Alabama’s share of an eighteen billion dollar settlement following the 2010 Gulf oil spill might be clearer today. The U.S. Justice Department plans to file details into the agreement with BP oil after years of legal fighting over damage done by the spill. A sixty day public comment period will come after the deal with Alabama and four other Gulf states is laid out. That’s the next step toward final court approval. BP paid nearly six billion dollars in payments to businesses impacted by the spill already. The Gulf oil spill explosion killed eleven oil rig workers and dumped one hundred and thirty four million gallons of crude into the Gulf.
The University of Alabama football team jumped up to eighth in the Associated Press poll after Saturday’s 38-to-10 win at Georgia. The Crimson Tide defense limited the Bulldogs to less than 300 yards of total offense. Alabama scored 21 points in less than five minutes of action in the second quarter to put the game away early. Coach Nick Saban could not be prouder of the way his team played…
“I told them before the game that the plan that we had for them, ordinary men couldn't go out there and get it done. We needed them to be extraordinary and that they were, and they were special. They've been that way all year. I know they've been criticized a lot, but I thought we played an outstanding game.”
Junior running back Derrick Henry had 149 yards for a touchdown in the victory. Alabama returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday night at six against Arkansas.
Alabama has a new state conservationist. Ben Malone is the new state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Malone’s position will have him providing technical and financial assistance to producers in the state. He will also give direction to producers to implement the best management practices on their land. Malone says the state conservationist has many roles to fill…
“The state conservationist also develops and manages partnerships with public and private entities to help prioritize natural resources concerns for the state and ultimately it is the state conservationist’s job to provide direction and support to our field officers that implement our programs.”
Malone previously served as the NRCS Alabama’s Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations for the Central Area in Bessemer. Malone says he will start out focusing on improving the state’s forestry and poultry programs.
The staff at the University of Alabama in Birmingham is taking steps to better serve transgender students. UAB just held a conference designed to help counseling and health staff help the school’s transgender community. The two-day conference last week was part of a national trend of college administrators. The goal is to introduce policies and programs to better include transgender students Part of the conference focused on understanding how hormone therapy works. UAB doesn’t offer the therapy, but the school is considering it. Other points include referring to transgender students by their chosen name.
