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A somber anniversary

Thirty years ago today, in 1994, a powerful F4 tornado struck Goshen United Methodist Church near Piedmont, Alabama. The church building collapsed and 20 people were killed.

Goshen was rebuilt at a nearby location, and the site that was struck is now a memorial garden.

Also on this date

In 1814, the Battle of Horseshoe Bend took place. General Andrew Jackson’s troops and some Indian allies defeated the Creek warriors known as the Red Sticks.

The battle put an end to the Creek War and also was connected to the War of 1812, with U.S. and British forces allying with different Indian groups who were at war with one another.

So long, Birmingham-Southern?

Word that Birmingham-Southern College plans to close operations at the end of May shook the Birmingham area on Tuesday, reports AL.com’s Rebecca Griesbach and Greg Garrison.

The Rev. Keith D. Thompson, who chairs the school’s board of trustees, called it a “terrible day for Birmingham.” State Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Birmingham Democrat, called it a “travesty.” Congresswoman Terri Sewell said it’ll be a big loss for the entire state. And Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said it was “disappointing and heartbreaking.”

The private college has struggled financially for several years. Birmingham-Southern officials were hoping for $30 million in state bailout money as well as $5 million from Birmingham and $2.5 million from Jefferson County.

A year ago state lawmakers passed a bill that set up a loan program to help the school. But State Treasurer Young Boozer, who has the role of loan administrator, denied the application, arguing it wouldn’t be able to pay back the loan.

This legislative session, state Sen. Jabo Waggoner, a Vestavia Hills Republican, introduced a bill that would take control of that loan program away from Boozer and give it to the executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

That bill passed the Senate but has stalled in the House. State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, a Birmingham Democrat, said the votes aren’t there.

House 10 turns blue

Alabama’s Democrats picked up a seat in the state House of Representatives with Tuesday’s special election in Madison County, reports AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz.

This was for the state House District 10 seat that was vacated when David Cole pled guilty to illegal voting and resigned.

Marilyn Lands defeated Republican opponent Teddy Powell by winning an unofficial 62 percent of the vote. She campaigned on her opposition to the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen embryos have the same rights as children. After winning last night she said “Today, Alabama women and families sent a clear message that will be heard in Montgomery and across the nation. Our legislature must repeal Alabama’s no-exceptions abortion ban, fully restore access to IVF, and protect the right to contraception.”

Both parties in the state passed a law during the ongoing legislative session to give legal immunity to in vitro fertilization clinics. Some clinics had paused IVF services after that court ruling.

Chill, Gordon

Bryson McGlynn, Alabama’s contestant on “MasterChef Junior,” is 12 years old. Celebrity chef and show host Gordon Ramsey only acts like he’s 12 years old.

On a recent episode Ramsey picked up Bryson’s undercooked pork chop and flung it across the room in disgust.

It’s all part of the show, though. AL.com’s Mary Colurso reports that Bryson’s team advanced in the contest and he’s still grilling away, hopefully toward a $100,000 champion’s prize.

Quoting

“I made four birdies in seven holes and helped pay for my first car.”

PGA (and former University of Alabama) golfer Justin Thomas, on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” while telling a story about a round of golf with Michael Jordan.

By the Numbers: Spring Break edition

That’s how many arrests were made this past weekend by Gulf Shores police, who announced last week they were going to increase their presence along the beaches.

Meanwhile, over in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, a Mountain Brook teen was booked into a juvenile facility after he allegedly got drunk, spit on a deputy and cussed at his own mama. And it allegedly took place at an otherwise genteel South Walton tennis court setting.

Ah, Springtime at the beach.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

In 1921, longtime Congressman Tom Bevill of Townley, a former coal-mining town that’s now an unincorporated community in Walker County

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