The Tuscaloosa News
White House blasts an iconic museum
WASHINGTON – Tensions between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian Institution have escalated after a White House report accused the National Museum of American History of promoting a “radical, activist ideology.” In the days after the report...
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LINE DANCING WITH LUNKERS
Alabama’s reputation as a bass fishing paradise just got another boost. Three Alabama lakes have earned spots on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2026 list of the 100 Best Bass Lakes in the United States, ranking among the nation’s top destinations for...
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See the hot dogs winning over crowds at Montgomery Biscuits games
A day in DABOS Park means three things in Montgomery — Montgomery Biscuits baseball action, fun times, and lots of food options. You’ve got to have something good to munch on, and hot dogs are always huge sellers. “A hot dog at a baseball game,...
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Tuscaloosa churches unite to build a new home
Fourteen churches from the Tuscaloosa area joined hands and hearts, not to mention hardhats and hammers, with Habitat for Humanity to construct a new house on Milestone Circle. The new house is being built for Brittany Henderson and Marcell Wade and...
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Rally around
Alabama football fans are invited to a preseason pep rally Aug. 4 at the Tuscaloosa River Market. The pep rally is part of the annual fall kickoff event hosted by the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni...
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ROOTIN’, TOOTIN’ GOOD TIMES
Ropers and riders returned to Tuscaloosa for the annual Sokol Park Rodeo in Ray C. Jenkins Arena on July 9-11. Cowboys and cowgirls competed in the 18th annual rodeo in an effort to gain points to qualify for the nationals held every year in...
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Get ready Tuscaloosa; the city’s population will expand by about 40,000 when University of Alabama students begin fall classes in August. Here’s a guide to 2026 fall semester at the Capstone: When do UA students move in? Students will move in during...
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Jamming
Jamming devices have been installed by Russia near towns and military facilities, including some that can disrupt the Starlink systems operated by Musk’s SpaceX, they said. Most of Ukraine’s mid-strike missions are flown using Starlink, which allows a...
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Tuscaloosa celebrates lakes with July events
The city of Tuscaloosa is marking National Lakes Appreciation Month in July with a series of free events and activities designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake Nicol and Harris Lake. The monthlong celebration...
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How to spot heat stroke, stay hydrated
To Alabamians, “heat dome” could seem like just another word for the middle part of any year, from late April until October. But it’s a descriptor of one of the deadliest weather-related hazards, occurring when high-atmospheric jet streams push north,...
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Looking to Make a Move? Find Your Dream Home Here.
The eNewspaper is an electronic copy of your print newspaper. Enjoy every page by going to tuscaloosanews.com/enewspaper or scan this code on your mobile device. You will also find late news and sports in the bonus sections. Check it out today!
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Lawyers read Declaration for 250th anniversary
America’s semiquincentennial deserves a bit of extra pomp and circumstance, and the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association brought their best effort to the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. This year’s event, held July 2 in front of the...
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Safety issues beset Silicon Valley defense startup
ANEW YORK – year ago, Ryan Tseng, the head of U.S. defense tech startup Shield AI, announced his company had turned a new page. After a gory incident that partially severed a U.S. Navy official’s fingers during a test of its V-BAT drone, Shield AI had...
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OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE
As America turns 250, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln points to what comes next
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‘A guiding light for future generations’
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE - Seventy-four years after Tech. Sgt. James H. Ledford saved his wounded pilot and crippled aircraft over North Korea, his extraordinary heroism was permanently etched in stone at the Enlisted Heritage Hall’s Walk of Heroes on...
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THE MEANING OF REVOLUTION
Like Americans today, the people living in the United States in 1826 were preparing to celebrate a milestone for their country. July Fourth of that year marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As what was known as the “Jubilee”...
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Tuscaloosa tourism reached $1B milestone in 2025
Visitors to Tuscaloosa County generated more than $1 billion in spending in 2025, underscoring the growing role of tourism as an economic driver for the area, according to data released by Visit Tuscaloosa. Tourism accounted for about 20% of all...
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Local group promotes peace through global partnerships
Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International is celebrating four decades of friendship, cultural exchange and collaboration. The nonprofit organization is marking three major milestones this year: 40 years of sister city partnership with Narashino, Japan...
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18 vehicles built in AL make national list
Alabama’s auto industry had a strong showing in the 2026 Cars.com American-Made Index, with 18 vehicles assembled in the state ranking among the most American-made models. The ranking evaluates U.S.-assembled vehicles using factors such as: Domestic...
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Tuscaloosa center braces for summer food needs
Olivia McDaniel found some direction while working at New Heights Community Resource Center as a student intern from the University of Alabama. The senior studying social work, who is a graduate of Sipsey Valley High School, unpacked boxes and bags...
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GET READY TO HAVE A BLAST
Tuscaloosa’s largest Fourth of July event birthed during the first summer of its downtown amphitheater, in 2011. h That year, joined by the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, the city sponsored what it began calling Celebration on the River. Though there...
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Star-spangled setlists
Patriotic music will fill the air in the Tuscaloosa as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America on the Fourth of July. Here’s a look at three upcoming Tuscaloosa concerts that will feature patriotic...
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PLANTING THE SEEDS OF HEALTHY HABITS
Some children in the Tuscaloosa County School System’s summer learning programs are getting a fresh understanding of where their food comes from. Classes across Tuscaloosa County are making field trips to the TCSS Agriscience Teaching Farm, where they...
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Live at the Plaza adds July show
Live at the Plaza, the city of Tuscaloosa’s free summer concert series, will extend into July. The concerts, held at Government Plaza downtown, began in May and were set to conclude by the end of June, but rainy weather has caused adjustments to the...
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Students build trailer in unique workshop
A 36-foot gooseneck trailer made from steel is taking shape under the hands of both students and teachers in the Northport Career Tech Annex at Tuscaloosa County High. The workshop was originally planned to be for teachers only so they could learn how...
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Northport honors history with new Liberty Elm
A small elm tree now stands on the grounds of the Synergic Center in Northport. The tree is a symbol of the American Revolution and the nation’s defiance of England. It is the spiritual descendant of the Liberty Elm, which once stood on Boston...
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AL residents question promises of proposed new data center
HAYNEVILLE − Lowndes County, Alabama has no shortage of the color green. Lush green trees line the roads, green hills and fields stretch in all directions. The people who live here like it that way. In the opinion of many locals, a proposed data...
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SITES TO SEE
As America celebrates 250 years as a country, now is the perfect opportunity to learn more about Tuscaloosa’s history. h Here are some ideas for places to visit or things to do that show the story of the Druid City: Tuscaloosa’s Veterans Memorial Park...
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Study: City ranks among fastest-growing suburbs
Dreaming of white-sand beaches and sunset waterfronts? Look no further than Alabama’s charming coastal downtowns, home to some of the South’s best beach towns. Southern Living readers ranked Orange Beach and Gulf Shores as the South’s No. 2 beach town...
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SPLASHY SUMMER SPOTS
As temperatures rise across Alabama, many residents and visitors head outdoors in search of ways to cool off. While the state is known for its Gulf Coast beaches and lakes, some of Alabama’s most scenic summer destinations are inland, where waterfalls...
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Tuscaloosa Restaurant Week expands to 10 days of deals
Visit Tuscaloosa will host an extended celebration of the city’s dining scene in June as part of the fourth annual Tuscaloosa Restaurant Week. The event, presented by Huntington Bank, formerly Cadence Bank, will be take place June 18 through June...
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Why Tuscaloosa needs more school bus drivers
School bus drivers are some of the most memorable people from a student’s K-12 years. Craig Henson, coordinator of transportation for Tuscaloosa County School System said bus drivers are remembered either for being great or terrible. His job is to...
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Stars, stripes and free family fun
Northport will hold a new Independence Day event, the 4th on Main Celebration, 4-10 p.m. July 4 in its downtown area, where Fifth Street and Main Avenue intersect. Presented by the city of Northport, Friends of Historic Northport, Billy’s Sports Grill...
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Still getting a Social Security check in Alabama?
Hundreds of thousands of Alabamians who receive Social Security benefits are being encouraged to ensure they receive their payments electronically as the federal government moves to eliminate paper checks. The Social Security Administration says...
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ODE TO JOY
Gary Cosby Jr. sees a range of human emotions as chief photographer of The Tuscaloosa News. With inflation, wars and political strife raging, we asked him to compile photos he has recently taken that demonstrate the sweetest of emotions: Joy. To see...
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UNDERGROUND ODYSSEY
Beneath the surface of northern Alabama, an entirely different landscape begins. Cool, quiet and carved over millions of years. Step inside, and the world above fades fast. Light gives way to shadowed chambers, stone formations take on sculpted shapes...
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Beef O’Brady’s coming to Tuscaloosa soon
A Florida-based family restaurant chain that bills itself as a combination Irish pub and sports bar will soon open its first Tuscaloosa location. Beef O’Brady’s will open at 3799 McFarland Blvd E., in the former home of the Curry Kitchen India Grill...
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Free family fun set for Father’s Day weekend
A community event designed to celebrate fathers and father figures will return to Tuscaloosa just in time for Father’s Day. Fathers in the Park, an event created to celebrate the vital role of fathers, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 13 at...
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Greensboro Avenue shops stay open during construction
Business owners along Greensboro Avenue want customers to know they are still open as $4.3 million streetscape project continues through this summer. Though vehicular traffic will be impeded by lane closures, pedestrian access to the Greensboro Avenue...
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SHAKING THINGS UP
On Dec. 26, 2004, a massive underwater earthquake off the coast of Indonesia that registered 9.2 on the Richter scale created a tsunami that killed around 250,000 people. The earthquake and tsunami upended the lives of survivors and caused massive...
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Senate narrowly approves $70B for ICE
Democrats don’t have much leverage in Washington these days – until they do. A small, but significant, political window opened up briefly this week as Senate Republicans worked to pass a roughly $70 billion funding bill for Immigration and Customs...
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Statehouse spotlight
Over 400 rising high school seniors gathered at the University of Alabama for the 84th session of the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State program. Throughout the week of May 31-June 5, delegates gained hands-on experience in a model state...
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AL housing markets ranked among the most overpriced
The eNewspaper is an electronic copy of your print newspaper. Enjoy every page by going to tuscaloosanews.com/enewspaper or scan this code on your mobile device. You will also find late news and sports in the bonus sections. Check it out today! Five...
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11 unique places to visit in Alabama
Alabama’s Gulf Coast often gets the attention, but the state’s real travel story stretches far beyond the shoreline. Across cities, small towns and natural landscapes, visitors find space exploration history, civil rights landmarks, legendary music...
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AL stadium ranks among North America’s biggest
Massive college football venues continue to define the sport’s culture across the United States, where more 100,000seat stadiums exist than anywhere else in the world. From the Big House in Michigan to the cathedrals of SEC football, college football...
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Detours will affect motorists
The long-in-the-making Martin Luther King Jr./Jack Warner Parkway improvements project, the city’s largest infrastructure undertaking, begins its third and final construction phase Monday, June 1. Those roadways will be closed from June 1 until...
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SPORTS: NOT JUST ENTERTAINMENT
When first presented to the city in September 2024, the $150 million Tuscaloosa Sports Illustrated Resort was intended to be the flagship for Travel + Leisure, first of its kind. At the May 27 official ground-breaking, under misty skies at the Rice...
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WHERE MAIN STREET MEETS EASY STREET
Relaxation in travel isn’t just about spas or packed resorts; it’s also found in quiet mornings, mountain air and unhurried small towns. The sense of ease is exactly what World Atlas captured in its recent list of the 9 Most Relaxing Southern United...
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MORE ‘THYME’ TO MINGLE
The Tuscaloosa Farmers Market will add weekly Tuesday markets throughout June and July at the Tuscaloosa River Market, city officials said. The markets will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. each Tuesday at the River Market, 1900 Jack Warner Parkway. They...
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THE TIDE IS IN
See more coverage of Alabama softball at tuscaloosanews.com and tidesports.com
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Tuscaloosa Habitat dedicates new Women Build home
Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa dedicated a new Women Build home for one deserving family. Habitat officials, volunteers and others gathered May 15 at Milestone Circle to dedicate a new home for Rickelle Riley, a certified nurse assistant in the...
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‘Preparing students for the next level’
High School joined the exclusive ranks of Apple Distinguished Schools just before the end of the 202526 school year, a recognition of the school’s achievements in computer education, involving Apple computer products. Northside opened a Career...
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What the declaration says about God
A look at its 4 references, and how Americans heard them On the Fourth of July in 1776, the congressional delegates in Philadelphia adopted the Declaration of Independence, then ordered that it be widely “proclaimed.” Couriers carried the printed...
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RIGHT PAGE
Jodi Wilson was born in Eutaw and lived there until she was 13 when the family moved away. On May 16, she was back in her hometown to help open the new StoryWalk in United Memorial Park. h Wilson is the program manager for the United Way of West...
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LEADERSHIP LAUNCHPAD
The University of Alabama will host hundreds of high school students from across the state over two weeks for programs focused on leadership and government. Alabama Boys State is scheduled for May 24–30, followed by Alabama Girls State from May 31...
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PETAL POWER
Beauty is blooming in Gordo as the 34th annual daylily sale at Holliman Farm approaches. Rene and Len Holliman received their first six daylily plants as a gift from Len’s father about 38 years ago and the passion multiplied, just like the root bulbs...
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Tuberville, Doug Jones to clash in governor race
Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville won Alabama’s Republican primary Tuesday, officially setting up a high-profile rematch against former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in November. Gov. Kay Ivey, who has served since 2017, is barred from seeking...
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Ghana delegation visits Tuscaloosa schools
Tuscaloosa rolled out the red carpet for some visitors who had traveled more than 5,000 miles. A delegation from Ghana led by the Hon. Joseph Akwaboa, regional minister of Bono, municipal officers and community leaders gathered May 13 at the...
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Memorial Day events will honor the fallen
Residents in the Tuscaloosa area are invited to take time during the Memorial Day weekend and show their appreciation for all those who have died while serving in the military. The University of Alabama’s Denny Chimes will host a free outdoor carillon...
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UA works with Choctaw Nation to restore native species
The Choctaw Nation once inhabited most of central Mississippi with land extending to the Tombigbee River in West Alabama. They would have seen many things familiar to modern eyes and some things that White settlers eventually drove from the area along...
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TURNING TASSELS
TOP LEFT: Brandi Boyd, who said she is the auntie of Central High, gets hugs from students as they march in the recessional during the Central High School graduation for the Class of 2026 at Coleman Coliseum on May 11. TOP RIGHT: Paul W. Bryant High...
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President Trump leaves Beijing with few wins
BEIJING – President Donald Trump left China on May 15 with no major breakthroughs on trade or tangible help from Beijing to end the Iran war, despite two days spent heaping praise on his host, Xi Jinping. Trump’s visit to America’s main strategic and...
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‘We are in this together’
DCH Regional Medical Center pledged to increase security efforts after an employee was fatally shot in the Tuscaloosa hospital’s parking lot. Ada Doss, 27, died May 12 during an attempted robbery, according to Tuscaloosa police. “We are all grieving...
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‘Magical’ advice for Stillman graduates
Basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson passed along some magical advice to the graduating class at Stillman College during the school’s May 9 commencement ceremony. h “You have this big opportunity in front of you. It’s what you do with it that’s...
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UA campus sees $575M in construction
The University of Alabama has about 65 construction projects underway, totaling about $575 million, said Jennifer Sumners, campus development communication manager. The most immediately noticeable temporary change for most is right at the heart of...
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Mayor: Airport project will make city more competitive
Runway expansion and upgrades for Tuscaloosa National Airport’s Runway 4-22 will reach beyond convenience and safety, and stretch to greater potential for economic and air traffic growth, said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. The added 1,100 feet, with...
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Michael Baygents says police chief job ‘highest honor’ of his life
Baygents has been officially sworn in as the new police chief for the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Baygents was named chief of the Tuscaloosa Police Department on April 24, replacing Brent Blankley. Blankley stepped down in January 2025 to take a new...
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PATCHWORK OF MEMORY
No cheating now: Grab a paper map of Alabama and find Gee’s Bend. h Chances are, if you don’t already know where it is, you probably won’t find it. While the Wilcox County community off the Alabama River is tiny, gathered around a short loop road at...
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MAKING A SPLASH
Alabama’s summer story has always been written in the water. From quiet coves framed by pine forests to sprawling reservoirs built for adventure. Now, a new list from Southern Living is putting the spotlight back on the Yellowhammer State’s most...
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Tuscaloosa honors 99 top high school students
Ninety of the brightest students in Tuscaloosa city and county high schools earned recognition from the Tuscaloosa Education Foundation. The top 10 students from each high school in Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School System...
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Fallen Tuscaloosa officers posthumously promoted
The Tuscaloosa Police Department on May 1 posthumously promoted two officers who died in the line of duty. Law enforcement officers, family members and more gathered at the Tuscaloosa Police Department headquarters to honor fallen officers Trevor...
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Tuscaloosa students get a new computer science lab
Tuscaloosa City Schools on April 29 showed off a new Computer Science Innovation Lab at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy, where administrators hope students will find doors into their futures. “This classroom represents more than new...
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UA’s class of 2026 graduates with notable achievements
Friends and family gathered May 2 in Tuscaloosa to celebrate spring graduation for the class of 2026. Around 6,865 students became University of Alabama graduates during commencement exercises at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. Nine...
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Greensboro Ave. construction will affect driving routes
Lane and road closures will be seen along Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa, on the two blocks between University Boulevard and Seventh Street, beginning May 4, with construction work continuing through spring and summer. The city of Tuscaloosa...
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DOWN TO A SCIENCE
Three brilliant University of Alabama students have won Goldwater Scholarships, recognizing their outstanding contributions in areas of science, engineering and mathematics. Katy Butler, 20, of Oakwood, Ohio; Colton Byrne, 20, of Rockford, Michigan;...
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FAIR MAP FAULT LINES
When word came down April 29 that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled race can’t be a consideration when crafting voting districts, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall celebrated. “The Supreme Court has spoken,” said Marshall, a two-term incumbent...
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