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Michelle Obama comments, Alabama Launchpad competition

Forecasters say scattered strong thunderstorms are possible across northern Alabama, with the potential that some could become severe.

The National Weather Service says the main threats from Monday's storms will be damaging winds of up to 60 mph, large hail and frequent lightning.

Forecasters expect the storms to develop Monday afternoon and evening ahead of a slow-moving cold front.

Michelle Obama suggests she was held to a different standard than other candidate’s wives during the 2008 election because of her race.  The First Lady made the comments during Tuskegee University’s graduation on Saturday, where she was the keynote speaker.

Mrs. Obama says the focus of another set of questions and speculations as potentially the first African-American first lady…

“Conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others.  Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating?  Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not enough of a career woman?”

The First Lady adds she had to ignore all of the noise and be true to herself and the rest would work itself out.  She will speak at two more graduations last this year, one at a college in Ohio and the other at a high school in Chicago. You can hear Mrs. Obama’s comments at apr.org.

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama looking to help build a better mousetrap. The Birmingham based group is accepting applications for the Alabama Launchpad competition.

They are seeking early stage, innovative startup companies across the state and today is the deadline.

Angela Wier is the Partnership’s Vice President. She says the competition is open to two types of good business ideas…

“Innovation and entrepreneurship, you know we’re really focused on creating the culture to help the really technical scientist and the ordinary individual who has an idea on how to make a better mousetrap”

One idea that won last year’s competition was the Alabama Chai** company, which put new kinds of tea into grocery stories. This round of the competition will award up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Teams will be announced May twenty ninth. 

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