Talladega Band Looks to Crowdfunding to Help Pay for Inauguration Trip

| January 9, 2017 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/01/Dega.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:533;s:4:"file";s:16:"2017/01/Dega.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:14:"Dega-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-600x533.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:533;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-600x533.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:533;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Dega-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Talladega College
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:373179;s:14:"optimized_size";i:243997;s:7:"percent";d:34.619999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:15:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:44:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:144145;s:14:"optimized_size";i:77145;s:7:"percent";d:46.479999999999997;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-771x514.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:102430;s:14:"optimized_size";i:69956;s:7:"percent";d:31.699999999999999;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:50:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4705;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4599;s:7:"percent";d:2.25;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:63869;s:14:"optimized_size";i:47579;s:7:"percent";d:25.510000000000002;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:50638;s:14:"optimized_size";i:37728;s:7:"percent";d:25.489999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:15:"guest-author-32";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:50:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-32x32.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1438;s:14:"optimized_size";i:1248;s:7:"percent";d:13.210000000000001;}s:15:"guest-author-50";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:50:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-50x50.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:2600;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2511;s:7:"percent";d:3.4199999999999999;}s:15:"guest-author-64";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:50:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2017/01/Dega-64x64.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3354;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3231;s:7:"percent";d:3.6699999999999999;}s:15:"guest-author-96";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:16:"guest-author-128";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1640149586 
1483975962

The Talladega College Marching Tornadoes band is getting ready to play in the inaugural parade next week, and a GoFundMe campaign has launched online to help pay for the trip to Washington, D.C.

Talladega, the oldest private historically black college in Alabama, has a rich history, but has faced financial struggles in years past.

The 200-member band wants to raise $75,000 to help pay for transportation, lodging and other expenses. A total of $6,625 has been raised since the campaign launched five days ago.

On Thursday, college officials announced the band’s participation in the parade honoring President-elect Donald Trump. News of the band’s participation stirred controversy among some alumni who say the band should not participate because of Trump’s divisive rhetoric on the campaign trail. Several students and band members have said it’s an honor to be invited, and they want the experience of marching in the inauguration.

Organizers of the campaign say they want to raise the money by Jan. 15. Band Director Miguel Bonds is listed as the administrator for the funding site.

 

 

 

 

Party City files for bankruptcy and plans to shutter nationwide

Party City was once unmatched in its vast selection of affordable celebration goods. But over the years, competition stacked up at Walmart, Target, Spirit Halloween, and especially Amazon.

Sudan’s biggest refugee camp was already struck with famine. Now it’s being shelled

The siege, blamed on the Rapid Support Forces, has sparked a new humanitarian catastrophe and marks an alarming turning point in the Darfur region, already overrun by violence.

FDA approves weight loss drug Zepbound to treat obstructive sleep apnea

The FDA said studies have shown that by aiding weight loss, Zepbound improves sleep apnea symptoms in some patients.

Netflix is dreaming of a glitch-free Christmas with 2 major NFL games set

It comes weeks after Netflix's attempt to broadcast live boxing between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was rife with technical glitches.

Big dreams: He’s the founder of a leading African photobook library

Paul Ninson had an old-school, newfangled dream: a modern library devoted to photobooks showing life on the continent. He maxed out his credit cards, injured his back — and made it happen.

Opinion: The Pope wants priests to lighten up

A reflection on the comedy stylings of Pope Francis, who is telling priests to lighten up and not be so dour.

More Arts and Culture Coverage