BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – ZOOM Motorsports recently announced a new hospitality partner for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama weekend April 25-27 at Barber Motorsports Park. CM’s Trackside Tavern will offer fans the opportunity to upgrade to one of the best views at the park, while enjoying food and drinks from some of Birmingham’s top restaurants.
“We are really excited to have CM Foodservice’s fine restaurants as part of this exciting weekend for Alabama,” stated Rick Humphrey, vice president of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. “With an incredible atmosphere, great food and exciting racing action, CM’s Trackside Tavern will definitely be the ‘place to be’ at the race.”
With this hospitality upgrade, fans will have the opportunity to experience one of the largest restaurant groups in the south. CM’s Trackside Tavern will be located in the Red Diamond Fan Zone with views of six different turns of the racing circuit. It will feature food from some of Birmingham’s most popular restaurants including La Paz, Ezell’s Fish Camp, Golden Rule Bar-B-Que, Michael’s Restaurant, Catfish Junction and G-dogs.
“This is a really fun partnership,” stated Mitch Hurt, Director of Operations, CM Foodservice. “We cannot wait to feature all of our concepts at this prestigious motorsports race in Birmingham and we hope a lot of fans come see us at CM’s Trackside Tavern.”
Along with enjoying one of the most exciting atmospheres at Barber Motorsports Park, CM’s Trackside Tavern ticket holders will receive breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and three drink tickets to a full-service bar. Each ticket includes general admission with paddock access and convenient on-site parking. Tickets to this upscale hospitality section start at only $135 and is available at www.barbermotorsports.com.
(NAPSA) – Any time of year can be the right time to look for ways to conserve water. The good news is that water-saving strategies can benefit both the environment and your wallet. To help, here are some tips.
• A good place to start is turning off the water while you are brushing your teeth,
shaving, washing your hands, doing dishes, or any other tasks where you
usually let the water run.
• Use a bucket to catch the cold water that comes out of the faucet or shower while
you are waiting for the hot water to heat up. You can put the water you captured
to use watering your plants or pouring it into your toilet reservoir.
• Installing low-flow shower-heads and faucets can be a low-tech, low-
maintenance way to save water.
• Check your plumbing for leaks, especially leaking toilets and faucets. Fix
anything you find leaking. A silent toilet leak could waste from 30 to 500 gallons
every day.
• Install faucets designed to save water. For example, the German manufacturer
Blanco is known for finely crafted sinks and faucets that offer what it calls “liveable
style.”
Said Tim Maicher, an executive with the company, “When we say liveable style, we are referencing style that leads trends while integrating into any kitchen design.”
According to Maicher, the company engineers faucets to last, use less water and be as easy to use as they are to maintain. He added that faucets must be both attractive and be able to withstand more abuse that any other fixture in a kitchen.
Two recent water-saving faucets from the company are the Blanco Grace II and the Blanco Alta Compact. They save 20 percent more water over standard-flow faucets because of their 1.8-gallon-per-minute flow rate.
The Blanco Grace II is available in pull-out and pull-down designs with a dual-spray feature for both the culinary and traditional enthusiast. The Blanco Alta Compact also has the dual-spray feature and was designed with compact sinks and work areas in mind.
To learn more, visit www.blancoamerica.com. Install faucets designed to save water.
NAPSA – Today’s jobs require more training and education than in the past. In fact, a recent study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce anticipates that more than 65 percent of the 55 million American jobs generated by 2020 will require training beyond high school.
Many working professionals who want to take the next step in their careers are turning to online degree programs. Online education helps students take control of their education while giving them the flexibility to handle other commitments. It gives students an opportunity to learn on their own time, within their own schedules, without having to pull back from their responsibilities.
“Students today are looking for degree programs that fit into their already-busy lifestyle,” said Dr. Greg Washington, provost and vice president of campus operations at American InterContinental University (AIU). “An online education offers students a better learning experience by working on their schedule.”
Working adults who are balancing a job and family often choose online education because going back to a traditional campus isn’t practical for them. According to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics, only 29 percent of undergraduates these days are what’s considered “traditional” full-time students of standard college age enrolled in four-year public or nonprofit colleges.
Online education continues to evolve, making it even easier for students to make the most of their time. “At AIU, we recently introduced new technology, called intellipath, to give students a more customized learning approach. The platform assesses and identifies students’ current understanding of a topic and creates a ‘personalized learning map’ that includes lessons and course content tailored to meet each student’s individual needs,” added Washington.
When looking into an online education, students should consider what option best fits their lifestyle.
Here are a few key tips to help you select an online degree program.
• Personalized learning: If you’re looking for a more efficient online education program, consider a personalized approach. For example, AIU’s intellipath uses adaptive learning so students can skip over what they already know and focus their time on what they need to learn. Lessons, course material and interactive learning are tailored to each student’s needs.
• Access anytime, anywhere: Learn on your own time. Look for content you can access anytime from any web-enabled device. You’ll be able to study without the restrictions of a traditional classroom.
• Multiple format options: Every student learns differently. Make sure your program delivers course material in multiple formats so you can read, listen to or watch content, or create a mixture of formats that work best for your learning style.
• Individualized support: Courses taught by industry specialists give you access to real-world perspective – important for today’s career paths. Before committing to a program, review the faculty, and look for an online university that’s accredited.
For more information about selecting an online education, visit www.aiuniv.edu.
An adaptive learning platform lets students learn on their own time and skip over what they already know.
Sources: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce: http://cew.georgetown.edu/recovery2020/
National Center for Education Statistics: http://nces.ed.gov/
The Alabama State University women’s basketball team used two runs to pull away and hand the Rams a 69-57 loss, Tuesday night at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
“It was a game that we knew would be evenly matched,” head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson said. “They played South Alabama and went into double overtime so we expected it to be a challenge.” The Lady Hornets came out on the offense by scoring the first points of the game. Jamesha Blake led the Lady Hornets with 12 points and six rebounds, while Quentori Alford had six rebounds and two points. The Lady Hornets led 17-8 with 8:18 left in the 1st half. Over the next four minutes the Lady Hornets increased their lead to 26-12 and held the Lady Rams to just four points at the 4:18 mark. The Lady Hornets (3-1) held a 28-16 lead to start the second half, but the Rams did not allow themselves to stay behind too long. Mobile (2-2) fought back but ASU again expanded their lead by 19 points 59-40 with 6:28remaining in the contest.
“I was disappointed that we let a 22 point lead get away from us, stated Freeman-Jackson. “We really have to be able to, not only hold the lead but be able to increase the lead also. Defensively we got away from our game and let them (Rams) score 41 points.”
Alabama State shot 48 percent from the floor, and shooting 67 percent from the charity stripe going 8-12. Jamesha Blake led all scorers with 22 points, and was one of two Lady Hornets with double-digit figures, while Nakiya Smith had 14 points. Alford led on the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds for ASU. “Blake played hard,” Freeman-Jackson said. “I was impressed by her efforts in tonight’s game. I was glad to see her catch fire and step up.”
Alabama State will return to action Wednesday, December 4, at 6 p.m. when Samford University travels to Montgomery.
Lady Hornets Soccer Receives Academic Award
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has released its Team Academic Award winners for the 2012-13 academic year, and for the 6th consecutive season the Alabama State Women’s soccer team made the list.
The Lady Hornets posted a 3.34 team GPA, to earn the NSCAA Team Academic Award, a program must carry a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.
“This is the type of award that all coaches are proud of, especially me,” Head Coach Jodie Smith said. “We always want to recruit and retain quality student-athletes that are successful on the field as well as in the classroom. I am very proud of how hard our team works on both.”
The 2013 Lady Hornets finished with a record of 14-7 overall and 7-0 in SWAC play marking the highest win total in the history of the program also winning their 1st Eastern Division Championship. ASU defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Prairie View A&M to reach the SWAC Tournament Championship game, another first in team history. Unfortunately the team wasn’t able to complete this historical season as they lost to Jackson State in the championship game.
Sweeping the SWAC post season honors with Aaliyah Lewis winning Offensive Player of the Year, Kylee Hathaway named Defensive Player of the Year and Ariela Lewis the Freshman of the Year. Other Lady Hornets who were recognized are, Alexandria Cannon, Anastasia McCleary and Iita Pienimaki on the SWAC 1st Team and Samantha Bruno was named to the SWAC 2ndTeam.
AG Strange Issues Consumer Alert Warning of Scams Surrounding Obamacare Implementation
MONTGOMERY—As part of a program to periodically offer consumer awareness notices, Attorney General Luther Strange has issued a consumer alert warning of fraudulent attempts to steal identification information after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The Attorney General’s alert provides details of how consumers may protect themselves and how to safely access legitimate information about health care and insurance programs.
“As Attorney General, I am committed to protecting the people of Alabama from scams and fraud,” said Attorney General Strange. “One of our most effective weapons is to stop these crimes before they happen, through consumer education and prevention. My Consumer Protection Section handles complaints and inquiries from the public about numerous issues, and works hard to help them resolve their problems. In doing so, we develop many good tips and information that we want to share so that consumers may be informed and implement good practices for their protection.”
In the consumer alert, Attorney General Strange tells consumers that the only two ways to sign up for healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act is through its website, www.healthcare.gov, or by calling 1-800-318-2596. Consumers should not use any other website or hotline, should not give out any personal information to anyone who contacts them and should not pay anyone to help them.
The only approved insurance providers for Alabama through online federal marketplaces are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and Humana. Other insurance policies that meet minimum requirements of the Affordable Care Act may be offered online by private insurance companies. Consumers may verify legitimate insurance carriers by contacting the Alabama Department of Insurance.
This notice also will be posted at the Attorney General’s website, www.ago.alabama.gov.
Suspicious websites or people claiming to be with The Affordable Care Act can be reported to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section by visiting www.ago.alabama.gov or by calling its toll-free hotline at 1-800-392-5658. AG Strange Files Brief to U.S. Supreme Court, Joined by 16 Other States, Challenging Unconstitutional Presidential Appointments
MONTGOMERY – Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has filed a brief on behalf of Alabama and 16 other States in the Supreme Court of the United States, arguing President Obama violated the Constitution when he tried to make three appointments to the National Labor Relations Board without seeking the approval of the Senate. The case is National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning.
In 2011, President Obama failed to gain Senate confirmation for his nominees to the NLRB, the federal agency that regulates disputes between business and labor groups. President Obama then tried to put these nominees on the agency through language in the Constitution that allows appointments without Senate approval during a Senate “recess.” The States’ brief argues that the Senate was not in recess at the time the President made these appointments. The brief also argues the President had failed to gain Senate approval because Senators were concerned that his previous appointments were undermining state laws promoting growth and individual freedom. In particular, the States discuss a complaint, filed by President Obama’s appointee as NLRB general counsel, against the Boeing Company when it decided to build a plant in South Carolina. South Carolina, like many of the States joining this brief, has a “right to work” law guaranteeing its citizens the right to work for a particular employer without joining a union.
Alabama and the 16 other States joining the brief argue that the question before the Court concerns “the President’s attempt to circumvent the system of checks and balances” in the Constitution. They argue that the NLRB has special capacity to undermine states laws and “in recent years, the agency has upset the federal balance in unprecedented ways,” including the complaint filed against Boeing. The States further argue that the requirement that President obtain approval from the States’ representatives in the Senate is “an important check” on federal overreaching. They conclude that “proper respect” for the Constitution “requires the President to seek the Senate’s consent for the appointments he wishes to make for important federal offices.”
Attorney General Strange made the following comment about the States’ brief: “I am thankful the Attorneys General in so many other States understand how important this case is for the Constitution. The President cannot work an end-run around the Senate for the sake of a labor agenda that is contrary to both federal and state law. In this area and all others, the President must cooperate with the Senate, and he must follow the law.”
Alabama’s Immigration Law Permanently Blocked in Justice Department Lawsuit
BIRMINGHAM—The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama entered its final judgment today in United States v. Alabama, resolving the Justice Department’s constitutional challenge to Alabama’s immigration law, H.B. 56, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery of the Department’s Civil Division announced.
The judgment permanently prohibits Alabama from enforcing seven provisions of H.B. 56 that were designed to affect virtually every aspect of an unauthorized immigrant’s daily life, from employment to housing to transportation to entering into and enforcing contracts. The challenged provisions also threatened to impose significant burdens on federal and state agencies, diverting their resources away from dangerous criminal aliens and other high-priority criminal activity.
“The federal government has been making the nation safer by aggressively prosecuting and deporting criminal aliens in record numbers, and it has done so with the cooperation of our sheriffs and police departments,” Vance said. “But H.B. 56 diverted the attention of our state and local partners from violent criminals to ordinary families. The law forced parents to uproot their sons and daughters from their home, and it punished immigrant children for exercising their constitutional right to go to school. Today’s decision marks a return to common-sense immigration law enforcement.”
“Our system demands that our nation speak with one voice on matters of foreign affairs and immigration policy,” Delery added. “In striking down these provisions of H.B. 56, the district court and the Eleventh Circuit have reaffirmed that federal law precludes a patchwork of immigration laws of the type that interferes with federal enforcement, foreign policy, and the rights of lawfully present aliens.”
The judgment follows the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit declaring the enjoined provisions unconstitutional because they impermissibly conflicted with federal immigration law and undermined federal immigration-enforcement efforts. An additional provision of the Alabama immigration law, requiring immigration-status verification of school children, was permanently enjoined in a parallel lawsuit by private plaintiffs, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Ala. et al. v. Governor of Ala. Today’s judgment also dismisses challenges to three other provisions of the Alabama immigration law, although the Justice Department would be able to file a new challenge if the implementation of those provisions raised legal problems.
The Birmingham Police Department reports that detectives have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with an assault investigation. The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at approximately 4:00 p.m., at 2618 Tempest Drive.
Officers from the West Precinct responded to the incident location to investigate a call of a person shot. Officers arrived to find a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of her injury. The victim is expected to recover from her injury. Upon further investigation, BPD Homicide Investigators were able obtain information on the identity of the suspect.
The suspect has been identified as: Deronnya Stallworth, B/M, 25, of Midfield, Alabama. An Assault 1st degree warrant with a $60,000 bond has been obtained against the suspect.
Burglary Investigation Arrests
The Birmingham Police Department reports that detectives have arrested and charged three suspects in connection with a burglary investigation. The incident occurred on Monday, November 18, 2013 at approximately 12:20 p.m., in the 2900 block of Stonecrest Drive.
BPD Burglary Detectives patrolling the neighborhood observed the suspects running near homes into a wooded area. Detectives were able to locate the suspects a short time later and also determined that the suspects were students that should have been in class during school hours. Detectives later learned that the suspects were involved in the burglary of a nearby home.
All suspects have been identified as:
JUVENILES, B/Ms, 17, 16, 16, of Birmingham, Alabama. Burglary petitions have been obtained against the suspects. The suspects are in the custody of Jefferson County Juvenile Detention.
MONTGOMERY – Attorney General Luther Strange is warning consumers to be wary of people or organizations offering help in filing claims in the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation involving the United States Department of Agriculture, for which the deadline has already passed and it is no longer possible to file claims.
“I am concerned by reports that there may be meetings in Alabama where Black farmers are told that, for a fee, someone can help them file claims and participate in a federal discrimination lawsuit,” said Attorney General Strange. “This is simply untrue, and farmers should not pay any money or provide personal information.”
The federal courts gave final approval to the settlement on October 27, 2011, providing over $1 billion to settle claims by African American farmers that the USDA discriminated against them between 1981 and 1996 based on race, wrongfully denying them farm loans, loan servicing, and other benefits, or giving them loans with unfair terms. The deadline to file a claim for the settlement was May 11, 2012, more than one year ago.
Information about the settlement is available through the toll-free number of its claims administrator, 1-877-810-8110. Among the information offered in a recorded message is that “There are no further opportunities to file a claim in this settlement regardless of what you may have heard elsewhere.”
“It is unfortunate that scammers prey upon the hopes of those in need,” said Attorney General Strange. “We urge consumers to be cautious with anyone who is asking for a fee or for personal information, and to contact my Consumer Protection Section if they have concerns.”
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section may be contacted by visiting www.ago.alabama.gov or by calling its toll-free hotline at 1-800-392-5658.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s been a decade since Rodreckus Johnson walked out of his house to attend a birthday party at an acquaintance’s house in the Powderly Community on November 22, 2003. He never returned home. The last thing that Rodreckus said to his mother, Carolyn Johnson was, “Ma, I will be back.” Ten years later, his mother is still haunted by those words.
Rodreckus was a 20-year old young man with a bright future. He was employed with the City of Bessemer Street and Sanitation Department and the CVS Distribution Center at the time of his death. He was a quiet, bashful and passive person. He wanted to live a good life. All he ever wanted was to get married and have children and come to his mother’s house for Sunday dinners, but that now will never happen for him. He lived in the Central Park Neighborhood, where the City of Birmingham has erected a memorial sign in his memory.
On Saturday, November 23, 2013, Rodreckus’ family held a balloon release in his memory, a prayer for justice and a plea to the public for answers in his murder case. The events took place at his gravesite at Highland Memorial Cemetery.
“I can’t believe it has been 10 years since I’ve last seen my baby or heard his voice. This is too much for me to deal with. I need to know who is responsible for taking him away from me. I need justice! I am tired of not knowing”, said Mrs. Johnson.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham has joined with Birmingham City Schools to announce its Innovative Learning Collaborative. The goal is to create a partnership with UAB School of Education faculty and students and Birmingham teachers, principals and the school system’s upper administration to form a learning community that improves education and benefits for students and all involved entities.
The participating schools are Glen Iris Elementary and EPIC Elementary. Both are located adjacent to UAB’s campus and, because of existing partnerships and proximity, are ideal for the initial collaboration, says Lynn Kirkland, Ed.D., chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
“I am hoping that we are able to create an atmosphere where excellence is the norm for students, teachers and the university,” said Michael Wilson, Ph.D., principal of Glen Iris.
“The collaboration between these entities is not new,” said Vicki Stokes, Ed.D., principal of EPIC. “We have worked together for many years. The difference is that there will be a more defined purpose and planning, such that the relationship and its benefits will last for years to come.”
The components include hands-on, in-classroom training for School of Education students, tools and resources for Birmingham schoolteachers and principals, collaborations among the groups to provide community education that include literacy efforts, and partnerships to apply for funding for various initiatives such as innovative after-school programing. The partnership will also generate collaborative research that will provide instructional strategies that can be used in urban education.
Wilson and members of his staff, as well as Stokes and her administration, have been meeting regularly with UAB faculty to create a partnership they hope will make an impact.
“They are invested as much as we are,” said Deborah Voltz, Ed.D., dean of the School of Education. “We all have skin in the game.”
This past summer, the group acquired a memorandum of understanding signed by the Birmingham Board of Education. Craig Witherspoon, Ed.D., superintendent for Birmingham City Schools, says he hopes this initiative will become a district model.
“For the past few years, we’ve established and nurtured professional learning communities within our schools,” Witherspoon said. “This partnership allows us to expand that concept and, not only broaden our base of knowledge and professional network, but also create additional opportunities for collaborative learning.”
Ultimately, the goal is to expand into the schools into which Glen Iris and EPIC feed, being there to assist students as they progress throughout their educational careers.
“We are spending all the time we need to make this right,” Kirkland said. “Next is middle school, then high school. We want to help them feel as though we are with them every step of the way.”
Another expected outcome is highly trained teachers who have relationships with potential employers, as well as creating a UAB presence in the classrooms that could inspire students to consider attending UAB.
“When you think about recruitment, the students will have seen us all along,” Kirkland said. “Then they will want to come to UAB.”
Voltz is excited about that.
“It does take a village to prepare a teacher and train a child,” Voltz said. “We want to help to infuse new energy into the P-12 schools.”
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) recently launched its first-ever crowd-sourced fundraising campaign via the web based funding platform Indiegogo. The goal of the effort is to crowd-source at least $10,000 of the overall $200,000 needed to fully digitize and catalog the BCRI Oral History Project collection by December 31, 2013. Begun in 1994, the BCRI Oral History Project set out to record first-hand accounts of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham from veterans of, and witnesses to, the local struggle. Twenty years and 500 interviews later, BCRI must digitize the collection.
“Researchers from around the world visit BCRI in person or contact us every day to access transcripts and recordings,” explains BCRI Archivist and Oral History Project Director Laura Anderson. “We will point to the funds raised through Indiegogo and show major funders that the public believes this collection to be valuable – worth preserving and making available to a global audience.”
“These are one-of-a-kind stories, an American treasure,” states BCRI President and CEO Dr. Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr. “A crowd-sourced fundraising campaign like this one is great because people can get involved at any level, from $10 to $10,000, and be connected to BCRI’s effort to collect, preserve, and share with the world the stories of the Birmingham Movement.”
BCRI administration and staff point to three motivating factors for digitization: Preservation, visibility, and access. Currently, interview recordings live on aging tapes housed in the BCRI Archives; digitization will ensure preservation by creating digital files for storage on multiple servers. Today, patrons learn about the collection via the BCRI web site or by spotting references in books and articles; digitization will increase visibility and usage when the digitized collection is available via online libraries and catalogs worldwide. Right now, researchers can access full recordings and transcripts only by visiting BCRI Archives in person; digitization will lead to broadened access through digital cataloguing of the collection and connection to digital libraries.
To visit the BCRI campaign directly, go to: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/512709/emal/4588420. For more information on BCRI’s Oral History Project or the digitization effort, contact BCRI Archivist / Oral History Project Director Laura Anderson (landerson@bcri.org) at 205.328.9696 x215.
