Flagg Mountain Tower

Historic Alabama tower reopens to public after 20 years: Al.com – June 19

… In addition to Ivey, Alabama Wildlife Center Staff, architects, historians and economists were on hand at the ceremony, where they also released a rehabilitated bird in honor of the occasion. Also hand for the event and playing a part in the tower’s restoration: State Forester Rick Oates and the Alabama Forestry Commission, The Conservation Fund, University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, UA Office of Archeological Research, Alabama Trails Commission, Alabama Hiking Trail Society, Coosa County Commission, Friends of Flagg Mountain and other partners.

Alabama Secretary of State

Tight GOP contest for Alabama Secretary of State highlights down ballot runoffs: Al.com – June 19

… “I do think voter interest in and knowledge of these down ballot races is most likely fairly low,” said Regina Wagner, a political science professor at The University of Alabama. She added, “Secretary of State will probably get the most attention among these (down ballot contests) simply because there has been extensive debate about the role of Secretary of States in election administration and security and because some Secretary of States have become high profile recently. But even with that, I expect it will be a challenge for the candidates in all of these races to get voters’ attention.”

Senator Katie Britt

Katie Britt poised to be one of Alabama’s youngest-ever Senators, could serve for decades: Al.com – June 22

“Republican women have been gaining a little ground, after having a harder time winning primaries in the past,” said Regina Wagner, a political science professor at The University of Alabama.

Microsoft O365

Mixed reactions to Microsoft O365 transition: The Crimson White – June 22

University of Alabama students have conflicting responses to the campus-wide switch to Microsoft O365 that occurred last month…Hannah Wells, a graduate student studying criminal justice, felt that the university should have stayed on Google Drive. Wells said that “the online version of Word and other applications is hard to collaborate on.”

Hateful Rhetoric

‘Groomers’ rhetoric targeting LGBTQ people nothing new: Snopes – June 23

“The fear of LGBTQ populations as ‘groomers’ goes back really far, and was one of the main justifications for the illegality of homosexuality in the Christian world,” said Margaret Peacock, associate professor of history at The University of Alabama who specializes in European and Russian history, as well as the history of childhood.

Birding Trails

10 fantastic birding trails in Alabama: News Explorer – June 24

Maintained by The University of Alabama, Moundville was once the site where Native Americans lived during the Mississippian period around 1000 A.D.