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Call for help leads to massive relief effort in Atmore from one tribe to another

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Call for help leads to massive relief effort in Atmore from one tribe to another

www.youtube.com – WKRG – 2024-10-03 16:54:38

SUMMARY: A relief effort initiated by a text requesting water has led to significant support for flood-affected areas in Cherokee, North Carolina. Within 48 hours, nearly 40,000 bottles of water have been distributed to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and surrounding communities. Wind Creek has already sent two truckloads of supplies, including cleaning products, food, diapers, and baby wipes, to aid recovery. The donation drive is open to all, emphasizing community solidarity in times of disaster. Donations are accepted daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, with plans to extend support beyond North Carolina to Georgia and Florida as needed.

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Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction through six states. One week later, the only thing bigger than the storm may be the effort to help storm victims recover.

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News from the South - Alabama News Feed

Proposed Alabama drag ban could impact high school theater productions

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alabamareflector.com – Anna Barrett – 2025-04-24 07:01:00

by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
April 24, 2025

The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would ban drag performances in schools and public libraries. 

But it could also impact theater productions statewide.

HB 67, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, defines drag performances as “a performance in which a performer exhibits a sex identity that is different from the sex assigned to the performer at birth using clothing, makeup, or other physical markers.”

According to the Alabama Educational Theatre Association (ALEdTA), with fewer boys participating in theater in high school, girls often play boys’ roles to fill the cast. The association said the legislation could impact school theater productions.

“We all know that in the current environment where boys are not participating as much in theatre; this will have a negative impact on educational theatre,” ALEdTA wrote in a Facebook post Monday.

Historically, the opposite was true. In Ancient Greece, women were considered inferior to men and unfit for the stage, so female roles were played by men. The same was true in the Elizabethan era for plays by William Shakespeare. Premature boys often played female roles because of women’s limited social status.

The association is calling on its members to advocate for an amendment to the legislation in the Alabama Senate that would exempt theater productions from the restriction on drag performances. The association provided a letter template on the post for its members to send to their senator.

“This bill without needed amendments will force teachers to provide less performance opportunities for students. It will also heavily reduce the plays and musicals that we can perform in Alabama,” the letter said.

Stadthagen said in an interview Wednesday the legislation was not meant to impact theater and that he is working on an amendment for the Senate to make that explicit.

“It does not pertain to that at all,” he said. “The intent is not to harm theater or anything like that. The intent, of course, is to eliminate drag.”

Huntsville High School this fall planned to stage “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a Tony-award winning play based on the backstory of Peter Pan but switched productions due to the possible implications of the legislation. 

“This change was made thoughtfully and early in the planning process before casting occurred to ensure the production aligns with any legal and logistical considerations that may arise,” Craig Williams, a spokesperson for the school system, wrote in an email Wednesday.

Stadthagen said in an interview Wednesday that he had not heard of any theater productions being cancelled and said that was not necessary.

“They don’t need to be cancelling anything at all,” he said. “They have nothing to worry about, I promise you.” 

The bill awaits consideration from the Senate Education Policy Committee, which did not have its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday. 

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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.

The post Proposed Alabama drag ban could impact high school theater productions appeared first on alabamareflector.com



Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

The content presents a discussion surrounding a bill proposed by Alabama House Minority Leader Scott Stadthagen, a Republican. It focuses on legislation to ban drag performances in schools and libraries, which reflects current cultural and political debates often associated with conservative views, particularly around identity and expression. While the article reports factual information about the proposed bill, it also features concerns from organizations like the Alabama Educational Theatre Association, illustrating the potential negative impact on theater productions.

The use of terms like "to eliminate drag" and the emphasis on the implications of the legislation suggest a framing that aligns with conservative perspectives on gender and performance art. However, the inclusion of dissenting opinions, such as those from theater advocates, and the detail that Stadthagen is considering amendments to protect theater productions, adds a moderating voice, indicating a more nuanced center-right position rather than a rigid far-right stance. Overall, the content reflects the complexities of political discourse around cultural issues, with a lean towards conservative viewpoints.

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News from the South - Alabama News Feed

Impact Weather Wednesday, Tracking heavy thunderstorms in the Alabama weather forecast

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Impact Weather Wednesday, Tracking heavy thunderstorms in the Alabama weather forecast

www.youtube.com – WVTM 13 News – 2025-04-23 11:29:22

SUMMARY: Heavy thunderstorms are expected in Alabama today, particularly during peak daytime heating hours. Scattered storms will persist through the afternoon and early evening, with no severe weather threats anticipated. Radars indicate developing storms across west-central Alabama, with significant rainfall but below severe limits. The rest of the workweek will see fewer storms, resembling a typical summer pattern with occasional afternoon rain. By the weekend, conditions trend drier, with above-average temperatures. Rainfall totals may range from half to one inch, with isolated heavier downpours possible. Early next week is expected to remain humid and increasingly warm.

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Impact Weather Wednesday, Tracking heavy thunderstorms in the Alabama weather forecast Subscribe to WVTM on YouTube …

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Trump to give commencement address at West Point, Alabama | Alabama

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Trump to give commencement address at West Point, Alabama | Alabama

www.thecentersquare.com – By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-22 14:29:00

(The Center Square) – President Trump will be giving the commencement address at the University of Alabama for the first time and West Point for the second, with more details to come.

The president posted on his Truth Social account: “I have agreed to do the Commencement Address at two really GREAT places, the University of Alabama and, WEST POINT. Stay tuned for times and dates!!!”

Trump gave the commencement address at West Point once before in 2020 – also as sitting president.

Other sitting presidents who have been speakers at West Point’s commencement include Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama, among many others, according to West Point’s archives.

When reached for comment, West Point referred The Center Square to the White House Press Office for information regarding Trump’s address.

A University of Alabama (UA) statement obtained by The Center Square reads that “the University of Alabama is honored to have been selected as one of the universities President Donald J. Trump will visit to deliver a spring commencement address.”

“This ticketed event will be held the evening of Thursday, May 1, at Coleman Coliseum and will be open to all spring 2025 graduates,” the statement says.

“All spring graduates will have the opportunity to attend this distinct event in addition to their college-specific ceremonies where degrees will be conferred from May 2–May 4, as scheduled,” according to the statement.

When reached for comment, UA associate director of communications and media relations Alex House provided The Center Square with the school’s statement, which is very similar to a published statement from the school.

In response to the announcement of Trump’s UA commencement address, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey posted on her X account: “It truly will be a historic occasion for these UA graduates and their families.”

“What an incredible opportunity to hear from the President of the United States!” Ivey wrote. “Thank you, @POTUS, for making this happen for our students.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt released a statement saying she is “thrilled President Trump will deliver the keynote address at the University of Alabama’s commencement ceremonies this year.”

“It is a tremendous honor for the university and for this year’s graduating class to welcome a sitting President to campus – a first in the nearly 200-year history of the University of Alabama,” Britt wrote.

“As an alumna, I am especially proud to see my alma mater chosen for such a historic occasion,” Britt wrote.

The University of Alabama’s statement additionally explained that “campus logistics and security measures are being carefully coordinated, and ticketing information for graduates and other event details will be communicated in the coming days.”

“We look forward to celebrating our graduates throughout commencement weekend as we confer degrees to thousands of hardworking students who will go on to make a positive impact in the workforce and in communities across Alabama, our nation and the world,” the statement said.

The post Trump to give commencement address at West Point, Alabama | Alabama appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

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