Drew Taylor
Verified
As seen in:
Apple Podcasts,
IMDb,
MSN Philippines,
The New York Times,
USA Today,
Yahoo News UK,
Aol,
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC),
New York Daily News,
The Verge
and
Covers:
higher education, k-12 education, government, courts
Journalist/Editor. Previously @Alabamas_42, @tuscaloosanews, @MGMAdvertiser, @oanow and a weekly in southeast Alabama. Looking for the next adventure.
Articles by Drew Taylor
Stallings has big plans with new athletic director job at Shelby County Schools
If it wasn’t for a torn muscle in his shoulder, it’s very possible that Michael Stallings wouldn’t be where he is today with the top sports job in Shelby County. Stallings, who was named athletic director for Shelby County Schools earlier this month, was a pitcher at UAB when he tore his labrum muscle connecting his arm to his shoulder.
DREW TAYLOR
Browse Topics Currently, there is no content with this tag. By DREW TAYLOR About DREW TAYLOR Locations with DREW TAYLOR
Vestavia Hills native named 'Voice of the Aggies' at New Mexico State
Over the past year, MJ Newsom often thought about what his 8-year-old self would say about him today. Those thoughts came during a particularly grueling period for him. Newsom, whom the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America considered one of the top collegiate sports broadcasters in the country during his senior year at the University of Southern California, kept a busy schedule as the play-by-play announcer for USC Pomona-Pitzer.
The Top 21 New Movies Streaming Now
September is here! And while the fall weather hasn't quite arrived, it's still the perfect time to cozy up with a good movie. Manifest that spooky season. The good news is, there are plenty of new movies streaming in September for you to watch. The bad news is, it's hard to keep track of what's streaming where. That's where we come in. We've gone through and made a curated list of the best new movies added to Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Paramount+ and more this month.
The Biggest News in Loss Prevention Aug. 29- Sept. 4
We know that your week can get busy, and the time you have to catch up on the news from around the retail loss prevention industry is often stolen away by other things. That’s why the LPM team sifts through headlines from all over the world to bring only the most relevant LP news to you here, in our special weekly news round-up—the perfect bookend to a productive week.
Loss Prevention Leaders Discuss Potential Benefits of AI in Investigations
While artificial intelligence remains controversial for many, its potential to help those in the loss prevention field has already been identified. During a recent webinar, From Hours to Answers: AI for Faster Shrink Investigations, loss prevention leaders discussed how AI could be a real help when it comes to investigations.
George Lucas’ Next-Gen Art Museum Is Finally Opening. You’ve Never Experienced Anything Like It
George Lucas' Museum of Narrative Art is finally set to open at the end of the month after nearly 20 years and we've been inside.
Disney Appoints Jennifer Creegan to New Head of Marketing Technology and Operations Role
The Walt Disney Company has appointed Jennifer Creegan as Head of Marketing Technology and Operations. The newly created position, announced earlier this year, is "part of the new enterprise marketing organization and will serve as part of the leadership team reporting to Asad Ayaz," Disney's Chief Marketing and Brand Officer. Creegan will join Disney on Sept. 7.
New Research Finds Growing Public Comfort with Video Surveillance
Axis Communications has released its Public Perception of Video Surveillance survey, highlighting a significant shift in public sentiment toward video surveillance. The survey found that 58% of US respondents are more comfortable with video surveillance in both public and private spaces than they were five years ago, especially in transit hubs, retail centers, and educational campuses. At the same time, that growing comfort comes with clear expectations for how video surveillance is used.
‘The Great Mouse Detective’ Gets 40th Anniversary Discussion at LightBox Expo | Exclusive
"The Great Mouse Detective," which unofficially launched the second golden age of Walt Disney Animation, turns 40 year this year. And at this year's LightBox Expo, being held from Oct. 23 to 25 at the Pasadena Convention Center, directors Ron Clements and John Musker will be on-hand to discuss the film.
Ken Russell’s ‘The Devils’ Sneak Preview Screenings Sell Out Nationwide | Exclusive
Ken Russell's "The Devils" is already a demonic hit. The nationwide 35mm sneak preview screenings – happening in cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, Portland, Nashville and Boston – are completely sold out ahead of the 1971 film's theatrical re-release in October. If there's any indication of just how healthy and robust the theatrical marketplace is, this controversial, largely banned 55-year-old film has already become a box office success.
First Trailer for Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink’ Energetically Dramatizes England’s Most Notorious Paper
The British auteur's latest, an adaptation of James Graham's 2017 stage play about the rebirth of The Sun, with Jack O'Connell as the paper's new editor Larry Lamb and Guy Peace as Rupert Murdoch, the Australian mogul that bought (and subsequently turned around) the failing paper, is headed to theaters later this year before a debut on Netflix in early 2027. But with its Venice Film International Festival premiere here, we have a brand-new trailer. Watch it below.
Montreal’s Latest Shopping Center Now Using Genetec Software
Genetec Inc., the global leader in enterprise physical security software, can now call one of Montreal’s newest major shopping districts as a client. Royalmount, which includes over 200 stores and restaurants in the city, is now using Genetec Security Center to unify physical security and support day-to-day operations.
Netflix’s ‘La Bola Negra’ Trailer Shows Off Epic Cannes Sensation
"La Bola Negra" is ready for its moment. The historical epic, which spans three different time periods over nearly a century of Spanish history, was the toast of Cannes. It earned the filmmaking team of Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi a Best Director Award and sparked a bidding war that Netflix eventually won. And now, ahead of its theatrical release on Oct. 16, Netflix has dropped a brand-new teaser trailer. Watch it below.
LVT Releases New Mobile Security Solution Called ‘Essentials’
LiveView Technologies, Inc. (LVT), the leader in rapidly deployable security solutions, has unveiled Essentials, a mobile security unit that delivers baseline security features at an affordable cost. Essentials empowers teams with situational awareness and crime deterrence for $1,000 per month, bringing LVT’s industry-leading uptime, digital security, and support to organizations that don’t require a robust security strategy.
Fast & Furious Roller Coaster Finally Revs Up for September Opening at Universal Studios
Southern California's newest rollercoaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is set to open at Universal Studios Hollywood — finally — on Sept. 16. "The theme park's eagerly awaited first outdoor, high‑speed roller coaster will deliver an unprecedented surge of adrenaline and a new level of intensity to the destination, unlike anything experienced in the park's decades‑long history," according to Universal's official description.
Kenneth Lonergan Defends Mark Ruffalo, Calls Charges of Antisemitism ‘Overtly Preposterous’
Kenneth Lonergan, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and playwright, defended Mark Ruffalo on Monday against accusations of antisemitism. Lonergan wrote in a letter reviewed by TheWrap and first sent to The Hollywood Reporter that "the notion that he is antisemitic is overtly preposterous and the accusation itself a cynical and disgusting lie." The controversy stems from an Aug. 21 Instagram post in which Ruffalo connected the potential Paramount/Warner Bros.
How Small, Fraudulent Transactions Can Create Significant Exposure Over Time
When fraud is discussed within the loss prevention industry, attention often focuses on significant theft events, large refund schemes, or high-dollar losses that immediately attract scrutiny. In reality, some of the most impactful losses begin with transactions that appear insignificant when viewed individually. A small item void, a transaction void, a no-sale, a missed scan—individually, these events may represent only a few dollars and may not seem worthy of a lengthy investigation.
How ‘Boorman and the Devil’ Director David Kittredge Makes a Case for ‘Exorcist II’
When John Boorman's gonzo "Exorcist II: The Heretic" opened in 1977 as the sequel to William Friedkin's original 1973 masterpiece, it was promptly pilloried by critics. Similarly, the movie's box office disappointed. "Exorcist II" made $30.7 million, compared to the original's $441.3 million, cementing the perception that the movie wasn't just bad but was one of the worst movies ever.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Ali G’ Return Hit by Racial Backlash as Activists Urge Theaters Not to Screen the Film
Sacha Baron Cohen is a comedian well accustomed to controversy — and his latest feature "Ali G: Who Iz I?" is shaping up to stir plenty. The comedian's guerilla-style filmmaking, which blurs the line between documentary, social satire and hidden-camera pranks, has ensnared countless powerful figures and enraged even more.
From Cancellation to Resurrection (With a Side of Ketchup): How ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Bounced Back
In "Looney Tunes" canon, there isn't a character as frequently pancaked, dynamited or run over by a train that came out of a tunnel painted on the side of a canyon as Wile E. Coyote, who first appeared in the 1949 short "Fast and Furry-ous" alongside his foil the Roadrunner. And yet, his ineffable spirit remains.
The Biggest News in Loss Prevention Aug. 22-28
We know that your week can get busy, and the time you have to catch up on the news from around the retail loss prevention industry is often stolen away by other things. That’s why the LPM team sifts through headlines from all over the world to bring only the most relevant LP news to you here, in our special weekly news round-up—the perfect bookend to a productive week.
‘Obsession’ Breakout Inde Navarrette Was Never Offered a Role in ‘Heat 2’ | Exclusive
For the past few weeks, the internet has been in a tizzy over rumors that "Obsession" breakout Inde Navarrette turned down a plum role in Michael Mann's feverishly anticipated "Heat 2," where she would have worked alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale. Instead, the rumors go, she chose to play Rogue in Marvel Studios' rebooted "X-Men" franchise starter, to be directed by Jake Schreier.
Ben Jatlow Named Senior VP of Sales at Gatekeeper Systems
Gatekeeper Systems has announced the appointment of Ben Jatlow as senior vice president of sales for the company's Americas division. (Courtesy of Gatekeeper Systems) Gatekeeper Systems has announced the appointment of Ben Jatlow as senior vice president of sales for the company’s Americas division. Jatlow, who began his career as a financial services professional at New York Life Insurance Company, most recently served as SVP of global sales and consumer engagement at PDI Technologies.
Sam Register to Exit as Head of WB Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
Sam Register, the head of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios, is set to step down from his position at Warner Bros. Discovery. He will depart next week, when his current contract expires. Warner Bros. TV Group chair Channing Dungey announced his departure in a memo and said that it was "mutually agreed" not to renew his contract.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cameron Winter Concert Film Acquired by Janus Films and Criterion
A few months after he picked up Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director for his "One Battle After Another," Anderson is back with a brand-new concert film. And Janus Films and Criterion have just acquired all North American rights to the project. "Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall," which documents the Geese lead singer's solo show at Carnegie Hall after months of touring with his band in December 2025, will begin an exclusive North American 35mm tour on Nov. 20.
How One Company Is Using Body Cameras to Protect Loss Prevention Professionals
One company’s initiative to equip its loss prevention professionals with body-worn cameras is already turning out positive results. In a recent webinar hosted by Reveal and Loss Prevention Magazine, leaders with Tesco, a chain of UK-based supermarkets, shared a behind-the-scenes look at their camera system and how it is keeping loss prevention professionals safe on the job. This need came amid a rising risk level LP associates face every day.
‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ Sequel in the Works With Producer Kate Hudson at Paramount
"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is getting a sequel. According to reports, Paramount is in early stages of development on a follow-up to the 2003 hit, which starred Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Hudson is involved as a producer on the sequel and it's unclear whether she or McConaughey will appear in the new film. The creative team for the follow-up has not been established yet either. Stacy Sher will also produce alongside Hudson through her Shiny Penny banner.
Mike Birbiglia Movie ‘Old Friends New Friends’ Gets Green Light at Focus Features
Focus Features has greenlit "Old Friends New Friends," a new comedy from writer-director Mike Birbiglia. Birbiglia will also produce the movie alongside Jacob Jaffke and Joe Hartwick for Oddball Entertainment. Birbiglia's latest is set to star Lucas Hedges, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Geraldine Viswanathan and Dylan Gelula.
‘Carolina Caroline:’ Watch a Clip From Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner’s Crime Movie | Exclusive
The romantic crime drama from director Adam Carter Rehmeier stars Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner as a Bonnie-and-Clyde-type couple on the run, pulling crimes and falling in love along the way. It was one of the best, most underseen movies of the summer, but thankfully it's coming to home video on Tuesday via video-on-demand and Blu-ray. TheWrap has an exclusive clip from the film. Watch it below, but fair warning… the language is a bit salty.
The incredible story behind Birmingham’s new Burmese restaurant, opened by refugees from Myanmar
In another life, Thiha Lin and his wife, Ei Tinzar Hlaing, were doctors in their home country of Myanmar. But when the Tatmadaw state military overthrew the government and took over the country in 2021, everything changed. In the wake of the military coup, the country began sinking into a humanitarian collapse, leaving nearly 80% of the population starving. Along with many doctors in the country, Lin and Hlaing did what they could to fight back against the group through civil disobedience.
Shrink Is Improving, but It No Longer Tells the Whole Story
For years, shrink has been the main metric when it comes to measuring asset protection performance. It has been used to evaluate results, justify staffing, and show senior leadership whether an asset protection program is working. But shrink no longer reflects the full scope of the job. Today, 85% of food retailers report at least some success in meeting their shrink goals, with more than one in five describing their efforts as very successful.
Sidewalk Film Festival kicks off 28th year in downtown Birmingham
Sidewalk Film Festival revealed a permanent sign anchored on The Pizitz in downtown Birmingham. (Photo by Drew Taylor) Your support helps us grow and sustain a newsroom for the City Built to Change the South. Donate today to help Birmingham stay informed. On Monday, the 28th annual Sidewalk Film Festival will kick off, bringing in cinephiles from across the city to enjoy new and emerging films.
Every Damon Lindelof Show Ranked, from ‘Lost’ to ‘Lanterns’
When Damon Lindelof co-created "Lost" with J.J. Abrams and Jeffrey Lieber (who worked on an earlier, what-if-"Survivor"-was-a-drama version), he was a wunderkind with a great reputation, forged on "if nothing else is on" prime time dramas like "Nash Bridges" and "Crossing Jordan." He clearly had more to say, more to do, and with "Lost," he rewrote what network television could be.
How Documentary Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks Built ‘Disney Worldbuilders’
It makes sense that Leslie Iwerks would become the greatest documentarian of the Walt Disney Company. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, worked closely with Walt, co-creating characters like Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit; and her father, Don, was responsible for a number of innovations at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he pioneered the technology that would drive the Circle-Vision theater attractions and motion simulators like Star Tours and Body Wars.
Na Hong-jin’s ‘Hope’ Gets Earlier Release in Premium Large Format Theaters
Na Hong-jin's acclaimed genre epic "Hope" will have exclusive early-access premium format screenings on Monday, Sept. 7, two days ahead of its nationwide theatrical release. The film, which upends the conventions of the alien invasion movie, will screen in 175 premium large format locations across the country in six premium formats, including Dolby, 4DX, ScreenX, Barco HDR, D-Box and Dolby Atmos, with participating theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and more.
The Biggest News in Loss Prevention: August 15-21
We know that your week can get busy, and the time you have to catch up on the news from around the retail loss prevention industry is often stolen away by other things. That’s why the LPM team sifts through headlines from all over the country to bring only the most relevant LP news to you here, in our special weekly news round-up—the perfect bookend to a productive week.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s ‘Margie Claus’ Reveals 2027 Release Date, Voice Cast
Now you know when you can unwrap "Margie Claus." Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has announced that the new animated feature, starring Melissa McCarthy as the title character, will hit theaters worldwide on Nov. 12, 2027. Additionally, the voice cast for the animated feature has been revealed, with Jim Gaffigan as Santa and Andrew Scott as Jack Frost.
‘Golden Axe’ Trailer Promises Hilarious Animated Take on 1989 Video Game Favorite
All 10 episodes of "Golden Axe" land on Paramount+ on September 16. The animated comedy is an adaptation of the beloved Sega video game series, which began with the original "Golden Axe" in 1989 as a side-scrolling beat-'em-up set in a vaguely medieval fantasy world full of magic and monsters. The series was originally announced in 2024 for Comedy Central, with a voice cast that includes Matthew Rhys, Lisa Gilroy, Danny Pudi and Liam McIntyre.
Disney Historian Jeff Kurtti Launches New Film Series at Orange County’s Frida Cinema | Exclusive
Jeff Kurtti, a Disney historian who has written more than 40 books on the company and whose erudite but approachable demeanor has made him the closest thing the Disney community has to a Robert Osborne, is crafting a new screening series for the Frida Cinema. Located in Santa Ana, California, it is Orange County's only nonprofit arthouse theater.
How Chris Carter Finally Fixed ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’
In 2008, "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" was released theatrically, six years after the series came to an end and a whopping 10 years since the last movie, 1998's excellent "The X-Files: Fight the Future," came out.
New ‘Wildwood’ Trailer Is an Emotional Trip Into a Fantasy World
The latest from LAIKA, the Portland, Oregon-based studio behind "Coraline," "ParaNorman" and "Kubo and the Two Strings," arrives on October 23 via Fathom Entertainment. And thanks to a brand-new trailer, we have the best look yet at the animated fantasy epic. Watch it below.
A24 Cannes Favorite ‘Club Kid’ Gets Tender First Trailer
"Club Kid" is ready to hit the scene. The comedic drama, written and directed by Jordan Firstman, who also stars in the film, played as part of the Un Certain Regard section of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it was lavishly praised and quickly acquired by A24. Now the film, about a party promoter who discovers that he has a 10-year-old son he never knew about (Reggie Absolom), is ready to hit theaters starting in November. And we have the brand-new trailer.
Fantastic Fest 2026 Lineup: ‘Beware Boiúna’ Premiere, ‘Resident Evil’ and Walter Hill Tribute
Fantastic Fest is nearly here. The 21st edition of the legendary genre film festival, which has produced more acquisitions than South by Southwest, features 35 world premieres, 21 international and North American premieres and 14 U.S. premieres. The festival, which promises "the very best in genre from across the globe, alongside our famous events and surprise guests" arrives at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas, from Sept. 17 – 24.
‘Spider-Noir’ DP on Crafting Nic Cage’s Webslinger in Black and White as Well as Color
You might assume that "Spider-Noir," the streaming series that takes Nicolas Cage's character from the Oscar-winning "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and plops him into a flesh-and-blood mystery, would lack the visual oomph of its animated counterpart. After all, that film had a unique texture that emphasized its comic-book origins. You could practically smell the ink coming off the screen. How could the comparatively tame live-action landscape ever hope to compete?
At Disney’s D23, New CEO Josh D’Amaro Makes His Case to the Company’s Biggest Fans
If you've never visited D23, the once-every-two-years celebration of all things Disney, calling it Disney's version of Comic-Con is an understatement.
Bryan Cranston and Jamie Lee Curtis Will Star in New Version of Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Carousel of Progress, an audio-animatronic stage show overseen by Walt Disney and originally created for the 1964-65 World's Fair in Queens, holds the record as the longest-running stage show in the history of American theater. And the attraction, which went from Disneyland following the closure of the World's Fair and has been a part of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom since 1975, recently shut down for a reimagining.
‘The Imagineering Story’ Season 2 Will Debut in Early 2028
One of the greatest original series to ever air on Disney+, Leslie Iwerks' "The Imagineering Story" will return for season 2 in 2028. Iwerks appeared on stage at D23 to announce the project, which she stresses will focus on projects currently in development (or recently opened) at the company's global portfolio of theme parks.
Disney’s New Animated Original ‘Clay’ Starring Kieran Culkin Arrives in 2028
The brand-new animated original from Walt Disney Animation Studios was announced at D23 by chief creative officer Jared Bush, who announced the project and said that it will arrive in theaters in 2028. Bush also noted that Emmy- and Oscar-winning actor Kieran Culkin will play Flip.
Disney’s Animated ‘Hexed’ Adds Jodie Foster and Walton Goggins
Disney's "Hexed" is nearly here. And at D23 they have revealed more of the very starry voice cast. Hailee Steinfeld, Rashida Jones, Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry have already been revealed as being a part of the "Hexed" cast and now Walton Goggins and Jodie Foster have joined the list. Goggins will voice Beef Roger Crummchuk, a three-eyed cat who lives in the witch-filled world, who can take off his head and spin it around.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Drew
Contact Drew, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack