ‘why Alabama?’” Vaughn continued, “You have the easy stuff. You have the SEC, and obviously, this is the most competitive brand of baseball there is. As a young kid, you always aspire to play there, and as a young coach, you always aspire to coach in and to have the opportunity to stand here to be a part of this and to get to coach these young people moving forward. That is something that we are so excited about. We understand what comes with that. There is pressure and a lot of expectations, especially based on what the 2023 team just did, but that’s what we want. That’s what we’re built for.” “Today is an exciting day for Alabama Athletics as we welcome Rob Vaughn as our new head baseball coach,” Byrne said. “As I mentioned, a lot has happened with our program over the last six weeks, but I’m so incredibly proud of the way our team finished out the season. I’ve been around this game for a long time, and this is as fine a group of young men as I’ve been around in any baseball program. Everybody around the program knows it, and even in our early conversations with Coach Vaughn, he says he can sense the same thing.” Vaughn led the Maryland Terrapins to a 183 and 117 record, with an 84 to 54 mark in conference play. The University of Alabama fired head baseball Coach Brad Bohannon midseason after he was implicated in a game-fixing scandal involving legal sports betting in Ohio. Despite the drama swirling around the program, the Tide was still able to make a deep NCAA playoff run under interim coach Jason Jackson, eventually losing to Wake Forest in the Super Regionals on Sunday. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
University of Alabama receives $7.8 million grant to electrify buses
On Thursday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell visited the University of Alabama, where she was joined by University President Stuart Bell, to announce that the federal government has awarded the University a $7.8 award to convert the University’s bus fleet from diesel-powered buses to battery-powered electric buses. “I just stopped by the University of Alabama to deliver a check for $7.8 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade the University’s Crimson Ride bus fleet with new, clean energy electric buses,” Sewell wrote on Facebook. “That means new vehicles and a cleaner, healthier campus community! ” Rep. Sewell was the only member of the Alabama Congressional delegation to vote in favor of President Joe Biden’s controversial infrastructure bill, which included $billions to fight climate change. “Once again, we’re seeing much-needed funding coming to Alabama to improve our infrastructure, connect our communities, and clean up our environment,” Sewell continued. “This law is a true testament to what we can achieve when we put people over politics, and I was proud to support it!” Earlier in the day, Rep. Sewell hosted a town hall at the McDonald Hughes Center in Tuscaloosa to speak with constituents. “Climate change is real,” Sewell said at the press conference. “We have experienced tornados and really bad storms here. The reality is that we need to leave this planet better than we found it, and that is going to take an investment in our infrastructure.” Sewell said that the federal government should invest in infrastructure like charging stations, “To make sure that we are not contributing to the release of greenhouse gases.” Electric battery-powered buses have 70 percent lower global warming emissions than diesel or natural gas buses, according to a recent analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The Biden administration and some environmentalists claim that reducing emissions will have an overall benefit in reducing global warming moving forward. Sewell is in her sixth term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. She faces her most difficult re-election effort to date due to population migration out of the district and 2021 redistricting by the Alabama Legislature that made the district much more Republican than it was in the 2020 election. Sewell is the only Democrat in Alabama’s congressional delegation. She is the only Black woman to represent Alabama in Congress in the history of the State of Alabama. Sewell is a native of Selma and lives in the Hoover area. “It is important that you vote for the people who have your back whether it is the people’s house, the governor’s house, or the state house,” Sewell said. “It is the honor of a lifetime to represent you in Washington, and I can only do that through town halls like this across the district.” Sewell faces Republican Beatrice Nichols and Libertarian Gavin Goodman in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Terri Sewell applauds $21+ million in funding for clean transit buses in Jefferson County and University of Alabama
This week, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell announced over $21 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean transit buses in Alabama. The funding is part of a $1.66 billion investment by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 150 bus fleets and facilities across the nation to reduce pollution and meet Joe Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. This year’s funding alone will nearly double the number of no-emission transit buses on America’s roadways. In Alabama, this funding will improve the safety and reliability of transit services for residents of the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa regions. According to Sewell’s press release, the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) will receive $13,654,636 to build a new maintenance facility and buy compressed natural gas, hydrogen fuel-cell, and battery electric buses and charging equipment. This project and the new vehicles will improve the safety and reliability of transit service for residents in Jefferson County. The University of Alabama will receive $7,890,065 to replace diesel buses with new electric buses, buy charging equipment, and train maintenance workers to support the new electric bus fleet. The project will ensure continued service reliability, maintain a state of good repair, improve air quality, and advance environmental justice in the Tuscaloosa community. Rep. Sewell applauded the bipartisan funding. “It’s hard to overstate the transformational impact that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is having here in Alabama,” said Rep. Sewell. “Once again, we’re seeing much-needed funding coming to our communities to upgrade our infrastructure, connect our communities, and clean up our environment. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a true testament to what we can achieve when we put people over politics, and I was proud to be the only Member of Congress from Alabama to support it.” “With this announcement, we’re bringing millions of dollars to Jefferson County for brand new vehicles and a new maintenance facility to keep them running smoothly,” continued Sewell. “That means safer and more reliable bus services for the residents of the Birmingham region. For our University of Alabama campus community, this announcement means better, greener buses and a cleaner, healthier environment.” “BJCTA has a lot to look forward to in the coming years,” said BJCTA Executive Director and CEO Charlotte Shaw. “We are excited to be a part of positive change and growth. BJCTA’s Transit on the Grow mission is not only to connect people to places but also to provide life quality in our communities across the region.” “The transfer to electric Crimson Ride buses will reduce emissions and have an immediate impact on our area, thanks in great part to Rep. Terri Sewell and Sen. Richard Shelby’s strong support,” said University of Alabama President Stuart Bell. “This grant will improve air quality and promote well-being on our campus and will build a strong workforce to lead electric vehicle innovation consistent with our vision for the Alabama Mobility and Power Center.” “With today’s awards, we’re helping communities across America—in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike—purchase more than 1,800 new buses, and most of them are zero-emission,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this announcement means more good jobs for people across the country, cleaner air in our communities, and more affordable and reliable options to help people get to where they need to go.”
Sen. Richard Shelby announces $360 million UA funding NOAA research
Senator Richard Shelby, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced that NOAA has selected the University of Alabama (UA) to host a new cooperative institute focused on accelerating hydrology research and enhancing collaboration. This new institute will be created with an award of $360 million that will be distributed over the course of five years, with the potential for renewal in another five years. The new research venture will establish the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) and will be administered by the Alabama Water Institute. It will consist of a group of 28 academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government and industry partners with the goal of this institute will be to improve NOAA’s actionable water resource information for forecasts, watches, warnings, and related products to protect life and property and strengthen the national economy. NOAA selected the University of Alabama as the host for CIROH following a highly-competitive evaluation. The campus is home to the National Water Center, NOAA’s hub for U.S. water forecast operations, which supports research and collaboration efforts across federal water science and management agencies. “I am thrilled that the University of Alabama has received this competitive award to facilitate a cutting-edge Cooperative Institute focused on hydrology. UA has the unique environment and expertise to lead the nation in high-level water research between 28 partners. Thanks to the Alabama Water Institute’s leadership in assembling a world-class team, the growing scientific expertise and collaborations in Alabama will continue to benefit the nation. Additionally, NOAA’s efforts to create this innovative institute will, in turn, protect communities and promote wise investments across the nation through better water models, forecasts, and predictions. This award is excellent news for Alabama and its findings will influence decisions made across the continent for years to come,” stated Shelby in a press release. UA System Chancellor Finis St. John emphasized how the funding will help UA lead the nation in water research. “The addition of the Cooperative Institute to the University of Alabama’s campus bolsters UA’s position at the epicenter of water research and operations. The opportunity to earn this competitive grant and lead the nation in this transformative work providing exceptional educational opportunities for our students would not be possible without Senator Richard Shelby’s support to bring the National Water Center and U.S. Geological Survey partners to our campus,” St. John stated. “The research institutes were established on campus to support and expand upon the great work done by our faculty, staff, and students in addressing real challenges facing our society. This award will elevate those contributions, bringing innovation to such a critical issue as water quality and availability while enriching the educational experience of our students. The expertise of the Alabama Water Institute is positioned well to answer our nation’s call to improve the lives and livelihood of Americans and our partner nations,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “The new cooperative institute will work with NOAA to research and develop state-of-the-science water analysis, forecasts, and guidance, and the equitable delivery of decision-support services,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “This program will train the next generation of scientists focused on addressing water issues and emergencies on all time scales, helping NOAA build a Climate Ready Nation that is responsive and resilient in a changing world.”
University of Alabama VP Myron Pope resigns, accused of soliciting prostitution
A University of Alabama official has resigned after being arrested on a charge of soliciting prostitution. Tuscaloosa police said Former Vice President of Student Life Myron Pope, 50, is free on $1,000 bond after his arrest Thursday on the misdemeanor charge, news outlets reported. “I have difficult news to share today. Vice President of Student Life Myron Pope has resigned from the university following his recent arrest,” university President Stuart R. Bell said in a statement emailed Friday. Pope was among 15 men arrested during a prostitution sting Thursday and Friday, news outlets reported. Pope told The Associated Press on Monday that he is working on a statement that he probably will release Tuesday. Capt. Phil Simpson, commander of the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, said in a press release on Saturday that the men had arranged through an app to pay for sex and were arrested after showing up at the agreed location and talking with an undercover officer. Pope was on the Alabama football team that won the Sugar Bowl after the 1992 season. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at Alabama. Bell said he will appoint an interim vice president of student life. Pope was Alabama’s director of recruitment programs/alternative certification and a clinical assistant professor in the higher education administrative program from 1997 to 2000 and became a vice president in May 2020. A native of Sweet Water, Pope was a walk-on tight end and linebacker under former Alabama coach Gene Stallings. His undergraduate degree was in history, and his graduate degrees were in higher education administration. As head of the school’s Division of Student Life, he worked to provide support for students through programs including health and recreation, career counseling, the student center, student media, and residential communities. Before returning to the university, he was chief of strategic engagement for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. He also served 14 years in vice presidential positions at the University of Central Oklahoma. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
University of Alabama partners with USGS to build Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility
The University of Alabama is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey to construct a new Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF), a state-of-the-art science and engineering facility that will support the agency’s Water Enterprise observing networks and research. “I am pleased that the U.S. Geological Survey has chosen to relocate its Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility to the University of Alabama, a leading innovator in the field of water research and science. This new facility will expand on the Alabama Water Institute’s critical mission of furthering the study of water as a weather-related threat, as a resource, and for distribution. I look forward to the transformative discoveries that will come from this new partnership, as well as the economic benefit it will bring to Alabama,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. Congress appropriated $38.5 million to replace the current aging USGS facilities at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, with the requirement to collocate with complementary academic and federal partners. “We extend our sincere appreciation to Senator Shelby, who played an integral role throughout this process and helped ensure the university could expand its water research program as global demand increases,” said UA System Chancellor Finis St. John. “With the Alabama Water Institute, the Global Water Security Center, and now the USGS-HIF, the University of Alabama has cemented its position as the nation’s leader in this critical area.” UA was selected as the site of the new HIF for the opportunities it provides to dovetail with other water-related research and development already conducted on campus, including the NOAA National Water Center. The HIF, which will be built on the north side of campus near the Black Warrior River, will serve a fundamental role at USGS in providing instrumentation and equipment services to USGS Science Centers and external partners. “With the addition of the USGS-HIF to Tuscaloosa, our campus will serve as the epicenter for water research and operations in the United States,” said UA President Stuart Bell. “This mission-driven partnership will provide countless teaching, research, and service opportunities for our students and faculty.” The new USGS-HIF is expected to increase economic development in the region. USGS anticipates the facility will also support and encourage strong collaboration with other federal agencies on campus. The 95,000-square-foot, two-story facility will include a hydraulics lab, water quality labs, field testing facilities, environmental chambers, sensor innovation space, warehouse, training labs, network operations center, and administrative offices. Construction is expected to begin in late 2022, and the USGS plans to take occupancy in 2023. “This partnership will ensure a world-class USGS facility for the testing and development of cutting-edge USGS hydrologic instrumentation, which provides the backbone for our near-real-time water monitoring and other research,” said Don Cline, associate director for the USGS Water Mission Area. “This information enriches the lives of everyday Americans and is used nationwide by all types of end-users, from water managers to recreational boaters, to make critical decisions.” Water is a signature research and academic focus at UA The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees recently approved the creation of the Global Water Security Center, which will be part of the Alabama Water Institute and will provide national decision-makers with strategic information, groundbreaking research, applied scientific techniques, and transformative best practices to inform appropriate action regarding water distribution. Mike Gremillion, an experienced weather professional in the military and intelligence communities, will lead the Global Water Security Center while continuing as deputy director of the AWI. The AWI, led by executive director Scott Rayder, serves as a world-class interdisciplinary water research institute that develops pathbreaking, holistic, and environmentally friendly solutions to ensure people and ecological systems in the community, state, nation, and world are water secure, with access to clean water and are resilient to extreme events. Rayder has played a key role in continuing collaboration with the NOAA National Water Center on UA’s campus. “As global demand for water increases alongside a predicted decrease in water quality and availability, the University of Alabama is taking a leadership role to ensure the nation can better understand water security and predict how changes will impact the geopolitical sphere,” said Dr. Russell Mumper, vice president for research and economic development. “We are pleased to welcome USGS to Tuscaloosa and stand ready to support USGS and NWC in their missions.” This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama’s website.
University of Alabama denies report it is under investigation for ties to Wuhan COVID lab
The University of Alabama is denying that it is under federal investigation for possible ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). Annie Mapp from ABC3340 reported on Twitter, “The University of Alabama is under investigation by the federal government for improper ties to China.” #NEW: The University of Alabama is under investigation by the federal government for improper ties to China. More information at the provided link.https://t.co/XH2vTUDjw3 — Annie Mapp (@AnnieMapp_) December 23, 2020 WIV, which is owned by the Chinese government’s Academy of Sciences, includes a maximum biocontainment laboratory that may be closely linked to the origin and/or spread of the Chinese COVID-19 virus. UA President Stuart Bell received the investigation notice from the federal government, asking for “a full report of statutorily defined gifts, contracts, and/or restricted and conditional gifts or contracts from or with a foreign source to the U.S. Department of Education (Department).” The letter stated, “It appears that UA has failed to report an alleged partnership with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (“WIV”), in Wuhan, China.” The university is listed on the Wuhan Institute of Virology website as a “partner”. The University responded to Mapp. She posted a Twitter update stating, “#UPDATE: The University of Alabama sent me the following statement.” #UPDATE: The University of Alabama sent me the following statement @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/pPnLHJznxJ — Annie Mapp (@AnnieMapp_) December 23, 2020 The school is denying any connections to the WIV, and stated that they contacted the institute and asked that UA be removed from their website. The school never received a response to that request.
University of Alabama: Move Confederate plaques, study building names
Some of the school’s Board of Trustees also have been appointed to study the names of buildings on all University of Alabama System campuses and report to the board on any recommended changes.
University of Alabama cancels white nationalist Jared Taylor’s speaking event
Jared Taylor, a self identified white nationalist, will no longer be speaking at the University of Alabama on April 19. Taylor was invited to speak by Students for America First; a student organization at the University “dedicated to the recognition & preservation of the American ideals of self-determination, individual liberty, and constitutionally-bound democratic government as absolute necessities for prosperity.” On Monday Lee Hedgepeth, an Alabama local reporter for the New York Times posted on twitter that he had received an e-mail from the University stating that Students for America First’s registration status had been withdrawn, canceling the event. According to an email I just got from @UofAlabama, the group that had been planning to host white nationalist Jared Taylor “does not currently meet the registered student organization requirements.” Event has been cancelled. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/l1uudlPiMR — Lee Hedgepeth (@ALPolitics) April 16, 2018 “The group had an opportunity to comply with the requirements of a registered UA student organization, but was unable to do so. If its status changes in the future, the group will be given the opportunity to re-register, gaining the privileges of registered student organizations, including the ability to host events and speakers in campus facilities,” the statement read. “For any student group to host an event through UA’s student event registration process, it must be a registered student organization, which requires, among other things, having a full-time UA faculty or staff advisor. This content-neutral policy applies to all student groups, regardless of a group’s views or the substance of its proposed event,” the statement went on to say. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Taylor is “the founder of the New Century Foundation and edited its now discontinued American Renaissance magazine, which, despite its pseudo-academic polish, regularly publishes proponents of eugenics and blatant anti-black and anti-Latino racists.” The University’s President, Stuart Bell sent an e-mail to staff and faculty members, in March stating that, “many in the campus community, including campus leadership, have strong feelings against the messages this person may espouse. Hate and bigotry have no place at The University of Alabama. Our community is diverse, inclusive and accepting, and we are committed to treating one another respectfully. We value the ways diversity enriches our University community.”
Jared Taylor, white nationalist invited to University of Alabama
Jared Taylor, a self identified white nationalist has been invited by a student group to speak at the University of Alabama. Taylor was invited to speak on April 19 by Students for America First; a student organization at the University “dedicated to the recognition & preservation of the American ideals of self-determination, individual liberty, and constitutionally-bound democratic government as absolute necessities for prosperity.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Taylor is “the founder of the New Century Foundation and edited its now discontinued American Renaissance magazine, which, despite its pseudo-academic polish, regularly publishes proponents of eugenics and blatant anti-black and anti-Latino racists.” Stuart Bell, the University’s President sent an e-mail to staff and faculty members, stating that “This ideology is counter to our institutional values. The University of Alabama did not invite this individual. UA stands for the quality of all people,” according to AL.com. “Many in the campus community, including campus leadership, have strong feelings against the messages this person may espouse. The security of our campus is our absolute priority. Hate and bigotry have no place at The University of Alabama. Our community is diverse, inclusive and accepting, and we are committed to treating one another respectfully. We value the ways diversity enriches our University community.”
