AGP Executive Report

Education & Workforce: The Academy of Craft Training opened a new Central Alabama campus in Montgomery, launching commercial construction tracks for 11th- and 12th-graders across multiple school districts with hands-on training and OSHA-focused goals. Campus AI & Innovation: The University of Alabama Artificial Intelligence Club kicked off the year with President Peter Mohler, urging students to build AI infrastructure now and lead across disciplines. STEM Research: UAH researcher John Bennewitz won a $599,927 NSF CAREER award to study ammonia-based additives that could make renewable fuels burn cleaner and more efficiently. Community & Culture: Replicas of Columbus’ Nina and Pinta are returning to Alabama, docking at Joe Wheeler State Park for weekend tours in October. Local Schools Snapshot: Coffee County schools remain majority white in 2023-24, according to Alabama Department of Education data. Public Media Leadership: WTCI-PBS in Chattanooga announced its longtime president is leaving for a new PBS leadership role. Sports Recruiting: Alabama men’s basketball added 2027 guard Chase Lumpkin to its recruiting class. History & Teaching: A look at how 9/11 education is changing as firsthand memory fades, with more classroom-based learning shaping the next generation.

Education & Health: Alabama is ranked among the nation’s least-vaccinated states in 2026, and new research warns pediatric blood-pressure cutoffs may miss early signs of trauma-related circulatory trouble. College Costs & Access: State leaders push families to start saving early for college with Alabama’s CollegeCounts 529. Local Governance & Public Service: Fulton swore in its first full-time police chief in nearly two decades, Hiram Gunter, and Holly Springs hired a new general manager for its utility department. Culture & Community Memory: Gee’s Bend-area quilting history gets a spotlight through the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy and its Airing of the Quilts Festival, while Birmingham hosts a national healing and reconciliation conference. Civic Tensions: A Mobile pastor says Pride banners sparked a “protect our children” banner campaign, and Alabama’s bank is pushing back against activist shareholders demanding board seats. Law & Policy: The ABA repealed its DEI accreditation standard, and an Alabama judge allowed a lawsuit challenging unlawful ICE detentions to move forward.

Local Arts & Dining: Scottsboro’s growth story spotlights Two Sisters Square and a new downtown music venue, while Maters Pizza & Pasta Emporium in Fort Payne leans into live music and a community vibe. Fitness & Wellness: Premier Pilates in Skillman is drawing clients with a “small adjustments” approach that blends precision, posture help, and mind/body focus. Community Health: Walker County’s Stronger Mental Health Counseling Services opened with judgment-free, trauma- and addiction-informed care. Education Policy Watch: Alabama’s Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act is now law, but reporting raises questions about whether schools track kids’ total screen exposure. School Safety & Accountability: A Hoover family is pushing for cameras in special education classrooms under Tyler’s Law, arguing transparency is crucial for nonverbal students. Higher Ed & Equity: The ABA repealed its diversity requirement for accredited law schools, a shift with major implications for Black student access and the future of accreditation. Workforce: Huntsville-area employers posted 2,200+ openings across healthcare, aerospace, biotech, education, and defense. Culture & Community Events: Labor Day programming and local event listings continue to roll out across the region. Politics & Religion: National coverage flags Republicans making Muslims and Islam a midterm campaign issue, including Alabama Gov. Tommy Tuberville’s “enemy inside the gates” framing.

Alabama Higher Ed & Access: Alabama Direct Admissions is back for its second year, letting seniors build a free profile and get admission and scholarship offers without the usual application grind. Rural College Spotlight: University of West Alabama earned a top national ranking for rural colleges from Washington Monthly, with Jacksonville State also landing in the Top 100. Local Government & Public Safety: Homewood city manager Cale Smith is proposing nearly $1 million in police personnel cuts, with hearings set to follow and questions about how staffing needs were calculated. Education & Community: Tuscaloosa’s One Place is hosting a free virtual training on Sept. 16 to support foster, adoptive, and child-welfare communities across Alabama. Culture & Arts: Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company is continuing its “Putting Out the Welcome Mat” modern-dance series, expanding into new counties including Montgomery. Broadway-Style Arts Buzz: Steppenwolf Theatre brings Broadway star Katrina Lenk back to Chicago for a new world-premiere satire. Community Memory: Cullman community mourns the Sept. 6 death of James “Jimmy” Harwell Smith Jr., an outdoorsman and storyteller. Broad Sports Culture: A “wellness darty” college party trend is sparking debate online about Gen Z social life and less alcohol.

Education & Community Memory: Teachers across states are refining how schools teach 9/11, with big differences in what’s covered and how families want the story told. Career Pathways: Northwest Shoals Community College and UNA signed an articulation agreement to help CTE grads transfer into UNA’s Interdisciplinary Studies, with transfer scholarships and a tuition discount. Native Heritage Festival: The Oka Kapassa – Return to Cold Water Festival returns Sept. 11–12 in Tuscumbia with music, storytelling, traditional arts, and free family-friendly events. Local Government & Utilities: Red Bay is seeking a 10% sewer-rate decrease to cut monthly water bills, arguing sewer costs drive most of the bill. EV Culture in Alabama: Drive Electric Alabama brings an EV showcase to Cullman Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting, featuring hands-on demos and owner Q&A. Health Access: Thrive Alabama plans a new Albertville primary-care clinic after a $650,000 federal grant. School Leadership: Tuscaloosa City Schools named Brittany Grayson principal of University Place Elementary. Public Safety: ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit is stepping up commercial truck checks to reduce deadly crashes. Higher Ed Outcomes: New data highlights Alabama county bachelor’s completion rates, including Tuscaloosa County’s 76.1% white-student rate at UA. Arts & Pop Culture: Star Trek Day 2026 celebrates the franchise’s 60th anniversary with fan events and programming. Music & Identity: A roundup spotlights Latin American pride events in Tarrant County heritage celebrations.

University Governance: At the University of Alabama, the faculty union is pushing back after the school chose “voluntary compliance” with new post-tenure review rules tied to state funding, calling it political interference. Education & Equity: New state data show Madison County’s white students hit a 65.1% six-year bachelor’s completion rate by 2024, while other county-by-county figures spotlight wide gaps across race and ethnicity. School Leadership: Tuscaloosa City Schools named Brittany Grayson principal of University Place Elementary, a homegrown educator stepping into a new role. Community & Faith: Buford Islamic Center withdrew two Mulberry “place of assembly” requests “with prejudice,” setting up a six-month reapply window after residents raised concerns. Public Safety: A 75-year-old Alabama school bus driver indicted in a fatal crash faces supporters’ claims of a sudden medical crisis, while a lawsuit alleges health and medication issues. Higher Ed Spotlight: University of West Alabama earned Washington Monthly’s top rural-college ranking, citing outcomes and support for rural workforce needs. Culture & Lifestyle: A Labor Day travel roundup highlights affordable fall trips, including Gulf Shores, and a music list spotlights Alabama songs.

Immigration & Rights: Florida’s Board of Governors voted to bar undocumented students from enrolling in selective public universities, joining Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina in tightening access to higher education. Public Health: Colleges are urging faculty and staff to gather proof of measles immunity now, after outbreaks elsewhere showed how one case can trigger weeks of disruption. Education & Community: A Huntsville-area educator and theatre director was arrested and placed on leave after a charge of electronic solicitation of a child. Culture & Pride: Jackson, Mississippi drew big crowds for the HBCU Labor Day Classic battle of the bands, with Alabama schools among the performers. Local Schools Snapshot: Clay and Escambia counties’ 2023-24 student populations were majority white, with Black or African American students the next-largest group. Arts & Ideas: Promethean Theatre Ensemble is staging “Blood of the Lamb,” a reproductive-rights thriller that tracks the post-Dobbs legal limbo. Labor Day: Alabama leaders marked the holiday with messages honoring workers.

Local Education & Equity: New federal data show Auburn University’s Lee County Black bachelor’s completion rate at 67.1% for the 2018 cohort by 2024, with Tuscaloosa County’s UA rate at 60.1%—figures that highlight how outcomes vary by county and student group. School Spotlight: Vestavia Hills City Schools earned “Accredited with Distinction” from Cognia, with all nine schools recognized—an Alabama win for classroom quality and community support. Arts & Culture: “Blood of the Lamb” brings a reproductive-rights dystopian thriller to Chicago, while “Letty Lynton” returns on Blu-Ray and at the Roxie, reviving Joan Crawford’s pre-code drama for new audiences. Community & Learning: Montgomery TechLab used the Air Force’s DAFITC conference to connect defense tech with local talent, and a student-made card game, Tumor Tactics, is teaching kids cancer biology through play. Civil Rights & Public Life: Robin Morgan, a second-wave feminist writer and activist, died at 85, leaving a legacy that reshaped women’s rights discourse. Immigration & Human Rights: A Texas judge authorized ICE to force-feed a Cuban hunger striker with a surgical tube, adding to a growing controversy over detainee treatment. Labor Day Culture: A Labor Day concert in Columbus celebrates workers through music and stories, tying the holiday to the dignity of work.

Arts & Activism: Robin Morgan, a poet and second-wave feminist icon who helped spark the Miss America protest and edited “Sisterhood Is Powerful,” has died at 85. Community & Culture: Mosaic Dance Theatre Company is staging “Cassandra: An Ongoing Tragedy” in October, a modern retelling of Greek myth that spans events from My Lai to Sandy Hook. Alabama Education (data): New county-by-county reporting shows shifting student demographics and outcomes, including Jacksonville State’s white bachelor completion rate at 59.1% and Madison County’s Black student completion rate at 24.6%. Local Sports & Pride: USM fans packed the energy for the Golden Eagle home opener, while Alabama’s Northport residents are getting ready for the season with “Roll Tide” game-day spirit. Food & Lifestyle: “Experience the Oyster” returns to The Hangout in Gulf Shores for its fifth year, spotlighting Southeast oyster farms and local chefs. Politics & Rights: A report says ICE received permission to force-feed a Cuban hunger striker at a Texas detention center, renewing concerns from advocates.

Education & Equity Data: Chambers County schools show Black or African American students as the largest group (51.3%) in 2023-24, with white students next (35.6%), while Tallapoosa County’s student body is majority white (59.1%) and Limestone County is also majority white (69%). Higher Ed Outcomes: Madison County’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Black or African American students is 24.6% (cohort entering 2018, measured through 2024), while Lee County reports 81.8% completion for Asian students at Auburn. Local Schools & Community Support: Teachers walked out at Westhills Elementary in Bessemer after a principal resigned following an alleged confrontation; separate coverage highlights how communities can help students who start school without essentials. Culture & Arts: Robin Morgan, a major second-wave feminist poet and editor, has died at 85. Food & Coastal Lifestyle: “Experience the Oyster” returns to The Hangout in Gulf Shores for its fifth year, Nov. 6-7. Sports & Campus Life: A new cheerleading education scholarship is launched by Illinois cheer founder Dave Mizer, and Alabama football season hype continues with local Northport celebrations. Immigration & Rights: Reports say ICE was allowed to force-feed a Cuban hunger striker at a Texas detention center, and Alabama’s CHOOSE Act gets a spotlight through a Birmingham family’s education savings account story.

Education Funding & Health Care: Alabama’s Public Education Employee Health Insurance Plan board approved a request for a $222 million increase for fiscal 2028, with the State Employees Insurance Board also seeking more support. School Community & Faith: Walker County Christian Chorus is recruiting singers for its fall “Messiah” performance with Alabama Symphony Orchestra accompaniment in Sumiton. Local Culture & Family Fun: Section’s Labor Day celebration packs a full day of music, kids’ activities, sports tournaments, and fireworks. K-12 Safety: Andalusia police say a teen is in custody after a “Cat in the Hat” threat tied to an AI-driven social media trend. Education Choice Spotlight: Gov. Kay Ivey highlighted a Birmingham family using CHOOSE Act education savings accounts to move their sons to a school they say better fits their needs. Online Privacy & Parenting: A new push for app age-verification is framed as a privacy tradeoff that could leave teens “safer” on paper but not in practice. Labor Day Message: Ivey issued a statewide Labor Day note honoring Alabama workers across industries. Community Health: A behind-the-scenes effort to contain measles is spotlighted, including vaccine clinics held in homes and places of worship.

Education & Opportunity: University of West Alabama was named Washington Monthly’s No. 1 Best College for Rural America, ranking highest for earnings performance and for degrees in fields rural communities need. Community & Youth Grants: Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete & Thomas Foundation is teaming with Southern Black Girls to fund 100 “Black Girl Joy Challenge” micro-grants of $550 for Alabama and other Southern states’ teens and young women. Local Culture & Learning: HMMA donated $25,000 to the Montgomery Zoological Society to support education, conservation, and capital improvements ahead of Zoobilation on Sept. 17. Campus & Workforce: Alabama Power Company launched an endowed scholarship at Gadsden State’s Valley Street Campus to expand career-technical training and industry credentials for students. Sports & Identity: Southside High School in Etowah County rebranded its athletics as “Southside-Rainbow City” to better reflect the community it serves. Higher Ed Spotlight: Jax State received an FAA Air Agency Certificate to launch its Provisional Pilot School and commercial aviation coursework. Politics & Values: Alabama Republicans backed a House resolution condemning socialism, while national coverage also highlights how election rules and immigration policies are reshaping civic life.

Education & Equity: Alabama leaders are reviewing statewide assessment results as students head back to classrooms, with progress in math, science and some reading grades but uneven outcomes still driving next-step plans. Child Care Crunch: Alabama’s child care assistance waitlist is back, leaving working parents stuck as demand rises and pandemic-era funding fades. Libraries & Gender Content: The Alabama Library Association is pushing back hard against Alabama Public Library Service rules tied to transgender and gender-identity book restrictions, warning of fallout for local libraries. Arts for Youth: Jasper High student Harper Watts was selected as a founding member of Alabama’s new statewide Youth Arts Collective, aiming to give students a real voice in arts education. Community & Culture: The Alabama Museum of Natural History hosts Alabama Fossil Fest Sept. 12 with hands-on activities and expert talks. Wildlife & Foodways: A free Wild Pig Workshop in Weogufka next Saturday will cover trapping, management, and even pork processing. Sports & Law: The SEC sued LSU in federal court over LSU’s plan to use former NFL players, a fight landing in Alabama just before the season opener. Local Business: Cullman City Council approved transportation improvements and an intelligent traffic system deal with ALDOT.

Selma Voting Rights Commemoration: A four-day Selma Freedom Ride Rally runs Thursday through Sunday, mixing live performances, a car show, food tastings, a movie in the park, and ending with a motorcycle ride to Montgomery—aimed at keeping the Voting Rights Movement’s legacy front and center. Alabama Education & Workforce: Central Alabama Community College’s Prattville campus is surging, with a 470% enrollment jump since 2022 and major new investment planned—while the Alabama Road Builders Association names Houston Blackwood to lead a heavy-equipment simulator training pilot tied to career pathways. Community Health & Service: Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties will host a Veterans Brunch Sept. 23, bringing veterans and Gold Star families together for a salute panel and community recognition. Higher Ed Opportunity: The University of Alabama is one of 26 schools selected for First Lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future scholarship initiative for people from the foster care community. Sports & Culture: The SEC has filed suit against LSU and Lane Kiffin over former NFL players returning to college football, escalating a high-stakes legal fight just as LSU opens its season. Local Learning Tech: A new focus on using student data to guide career planning highlights how districts like Talladega County Schools are building cybersecurity pathways through regional partnerships. South Alabama Nature: Foley Community Library launches a fall speaker series, starting Sept. 15, with experts from Graham Creek Nature Preserve discussing invasive plants and how they’re reshaping local ecosystems.

Education & Tech: OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT for Teens (ages 13–17) with Study Mode, homework reminders, and parent oversight tools aimed at learning—not shortcuts. School Choice & Equity: Jefferson County Schools announced a three-year staggered expansion of magnet and International Baccalaureate options, positioning Alabama as a “School Choice state” while navigating its long-running desegregation consent order. Student Life & Culture: At the University of Alabama, students are debating how much football gameday culture should matter—and whether traditions feel welcoming or socially mandatory. Higher Ed & Student Media: University of Alabama student magazines tied to the Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six fight are getting national support, with 40 outlets backing an amicus brief in the Eleventh Circuit. Community & Health: The YMCA of the Coosa Valley will end operations Sept. 30 after 120 years, though water-safety work will continue through a regional alliance. Public Policy & Health Care: A new review finds menopause is largely missing from prison policy language nationwide, with Alabama among the few states that address it. Workforce & Cybersecurity: Cullman High School’s cybersecurity program is feeding into a broader Community Security Operations Center vision, training students for industry certifications and public-infrastructure defense. Arts & Heritage: UA’s Classics Club is bringing Greek and Roman culture to campus life, leaning into “nerd” community around language, mythology, and history. Immigration & Family Impact: An Albertville teen held in ICE custody faces another bond-hearing delay, extending uncertainty for his family and supporters.

Civil Rights & Memory: Birmingham opened a new 16th Street Baptist Church Education and Visitor Center beside the site of the 1963 bombing, aiming to turn history into lessons for how the city lives now. Education & Accountability: Parents sued Fayette County’s school board and staff after alleging a kindergarten child was put on the wrong bus and left alone in Montgomery. School Success: Tuscaloosa City Schools named Brittany Grayson principal of University Place Elementary, while Montgomery Area School District’s 2024-25 four-year graduation rate hit 94.1%. Health & Cost Pressures: Alabama’s PEEHIP board approved a request for about $222 million more next year as rising costs strain the public education health plan. Public Safety & Preparedness: Alabama EMA activated a statewide alert system for floods and disasters, with residents urged to text ALalert/ALinfo. Culture & Community: The first Lawrence County Chautauqua in over 90 years drew crowds with performances portraying Carver and Rosa Parks. STEM & Youth: USAARL’s GEMS program wrapped another milestone, bringing hands-on science modules to hundreds of students. Libraries & Policy: North Alabama libraries are scrambling to comply with new state rules restricting youth access to transgender-themed books or risk losing state aid.