UA tax service sees its impact
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 1
In less than five years, SaveFirst, an initiative of the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at the University of Alabama and Impact Alabama, has become the largest campus-based free tax preparation service in the country, according to Stephen Black, the director of the center. “To set up a program like this, you have to work closely with the (Internal Revenue Service) and they told me we now have the largest such program in the country,” he said. “There are dozens of colleges and universities that provide free tax services, but most of them don’t have nearly the number of volunteers we do. We are really proud of this. Our services are aimed at the working poor who are sometimes taken advantage of by commercial tax preparation businesses that charge fees and sometimes interest on refunds.”…Last year, more than 500 students prepared tax returns for more than 3,500 families across the state. The students came from 10 Alabama colleges and universities and in the six weeks leading up to the April 15 deadline, $6.8 million in tax refunds were secured for families who took advantage of the program…
Confidence rising for Alabama businesses
Birmingham News – Feb. 1
Optimism prevails among state business leaders when it comes to economic recovery during the first quarter of this year. The latest Alabama Business Confidence Index, a survey of nearly 250 executives, rose 7.1 points to 55. That’s an indication that recovery should be on solid ground this quarter, according to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, which conducts the survey…The Center for Business and Economic Research notes a recent local wave of development news. For instance, Birmingham officials helped break ground on a new downtown entertainment district and Westin Hotel last week. ” And Birmingham still ranks last for business confidence among the state’s other metro areas. Huntsville area business leaders are most optimistic, with a first quarter index reading of 60.3. Mobile is second, at 58, followed by Montgomery at 53.9. Statewide, business leaders have a brighter mood about the national economy. Optimism in that area increased 13 points to 55.1 in the survey.
UA graduate reports from Cairo for Christian Science Monitor
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan 31
University of Alabama Honors College graduate Kristen Chick is in Cairo, Egypt now. She is a journalist with the Christian Science Monitor and has been reporting from the ground. The honors college is planning a study abroad trip to Egypt for May of this year. A meeting is taking place tonight where associate director, Dr. Fran O’Neal believes, the trip will be suspended…
UA Capstone International Program will “wait and see” concerning trip to Egypt
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 31
The University of Alabama Capstone International Program was planning a study abroad trip to the middle-eastern nation, but that was before the riots started. Angela Channell from Capstone International says they are monitoring the situation…
SGA to sponsor first concert at Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 1
The Avett Brothers and Band of Horses will open the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on April 1…the concert is being produced with the Student Government Association at the University of Alabama.
UA political scientist says local Democratic Party weakening
FOX6 (Birmingham) – Jan. 31
…University of Alabama political scientist Bill Stewart calls Sexton’s switch a sign of the weakening of the local Democratic party. “The local Democrats have had to be somewhat apologetic regarding the national members of their party; whereas Republicans generally don’t.”
Women’s Resource Center holds events for Women in Prison Week
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Jan. 31
Last week, the University of Alabama’s Women Resource Center participated in a weeklong event of awareness about issues surrounding incarcerated women. The campaign known as Women in Prison Week, educated students on the harsh reality of how women are treated in local prisons. The organization invited students to sit with a panel of experts who offered insight about the poor conditions in women’s prisons…By involving students in this campaign, the Women’s Resource Center hopes to advocate a voice for women who are in prison and in recovery.