The Tuscaloosa News
BEAT OF THE MOMENT
High school bands gathered Oct. 7 for the Crimson Cavalcade of Bands, held at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. The event, sponsored by the University of Alabama Bands, gives high school marching bands the opportunity to perform their halftime...
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Kentuck Festival of the Arts announces music lineup
Organizers of the Kentuck Festival of the Arts have announced the music and spoken-word schedules for the festival’s 55th annual event, set for Oct. 17-18 at Snow Hinton Park. The two-day festival, one of Alabama’s longest-running arts events, will...
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Storm data shows impact across Alabama
Hurricane Isaias made landfall Oct. 9 near Destin, Fla., packing sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The cyclone caused extensive damage to the Alabama coastal region and the Wiregrass in...
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Students learn character through service learning
University of Alabama junior Katelyn Terry grew up in the Wildcat Way, the character education program at Huntington Place Elementary in Northport. She came back to her old school on Sept. 30 to promote the university’s push to help Children’s of...
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‘CHANGE IS POSSIBLE’
MAIN: Participants demonstrate technical skills learned as J.F. Ingram State Technical College at the Perry County PREP Center in Uniontown on Sept. 23. Seventeen years ago, Calvin McGuire’s life looked very different. A “mistake” that put him behind...
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Jeffries plots Democratic agenda under Trump
WASHINGTON − House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is promising voters his party will make life more affordable, if they boot Republicans from power in Congress in the midterms. While political observers expect Democrats to pick up House seats in...
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Cornell investigation draws expert criticism
Cornell University, campus police and the local prosecutor’s office are all facing intense scrutiny over their investigation into 2024 gang rape allegations, and experts say key changes early in the case could have had a big impact on the...
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A NOVEL MILESTONE
Twenty-five years ago, Ruth Gaddis joined the United Way of West Alabama at the genesis of the Success by Six program and became the first leader of the program, which has become a prime mover of literacy among children. “The Alexis de Tocqueville...
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‘Opens the door to a lot of opportunities’
Five seniors enrolled in Tuscaloosa City Schools seniors been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor awarded to fewer than 1% of high school seniors nationwide. The semifinalists are Central High School senior...
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Alabama football and Gov’t Mule take over Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa will host a rematch of the 2025 SEC Championship Game and a big amphitheater concert this weekend. The jam band Gov’t Mule will be in concert at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater on Oct. 9, followed by a primetime showdown between the Alabama...
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Coming soon
Assuming construction and other factors continue on pace, 2027 and 2028 a will cut a lot of ribbons, and open doors wide on major projects both on the University of Alabama campus and in downtown Tuscaloosa. Perhaps most-touted, in part due to the...
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Red Lobster to be replaced by First Watch
First Watch, a breakfast, brunch and lunch chain, is preparing to open its first Tuscaloosa location. The restaurant will be at 2620 McFarland Blvd. E, in the former home of Red Lobster. Red Lobster closed its doors permanently in July 2024. The...
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‘Kip was family’
Quiet settled over Alberta on Sept. 28, with University Boulevard closed for blocks surrounding Alberta Park, which will soon be renamed Kip Tyner Plaza. The encircling palm trees and dancing fountain waters Tyner strove to bring into being now serve...
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Christa Pike’s botched execution was chaotic
For well over an hour, the state of Tennessee tried to kill Christa Pike. Then they raced to save her life. Seven members of the news media who witnessed Pike’s botched execution on Sept. 30 described an increasingly troublesome scene in the death...
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HOPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
Tuscaloosa Oktoberfest will once again bring polkas, pretzels, beer and family-friendly fun to the Druid City. The German culture-themed event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa. Admission is free and...
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Explore Native American culture at Moundville park
A festival celebrating the culture of Southeastern Native Americans will return to Moundville in October, featuring raptor shows, dancers, storytellers, artisans, art and food vendors, and other attractions. The 38th annual Moundville Native American...
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‘Brookwood still remembers’
The city of Brookwood on Sept. 23 honored the coal miners who died 25 years ago in explosions at Jim Walter Resources Mine No. 5 in Tuscaloosa County. The explosions occurred Sept. 23, 2001, claiming the lives of 13 miners. Local coal miners, family...
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Alabama fourth grader earns National Math Scholar honor
A Huntington Place Elementary fourth grader had a big smile on his face after his name was called by Principal Andrea Hamner during a Sept. 18 assembly. Oliver Hua was called forward to be recognized as a National Math Scholar, an honor achieved by...
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ALL ABOARD
The University of Alabama has launched a new fleet of electric buses that will provide emissions-free transportation on campus while serving as a research platform for studying emerging transportation technologies. h The buses were funded through a...
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See the cult classic ‘Clue’ live in Tuscaloosa
Despite centering on horror, murder mysteries remain one of most popular entertainment genres because the fictions — in literature, on stage, in films ... or board games — build toward satisfying order from maddening disorder. Something terrible...
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City applauds standout employees
The City of Tuscaloosa recognized city employees for excellence in the performance of their jobs during a Sept. 18 luncheon at the Tuscaloosa River Market, with three employees winning Mayor’s Excellence Awards. Slade Martin of the Tuscaloosa Police...
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Ready for kickoff ?
Thousands of people will converge in Tuscaloosa for the University of Alabama’s Family Weekend, highlighted by UA’s matchup against South Carolina on Sept. 26. Here’s what fans need to know before the key SEC game. Kickoff for the Alabama-South...
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Impairment goggles show students driving risks
Holt High seniors and other students of driving age got a taste of driving under the influence without the dangers of intoxication, as the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency brought their Fatal Vision program to campus on Sept. 17. Carmen Drinkard,...
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Time for fall fun
Though it’s tough to tell by the steamrolling 90-plus-degree days, autumn technically arrives Sept. 22. While cooler temperatures may arrive later than usual, the string of festivals that accompany fall start lining up nevertheless. Among the...
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Longtime city council president Tyner dies at 70
Kip Tyner, a lifelong Tuscaloosa resident, veteran public servant, broadcaster, performing artist and arts advocate, among the most fervent advocates for his home district of Alberta, died Friday Sept. 18, at 70. The Tuscaloosa City Council, which...
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AL state offices are up for election
Mid-term elections are around the corner, and Alabamians will have a plethora of big decisions to make on November 3. This election season has been packed with unconventionality, from an SEC-football-coach-turned-U.S.senator now running for governor...
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‘WE NEED TO STAY IN THE MIDDLE’
The Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority has voted to approve a $35,900 survey of “what Alabamians actually want” after months of public debate surrounding the network’s affiliation with the Public Broadcasting Service. In April, the...
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The depth of remembrance
The public is invited to a Sept. 23 memorial service for 13 coal miners who died in an accidental explosion 25 years ago in Tuscaloosa County. Music will start at 4 p.m., and the service will begin at 5 p.m. inside West Brookwood Church, 12882 Lock 17...
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Study reveals salary needed to live comfortably in Alabama
How much does it take to live comfortably in Alabama? A new SmartAsset study offers an answer by estimating the income a single adult would need to cover everyday expenses while still leaving room for wants and savings. Alabama ranked No. 41...
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AL one of only 8 states that tax groceries
Alabama is one of a small number of states that still tax groceries. Still, the issue is gaining new attention as lawmakers and candidates push to eliminate the remaining state tax. The state has already reduced its grocery tax from 4% to 2%. Now with...
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Elementary school earns top scores
Faucett-Vestavia Elementary teachers thought they were attending a regular faculty meeting Aug. 31 after the children had gone home. What they found instead was a celebration. The Tuscaloosa County School System pre-kindergarten through fourth grade...
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Big collaboration coming to a Tuscaloosa stage
Season ticket packages are available for two of the area’s largest performing arts groups, who will come to an intersection in January, marking the biggest collaboration between them since 2000’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” For their 2026-2027...
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BECOMING THE ‘BEAR’
The eight worldwide species of bear, towering, imposing, powerful, are often imagined as carnivorous, but they’re actually omnivores, eating plants, nuts and berries in addition to insects, and all manner of meat. The only Bear that truly counts...
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Air Force ROTC marks 80th anniversary
Air Force ROTC marks its 80th anniversary this year, a milestone tracing back to a single order signed at the close of World War II that reshaped how the nation builds its officer corps. On Sept. 20, 1946, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, then Army chief of...
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Social Security checks may rise in 2027 as COLA forecast emerges
If you receive Social Security in Alabama, you may have seen some worrying headlines about what’s coming in 2027. Here’s the good news: Social Security benefits are not currently scheduled for a broad cut next year. Instead, current forecasts point to...
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Your guide to the Tuscaloosa concert season
As the late summer doldrums wane and autumn hints at arrival through nights below 85 degrees, the concert season at the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater rolls on through the bulk of October. Coming up are an eclectic bunch making first appearances at...
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Beyond Brookwood prepares students for real world
Workforce development is a key focus in high school education and Brookwood High is working to prepare seniors at the school to join the workforce after graduation with the Beyond Brookwood program. “This is our Beyond Brookwood. It is a customized...
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AL scientists use AI to speed up physics research
Science is about to get an upgrade, thanks to two physicists at the University of Alabama. In Tuscaloosa, Konstantin Matchev and Sergei Gleyzer are leading a project to develop an artificial intelligence tool that will help process the massive amounts...
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Alabama courts investigate potential exposure of court records
The Alabama Appellate Courts are investigating whether sensitive information connected to court records was accessed during a cybersecurity incident involving West Publishing Corp., the company behind the C-Track case management system used by the...
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Why Alabama stadium is a college football landmark
As the University of Alabama approaches the 100th anniversary of Bryant-Denny Stadium, the home of the Crimson Tide remains one of the largest and most recognizable venues in college football. “There’s just something special about playing in...
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AN IDLE THREAT
Abus company that left its buses’ engines running while parked in Boston neighborhoods has settled a lawsuit by agreeing to pay $5.6 million in damages for the resulting air pollution. The settlement came in a citizen-enforcement lawsuit under the...
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CRIMSON calendar
Though health, safety and comfort measures being taken by the University of Alabama for the Sept. 5 sold-out season-opening gridiron match between the Crimson Tide and East Carolina Pirates follow successful recentyear procedures, a few tweaks have...
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The Crimson Tide rolls in
The University of Alabama opens the 2026 football season on Sept. 5 with a crew of pirates, a cool '80s music concert and some big changes in the Tuscaloosa restaurant scene. The Alabama Crimson Tide will play the East Carolina Pirates in the season...
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Midtown Village sold but shoppers won’t see changes
The home of Tuscaloosa’s Barnes and Noble, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, Lululemon Pop-Up, Panera Bread, Best Buy, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Metro Diner, Old Navy, Baked Bear, Ulta and dozens of other outlets has been sold, though...
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‘Game changer’
The Tuscaloosa Police Department has unveiled a new community show car aimed at strengthening relationships between officers and young people in the city. The department introduced the Police Athletic League’s community outreach vehicle Aug. 21. The...
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Tuscaloosa museum prepares for move to Saban Center
The Children’s Hands-On Museum has closed its doors as it prepares to relocate to the future Saban Center and rebrand as Ignite. The museum’s longtime home at 2213 University Blvd. has been listed for sale. CHOM served the Tuscaloosa community for...
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From songwriter to business titan
In 1973, Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” to soften the blow of leaving her business partner, Porter Wagoner, after years of producing hit country duets together. Parton was ready to pursue a solo career. So she played the song for Wagoner...
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Wingin’ it
If your hummingbird feeder suddenly seems busier than usual, don’t assume the birds have discovered a new favorite restaurant. Fall migration is getting underway, and Alabama is part of the route for ruby-throated hummingbirds making their way south...
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The art of game day
If football is a religion in the South, Saturday is the weekly service. h And according to College Weekly, Alabama has one of the best places in the country to worship, ranking No. 2 on its list of the 10 states with the best football Saturdays. h With...
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Parton
How Dolly Parton's legacy lives on across Alabama. Dolly Parton, the “Queen of Country” singing and songwriting icon with a personality as bold as her signature blond coif and rhinestone-encrusted outfits, has died. She was 80. Parton’s death was...
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Bald eagle shot in AL returns to the wild
PRATTVILLE − A mature bald eagle was released Aug. 21 in Autauga County after 232 days of rehabilitation. The eagle was taken to Auburn University’s Raptor Center on Dec. 31 after it was found in the Pine Level area with a broken wing. The injury was...
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Road work on track for Alabama football opener
Work proceeds on the busy downtown stretch of Greensboro Avenue, from University Boulevard to Seventh St., with phases 7 and 8, the last two, as the focus for coming weeks. The $4.3 million project, funded by Elevate Tuscaloosa, began May 4, with...
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Can you still take photos at the UA mansion?
Right up front, there’s a gate. But it’s not closed. Social media went mildly wild, as it will, when renovations to the University of Alabama President’s Mansion included new fencing. Boo-birds feared the worst, thinking the fencing meant “Keep...
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When the Tide goes marching in
As the University of Alabama’s eight Weeks of Welcome launch, students whose days, nights, lives, and probable careers revolve around extracurriculars are already well in play. h Fall classes were scheduled to officially began Aug. 19. h Sorority rush...
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Iran vows ‘devastating’ response to U.S. threat
DUBAI – Iran said on Aug. 21 that its response to any new U.S. threats would be “devastating” after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. Washington prepared for...
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‘Script A’ tradition grows for Alabama students
For the 10th year that University of Alabama students coordinated to form the Capstone’s script A, spanning the width of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, upperclassmen were invited to join freshmen. In earlier years, it was considered a...
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New Piggly Wiggly will include Tuscaloosa Drug Co.
Tuscaloosa Drug Co. will relocate its Five Points pharmacy to the new Piggly Wiggly store scheduled to open this fall, officials announced Aug. 18. The locally owned pharmacy will move across the street from its current location 4301 Veterans Memorial...
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The reality behind the viral #BamaRush trend
Under the sizzling summer heat, nearly 2,500 of students at the University of Alabama learned which sorority had chosen them during Bid Day. Depending on where you measure from, sorority recruitment lasts a little over a week on the Tuscaloosa campus....
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Tuscaloosa weighs data centers and job growth
Tuscaloosa leaders addressing an audience of about 380 people at the University of Alabama’s Bryant Conference Center largely agreed on progress, concerns and processes during the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s annual State of the Community...
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Tuscaloosa students ‘start strong’ as classes begin
The 2026-27 academic year has begun at public schools in the Tuscaloosa city and county systems. Tuscaloosa City Schools opened Aug. 10, while the Tuscaloosa County School System began classes on Aug. 12. “A new school year brings new opportunities...
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WARMING WATERS
If you think understanding the natural weather phenomenon known as El Niño is difficult, University of Alabama professor Fred Andrus says you should try predicting one. Andrus studies El Niño events, which involve unusual warming of sea surface...
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AERIAL OUTLOOK
FORT RUCKER — A select group of West Point cadets spent the week at Fort Rucker gaining an early, in-depth look at Army Aviation through a new developmental program aimed at preparing high-potential future leaders long before they reach the branching...
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SHRIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
It’s not Cajun, but Cajian!, although Cajun and Creole counter-service food are Big Easy-central to what the new downtown Tuscaloosa restaurant offers. The branding adds “twisted” to Cajun and Creole, leaving open to interpretation specials or local...
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State opens first residential healthcare high school
The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will welcome its first class of freshmen and sophomores this fall. The public residential specialty school is set begin its inaugural school year on Aug. 13. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will...
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How $75,000 will help Tuscaloosa families thrive
A $75,000 donation will support programs and services at the New Heights Community Resource Center in Tuscaloosa. The New Heights Foundation Inc. received the gift from Boost Giving, a privately funded family initiative that provides grants to small...
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Tuscaloosa roads now running smooth before football season
As University of Alabama students and family begin to fill city and campus streets, there’s good news, and other news, about Greensboro Avenue, the main north-south artery in downtown Tuscaloosa. Greensboro Avenue begins at the Black Warrior River,...
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Tuscaloosa has plenty of chicken restaurants
The soon-to-open Raising Cane’s raises a question: How many chicken restaurants does Tuscaloosa have? A quick internet search shows at least 35 restaurants in the Tuscaloosa area where chicken is the undisputed star of the menu. The eateries range...
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‘You just got to keep fighting’
Those closest to Bray Hubbard know the Alabama football safety doesn’t need much to be satisfied. “He is so, just, chill,” said Blake Pennock, who was Hubbard’s football coach at Ocean Springs in Mississippi. “Put him somewhere, in a deer stand or on...
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Miles and miles of treasures
Bargain hunters are hitting the road for the 127 Yard Sale, better known as the World’s Longest Yard Sale, stretching 690 miles from Michigan to Alabama. Running Aug. 6-9, the annual event transforms highways and small towns into one massive open-air...
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Poll shows Tuberville has 8-point lead over Jones
Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville holds an 8-point lead over Democratic nominee Doug Jones in Alabama’s race for governor, according to a new poll commissioned by the Yes, Every Kid Foundation, a national organization that advocates for...
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University of Alabama holds summer commencement
The University of Alabama awarded nearly 1,300 degrees during summer commencement exercises Aug. 1 at Coleman Coliseum. According to UA, the summer class of 2026 included 810 undergraduates, 283 master’s degree or education specialist graduates and...
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Teen remembered for faith after cancer battle
Will Roberts, the 15-year-old from Ralph in Tuscaloosa County, lost his battle with cancer, but his fight inspired people across the country. Family, friends, and supporters gathered Aug. 1 at Shelton State’s gymnasium for the funeral...
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Grant will help fund Chief Tuskaloosa statue
The city of Tuscaloosa has received a $40,000 grant that will help raise a statue and plaza dedicated to its towering namesake. The Creative Places Arts Facilities grant, from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, will go toward the creation of Chief...
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AL families get tech boost with free laptops
AT&T, the United Way of West Alabama, and Compudot combined forces to create a bridge over the information gap for 100 families in West Alabama, giving out refurbished laptop computers to those who qualified during a July 30 event at the United Way...
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Alabama football home games you cannot miss in 2026
Sure, the couch is comfortable. And that big-screen television is great for watching football. But nothing compares to being inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on a Saturday and yelling "Roll Tide" alongside nearly 100,000 other fans. Here's why you should...
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Down-home destinations
Travelers looking for their next Southern getaway may want to add Alabama to their list. WorldAtlas recently featured 10 Alabama destinations that are ranked among U.S. favorites for 2026. The list highlights communities that offer everything from...
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