More Good News from Our Friends at the Alabama NewsCenter

From monster makeup to Magic City Classic, here are some of our favorite stories from the past week from our partners at Alabama NewsCenter.

Alabama has nation’s second-highest gains in graduating students – Here are key markers which contributed to the state’s education success.

Football preview: Bulldogs, Hornets battle in Magic City Classic; Auburn welcomes Ole Miss – A look at all of the Alabama college and select high school games this week.

Legion Field ready to host another Magic City Classic – “Old Gray Lady” stirs to life for annual matchup.

Can’t Miss Alabama: Special Halloween edition – Have a safe and Happy Halloween

A new USS Mobile? Mayor hopes to get Port City’s name on Austal-made ship – Littoral combat ships are built at plant in Port of Mobile.

Mikia Carter: Overcoming breast cancer through faith – “Don’t take your diagnosis as a death sentence. Take it as a new look upon life – just know you’re going to be fine.”

Before breast cancer treatment, 31-year-old preserves hope to have a child – With a cancer treatment looming, Jessica Sparks decided to harvest and freeze her eggs to keep her dream of building a family alive.

Andrea Taylor brings a change of pace to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – New CEO opens up about what got her to the Magic City and what keeps her centered here.

Helping Horses Alabama takes animals from need to steed – Equine rescue aims to restore broken and take in homeless.

Montgomery monster makeup master makes movie masks and more – Zombies, aliens and gore are part of Alabama artist’s repertoire.

Microsoft names Birmingham’s Kulture City a partner – Autism nonprofit one of 10 that are part of Windows 10 Upgrade Your World Initiative.

Etheridge family taps into parental values to fuel success with multiple businesses – Here’s how one father seeded success for generations to come.

100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before you Die: Klingler’s Black Forest Torte – Can you stop after just one bite?

Making syrup and changing lives in Opp, Alabama – Crossover Ministry finds parallels between cooking sugar cane and cleansing souls.

Celebrity chef Gina Neely to share recipe, meet fans at Magic City Classic Expo – After her own weight loss, Neely advocates increasing the amount of fish and seafood in family meals.

Alabama Bright Lights: Black Belt Treasures in Camden is a portal into region’s art and culture – Products sold in shop support artists throughout the Black Belt.

Cardboard City aims to unbox plight of the homeless in Mobile – Annual event raises money for those in need.

A look inside Mobile’s Cardboard City – Young and old slept in boxes to raise awareness of homelessness.

President Warren G. Harding’s Birmingham civil rights speech: bold then, forgotten today – “Whether you like it or not, our democracy is a lie unless you stand for that equality.” President Warren G. Harding

Alabama ZIP codes among ‘America’s Most Haunted’ – One in the Mobile area may have as many as 69 homes – one in every 89 – that could be haunted.

Montgomery September home sales up 16 percent over same month last year – Year-to-date sales through September are up 15 percent from the first nine months of 2014.

Huntsville/Madison County year-to-date residential sales up 17 percent over last year – Median home prices were mostly flat in September.

Wiregrass September year-to-date home sales up 27 percent from last year – Here’s a look at what’s behind the bump in sales.

Lake Martin ‘Waterfront’ Real Estate: Year-to-date September sales up 23 percent over last year

Shoals Area year-to-date residential sales up 16 percent from 2014 – Housing inventories down 9.1 percent from September 2014.

Morgan County September residential sales up 10 percent over same month last year – Year-to-date sales through September are up 23.5 percent from 2014.

Calhoun County year-to-date sales in September up 14 percent over last year – Median home sales prices in September were down slightly from the same month in 2014.

UAB researchers making shrimp not so shrimpy – They’re finding a way to grow bigger, better shrimp that could lead to breakthroughs in feeding the world.

Alabama Classic Foundation kicks off Magic City Classic weekend with fundraiser for students – Partners with Schaeffer Eye Center to host second annual charity golf tournament

Lawson State celebrates 65 years with silent auction, reception – Event marks milestone while raising money for community college’s future.

Birmingham area high school students perform life sciences and engineering experiments in Southern Research labs

Birmingham students’ refrigerator art could land them an actual refrigerator – Twenty-one schools sent artwork to Alabama Power

Student artists celebrated by Alabama Power – Receiving awards and affirming purpose. Students are encouraged to continue to share their gift with the world.

Category: Hodgepodge