March 2025 Edition
March 2025 Edition
March 21, 2025 – MILWAUKEE, WI - Troy University fell 57 to 76 to the Southeastern Conference's Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the Midwest Regional of the NCAA tournament. Troy finishes the season with an impressive 23 and 11 finish including a Sunbelt Conference Tournament championship. Kentucky improves to 23 and 11 and advances to the field of 32. Kentucky jumped out to 35 to 27 lead after the first home; then won the second half 41 to 30 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin....
The University of Alabama men's basketball team will play Robert Morris on Friday in the East region of the 2025 NCAA tournament. The Tide is the number 2 seed in the East Region, while Robert Morris is the number 15 seed. The game will be on at 11:40 a.m. CDT at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (t will be televised on truTV. If the Tide wins on Friday, they will face either Vanderbilt or Saint Mary's. This is the 25th time that Alabama has played in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Eight of...
March 17, 2025 – INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – This has been a magical season for the Auburn Tigers Men's Basketball team. The Auburn men were awarded with a number one seed in NCAA basketball tournament. Auburn got the top spot in the South regions over Florida, Duke, and Houston. Auburn ran away with the Southeastern Conference regular season – clinching the regular season with games left. Auburn let off the gas after clinching the regular season title – losing it's last two games of the season...
March Madness is full of surprises. Every year, lower-seeded teams pull off upsets and shock the basketball world. These teams, called "Cinderellas," go on unexpected runs, beating big schools and making history. The NCAA Tournament is perfect for underdogs. It is single-elimination, meaning one bad game can end a top team's season. Cinderella teams take advantage of this. They play without pressure, gain confidence, and become fan favorites along the way. In this article, BangTheBook looks at...
A pastime that has captured the hearts and imaginations of people around the globe for centuries is horse racing. The Melbourne Cup, the Kentucky Derby and the Cheltenham Gold Cup are just three examples of great races being staged worldwide. Whether it be the thundering hooves of the thoroughbreds or the vibrant atmospheres of the racecourses, these events offer an unparalleled combination of three elements—speed, strategy, and tradition. OLBG delves into prestigious and celebrated horse...
March 8, 2025 - AUBURN, AL. – The University of Alabama men's basketball team narrowly edged out Auburn in overtime to split the season series. All-American Johni Broome (Senior forward/center) played lights out in a nip and tuck game where he set a career-high of 34, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Broome hit a three-point shot to give Auburn a one-point lead with a little over a minute to play; but the Tide fought back down the stretch. Broome hit another three-point shot with 14 seconds left in...
March 19, 2025 p Alabama State wins plan in game to enter the field of 64 in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Hornets will play top seed overall Auburn University on Thursday. ASU's tournament has been going on for over a week now. First, they had to win their SWAC Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid. They did that – beating Jackson State in the SWAC tournament championship game. Second, the committee did not put them in the field of 64 – but rather put them in the plan...
March 22, 2025 – LEXINGTON KY – The Auburn University men's basketball team faces much stiffer competition in it's second round game on Saturday against the nine seeded Creighton Bluejays. Number one seeded Auburn defeated number 16 seeded Alabama State University on Thursday in a game, where the game was at many points much closer than a #1 versus #16 matchup should be as the Tigers overcame ASU 83 to 63. Senior Guard Miles Kelly led the way with seven three-point shots totaling 23 points....
March 21, 2025 – MILWAKEE, WI – The Troy University men's basketball team will play play Kentucky in the NCAA tournament on Friday The Troy University men's basketball team is in the NCAA Tournament. The number 14 seed Trojans play the University of Kentucky Wildcats on Friday at Fisery Forum in Milwaukee at 6:20 pm. This is the first time in eight years that the Troy men's basketball team has earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky, an SEC team, is the three seed. Troy comes in 23...
Known for their "Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes", the Radio City Rockettes will celebrate their 100th Anniversary this year. Founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1925 as "The Missouri Rockets", the Rockettes are a tap dancing troupe that bills themselves as "the longest-running precision dance company in America". The Radio City Rockettes have been performing in the Radio City Music Hall in New York since 1932, hence their name, and to celebrate their 100th anniversary,...
President Donald Trump is smashing through the Russia-Ukraine quagmire with the iron will and razor-sharp instincts America demanded when it swept him into office, and Senator Lindsey Graham's recent X post nails it: Trump's leadership is the only force fierce enough to forge a "just and honorable" end to this three-year slaughter. While Biden bumbled, tossing cash and guns at Zelensky like a clueless bystander, President Trump seized the reins and if I know President Trump he will outmaneuver...
March 19, 2025: - As the Legislative Session evolves, I find myself missing my ole friend Mac McArthur around the Statehouse. We would visit in the halls and sometimes sit together in the gallery. He would be busier than a one-armed paper hanger as he was always having to work on legislative matters for the state employees. We would reserve our long hours of talking politics for lengthy phone conversations in between legislative sessions. We both very much enjoy our political discussions. Mac...
The mask has finally slipped. Volodymyr Zelensky-the man who has begged, pleaded, and demanded billions from the American taxpayer-waltzed into the White House today, only to sneer at his benefactors, dismiss their calls for peace, and lecture America like we owe him something. The sheer audacity is staggering. Let's be clear: America has poured untold billions into Ukraine's war effort. Weapons, intelligence, financial aid-we've done it all. We've shouldered a conflict that isn't ours, while...
On May 17, 2021, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the Darren Wesley "Ato" Hall Compassion Act. Alabama became the 36th state to allow for a medical cannabis program for patients with a qualifying illness. Unfortunately, that program never got off the ground despite the state spending millions of dollars. On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee was mulling legislation designed to fix the legislation they passed four years ago. Senator Tim Melson...
March 3, 2025–HOOVER, AL - There are a couple of things I’ve come to expect from the ALGOP Summer and Winter Meetings. They’re about as exciting as watching paint dry, and the food is good. The food is easy to understand. The Renaissance in Montgomery consistently does a great job, and any hotel in Foodie Birmingham that doesn’t have a good kitchen and catering staff risks bankruptcy and/or angry mobs with torches and pitchforks. The main Executive Committee meeting is also carefully...
The first mention in a novel of the All-American pastime, baseball, comes not from "The Old Farmer's Almanac" or some such publication; but rather from the novel, "Northanger Abbey", by the British author, Jane Austen. As the heroine of "Northanger Abbey", Catherine Morland, is described in her childhood in chapter one of the novel as preferring "cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about the country . . ." to the domestic arts such as tending a garden and drawing. While Jane...
President Donald J. Trump delivered what was undoubtedly the greatest address of his tenure to Congress, igniting a renewed sense of optimism and resolve among the American people. With unwavering confidence, he declared, "America is back," sending a powerful message that the days of decline and weakness are over. This was not just another policy speech-it was a rallying cry for a nation ready to reclaim its destiny. President Trump outlined a bold vision, championing economic resurgence...
When Don Wildmon with his marked Southern accent decided to call to task the television network executives in the 1970s, the entertainment media giants of the time simply dismissed him. After all, this Wildmon fellow was from Mississippi, which meant he "was dumb". And not only that, as a Methodist Minister, Wildmon was a Southern preacher. Which the television network executives of the 1970s took to mean that Wildmon "was double dumb". However, "double dumb", or not, Donald E. Wildmon...
March 6, 2025–SB85 passed out of committee and now is headed to a vote on the Senate floor, and that’s a very good thing. Introduced by State Senator Orr and co-sponsored by State Sen. Chesteen, SB85 strengthens religious vaccine exemptions for both children in K-12 and adults in higher education. At present, religious exemptions for K-12 can only be issued by county health departments. Also, public institutions of higher learning are not required to acknowledge medical exemptions for...
March 10, 2025–Linda "Lindy" Blanchard has been nominated by President Trump to be America's Ambassador to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). On behalf of the Gazette, congratulations! Lindy is one of the earliest Ambassadors to be appointed by the administration-I think she's eight or ninth-which is a mark of distinction. Presidents have about 4000 positions they appoint, and it takes months and months for those slots to be filled. For Lindy to get the nod this early is truly...
March 1, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - In at least 39 places, this bill takes powers away from the SBVA and places them instead with the Governor, the Commissioner, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. It takes away this power in a variety of ways: By striking “Board” and inserting instead “Governor,” “Commissioner,”, or “Department,” wherever the Board formerly had actual powers. Those powers are now transferred to the Governor, the Commissioner, or the Department. Except for...
March 4, 2025–notes written during the President’s Joint Address to Congress, with reactions as they happened. Some editing was done prior to publication but the shorthand format and comments were generally left as initially recorded. —The Cabinet is coming in now. You have NO idea how happy it makes me to see Bobby Jr, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Pam Bondi and all the rest coming in. The Republican side is ebulent, the Dem side looks like they’re at a funeral, right after somebody...
The radical left has once again shown its true colors. Last week, in a moment of sheer political theater, Senate Democrats donned pink, a color traditionally associated with supporting women's rights, in an ostensible display of solidarity-right after voting in lockstep against Senator Tommy Tuberville's Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. The contradiction was glaring. They claimed to stand for women while actively undermining their privacy, dignity, and opportunities in sports. This...
After 50 years of public ‘service’ Mr. Biden’s farewell address reaffirmed Joe’s ineptitude and lack of integrity to the very end. Once the coalition’s youngest US senator (elected 1972 at age 30) from Delaware, I observed more of him than most as an impressionable youth in neighboring Maryland. Joking Joe was just another ‘17th Amendment Senator’ who would’ve never been sent to Congress by the Delaware legislature… we dubbed him, the ‘Dullard from Delaware.’ Biden...
I really like it when I feel like I am controlling things… I think we all feel this way to some degree. Knowing that I have all my ducks in a row so that no surprises come my way is where I am most in my comfort zone. But no matter how hard I try to control things, the bottom line is that’s not how life works. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all...
Planned Obsolescence is a recent and hideous idea that was never even considered in business practices until the early 1900’s. It wastes our resources, time, and money. It benefits nobody but criminals and greedy corporate profiteers. Its origin is a dark chapter in our history. On December 23, 1924, a group of leaders from the world’s major light bulb manufacturers met in Geneva, Switzerland to exchange ideas on business practices. These included Germany’s Osram, the Netherlands...
King James of England was rather unremarkable so at his death 400 years ago, only his retainers and courtesans grieved his loss, and most assumed his historical legacy was limited. His memory today would likely be little more than a footnote except for the one thing that would make any marketing director green with envy for product placement —the King James Bible; the Royally authorized translation of the Holy Scriptures. In James’s case, this contribution was substantial, and he deserves...
It is common for Baby Boomers to “thank God they grew up when they did.” Those born between 1946-1964 will likely understand that commentary. Indeed, freedom of expression was greater then than now as was appreciation and understanding of the past. Perhaps the modern reality of virtually instantaneous communications is partially at fault since erroneous information often spreads immediately and the retractions and corrections do not always see the light of day. The subject of history has...
Long time Alabama resident, Bela K. Berty, was a young child in the formative years when his family escaped from communism in Eastern Europe. Having experienced first-hand the perils of communism, the influence of communism in the modern American legal, banking, and educational systems is a matter of grave concern to him. Consequently, he and his wife, Linda Gail Berty, a veteran of The United States Navy, sponsored a showing of the documentary, "The Agenda 2: Masters of Deceit" on Wednesday at...
With the inauguration of every new president, there is always the discussion surrounding the first 100 days of their administration. There can be absolutely no doubt that the current administration is doing things never seen before. A president who is actually fulfilling campaign promises and leaving opposition forces crying and moaning with their heads exploding. There is so much to discuss already but for now, want to focus only on two areas: DOGE and the rash of airplane crashes. 1....
The Tik Tok issue, just recently decided by the United States Supreme Court is found in Tik Tok, Inc., et al v Merrick Garland, Attorney General and the case of Brian Firebaugh, et al. v Merrick Garland, Attorney General. The parties as petitioners to the cases include both the company Tik Tok and a group of users in the United States of Tik Tok. The only issue before the Court is whether the First Amendment rights of free speech are violated in regard to both the company and users. I have...
President Donald Trump's first Cabinet meeting of his second term was a resounding success, setting the tone for an administration focused on results, efficiency, and accountability. "We have a Cabinet full of great Americans who are dedicated to serving our country and the American people, ensuring safety, security, freedom, and prosperity," National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stated, emphasizing the inspiration that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already...
Antisemitism has no place in a civilized society, least of all in higher education, where young minds are molded, and ideas are forged. Yet, America’s universities have become breeding grounds for Jewish hate—rhetoric, harassment, and violence masquerading as free speech or political critique. Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down, and it’s about time after the Biden’s administration’s complete failure on fighting antisemitism on college campuses letting Hamas sympathizers...
I remember the last time I came back from a river-fishing trip with a friend. It was a beautiful morning to be on the water. The early morning, during the summer, is usually the best because the heat really picks up about mid-morning. That day was no different. By 10:30, our hopes were fried, along with our back and neck. But even before that, the action was minimal at best. We caught a few small ones, but never really got into the smallmouth population we had hoped for. The last few times we...
March 21, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL. - Even the most lifelong-obsessed turkey hunters will have to be impressed by what Mari Grace Brooks has accomplished in chasing the elusive birds the past 15 years. The 19-year-old from Ramer, Alabama, has two Grand Slams, taking the four subspecies – Eastern, Osceola, Rio and Merriam's – in the United States, which is quite a feat for any turkey hunter. Even more impressive is she has two Double Grand Slams, where she harvested two of each of those...
Most people are aware of the stunning natural beauty, the hiking and biking trails and upgraded accommodations at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Alabama State Parks, but some Alabamians and visitors may not be aware of one of the recreational opportunities at three of the system's parks. Golf Courses at Oak Mountain State Park, Joe Wheeler State Park and Lake Guntersville State Park offer a day on the links at a reasonable price, and those courses have...
It's been 48 years since Kip Padgelek and his dad launched their custom deer processing business. After a career revolving around all things meat, including an education at the Culinary Institute of America, Padgelek, now almost 70, has no plans to retire, The Daily Yonder reports. That's good news for the many customers of his business, which is located in a suburb west of Pittsburgh (his shop's specialty is a Philly cheesesteak brat). But it's even better news for those who rely on the 40,000...
When the Alabama Tourism Department selects a feature or activity in the state to highlight for its "The Year of" designation, that campaign normally lasts for one year. However, the most recent promotion, The Year of Alabama Trails, will require two years to complete because of the enormous outdoors opportunities in one of the most geographically and biologically diverse states in the nation. The kick-off for the campaign was held last week atop Birmingham's Red Mountain at the Vulcan Park and...
March 12, 2025 - The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is excited to announce the winners of the 2025 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest. As usual, the judges had a very difficult time selecting the winning images from the nearly 2,000 photos that were entered. "Alabama is a photographer's paradise thanks to its wide variety of natural landscapes, native plants and wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities," said Chris Blankenship, ADCNR Commissioner. "From the...
The map showed 700 acres in famous Pike County, Illinois. And it was ours to hunt – 4 of us, that is. We had planned on this hunt for months and knew we would be arriving at the prime time for the rut. The outfitter showed us where some of the best places to put a stand were but also wanted us to scout the day before we were scheduled to hunt. The 700 acres were broken down into three sections; the east side, the west side, and the sanctuary which lay between the two and to the north. This...
At the first Alabama Conservation Advisory Board meeting of 2025, held last weekend in Montgomery, Board members heard a state of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) report from Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship as well as proposed tweaks to the white-tailed deer daily bag limit and changes to the red snapper season. The proposed changes to red snapper season should be great news for those who love to fish for Alabama's signature saltwater species....
On a damp and grimly grey winter day in Paris, Bill François is a beacon of positivity. After a brief stroll along the River Seine, he comes to a halt at the Henri IV Dock with Notre Dame Cathedral just about visible through the mist. Here, François flicks his wrist back and then gently launches a fishing line out into the choppy waters. "The Seine is a wild place in the heart of Paris," enthuses François, who has come prepared in an all-weather outfit that includes a cap, sunglasses, and...
I love the warmer days of winter. It gives me a chance to walk my hunting areas. Because the leaves are off the trees and because there is no concern about spooking deer, I can gather all kinds of information from the last season. It is a great time to assess the good and bad of the previous year and plan some changes for the next. The woods will give a hunter plenty of information about the previous year and about the possibilities of the next season. One just has to do go out, walk around, be...
March 20, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - The Coastal Section of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) State Lands Division is accepting proposals for projects to be performed in the Alabama Coastal Area (defined as Mobile County and Baldwin County) for Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026). This competitive funding opportunity is administered by State Land's Alabama Coastal Area Management Program (ACAMP) utilizing federal funds currently anticipated...
March 3, 2025 - HUNTSVILLE, AL. – To celebrate Research Week, Undergraduate Research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is highlighting the 11th UAH Research Horizons Poster Session, March 4 from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., on the second floor of the Charger Union. Research Week activities on the UAH campus are being featured from March 3-5 to promote and recognize the creative scholarship of undergraduate students at UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System. Throughout the...
As districts and government officials nationwide consider curbing smartphones' reach, new research has revealed teens miss at least one and a half hours of school because they are on their phones. A quarter of the 13-18-year-olds in the study used devices for two hours each school day, which lasts around seven hours. The averages outnumber minutes allotted for lunch and period breaks combined, showing youth are distracted by phones throughout huge chunks of class time. Teen Phone Use in School...
March 17, 2025 - HUNTSVILLE, AL. – Dr. Xiaotong Li, a professor in the College of Business at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has been named to a list of the world's most cited researchers by Clarivate Analytics, a global provider of analytics in academia and government. The Highly Cited Researchers list identifies researchers who have published multiple papers that are frequently cited, placing them in the top one percent for citations in their fields over the past decade....
Olivia Howe was hesitant at first to add French to her major in finance at the University of Arizona in Tucson, fearing that it wouldn't be very useful in the labor market. Then her language skills helped her land a job at the multinational technology company Siemens, which will be waiting for her when she graduates this spring. "The reason I got the job is because of my French. I didn't see it as a practical choice, but now I do," said Howe, who, to communicate with colleagues and clients,...
In order to reproduce, most flowering plants rely on animals to move their pollen. In turn, pollinators rely on flowers for food, including both nectar and pollen. If you're a gardener, you might want to support this partnership by planting flowers. But if you live in an area without a lot of green space, you might wonder whether it's worth the effort. Writing for The Conversation, Laura Russo, a University of Tennessee assistant professor who studies bees and other pollinators, shares her new...
As we have always heard, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb and it is also known as the windy month. This is also the month of St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on Monday March 17th. Who was St. Patrick? He was a much loved fifth century Roman British Christian missionary and Bishop of Ireland who later became the Patron Saint of Ireland. He was supposedly the one who banished all snakes from Ireland, and even today, there are no snakes in Ireland. Later this holiday evolved into...
Los Angeles is at the center of a beverage revolution, where craft mocktails command the same reverence as their alcoholic counterparts. With alcohol consumption dropping 10% among young adults, the city's bars and restaurants are crafting sophisticated nonalcoholic drinks that appeal to both dedicated abstainers and the "sober curious" alike, LA Post reports. A new era of drinking is being ushered in by the city's varied culinary scene and the rising desire for alcohol-free and...
In celebration of Pi Day on March 14 (3/14)—a food holiday savored for making math just a little sweeter—Instacart serves up a healthy slice of its ordering data to determine which pies win Americans' hearts and stomachs, uncovering surprising regional favorites and unexpected sweet trends. America's Most Popular Pies When it comes to the most popular pies nationwide, apple pie earns the blue ribbon, accounting for nearly a third (29%) of all pie sales in 2024. Coming in second and third,...
Restaurant owners entered 2025 feeling optimistic, according to data from the 2025 Square Future of Restaurants report. With costs rising and time more valuable than ever, restaurants are exploring new strategies to optimize operations, improve guest experiences, and drive revenue. To understand restaurant leaders' current goals and challenges, as well as what customers want from dining experiences this year, Square collaborated with Bredin to survey 2,000 restaurant owners and managers and...
He’s a skilled college football player and a committed believer. He said recently he trusted God to help him score points on the field. It reminded me of a church member years ago who was exulting in his team’s victory the day before. The losing team missed an end-of-the-game field goal, and my friend said, “And the hand of God appeared and pushed the football to the left a few inches!” My friend was joking, but the aforementioned player was serious, I think. So, the question raised is...
Social researcher Frank Luntz published “Words That Work” in 2007. He explained words have a denotative meaning, a concrete and “dictionary” definition, but also a connotative meaning since words can transport images to our minds. Luntz used three prime advertising examples. The alcohol industry changed their name to “spirits.” Many restaurant menus now have a “spirits” page and don’t use “alcohol” since it can bring images of darkness, drunkenness and despair. Spirits is...
It Takes A Team To Reach Your Goals! At 29,035 feet, Mount Everest is one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Everest is very remote and the altitude incapacitates all but the hardiest and most experienced climbers. On top of that the weather is ruthlessly unforgiving and extreme. Because Everest is the highest mountain in the world many have tried to summit the great peak. Between 1920 and 1952, seven major expeditions tried to summit Mount Everest and all of them failed. In fact, the...
Dr. J.D. Gray served for many years as pastor at First Baptist Church, New Orleans. He often delighted in telling a Civil War story from 1865. The First Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C., was a seedbed for secessionists, so it was one of the first places Federal cavalry went when Gen. Sherman was busy torching Georgia and South Carolina. The cavalry officer asked a man in front of the church, who happened to be the church sexton, or custodian, if this were, indeed, the First Baptist Church. The...
Despite concerns about inflation and overall preparedness, Americans are looking forward to retirement, according to new survey research Wealth Enhancement conducted this year. 77% of Americans expressed positive emotions such as happiness (45%) and gratitude (37%) when asked how they feel when they think about retirement, according to the study of 1,000 U.S. adults. For those already in their golden years, 90% don't regret retiring when they did and 33% say it's even better than expected. Key...
For older Black people in America, the golden years often come with a harsh reality: They are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses, be sicker in old age, and die younger than their white counterparts. In 2018, Black Americans' average life expectancy was 74.7 years, four years less than the overall average of 78.7. However, a drop in life expectancy during the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated racial disparities among mortality rates: Black people were expected to live 70.8 years,...
For a variety of reasons, from telomere attrition to epigenetics, our bodies and minds can become less agile over time. This can increase our risk for many diseases and ailments, including Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, cancer, and bone loss, reports SaveHealth, a prescription savings website. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and results in a continuous decline of cognition, social skills, and behavior. Alzheimer's is associated in part with age, and is much more common...
As more people retire in a community, they change the dynamics within those local economies. This can mean that spending shifts: What was once spent on gasoline for the commute, or lunch out near the office may now be spent on more personal interests and expenses. Similarly, retirement trends can open up local jobs for younger generations. It may also shift the tax base, as retirees in some places may receive a break on their property taxes and income may move from earnings to Social Security...
Social Security imposter scams continue to be widespread across the United States. Scammers use tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. If you receive a suspicious letter, text, email, or call, do not respond. We will NEVER: · Text or email images of an employee’s official government identification. · Suspend your Social Security number. · Threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee. · Require payment by retail gift...
March 5, 2025 - The 2018 film "I Can Only Imagine" about the inspiration behind MercyMe's chart topping song by the same name was such a success financially, after all it earned more than twelve times its budget, that The Kingdom Story Company is now filming the sequel to the movie for Lionsgate called "I Can Only Imagine 2". It is tentatively set for release in the spring of 2026. While the film, "I Can Only Imagine" was directed by both of the Erwin brothers, who originally hail from...
Focus on America (FOA) will host Ann Eubank during their March meeting in Huntsville. The meeting will be Saturday, March 15 at The Livin' Room, 2820 Governors Drive SW, Huntsville, AL 35805 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Eubank, the Chair of Alabama Legislative Watchdogs, will be discussing the United Nations' Agenda 2030 in Alabama. She will address issues surrounding the possible unknowingly implemented portions of this Agenda through economic development initiatives, its constitutionality,...
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
Eagle Forum groups in Mobile and Mountain Brook will be hosting Alabama Legislative Watchdogs Chair Ann Eubank at two meetings this week. The topic for both meetings will be "The Rise of Innovation Districts in Alabama and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act." The Mobile meeting will be Tuesday, March 18th at Hill Springs Baptist Church, 335 Eliza Jordan Rd. N, Mobile, AL at 1:00 PM. The Mountain Brook meeting will be Wednesday, March 19th at the O'Neal Library, 50 Oak Street, Mt....
March 5, 2025 - The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you....
On March 22, 1865, Union General James H. Wilson launched his raid on the industrial and railroad infrastructure of Alabama and Georgia to bring the South to its knees. In the final year of the American Civil War, a significant military campaign known as Wilson's Raid took place, shaping the course of the conflict and leaving a lasting impact on the Southern states of Alabama and Georgia. The raid, led by Union General James H. Wilson, involved a formidable force of 13,480 cavalry troops. By...
Officially designated National Rosie The Riveter Day by the U.S. Congress in 2017, March 21st this year falls on a Friday. And the American Rosie The Riveter Association, which was founded by Dr. Fran Carter, a longtime resident of Birmingham, Alabama, is encouraging everyone to visit a Rosie the Riveter and take her to lunch, plan a restaurant outing with Rosies, veterans, and family members, and plan a brief program for schoolchildren and residents at a senior center to recognize all Rosie...
March 5, 2025 - "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" These impacting words were first spoken by Patrick Henry 250 years ago on March 23rd, 1775 at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia during the Second Virginia Convention. As Patrick Henry was urging the colony of Virginia to organize a volunteer company of cavalry or infantry in every Virginia county to begin preparing troops in the colony for war against one of the world's biggest...
On this day in 1918 the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed ending Russia's Involvement in World War I A Historic Agreement between Germany, Austria, and Russia The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed on March 3, 1918, marked a significant turning point in World War I, bringing an end to Russia's participation in the conflict. This treaty was the result of negotiations between the Central Powers, primarily Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia. The agreement not...
On this date March 5, in the year 363 AD, the Roman Emperor Julian embarked on an ambitious military campaign against the Sassanid Empire, a formidable adversary in the East. This bold endeavor would ultimately lead to Julian's death and mark a significant turning point in the history of the Roman Empire. The Prelude: Julian's Rise to Power Julian, known as Julian the Apostate, ascended to the throne in 361 AD following the death of his cousin, Constantius II. Julian was a philosopher and a man...
On this date - March 8 - in 1948, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark decision in the case of McCollum v. Board of Education, a ruling that would profoundly impact the interpretation of the First Amendment and the principle of the separation of church and state. The Court declared that religious instruction in public schools was unconstitutional, setting a crucial precedent for future cases involving the relationship between religion and public education. Background The case...
On this day in 1965, in Selma, all white Alabama State Troopers, acting on the orders of Gov. George Wallace (D), aided by local law enforcement and citizen volunteers, used tear gas, clubs and brute force to prevent peaceful voting rights marchers from crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The march had been organized by Rev. Joseph Lowery, future Congressman John Lewis and local leaders who had planned a Selma to Montgomery march to protest the state of Alabama's systemic disenfranchisement of...
On March 10, 1945, an estimated 100,000 Japanese died in Tokyo after 334 US B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers attack Tokyo with 120,000 fire bombs. In the 1930s, Army Air Corps planners studying at the Air Corps Tactical School at Montgomery's Maxwell Field developed the principle of high-altitude daytime precision bombing. While the British abandoned precision daylight bombing for nighttime fire-bombing in 1942, the U.S. Army Air Corps targeted individual factories, railyards, refineries,...
On this day - March 9 - in1933 the U.S. Congress was called into a special session by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D), beginning its "100 days" during which it passes 77 new laws. These laws were the start of what Roosevelt would term the "New Deal" and was his answer to the Great Depression. The start of the New Deal was comparatively so late because back then March was when new administrations were sworn in. A situation that so annoyed President Roosevelt that he changed it to the January...
The National WW2 Museum offers a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail. It features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories taking visitors inside the story of the war that changed the world. Beyond the galleries, the Museum's online collections, virtual field trips, webinars, educational travel programs and renowned International Conference on World War II offer patrons new ways to connect...
The spring of 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of a sad event in American history: The fall of Saigon, and the failure of the United States to honor its commitment to save South Vietnam from Communist aggression. Not that our military failed. At a colloquium years later between American and North Vietnamese to discuss the war, an American officer said, “You never defeated us on the battlefield. A North Vietnamese officer replied, “That is true. It is also irrelevant.” He meant that the...
This Sunday leaders from throughout Alabama and the entire country will commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March and the infamous Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It was a momentous occasion and needs memorializing. Make no mistake about it, this event led to the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which gave the vote to Black Americans throughout the country and primarily in the South. It is probably the most important event in the Civil Rights movement....
On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 - a previously unknown variant of coronavirus - was declared a global pandemic. The year 2020 will forever be etched in the annals of history as the year when the world faced one of its most formidable public health crises. On March 11, 2020, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, officially declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. This proclamation...
A Historic Milestone in Mississippi, 1884 The year 1884 marks a significant milestone in the history of women's education in the United States. It was on this date - March 12 - in 1884 that Mississippi took a pioneering step by establishing the first state college dedicated exclusively to the education of women. This groundbreaking institution, known as the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College (MIIC), was founded in Columbus, Mississippi, with the vision of providing higher education to...
On March 15, 44 B. C. the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar was stabbed to death on the floor of the Senate by Brutus, Cassius, and several other Senators. Julius Caesar was one of the most consequential people who ever lived, and his assassination led to momentous changes for the Roman world that literally changed the course of human history. Rome had been a republic for centuries but the civil war between 83 and 82 B.C. changed Rome (already a slave state where violence and...
On March 16, 1935, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler publicly announced the rearmament of Germany. This declaration included the introduction of conscription, with the goal of expanding the German army to 550,000 troops. The move was a direct affront to the Treaty of Versailles and was met with shock and condemnation by the international community. Hitler justified his actions by claiming that Germany needed to defend itself against the perceived threat from neighboring countries. He argued that...
Today is not an official holiday, so most schools, businesses, and government offices will be open. However, it is the widely celebrated St. Patrick's Day holiday. On this date in 461 A.D. St. Patrick - one of the most effective missionaries in the history of Christendom - died. The American celebration of St. Patrick's Day is known for Celtic music, green clothes, parades, four-leaf clovers, lots of drinking, and all things Irish. That said, St. Patrick was a real historical person who had a...
March 5, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) and Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) in reintroducing the HBOT Access Act. The bill would allow veterans to receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The HBOT Access Act would require the VA to provide HBOT as a treatment option to any veteran suffering from TBI or PTSD....
While deployed in Kosovo in May 2024, U.S. Army Reserve physical therapy assistant Elvia Azuara saw many stray cats running around one of the bases—including a sweet little black and white female kitty, known mostly as Fent. Azuara noticed her one day during lunch and she fed fries to Fent. Soon, this became a regular bonding activity for them. "I guess she knew my routine," Azuara said in an interview with Stacker. "Whenever I was there, she would just pop up out of nowhere and she would...
March 7, 2025 – WASHINGTON, AL. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) in introducing the Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act. If passed, this legislation would make it easier for veterans with disabilities to be made financially whole in the event they are defrauded of their benefits. The legislation allows the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to reimburse victims of fraud without first meeting unnecessary bureaucratic requirements....
The Townsend Detachment #920 United States Marine Corps League met at the Perryhill Methodist Church on February 15, 2025 where members installed new officers who will serve a one year term. The new officers are: Commandant and Toys for Tots Coordinator: Nancy Burtron, Robert Fell, Judge Advocate and Junior Past Commandant: Mike Jefferies, Pay Master: Chuck Moore, Adjutant: Pat Jefferies, Sergeant at Arms: Mark Kuehndorf, Chaplain: Charles Harris, Web Sergeant: Eric Neese, News Letter Editor:...
Col Jerry Lamar Sailors: Age 84 Col Jerry Lamar Sailors served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) was Pilot with time in various aircraft, but predominantly in the C-141A and the C-130E. The C-141 was used in various mission profiles during the conflict in Southeast Asia, including aeromedical evacuation missions. The C-130E, an American four engine turboprop military transport aircraft for troops, medevac and cargo, was capable of using unprepared runways for...
On February 10, 2024, the Central AL Veterans Health Care System celebrated the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the medical center at 216 Perry Hill Road in Montgomery. An outdoor flag raising ceremony was held on the campus. Stephen Sheets, the Associate Director of the medical center, served as the emcee of the program. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Wille J. Rogers, Sr. Vice Commander of the AL American Legion, and the invocation was given by the VA Chaplain Tony Brown. Amir...
Petty Officer First Class Jerry Wayne Moreland: Age 83 Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Jerry Wayne Moreland served in the United States Navy for 20 years and nine months. His Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) was communications as a radio man. He received the following medals, awards, decorations, citations and ribbons: Good Conduct Medal (five), Meritorious Unit Commendation and Golden Wreath Award (seven) for excellent performance meeting criteria set by the Commanding Officer Navy...
First Sergeant Robert Frederick Goorley: Age 79 Frist Sergeant (1SG) Robert Frederick Goorley served 32.5 years in the U.S. Military including one year of duty in the Navy Reserve, two years of active duty in the Navy and 26.5 years in the Army National Guard Special Forces (18Z) which are elite units that perform dangerous missions around the world. Members of Special Forces are experts in guerilla warfare and training foreign resistance forces. His Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was...
Col Richard Giordano: Age 92 Col Richard Giordano served 32 years in the U.S. Air Force. His Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) included (1.) Director of Logistics, (2.) Wing Commander, (3.) Aerospace Maintenance Director and (4.) Director of Operations. He received the following medals, badges, citations and campaign ribbons; Legion of Merit with two Devices, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three Devices, Air Force Commendation Medal with one Device, Air Force Longevity Service Award...
The WWII veteran, Catherine Romay Catherine Davis was honored posthumously by former President Joseph Biden with his issuing a certificate honoring the memory of her service in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS). A biographical article of her was published in the January 2020 issue of the Alabama...
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Wayne Everett as the March “Veteran of the Month.” Excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks can be found below, and his complete remarks can be found here. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15wqfJrb8T/ “Challenges are a part of life that show us what we’re really made of. Corporal Wayne Everett of Fultondale reminds us that while we can’t control what challenges life throws...
