Students at the University of Alabama renewed a list of demands related to diversity at the Tuscaloosa campus.
A rally was held outside of Gorgas Library where organizers repeated eleven requests including, a division of diversity, a safe space for students of color, and a diversity course for freshman.
Elliott Spillers is President of the Student Government association. He says a recent meeting with UA President Stuart Bell was encouraging, but there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done…
“We’re at a very pivotal time in our University’s history. We’re making positive steps forward. We’re not being complicit in any way anymore. We have a lot of passionate, active students who feel strongly about these issues. But, I think we’re taking all the right steps in that area.”
Dr. Bell announced the creation of a central diversity officer. He also named Spillers to the strategic planning committee on campus.
A Pennsylvania biodiesel producer is expanding into Alabama.
Lake Erie Biofuels LLC has bought the former Veros Energy biodiesel refinery in Moundville.
Lake Erie Biofuels does business as HERO BX and will operated the plant under the name HERO BX Alabama LLC.
The Moundville plant has 17 employees who will be retained after the purchase. The Erie Company will hire another 10 to 12 workers as they bring the refinery back on line early next year.
Lake Erie Biofuels bought the refiners to it can serve new markets that it can't reach from its northwestern Pennsylvania base of operations.
Farmers across the southeast are heading to Clanton today for the start of the annual Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association’s conference.
The tradeshow will provide hands on learning experience for growers at local farms. There will also be networking sessions where growers will discuss the art of growing tomatoes, okra, watermelons, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables.
Coordinator Ann Chambers says this will be a good opportunity for farmers to come together and discuss growing.
“This is kind of our main focus for producers this is what we want to highlight it’s so good for farmers to come in and talk to other farmers you know if they have a question who better else to ask than another farmer in their same commodity so this is really what this grower network is geared towards.”
This year’s agenda is expected to include expanding banana production in Alabama and diseases that hit citrus trees.