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Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Alabama Newsletter for 2026-09-15 ( 31 items )  
'This is home': Spears Business interim dean Edwards energized to lead at OSU (10)
STILLWATER, Oklahoma, Sept. 14 -- Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business posted the following news: * * * 'This is home': Spears Business interim dean Edwards energized to lead at OSU * Summary * Dr. Bryan Edwards is the new interim dean of the Spears School of Business after 17 years on faculty. He had been serving as head of OSU's Department of Management. * With a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology from Texas A&M University, Edwards understands how to manage and motivate groups. * Coming to OSU from Auburn U more PR

49 Medical Groups Urge CMS to Maintain Same-Day Evaluation Reimbursement (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site. September 9, 2026 The Honorable Mehmet C. Oz, MD, MBA Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Attention: CMS-1848-P Mail Stop C4-26-05 7500 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21244-1850 Re: File Code CMS-1848-P; Medicare Program; CY 2027 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Chang more ST

Ala. Secretary of State Wes Allen Announces Sample Ballots Are Available on the Secretary of State's Website (10)
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Sept. 15 -- The Alabama Secretary of State issued the following news: * * * Secretary of State Wes Allen Announces Sample Ballots Are Available on the Secretary of State's Website Wes Allen, Alabama's Secretary of State, announces that sample ballots for the November 3, 2026 General Election are now available on the Secretary of State's website (https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes). Secretary Allen extends his thanks to the county election officials for their work preparing and approving these sample ballots. "A more PR

Alabama Plans to Execute Jeffery Lee Despite Jury Vote for Life (10)
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Sept. 14 [Category: Sociological] -- The Equal Justice Initiative posted the following news: * * * Alabama Plans to Execute Jeffery Lee Despite Jury Vote for Life * An Alabama jury rejected the death penalty for Jeffery Lee and decided that life imprisonment without parole is the appropriate punishment in his case. But the State nonetheless plans to execute Mr. Lee by lethal injection on September 17. Mr. Lee's Jury Chose Life Imprisonment At Jeffery Lee's capital trial in 2000, an Alabama jury voted 7-5 against the  more PR

Alumni Association Board names new directors, president (10)
COLUMBUS, Georgia, Sept. 14 -- Columbus State University posted the following news: * * * Alumni Association Board names new directors, president * The Columbus State University Alumni Association welcomes six directors to its volunteer board of directors, as well as Michelle McIntire '94 as its new president. The new directors include: Arunabha "Arun" Das '22 of Columbus holds a master of business administration from the Turner College of Business & Technology. As an associate vice president at Deloitte, with more than 18 years experienc more PR

Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: List of 100 Entities Providing Contributions to Trump Accounts for Kids (Part 1 of 2) (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary: * * * List of 100 Entities Providing Contributions to Trump Accounts for Kids John Kartch and Rachel Loren 09/14/2026 Americans for Tax Reform's tracker of Trump Accounts announcements has reached 100. As documented below at least 100 companies, foundations, individuals and states have announced contributions to the accounts or in the case of foster children, establishment of the accounts. Trump Accounts for kids were enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful more PR

Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: List of 100 Entities Providing Contributions to Trump Accounts for Kids (Part 2 of 2) (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary: * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 2) List of 100 Entities Providing Contributions to Trump Accounts for Kids John Kartch and Rachel Loren 09/14/2026 Russell Investments Group, LLC (Seattle, Washington) -- $1,000 contribution for children of U.S. employees: Russell Investments today announced that it will match the U.S. government's $1,000 contribution made to newly established Trump Accounts for the eligible children of U.S. employees, reinforcing the firm's l more PR

AQUA Dermatology Urges CMS to Withdraw Same-Day Modifier to Prevent Diagnostic Delays for Skin Cancer (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site. September 3, 2026 The Honorable Mehmet Oz, M.B.A., M.D. Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Attention: CMS-1848-P P.O. Box 8016 Baltimore, MD 21244-8016 RE: CMS-1848-P; Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 0938-AV82; Docket No. CMS-2026-2377 - Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Payment P more ST

Area high school students invited to seek higher-ed opportunities at the Blount County College Fair and Financial Aid Night at Maryville College (10)
MARYVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 14 -- Maryville College posted the following news: * * * Area high school students invited to seek higher-ed opportunities at the Blount County College Fair and Financial Aid Night at Maryville College * Key Takeaways * The Blount County College Fair takes place on Sept. 23 at Maryville College, offering students and families a chance to explore higher education options. * The event features representatives from various colleges, universities, and programs across Tennessee and the Southeast. * Financial Ai more PR

Career Booster: Rhodes College Offers New Certificate in Geographic Information Science (10)
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Sept. 15 -- Rhodes College issued the following news: * * * Career Booster: Rhodes College Offers New Certificate in Geographic Information Science Published on: September 14, 2026 For many years, students at Rhodes College have made a mark using geographic information science and cartography, earning top awards for their innovative projects. In response to this success and to enhance students' skills to analyze and visualize spatial data and mapping techniques, the college is now offering a Geographic Information Scienc more PR

CIAA Football Week Two Recap/ Weekly Honors (10)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Sept. 14 [Category: Sports] -- The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association issued the following news: * * * CIAA Football Week Two Recap/ Weekly Honors * CIAA Football Weekly Recap: Big Performances Highlight Week 2 Action CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Week 2 of the 2026 CIAA(r) football season featured conference victories, overtime drama and standout performances across the league as teams continued to build momentum heading deeper into conference play. Johnson C. Smith, Shaw, Virginia Union and Livingstone earned vic more PR

DOJ's Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG Target $245M in COVID Loan Fraud Enforcement Activity as State Partnerships Continue Expanding (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Sept. 14, 2026: * * * DOJ's Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG Target $245M in COVID Loan Fraud Enforcement Activity as State Partnerships Continue Expanding 44 U.S. Attorney's Offices, along with 20 federal and state investigative agencies, participate in summer SBA fraud enforcement surge - Today, the Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division along with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the SBA Office of Inspector General, a more PR

Emporia State Beats Second Straight Ranked Opponent (10)
WACO, Texas, Sept. 14 [Category: Sports] -- The American Football Coaches Association posted the following news: * * * Emporia State Beats Second Straight Ranked Opponent * Down 20-17 at halftime against then-No. 20 Michigan Tech, the Emporia State defense pitched a shutout in the second half allowing the Hornets to register their second straight victory over a ranked opponent, 34-20. Emporia State is now 3-0 on the season and moved up to No. 17 in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by GoRout Gridiron. The loss dropped Mic more PR

First-year UGA students build relationships, explore culture through Connect Abroad (10)
ATHENS, Georgia, Sept. 14 -- The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences posted the following news: * * * First-year UGA students build relationships, explore culture through Connect Abroad * Ashmita Upadhyay, a doctoral student in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been selected as a member of the 2026 cohort in the prestigious Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellows Program. A multiyear program, FFAR provides mentorship and early-career gu more PR

Governor Ivey Approves Alabama's First Workforce Pell Program at Lawson State Community College (10)
MONTGOMERY, Alabama, Sept. 14 -- Gov. Kay Ivey, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Ivey Approves Alabama's First Workforce Pell Program at Lawson State Community College * MONTGOMERY - Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced that Lawson State Community College's Lineworker Training Program has become the first program in Alabama to receive state approval through the Workforce Pell process, marking an important milestone in the state's effort to expand access to short-term training for high-demand careers. Governor I more PR

Jennifer Trulock Quoted in The Texas Lawbook on 9/11's Lasting Impact (10)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Sept. 14 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Bradley, a law firm, posted the following news release: * * * Jennifer Trulock Quoted in The Texas Lawbook on 9/11's Lasting Impact * Bradley attorney Jennifer Trulock was quoted in The Texas Lawbook remembering 9/11 not only as a personal trauma because of her connection to New York, but also as a moment that temporarily united people through kindness and permanently altered ordinary behaviors and perceptions. Trulock's reflections centered on how 9/11 personally affected her and h more PR

Kent State Stark Graduate Kendall Myers Named Portz Scholar for Undergraduate Research (10)
KENT, Ohio, Sept. 14 -- Kent State University posted the following news: * * * Kent State Stark Graduate Kendall Myers Named Portz Scholar for Undergraduate Research * Kendall Myers has spent the past several years studying creatures that are easy to overlook. At only about 3 millimeters long, ambrosia beetles are tiny enough to fit on the tip of a finger. Myers, however, discovered that these invasive insects possess a remarkable tool for doing significant damage to hardwood trees with mandibles containing unusually high concentrations o more PR

Lehigh Wins Big Over William & Mary (10)
WACO, Texas, Sept. 14 [Category: Sports] -- The American Football Coaches Association posted the following news: * * * Lehigh Wins Big Over William & Mary * Lehigh ran out to a 30-0 lead in the second quarter against William & Mary and never looked back, winning handily, 44-20. The Mountain Hawks used a dominant rushing attack to win the game, running for 366 yards on 51 carries and averaging 7.2 yards per carry. The win moved Lehigh up to No. 7 in this week's AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, while the loss dropped William & Mary to No. 21. No. 1 M more PR

LiDAR research shifts perspective from drivers to pedestrian safety (10)
AUBURN, Alabama, Sept. 14 -- Auburn University College of Engineering posted the following news: * * * LiDAR research shifts perspective from drivers to pedestrian safety * Huaguo Zhou is expanding his research on a LiDAR-based tool that evaluates what drivers can see at intersections, this time turning his attention to the view from the crosswalk. Zhou, the Elton Z. and Lois G. Huff Professor of Transportation in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has a new Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) project focused o more PR

Neurosurgeons Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez, M.D., Ph.D., and Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, M.D., Join UAMS (10)
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Sept. 15 -- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences issued the following news release: * * * Neurosurgeons Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez, M.D., Ph.D., and Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, M.D., Join UAMS Sept. 14, 2026 | LITTLE ROCK -- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently welcomed neurosurgeons Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez, M.D., Ph.D., and Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, M.D., to the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery. Estevez-Ordonez is the assistant director of UAMS' neurosurgical skills lab more PR

New faculty: ECE assistant professor studies computing systems, security (10)
AUBURN, Alabama, Sept. 14 -- Auburn University College of Engineering posted the following news: * * * New faculty: ECE assistant professor studies computing systems, security * Modern computing systems are built from increasingly complex hardware, making it difficult to fully understand how circuits behave, what information they reveal and whether they function as intended. Researchers are developing new methods to analyze these systems, identify vulnerabilities and verify hardware integrity. Kaveh Shamsi, a new assistant professor in the more PR

New multi-ancestry genetic score improves risk prediction for a common inherited heart muscle disease (10)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Sept. 14 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news: * * * New multi-ancestry genetic score improves risk prediction for a common inherited heart muscle disease * Pankaj Arora, M.D., Garima Arora, M.D. and Harshvir Bal, M.D.Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and collaborating institutions have developed a multi-ancestry polygenic risk score that improves how clinicians identify people at risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common inherite more PR

Senate Judiciary Committee Sets Sept. 17 Nomination Hearing (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following information for a nominations hearing at 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2026, at 216 Hart Senate Office Building: Nominees * Anna St. John, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit * Gregory Carl Cook, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama * D. Adam Candeub, to be an Assistant Attorney General * John Peter Cronan, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission * Jason Manion, to be a Member of the United States  more PR

Skrmetti, Other AGs Urge FCC to Strengthen Robocall Rules (10)
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 14 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog: * * * Skrmetti, Other AGs Urge FCC to Strengthen Robocall Rules * Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general (AGs) are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen requirements aimed at preventing scammers from using U.S. phone networks to make illegal robocalls. The coalition is asking the FCC to strengthen its "Know Your Upstream Provide more PR

Strong leads Alabama Delegation championing North Alabama as Space Academy moves ahead (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- Rep. Dale W. Strong, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * Strong leads Alabama Delegation championing North Alabama as Space Academy moves ahead * WASHINGTON -Representative Dale W. Strong (AL-05) led a bicameral delegation letter to the commission charged with the development of a U.S. Space Academy, highlighting North Alabama's qualifications to host such an academy. The letter, addressed to the Presidential Commission on the U.S. Space Academy, outlines the Tennessee Valley's legacy and commitment  more PR

TekFive Inc. Urges SBA to Preserve Six-Digit NAICS Thresholds and Protect Socioeconomic Set-Asides From Mid-Tier Dilution (10)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site. TekFive, Inc. 850 Ben Graves Drive NW, Suite 324 Huntsville, Alabama 35816-4201 SDVOSB . 8(a) . CAGE 4WTW2 . UEI MMA4JSE35553 08 SEPT 2026 To Whom it May Concern: TekFive, Inc., a Huntsville-based SBA Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and SBA 8(a) certified firm supporting the Department of Defense, NASA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs,  more ST

Tennessee Attorney General Joins Bipartisan Coalition Urging FCC TO Strengthen Robocall Protections (10)
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Sept. 14 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news: * * * Tennessee Attorney General Joins Bipartisan Coalition Urging FCC TO Strengthen Robocall Protections * Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and a bipartisan coalition of 48 other attorneys general are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen its "Know Your Upstream Provider" (KYUP) requirements to help prevent scammers from using the U.S. phone network to make illegal robocalls. KYUP rules require v more PR

TROY SBDC brings immersive entrepreneurship experience to downtown Troy (10)
TROY, Alabama, Sept. 14 -- Troy University issued the following news: * * * TROY SBDC brings immersive entrepreneurship experience to downtown Troy * Troy University students and members of the Wiregrass community will have an opportunity to experience the realities of entrepreneurship in one weekend as the Alabama Small Business Development Center at Troy University brings Weekend Ventures to downtown Troy Sept. 18-20. Hosted at the Troy University IDEA Bank, Weekend Ventures is an intensive, three-day entrepreneurship experience that tak more PR

TROY School of Nursing awarded two grants through Governor Ivey's rural healthcare program (10)
TROY, Alabama, Sept. 14 -- Troy University issued the following news: * * * TROY School of Nursing awarded two grants through Governor Ivey's rural healthcare program * Troy University's School of Nursing has received two grants totaling $178,070 as part of the first awards announced under Governor Kay Ivey's Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program. The awards, announced Aug. 24, are among 138 grants statewide totaling more than $144 million. The program is supported by a $203.4 million first-year federal Rural Health Transformation P more PR

Tuskegee University: Dr. Mark A. Brown Delivers Opening Convocation Address at Virginia Union University (10)
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, Sept. 15 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news: * * * Dr. Mark A. Brown Delivers Opening Convocation Address at Virginia Union University Crystal Drake 14 September 2026 Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO of Tuskegee University, delivered the keynote address during Virginia Union University's Opening Convocation on Thursday, Sept. 10. In his introduction of Dr. Brown, Virginia Union University President Dr. Hakim J. Lucas called it a "sacred task" to select a convocation speaker strongly suited to inspir more PR

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures Encourages Tuskegee University Students to Be Informed Global Citizens (10)
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, Sept. 15 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news: * * * U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures encourages Tuskegee students to be informed global citizens Crystal Drake 14 September 2026 U.S. Rep. Shomari C. Figures, D-Ala., visited Tuskegee University this week, delivering greetings at the 30th Annual Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit and spending time with students during a Q&A session. At the summit, a two-day event supported by Tuskegee University, the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition  more PR