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Articles by Betsy Nearn
UAH receives $3.2M grant to partner with students in Limestone and Marshall counties
UAH received a $3.2 million grant from the Department of Education to partner with students in Limestone and Marshall counties. (Ben Johnson / Hville Blast) The University of Alabama in Huntsville secured a $3.2 million federal grant that will help boost local middle and high school students’ access to the resources, career networks and pathways for success after high school graduation.
Top 10 October stories you may have missed
The 32-room, four-story Lodge at Cheaha State Park opened last month. (Alabama State Parks) October finally brought us some fall weather across Alabama along with plenty of big stories. Let’s take a quick look back at The Bama Buzz’s top 10 stories from the last month. Read to the end to see what was No. 1! The Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile was ranked as the best K-12 school in the state and sits 21st among the best public high schools across the United States.
Ella Langley, Kings of Leon headlining 2027 Sand In My Boots festival
The music festival is returning to Alabama’s beaches after taking 2026 off. (Sand In My Boots) Morgan Wallen’s Sand In My Boots music festival is coming back to Gulf Shores next year following a summer without a signature festival on Alabama’s beaches. The festival announced its full lineup Monday, headlined by Wallen alongside Alabama native Ella Langley and Kings of Leon.
Daylight Savings Time ending: Set your clocks back
“Fall back” for earlier sunsets. (The Bama Buzz) This weekend marks the end of Daylight Savings Time—a topic that brings out some passionate opinions from both sides of the argument. Everyone likes getting an extra hour of sleep Saturday night but that feeling can disappear quickly when you see how dark it is at 5PM Sunday.
What you need to know before voting in Alabama
Election Day 2026 is almost here. (The Bama Buzz) In case all the yard signs and TV commercials didn’t tip you off, the 2026 General Election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Keep reading for everything you need to know to make a plan for voting day. The first thing you’ll need to do is to double check your registration status.
Halloween 2026: See the trick-or-treat forecast across Alabama
It’s a great week to go see all the Halloween decorations! (The Bama Buzz) The end of October has brought a near perfect week of fall weather across Alabama. But there could be some rain that sneaks up on trick-or-treat plans this weekend. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this weekend, you can expect to see people out and about in their costumes Friday and Saturday so be careful on the roads and have those candy bowls ready to go.
6 ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Alabama
Día de los Muertos in Birmingham (Openverse) As November approaches, communities across the state prepare to celebrate Día de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead. Rooted in rich Mexican traditions, this holiday is a vibrant, joyful time dedicated to honoring and remembering ancestors and departed loved ones. From large-scale festivals at historic landmarks to community art shows and library gatherings, here are six ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos right here in Alabama.
Empowering Auburn's military community
Font Size content body The Auburn Family has the opportunity to support student veterans and ROTC cadets and midshipmen through the Strength In Service Fundraising Challenge, from Oct. 29 through Nov. 12 at AuburnGiving.org/Strength. The two-week online challenge will benefit four programs: Auburn’s Veterans Resource Center (VRC), Naval (and Marine Corps) ROTC, Army ROTC, and the Flying Tigers Booster Club for Air Force and Space Force ROTC cadets.
New First Watch coming to former Red Lobster location in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa’s First Watch currently under construction in McFarland Plaza (The Bama Buzz/Jayda Campbell-McGinnis) The city of Tuscaloosa has confirmed a new First Watch location will be taking over the old Red Lobster building in the McFarland Plaza. District 7 Councilman Cassius Lanier made this announcement after there were multiple speculations about what may be taking over the previous Red Lobster building.
Auburn University unveils record-breaking $224M STEM+Ag Complex
A flyover view of the brand-new STEM+Ag Complex. (Auburn University) Auburn University just marked a historic milestone on Friday, Oct. 23, hosting the grand opening for its new $224 million STEM + Agricultural Sciences Complex. Located at 305 W. Samford Ave., this state-of-the-art facility spans over 265,000 gross square feet, making it the largest research construction project in Auburn University’s history.
8 spooky ghost tours to experience across Alabama
Old Cahawba offers cemetery tours for a glimpse into this Alabama ghost town’s past. (The Bama Buzz) It’s October in Alabama, so you know what that means: haunted houses, corn mazes, hay rides, trick-or-treating, and of course, ghost tours. As the autumn wind howls and the nights grow longer, the veil between our world and the afterlife wears dangerously thin, drawing out the phantoms of Alabama’s historic past.
8 of Alabama’s oldest restaurants you need to try
(Jacob Blankenship / The Bama Buzz) There’s something special about an old Alabama restaurant that has stood the test of time. For generations, doorbells have chimed, booths have filled, customers have been greeted and food has been fried. Alabamians are known for staying faithful to their favorite restaurants, and these longtime spots have given customers plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
14 specialty car shows to explore across Alabama this fall
“The Street Car Show” by faungg’s photos is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 Whether you have a need for speed or a longing for the days of old, there are plenty of chances to admire vintage cars across Alabama–from historic downtowns to shopping center parking lots. This fall, car lovers from across the state gather to show off their prized possessions and mingle with others who share their passion.
Auburn-Opelika Tourism's art gallery: Where community meets creativity
An art gallery at AO tourism. As cold, dreary weather sets into the South, visitors and locals alike escape into the bold, bright colors of Auburn-Opelika Tourism’s office art gallery on North Gay Street. Over 20 artists contributed roughly 150 paintings to share stories and encapsulate the beauty found within the local community. AO Tourism Communications Manager Cat Bobo brought her love of art to the bare office walls when the company moved to Downtown Auburn last October.
How to 'deck the halls' for a Christmas dinner party
After a full week of late nights in the library, energy drinks on tap and constant grade calculations, students migrate back to their hometowns for Christmas break. Once they unpack their bags and catch up on sleep, high school group chats reawaken and plans for the first reunion begin to form. For students hoping to bring friends together at home, a Christmas dinner party provides the perfect opportunity to reunite.
Cookie Fix brings a sweet new flavor to Downtown Auburn
Downtown Auburn got a little sweeter with the opening of Cookie Fix on Nov.5. Located between Big Blue Bagel and Wrapsody, Cookie Fix offers fresh-baked cookies, ready-to-bake cookie dough, cookie cake, fresh milk and Rockhouse ice cream — quickly becoming the go-to stop for college students and families alike. The arrival of Cookie Fix in Auburn marks a new chapter for the brand that started nearly a decade ago.
Red Barn Worship: From one worship night to an album
Red Barn Worship is a student-led, Christian ministry, where college students gather at the Red Barn to sing praises to the Lord. On Aug. 22, Red Barn Worship released its debut album, “At the Arena (Live),” which was recorded in Neville Arena and is streaming on all platforms. Cofounders Andrew Dillard and Anna Hustad said the album is one of many answered prayers for the group, while reflecting on Red Barn Worship’s journey.
Lee County buzzes with excitement at charity spelling bee
On Thursday, Aug. 28, Lee County Literacy Coalition (LCLC) hosted the Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, an adult spelling bee with the goal of raising awareness for literacy needs in Lee County. The fundraiser brought local businesses together to support LCLC’s mission of providing tutoring and resources to adults who struggle with literacy. The evening unfolded against the backdrop of light rain at 21 Acres, as guests enjoyed delicious food and craft cocktails from John Emerald Distilling Company.
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