August 17 Morning Newscast
August 17, 2012, Morning Newscast
Carol Garrison, President of the University of Alabama at Birmingham will step down.
In a statement, Garrison (photo above) thanked faculty, staff and students and says it has been an honor and privilege to serve as president of UAB. She writes that she will quote: “begin a new chapter in my life”. Garrison, was named president in July 2002, and came to UAB from the University of Louisville where she was acting president.
Garrison will continue serving until an interim president is named. The Birmingham News reports that according to UA System trustees, Ray Watts, vice president for medicine and dean of the UAB School of Medicine, is likely to be named interim UAB president, but no final decision has been made. The News also reports that trustee Paul Bryant Jr., has asked fellow trustee John McMahon to chair the search committee that will identify candidates to succeed Garrison.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is holding a public hearing about crackdowns on illegal immigration in Alabama and other states. The panel will meet in Birmingham on Friday to hear from both supporters and opponents of the laws. Speakers include Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who’s pushed for such measures nationwide, and Republican state Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, a sponsor of Alabama’s law. Critics of the measures are on the agenda, but they’re complaining that members of what they call hate groups are being allowed to participate. Alabama is among the states that have passed laws clamping down on illegal immigrants. The U.S. Supreme Court gutted parts of Arizona’s law, which is a national model, but other sections were allowed to stand.
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Federal railway officials are providing $100,000 to study the possibility of passenger train service linking Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham.
The Federal Railroad Administration said Thursday it is earmarking the money in response to an application from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Amtrak used to run passenger trains linking the three cities, and the study will look at restoring the service. Amtrak’s Crescent route runs through Birmingham as it connects New Orleans and New York..
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi
Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.
Gambling, ethics bills fall short as legislative session ends
Alabama lawmakers closed the books on this year’s regular legislative session Thursday. While Republican leaders passed many of their priority bills, perhaps the most talked about issue – gambling – died.
