More than 21,000 graduate from Alabama’s community colleges
The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) concluded a successful 2025-2026 award year by awarding 30,389 degrees and certificates to 21,005 graduates who completed programs during the Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Spring 2026 semesters. These numbers do not include completers of Adult Education and non-credit training programs. According to ACCS, 10,800 students earned 11,178 associate […]
Gadsden City Schools announces free and reduced meal policy
Gadsden City Schools announced recently its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. For School Year 2026-2027 Gadsden City Schools will continue participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). No further action is required of you. This USDA provision allows your […]
GSCC’s FAME program signs 50
The eighth cohort for Gadsden State Community College’s FAME Chapter signed with their respective companies during a recent signing ceremony at the Oxford Civic Center. FAME, or the Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education, is an apprenticeship-style program that allows students to attend class two days a week and work three days a week in a […]
Alabama Connections Academy graduates 25 local students
Alabama Connections Academy honored 991 graduates from across the state during its commencement ceremony on May 14 in Montgomery. Twenty-five local students are among this year’s graduating class. Graduates from Etowah County include: Adrianna Barron, Elizabeth Bellanton, Makenzie Bone, Tymothy Brown, Amiyah Brown, Jessie Cornelius, Saniya Davis, Aiden English, Charles Evans, Mason Irwin, Hailey Kahn, […]
JSU celebrates grand opening of ROC with star-studded concert
Jacksonville State University officially opened the Randy Owen Center for the Performing Arts in unforgettable fashion on Wednesday night, May 27, as some of the biggest names in country music gathered to honor Jax State alumnus and ALABAMA frontman Randy Owen during a sold-out grand opening celebration. Live in Concert: Randy Owen and Friends brought […]
Projected Social Security benefits cliff creeps up to 2032
By Jennifer Shutt Alabama Reflector Congress must act to shore up Social Security during the next six years to avoid an automatic drop-off in benefits in 2032, according to a report released Tuesday. The annual update on the Old Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund shows that it will “become depleted” in the fourth quarter […]
Public Service Commission orders hearing on natural gas company’s rates
By Ralph Chapoco Alabama Reflector The Alabama Public Service Commission will hold a rate case for a St. Louis-based natural gas company, the first time the PSC has held one for the company in more than four decades. PSC Executive Director Luke Bentley IV said at a commission meeting on Thursday that representatives from Spire […]
People pleasing pitfalls
By Carrie Halladay Most people don’t wake up one day and decide to become a people pleaser. It usually develops slowly over time. For many, it begins with good intentions: wanting to help, wanting to avoid conflict or wanting to be liked. But somewhere along the way, being considerate turns into constantly sacrificing yourself to […]
Some library myths vs. the reality
By Craig Scott After writing this column every other week for many months now, I’ve come to realize something—there are still quite a few misconceptions about today’s public library. So, I thought it might be fun (and helpful) to set the record straight. Let’s take a look at a few common myths about your Gadsden […]