General

Asking Eric: ‘Overworked’ high school student should seek work-based learning opportunity

Dear Eric: I agree with your thoughts to “Overworked,” the high school student who was juggling work and high school. As a workforce development specialist and school-work-consultant here is an additional suggestion. In this era, work-based activity is increasingly being recognized in the K-12 arena as a valid way to gain high school and even college credit. “Overworked” might want to also talk to a school counselor to see if they have work-based learning opportunities. (Learn and Earn, in some states, is actually one of several graduation pathways). Thanks for letting me chime in.

– Other Ways to Earn

Dear Other Ways: Thanks for this suggestion. A work opportunity that also helps the letter writer achieve academic goals is an ideal solution.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

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Decatur museum receives STEM center designation, $9.5 million in funding

Decatur’s Cook Museum of Natural Science will receive $9.5 million in funding to serve as a catalyst for expansion of STEM labs and educational programming spaces, the museum announced Monday.

The appropriation from the state’s education budget comes with the designation, from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, of the museum as the North Alabama STEM Center.

“Alabama’s future depends on our ability to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, and STEM education is key to that effort,” Ivey said. “This significant state investment reflects the outstanding work the Cook Museum of Natural Science has accomplished in STEM education. This expansion will undoubtedly strengthen educational opportunities for students and support workforce development in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions.”

Cook Museum Executive Director Scott Mayo said the museum will begin developing extensive plans to expand the capacity for STEM-based, interactive learning labs and educational curriculum for school classes.

The Cook Museum provides classes and camps with hands-on learning experiences, aligned with the Alabama Course of Study. The Museum serves public, private, and homeschool students from 21 Alabama counties, totaling over 18,000 students annually on field trips with over 7,000 participating in classes and camps.

“This investment is to enable increased access and programming for students in the North Alabama region,” Mayo said. “Gov. Ivey’s commitment to inspiring and preparing the state’s STEM workforce of the future aligns with the mission of the Cook Museum, and we look forward to serving our North Alabama students in an increased scope and capacity.”

“Four of the fastest growing school districts are in North Alabama, and we continue to attract and grow STEM-related workforce opportunities,” added State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. “The Cook Museum is in the heart of the region and is already doing an excellent job serving our educators and school systems as a resource, particularly for our elementary students.”

Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling said he is excited to see Cook Museum’s contributions to the region’s STEM education be recognized.

“The City of Decatur is honored to have the Cook Museum of Natural Science in our downtown, and we’re thrilled to see it receive this well-deserved STEM Center designation with strong support from our great State,” Bowling said. “This designation enhances Decatur’s reputation as a city that values education, innovation, and the future of our children. Decatur is excited to see the Cook Museum continue to serve and inspire our dynamic and expanding region.”

The Cook Museum’s roots can be traced back to 1968 when John Cook Sr. opened his professional insect collection to the public by appointment. At the time, it had been used primarily for employee training at Cook’s Pest Control, but it later grew to include a wide array of mounted wildlife.

In 1980, additional collections of rocks, minerals, fossils, coral, seashells, mounted wildlife, and federally protected migratory birds were acquired, and a 5,000-square-foot building was constructed to house Cook’s Natural Science Museum. From its opening in 1980 until its closing in 2016, the museum welcomed more than 750,000 visitors.

The new Cook Museum of Natural Science opened as a 62,000-square-foot facility in 2019 with additional wildlife exhibits and aquariums that feature live animals and educational hands-on educational experiences for visitors.

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Tuberville: Trump’s plan to ‘bait’ migrants to leave country for $1,000 ‘a heroic effort’

President Trump’s offer of $1,000 and a free flight to any migrant who leaves the country has the backing of Alabama’s senior U.S. senator.

“President Trump’s probably putting a little bait out there for them, saying, ‘listen, we’ll pay you $1,000 to go back … it costs much more than $1,000 to run these people down, transport them to the border, transport them to wherever they want to go,’” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. said during an appearance Monday on Newsmax.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the proposal: migrants who sign up via the CBP Home app will be given a $1,000 stipend and a free flight out of the country and will be deprioritized for deportation.

Tuberville, one of the president’s closest allies in the Senate and who is rumored to be running for governor of Alabama, said the offer is a fair deal for the country.

“It would probably be a very big discount for us to be able to send everybody back for $1,000. It would be a heroic effort by the HHS, everybody involved, Tom Homan, to have this done because it is costing us a fortune,” he said.

Tuberville noted the Senate is debating a $175 billion border bill that would pay migrants to go out of the country.

“It would be much cheaper to do it this way, so I see what President Trump’s trying to do,” the senator said. “And he might get some people to go back, and that would be awesome.”

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‘All American’ season 7 finale: How to watch, where to stream free

The season seven finale episode of the hit sports drama All American premieres on The CW Monday, May 5 at 8/7c.

On the upcoming finale episode, the day of the South Crenshaw vs. Beverly game finally arrives, but KJ learns news that throws him off his game. Luckily for KJ, Cassius and Ava step in to offer help. Meanwhile, Jordan is determined to return to the game despite outside concerns and the game comes down to the wire.

Also featured on this week’s episode, Amina learns good news about her future but is left feeling unsure of what choice to make; Coop is ready for the next step with Breonna; Khalil gets support from an unlikely source, and KJ makes a bold declaration.

Where can I watch the All American season 7 finale?

Those interested in watching the season finale episode of All American can stream the series through Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers to enjoy before committing to a paid subscription.

What is Fubo?

Fubo is much like any other streaming service, but instead of simply offering on-demand streaming, it offers a plethora of live TV channels such as ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, TLC, MTV and more.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service but also offers over 100 live TV channels through its basic package at just $84.99 a month following its free trial.

Users can stream a variety of shows and movies on-demand and even have the option to record favorite shows and movies through Fubo’s unlimited DVR feature.

Is All American renewed?

No official renewal for All American has been announced, but fans of the show are feeling optimistic, while others believe if the show is renewed for an eighth season, it will probably be the last season of the series.

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Expectant father seriously injured in ‘tragic accident’ that killed Alabama Power contract worker

Brady Smith and his wife, Grace, were looking forward to a photo session on Sunday to announce their pregnancy.

Instead, the family gathered at UAB Hospital where 23-year-old Smith is in serious condition. A large tree uprooted and toppled while he and other contract linemen were doing power repairs on Saturday following overnight storms in Birmingham.

Smith is expected to survive but suffered a broken spine and multiple other bones.

“He’s so young,” said his cousin, Mary Campbell. “He had his whole life ahead of him and this is just a really tragic accident.”

A GoFundMe has been started to help with what is expected to be a long road to recovery. The couple, high school sweethearts who married in October, just found out last week that they are expecting a baby.

Smith and his fellow crew members from Utility Line Construction Services were called out Saturday morning after storms blew through the area Friday night and into Saturday morning. The company contracts with Alabama Power.

They were working on 21st Avenue South, also known as Diaper Row in the Redmont Park neighborhood.

Campbell said Smith was in the bucket when a tree uprooted and fell. Though it did not hit Smith, it crashed onto the utility truck, knocking him out of the bucket.

He fell to the ground below, landing in a ditch that had filled with water from the heavy rains.

Co-workers quickly removed Smith from the water so he wouldn’t drown.

The tree hit 57-year-old Jeffrey Scott Duffie. Duffie, who lived in the Daviston community in Tallapoosa County, was trapped and eventually pronounced dead on the scene at 10:36 a.m.

Campbell said it was a freak accident.

“Everybody was doing what they were supposed to,” she said. “He had on all of the equipment and harnesses he should have had on.”

Smith immediately underwent an eight-hour surgery at UAB Hospital.

“He has been awake and he’s very much aware of what happened,” Campbell said. “He knew his co-worker had died. He remembers everything.”

“Cognitively, he’s fine,” she said. “There are just a lot of unknowns.”

Once Smith is stable enough to be discharged, he will continue his recovery journey at Spain Rehabilitation Center.

Friends and family started the fundraising campaign to help the young couple with daily needs as well as future expenses.

“Grace has been by his side every step of the way, and both of them will be out of work for the foreseeable future,” according to the GoFundMe. “As you can imagine, the emotional and financial toll of this sudden accident is overwhelming.”

Donations to the GoFundMe can be made here.

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New name for group that oversees U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville

The state commission that runs the U.S. Space and Rocket Center has an updated name to match the times.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill Monday at the space center that renames the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission – giving the 18-member body, “the proper name it deserves,” Ivey said.

“This is where our state’s legacy in space comes to life, and where our future continues to launch forward,” the governor said.

The legislation also clarifies that the governor is an ex officio, nonvoting member, in line with the practice of modern state commissions, legislators said at a February hearing. It further codifies that the center may enter public and private partnerships where feasible, which Ivey said would provide the center, “more flexibility to innovate and expand.”

Kimberly Robinson, director of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, said the groundwork laid in the 1960s to establish the commission via statewide referendum and the exhibits that became the Space and Rocket Center has paid off time and again for north Alabama.

Luminaries like Wernher von Braun, Bear Bryant and Gen. John Zierdt, “envisioned a place that would preserve the artifacts from our country’s successes [in space], they envisioned a place that would celebrate the work of thousands of engineers and laborers that did the impossible, and they envisioned a place that would inspire a new generation to continue that work,” she said.

That vision became the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, in partnership with the state of Alabama through capital funding and operational support and advising. The center has welcomed over 17 million guests and graduated over 1 million Space Camp attendees, Robinson said.

Ivey noted “a lot of talk” has been circulating about space. Last week, she met with President Donald Trump as he visited to give a speech to University of Alabama graduates.

“Space was certainly a part of our conversation,” Ivey said Monday. “Alabama is the rightful home of Space Command, and it’s because of places like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where our unmatched legacy in the final frontier meets [a] bold vision for the future.”

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‘Basketball Wives’ season 12 premiere: How to watch, where to stream free

A brand new season of the hit sports reality series Basketball Wives premieres on VH1 Monday, May 5 at 8/7c.

The show centers on a group of ladies that share more than mutual companionship in common as each cast member is either the wife, ex-wife or girlfriend of an NBA superstar, and though they drive expensive cars, live in mansions and wear designer clothes and jewelry, life is not always glamorous.

On the season 12 premiere episode, Jennifer Gold returns from Paris as the newly wedded bride of Christian Gold, and watches her new husband go to jail. Meanwhile, Jackie’s attempt at unity unravels at her Friendsgiving, and Evelyn’s receipts clash with Jennifer’s unwavering vows.

Meet the Basketball Wives season 12 cast

• Evelyn Lozada
• Brandi Maxiell
• Jackie Christie
• Jennifer Gold
• Ty Young
• Chantel Christie-Jeffries
• Ming Lee
• Denise Reann
• Brittany Renner

Where can I watch Basketball Wives season 12?

Those interested in keeping up with all the Basketball Wives drama unfolding this season can stream the series for free through Philo, Fubo or DirecTV Stream. Out of the three, Philo is the cheapest option at just $28 a month after its free trial expires.

You can also catch the new season available for streaming through Sling. Although no free trial is available, those who do commit to a paid subscription through Sling receive half off their first month and one month free of AMC+.

What is Philo?

Philo is known for being one of the cheapest streaming platforms in the space. Subscribers can access over 70 top TV channels such as MTV, TLC, BET, A&E, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial concludes.

Explore Philo’s extensive library of hit TV shows and movies and customize your flow of content even more by including add-ons in your subscription.

Along with thousands of hours of content available for streaming, Philo users can take advantage of key features such as the unlimited DVR feature, which allows subscribers to record favorite content easily.

What is Fubo and DirecTV Stream?

Though Philo may be cheaper, both Fubo and DirecTV Stream are two of the top streaming services steadily replacing traditional cable services due to their collection of popular live TV channels and slew of helpful features.

Both offer free trials to new subscribers, a plethora of popular live TV channels, on-demand streaming options and helpful features such as unlimited DVR storage.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but with over 100 live TV channels available through its base package at just $84.99 after its free trial, it offers much more to its subscribers.

Popular TV channels available through Fubo include ABC, FOX, BET, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and much more.

The DirecTV Stream base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNN, BET and much more.

Two other DirecTV Stream packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $10 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV Stream’s channel packages can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to stream live TV channels like VH1. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

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This week’s best Megaways slots at sweepstakes casinos: May 5-11

Megaways are online slots that offer more ways to win compared to traditional slots. There is potential for hundreds of thousands of paylines with Megaways slots, and the best sweepstakes casinos offer Megaways for their players.

Megaways slots at sweepstakes casinos

Megaways slost are a popular and common option at real money casinos. The top-rated sweepstakes casinos also offer Megaways slots and are available in more states. Megaways slots are a great way to play online casino games at sweepstakes casinos.

These are this week’s best Megaways at sweepstakes casinos:

Mermaid Empress Megaways at Mega Bonanza

Mega Bonanza is home to a slew of Megaways slots that are of the same quality as real money slots. One standout is Mermaid Empress Megaways.

This popular slot game pulls inspiration from “The Little Mermaid.” The paytable reveals 117,649 ways to win with multipliers as high as 10x. The theoretical RTP rate for this slot is 94%.

Mega Bonanza is offering new players a welcome offer of 150% extra coins on the first purchase up to 57,500 GC plus 27.5 SC for just $9.99. Join Mega Bonanza today and see why fans love Mermaid Empress Megaways.

Buffalo King Megaways at McLuck

Buffalo King Megaways is a popular draw at McLuck, and it’s easy to see why. This high volatility slot game has a theoretical RTP rate of 94.51%, with players able to win 5,000x their stake. This is one of the most popular online Megaways slots on the market.

McLuck is home to a bevy of Megaways slots. The popular sweeps casino is offering up to 57,500 GC and 27.5 SC for new players. Join McLuck today and play Buffalo King Megaways and more Megaways slots.

Max Megaways at WOW Vegas

Max Megaways at WOW Vegas is a great Megaways slot game for players. The theoretical RTP rate is 96.37%. Feature play grants 10 free spins for 75 times the spin amount or 10 enhanced free spins for 200 times the free spin amount. The potential payouts here are appealing to players.

WOW Vegas players have a generous welcome offer available on sign-up. Join today and get 35 free sweepstake coins with a 1.5 million WOW Coins purchase.

Wolf Stacks Megaways at Real Prize

Wolf Stacks Megaways is a major draw at Real Prize Casino. There are 117,649 ways to win. Fans love this wilderness-inspired Megaways game as it offers a lot for players. From the music to the howling wolf, every time you match, there is a lot to love about Wolf Stacks Megaways.

Real Prize is offering new players 625,000 GC and 15 SC. Join today and play Wolf Stack Megaways and more Megaways slots at Real Prize.

Legend of Cleopatra Megaways at Casino Click

Casino.Click is hosting a popular Megaways game, Legend of Cleopatra Megaways. The paytable reveals 324 to 200,704 ways to win. The theoretical RTP rate for this one is 95.84%. This is a fan-favorite Megaways slot game. The max potential payout on the buy bonus is 200 million GC. Even playing the minimum wager can see huge potential payouts on big wins.

Casino.Click is granting new players 100,000 GC and 2 SC. See why fans choose Casino Click and play Legend of Cleopatra Megaways today.

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Asking Eric: How to cope with annoying, noisy roommate

Dear Eric: We live in a 14-unit, mostly self-managed condo building. We have been here 17 years. The woman above us had been here 25 years (or more) when we moved in.

Over the last several years, she has become increasingly difficult. It did not help that I was on the condo board when she was not paying her assessments, not fulfilling her chapter 13 plan, etc.

She is upset that she hears noises from other units. In retaliation, she makes noise so that the rest of us will have to experience what she is going through. The worst is when she runs noisy appliances that she is not actually using, sometimes creating a loud, grinding sound. When we ask her to stop, she tells us that these are the reasons she is making the noise.

She plays music or her TV loud enough to interfere with my concentration. And she occasionally bangs on walls or ceilings and screams “Go back where you came from” and other invective at the tenant, who is a refugee.

Worse than that, she has called the police to complain about the noise from the upstairs tenant more than once when it was just a mom and baby.

I suppose I should be grateful that the music is usually not objectionable (no metal, lots of oldies). But I am angry that this continues, and I want it to stop.

What do you recommend?

– Want Quiet

Dear Quiet: This sounds awful, no pun intended. As a former member of your condo’s board, you’re probably familiar with the building’s rules. Is there a quiet enjoyment clause that your neighbor is violating? If so, you should bring this ongoing issue to the current board. Now, as you write, she has a history of not paying her assessments, so it sounds like this board isn’t especially effective at enforcing its own rules. Should the current board prove unhelpful, you can consult with an attorney who specializes in condo boards and HOAs for more options for resolving internal disputes.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

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Ivey pitches school cell phone ban, public safety bills in Huntsville visit

A cell phone ban in public schools and the remaining package of public safety bills are Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s top priorities with three days left in the Legislative session.

Ivey urged legislators to pass the FOCUS Act and the remaining public safety bills during her speech at the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber luncheon at the Von Braun Center on Monday.

The FOCUS Act would prohibit students from using a “wireless communication device” during the instructional day. It also would require schools to adopt an internet safety policy and educate students on safe social media use.

“According to a recent survey, 72% of high school teachers in the country reported that cell phones are distracting students,” the governor said. “Look, us adults, we are guilty of it, too. I see a few cell phones out there. But we’re talking about our students and their learning environment.”

Ivey cited learning from parents that teens spend an average of almost five hours a day on social media.

“It’s having a negative impact on their wellbeing,” the governor said. “Don’t get me wrong, our phones and social media are fantastic tools. So, we have to know the time, the place and how to use them. Schools are already taking action, and we are supporting that statewide through the FOCUS Act.”

She said the act would get cell phones out of the classroom during the instructional period. Ivey said the legislation would also require local school boards to adopt internet safety policies that provide students with social media training. The FOCUS Act should be a widely supported bipartisan measure.”

Ivey urged lawmakers to get the bill to a floor vote “and get this to my desk so I can sign it.”

The bills would ban students from using cell phones, tablets, laptops, gaming devices or any other portable communication device on campus during the school day. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, devices must be turned off and stored in a locker, backpack, car or similar storage location.

Exceptions may be given to students with disabilities or certain health needs if permitted by an individualized education plan, health plan or 504 plan. Students may also use their devices for educational purposes, if given permission, or in case of a life-threatening emergency.

See story: Alabama lawmakers move toward banning student cell phones in schools, classrooms – al.com

Public safety legislation

Ivey credited Huntsville State Senator Sam Givhan with helping steer public safety legislation through the Legislature as vice chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Bolstering public safety is my number one priority this session,” Ivey said. “We are advancing a package of bills this session aimed at reducing violent crime in our cities while providing law enforcement with the tools and support they need to more safely perform their duties.”

Ivey said she already signed a bill to get illegal Glock switches off the streets and another bill, “The Officer Impersonation Act,” which she said would “stop bad actors in their tracks.”

Ivey said she signed Senate Bill 119 on Monday, a bill that expands who cannot possess a firearm after being charged with a crime.

She said the bill “will help get more bad guys off our streets to ensure safety in our communities.”

“We have a few more working their way through the process,” Ivey said. “I’m confident they will be headed my way pretty soon.”

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