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Chattahoochee Water Wars, Likely Candidate for UA Presidency

Stuart Bell
UA Presidential Candidate Stuart Bell

Governor Robert Bentley was not present at a private meeting between the governors of Florida and Georgia to discuss a long-running water dispute.

The meeting comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a challenge from Florida seeking to limit Georgia's withdrawals from the Chattahoochee River. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been battling for decades over rights to take water from the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint river system.

Florida argues that Georgia is guzzling more than its share of water for growing Atlanta at the expense of the Apalachicola Bay oyster fishery.

In 2013, Scott took the legal battle to the Supreme Court after the oyster industry nearly collapsed, causing a federal disaster declaration.

A Louisiana State University administrator has emerged as the top candidate to become the next president of the University of Alabama.

University of Alabama System Chancellor Robert Witt is expected to recommend Stuart Bell as President. Bell is currently the Executive Vice President and Provost at LSU.

Kellee Reinhart, a spokeswoman for Alabama's university system, says the chancellor is scheduled to make the recommendation during a June 18 Board of Trustees meeting.

Bell says he’ll start July 15 if his hiring is approved by the trustees.

Bell was the only candidate recommended for consideration for the post during a four-month search by an advisory committee. He would replace Judy Bonner, who in December announced her plans to retire as president and return to teaching.

High school cowboys and cowgirls will be competing in the 2015 High School Rodeo Association state finals starting today.

Participants will compete in several events such as barrel racing and bull riding. Association spokeswoman Dawn Hoagland says the ultimate goal is to make it to the national tournament.

“It’s a good family environment for the kids to be in. They make long lasting friendships. For most of them, the main goal is to end up being in the top four. The top four in each event goes on to national finals.”

Judges decide which four riders will go to Wyoming for the national finals in July.

Eight Alabama colleges have been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as having tree-friendly campuses.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is the latest state school to achieve that designation. The recognition is for colleges and universities that promote healthy trees and help both students and workers get involved in conservation.

UAB formed a Tree Advisory Committee in November. It's both to help preserve existing trees on the 70-block downtown campus and encourage the planting of new trees at UAB.

The school also hosts an Arbor Day observation and gives away tree saplings during Earth Week activities.

Other Alabama schools on the Arbor Day Foundation list include Auburn, Auburn-Montgomery, Alabama-Huntsville, Huntingdon, Jacksonville State, Troy and West Alabama.

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