SUMMARY: Alabama is bracing for severe weather overnight, with the potential for tornadoes expected from early Saturday morning through the afternoon. Chief Meteorologist Jason Simpson noted that thunderstorms may begin around 1:00 AM, primarily affecting northwestern Alabama. A lull is anticipated before a more dangerous system moves in, posing a high risk for severe storms and tornadoes, particularly in the afternoon, with conditions worsening as instability increases. Residents should prepare for a lengthy exposure to severe weather and should have a tornado safety plan in place as the storm system approaches from the northwest.

Alabama Alert Day: Overnight storms could produce tornadoes, and a tornado outbreak forecast for Saturday, March 15

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SUMMARY: Fairhope is renowned for its year-round vibrant blooms, with tulips captivating visitors in early spring. Locals and tourists alike appreciate the beautiful contrast of colors throughout the town. The aesthetic appeal is the result of meticulous planning and hard work from a dedicated landscape crew that invests countless hours maintaining the city’s floral beauty. Flowers like tulip bulbs and caladiums are ordered annually, and hundreds of thousands are nurtured in greenhouses before being planted. This collaborative effort ensures every corner of Fairhope is alive with color, contributing to its postcard-perfect charm and uplifting atmosphere.

Fairhope is often known for its beautiful streetscapes where flowers bloom all year round, adding a bit of that Fairhope charm to every corner. But what some may not know is that behind the scenes, it takes countless hours and a dedicated team to fill the city with these vibrant colors.

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University of Alabama under investigation for ‘race-based segregation’

by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
March 14, 2025

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said Friday that the University of Alabama was under investigation by the Office for Civil Rights for allegedly offering “impermissible race-based scholarships” and engaging in “race-based segregation.”

UA was one of seven universities facing the allegations. The OCR also accused 45 other universities of engaging in “race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs.”

“Students must be assessed according to merit and accomplishment, not prejudged by the color of their skin. We will not yield on this commitment,” U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a press release.

Messages seeking comment were left with OCR and UA on Friday. OCR did not say in the release which scholarships are classified as race-based or provide any examples of race-based segregation by the University of Alabama. A list of undergraduate scholarships offered at UA does not include any with explicit racial components. 

Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the OCR, sent a letter to universities on Feb. 14 to reiterate schools’ civil rights obligations to end the use of racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities. The letter claimed that American educational institutions “have discriminated against students on the basis of race, including white and Asian students.”

The letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights called the existence of systemic and structural racism “a false premise.”

“Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them—particularly during the last four years—under the banner of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (“DEI”), smuggling racial stereotypes and explicit race-consciousness into everyday training, programming, and discipline,” the letter said. 

The University of Alabama closed dedicated spaces for its Black Student Union and an LGBTQ+ resource center last year after the state passed a law banning publicly-funded DEI programs and the teaching of so-called “divisive concepts.” UA professors and students at the University of Alabama Birmingham have sued to overturn the law, saying it violates their due process and free speech rights. 

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.

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