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Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Students: This group of 163 students from Jefferson County took a pilgrimage to Selma on Saturday Address: City Council President Billy Young addresses the group of students from Jefferson County at Songs of Selma Park on Saturday Leaders: Selma leaders met with leaders of the Community First and Genesis Project during their Fantastic Voyage into History on Saturday Community First and Genesis Project has been making trips to historical and educational sties all across Alabama Founders of the groups have dubbed it the Fantastic Voyage into History Walter Wilson with Community First of Birmingham said this is their third time to come to Selma during their history the voyage took them to Selma and the Edmund Pettus Bridge Midfield and Bessemer all got the chance to not only hear from local officials including City Council President Billy Young and Council Members Clay Carmichael but the group of 163 students also did a re-enactment of the Bloody Sunday March across the bridge the opportunities that are here for these young people And we want them to take advantage of every opportunity,” Wilson said people from different aspects of life to volunteer and give them time They’re going to get an opportunity to talk to the mayor members of the city council to talk about Selma and Selma’s rich history and the struggle for equality.” said the program has been around long enough that his daughter has gone from a student to one of the adult leaders of the group The goal of these trips is to expose the students to a wide variety of experiences who have  never been outside of Bessemer,” Washington said we stand by the phrase that a man who doesn’t know his past is doomed to repeat it So a lot of them really don’t even know where they come from They don’t understand history… So they don’t really get a chance to see it What’s more intriguing about this entire thing is that whenever we bring somebody here or any other place the attitude of these children change when we’re headed back.” He said he wants top open the eyes and minds of the students to more opportunities that are available to them they will be visiting state colleges and universities such as Alabama State Tuskegee and the University of Alabama this year They change up the list from year to year to try and expose the group to as much as they can “We want them to be able to have the choices,” Washington said “Who would have thought of this whole bus trip The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) square off against the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday The Monday college basketball schedule in the SWAC has plenty of exciting matchups on the docket Top 25 teams will take the court in two games on Monday’s college basketball slate Monday’s college basketball lineup has lots in store Among the 10 games our computer model recommends By WSFA 12 News StaffPublished: Apr. 29, 2025 at 8:58 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The city of Selma announced Tuesday that it will have to terminate its AmeriCorps Neighborhood Development Initiative a decades long program dedicated to improving neighborhoods through community service The office of Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr said they were made aware of the decision by the Governor’s Office of Volunteer Services Sunday the Selma AmeriCorps program has stood as a beacon of hope and transformation— empowering local residents and rebuilding our neighborhoods and communities This abrupt termination brings an untimely end to a program that has not only rebuilt homes but restored lives and strengthened the very fabric of our city I want to be absolutely clear: this decision does not reflect the value or impact of the Selma AmeriCorps team and partners have served this city with honor Their work has been vital to our shared mission to recover said that while they are complying with the federal directives to close the program they are urging state and federal partners to reexamine the role of national service in rural communities “We urge supporters across Alabama and the nation to raise their voices in advocacy for programs that empower local leadership and drive community-led change,” the mayor said Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store Bitte aktiviere Javascript in deinem Browser und lade die Seite dann erneut SEITE NEU LADEN  Selma City Schools has a new superintendent — and he has big plans for the school district Dr David Scott has been on the job now for about six weeks He’s spent that time assessing the needs of the school system — and becoming familiar with the community Scott says focusing on relationship — communication — expectations — and having goals — are the keys to success “We provide education and we provide the support but outside of our four walls in our building it takes the community working together and we know that everybody wants what’s best,” said Scott “We want to make sure that anyone that comes through Selma City Schools leave Selma High School educated prepared for the next level.” Selma City Schools has a total of nine schools — and has a student enrollment of over 2200 students 8 On Your Side i-Team Saving Selma Pay It Forward What the Tech Mugshots Selma Blair has great news to share about her health more than six years after she shared her diagnosis with fans "I've been feeling great for about a year," said Blair but now I actually have stamina and energy and getting out and going out isn't so scary." Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Blair also shared that the improvement in her health has allowed her to think about the future in a way that she wasn't able to before "I spent so much of my life so tired from being unwell that I think I just was trying to get through the day," she said I realize I don't know what my goals are." Selma Blair opens up: She talks about her 'cathartic' MS discussions, service dog 'boyfriend' Scout Blair announced she was battling multiple sclerosis on Instagram in 2018 saying at the time that she was diagnosed in August of that year And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps According to the Mayo Clinic multiple sclerosis occurs when "the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers known as myelin," which "interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body." Symptoms can include numbness or tingling lack of coordination and difficulty walking though treatments are available to manage symptoms the location of damage in the nervous system and how bad the damage is to the nerve fibers," the Mayo Clinic notes "Some people lose the ability to walk on their own or move at all Others may have long periods between attacks without any new symptoms In 2019, Blair underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation a process that "attempts to 'reboot' the immune system which is responsible for damaging the brain and spinal cord in MS," according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society "It took about a year after stem cell for the inflammation and lesions to really go down," she said in 2021 there's still maintenance and treatments and glitches and wonderful things and wonderful things I've learned In August, Blair explained to Us Weekly that while she "fell into a major relapse" after her bone marrow transplant she was doing better after finding an "amazing" new doctor In a prior health update in January 2024, Blair told fans that she was "doing well" but still experiencing pain and stiffness "I say that only for you people that hurt also 'Legally Blonde 3': Is Selma Blair for reprising the icy Vivian? In March, the "Legally Blonde" actress stepped out at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party and walked the red carpet with her service dog “When I have to kneel down to be able to talk more clearly or to just kind of get my circulation on track it made a lot more sense to have a dog by my side,” she told USA TODAY past it because once I start getting nervous or self-conscious (This article has been updated to add new information.) The Selma and Dallas County Area Chamber of Commerce teamed up with local woodworker Anthony Langdon and seven area businesses and organizations to celebrate the city’s heritage as the Butterfly Capital of Alabama they held a special unveiling for the artwork and a butterfly release to celebrate this designation Chamber executive director Sheryl Smedley said the chamber received funding from the Center on Rural Innovation to fund this project Langdon then designed the butterflies and provided each of the seven entities with painting kits to design their own butterflies The organizations that had butterflies included International Paper YMCA of Dallas County and Cahaba Mental Health Center “Each organization created their own theme,” Smedley said “Each of these butterflies will be spread throughout the communities at a later time This is something that will help brighten up our community.” Once the butterflies were painted on the three-quarter-inch plywood Langdon sealed them to protect the painting from the weather and for them to last a long time he said this was huge for him to get the opportunity to participate in this project “That makes me feel wonderful,” Langdon said Langdon said he wanted to thank Smedley and Chamber President Jackie Smith for selecting him to do this work And to all the people and the chamber members Langdon’s work is available on his Facebook page Selma was named the Butterfly Capital of Alabama in 1982 thanks to the efforts of Mallieve Breeding It was recognized with an official flag to the Federated Garden Clubs of Selma by the state organization to recognize the city’s status The 'Legally Blonde' actress was diagnosed with the chronic immune disease in 2018 The Selma Police Department said the victim was a black male identified as 43-year-old Caleb Heard of Selma Heard’s body was transported to the lab at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery and it has not been determined if foul play was involved The Selma PD is actively investigating the incident Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Selma Police Department or contact CrimeStoppers using its 24-hour tip hotline at 334-215-STOP (7867) Artist: Dori DeCamillis shows off one of the more popular paintings in her new exhibit at Gallery 905 Reception: Gallery 905 held an opening reception for its May featured artist president and Treasurer; and Winfred Hawkins Gallery 905 welcomed featured artist Dori DeCamillis Thursday night with an opening reception DeCamillis showed off her vivid paintings in the exhibit to a crowd at the gallery Each of the paintings features different animals They are done in a surrealist style delves into the state of the mind “The open-ended nature of the subjects lends themselves to broad interpretation,” DeCamillis said “I enjoy getting to talk with different people and when I ask them what they feel or see in each painting Every person has a different idea of what it is saying to them.” One of the more popular paintings that the crowd gravitated to was one of a rabbit in what looks like a magician’s hat shop This a part of “The Without a Net Card Deck,” a collection of 55 paintings presented as a kind of artistic inkblot test DeCamillis has worked on paintings in this collection since 2011 In addition to appearing in Selma as a part of the 1st Saturday Selma series DeCamillis has been featured in major galleries and museums across the country She also co-founded Red Dot Gallery in Birmingham DeCamillis said she was impressed with the arts scene in Selma “Selma shows a lot of support for the arts,” DeCamillis said “And downtown Selma is such a great setting for an event like this.” The following persons were booked into the Dallas County Jail between April 19 through April 27 All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty arrested April 19 by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in Selma between Alabama Highway 5 and the 38-mile marker arrested April 21 by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department on 1300 Alabama Ave failure to appear on assault second degree arrested April 21 by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in Selma on 1300 Alabama Ave. arrested April 22 by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in Selma on U.S arrested April 23 by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department on Highland Avenue arrested April 23 by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department on 1300 Alabama Ave. arrested April 23 by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency in Selma on the block of Selma Avenue arrested April 24 by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department at the Perry County Prep Center arrested April 24 by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department on 23 Broad St. arrested April 24 by the Selma Police Department on Highway 80 East arrested April 27 by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department on Highway 22 in Valley Grande The Vaughan Regional Medical Center Auxiliary is pleased to announce the recipients of the Vaughan Regional Auxiliary Healthcare Scholarship Award for the academic year 2025 The 2025 scholarship recipients and their chosen school of higher learning are: • Aidan Barnes from Dallas County (University of Alabama) • Jai Calhoun from Dallas County (Wallace Community College Selma) * Mariama Drammeh from Dallas County (University of Alabama-Birmingham) • Lakai Gipson from Perry County (Jacksonville State University) • Jakiah Harris from Wilcox County (University of Alabama-Birmingham) • Kiva Hester from Dallas County (Tuskegee University) • Cassidy Lewis from Dallas County (University of South Alabama) • Alyssa McCloud from Dallas County (Faulkner University) • MaKayle Muse from Dallas County (University of Alabama-Birmingham) • Owen Sansom from Dallas County (Wallace Community College Selma) • Abigail Smith from Dallas County (Wallace Community College Selma) • Za’Kiya Tolbert from Dallas County (Wallace Community College Selma) The scholarship program exemplifies the auxiliary’s commitment to fostering health education and supporting outstanding students in their pursuit of academic excellence The students will be honored at a reception at Vaughan Regional Medical Center on May 9 at 1:30 p.m Selma Chief of Police Kenta Fulford is among an elite group of chiefs in the state who have successfully completed the four-level program developed by the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police and supported by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission “On behalf of the University Partnership for Alabama Continuing Education and the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police I take great pleasure in announcing that Chief Kenta K Fulford has completed 240 hours of training in the Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program This is the highest level of achievement that is awarded through this program,” said Kaleb Littlejohn Director of the Center for Best Practices in Law Enforcement at Jacksonville State University and UPACE Partner Fulford received this certification and recognition at the annual Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Montgomery on Feb Examples of courses included in the program include: understanding and developing your leadership style; police leadership: managing for the future; ethics and integrity; police organizational structure: managing for effectiveness: strategic planning and personnel management The UPACE Partnership is made up of Jacksonville State University The University of North Alabama and Troy University Dothan Its purpose is to make continuing education programs available for agencies and associations across the state Southside: Several members of the Southside softball team pose for a photo after breaking ground on their new field last month They also advanced to the Class 3A South Regional Tournament in Gulf Shores Keith: The Keith High School softball team has advanced to the Central Regional Tournament in Class 1A They will play at Lagoon Park next week against Maplesville in the first round Two local softball teams are headed to regionals this week The Keith Middle High School Lady Bears advanced to the Class 1A Central Regionals at Lagoon Park in Montgomery The Southside Lady Panthers also advanced to the Class 3A South Regionals in Gulf Shores Keith advanced to the Class 1A Central Regionals by finishing as the runners-up in their area They started the area tournament with a 16-1 win over R.C University Charter School won the winner’s bracket final later that day by a score of 14-4 The tournament resumed on Tuesday with another 16-1 win over R.C Hatch setting up a rematch with UCS in the area championship The Lady Bears played tough before UCS pulled away to win 9-5 Keith will be taking on Maplesville at 9 a.m In the opening game of the area tournament Dallas County defeated Southside 12-1 on Monday morning Dallas County then advanced to the winner’s bracket final against Thomasville The Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Hornets 18-0 That set up a rematch with Southside in the loser’s bracket later in the day Monday where the Lady Panthers avenged their loss with a 21-8 victory Thomasville then took the area championship game 18-0 to clinch the No Southside will take on Wicksburg on Monday "I haven't spent enough time having dreams what are my dreams?" Blair tells PEOPLE Michael Nied has been a digital news editor with PEOPLE since 2025 He has previously been published by Just Jared and other lifestyle content for over fifteen years Wisconsin Badgers forward Serah Williams (25) reacts to a call Wednesday in a round one game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Two-time All-Big Ten forward Serah Williams committed to UConn on Wednesday after three seasons at Wisconsin The 6-foot-4 Williams made her announcement on social media after visiting Storrs She chose the reigning champion Huskies over LSU and North Carolina Williams was the third-leading scorer in the Big Ten last season with 19.2 points per game 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 91 career games (89 starts) for the Badgers She was the co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24 and also made the league's All-Freshman Team in 2022-23 Williams entered the portal after Marisa Moseley resigned last month as Wisconsin coach Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Selma City Schools has announced that families of eligible school-aged children can receive a one-time grocery benefit of $120 through the Alabama SUN Bucks program this summer Those who are already enrolled SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will be automatically signed up The deadline to apply is Aug. 15 and can be done at this link For questions or more information email support@alabama-sunbucks.com or call 1-800-443-3536 Email notifications are only sent once a day Johnson shared a TikTok of the silly moment from the Daily Front Row's 9th Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards Chinese factory activity contracted in April at its fastest pace since July 2023 Many US firms have been building up inventories of imports to counter the impact of Trump's widescale tariffs Global stocks rose for the most part Wednesday digesting mixed economic data as more companies pull back from earnings forecasts amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's fast-changing trade policy Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower after government data showed the US economy shrank by an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the first quarter But US equity markets moved gradually higher throughout the day rising after mid-morning data showed personal spending in March topped estimates The same report also showed benign inflation data Both the Dow and S&P 500 finished higher "The stock market initially gave back some of its recent gains today," said a summary of the session from Briefing.com leading major equity indices to close well off session lows." European stocks had broadly advanced earlier following data that showed the eurozone economy expanded more than expected in the first quarter The EU's official data agency said the 20-country single currency area recorded growth of 0.4 percent over the January-March period from the previous quarter better-than-expected data that appears to be linked to advance purchases in the United States But shares in German auto giants Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz slumped after they reported big drops in the first-quarter net profit Mercedes-Benz and US-European auto giant Stellantis also suspended their annual financial guidance due to uncertainty over Trump's 25-percent tariffs on car imports "Most companies are pulling guidance," said Jack Ablin of Cresset Capital "They can't navigate an economy where they don't know the rules." data on Wednesday showed that tit-for-tat tariffs between the United States and China began to bite in April as Chinese manufacturing activity contracted at its fastest pace since July 2023 That came after Chinese exports soared more than 12 percent last month as businesses rushed to get ahead of the swinging tariffs and the PMI data is our first official look at how it's affecting China Our take is that there's a clear negative shock taking place," said Lynn Song Markets are looking ahead to Friday's US jobs data for April which will be the first tangible reading of economic conditions after Trump's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs Ablin said Friday's jobs data for April will be "one of the most important jobs reports we've seen for a while" in light of uncertainty about the economy New York - Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 40,669.36 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 5,569.06 (close) New York - Nasdaq DOWN 0.1 percent at 17,446.34 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,494.85 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.5 percent at 7,593.87 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 22,496.98 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6 percent at 36,045.38 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.5 percent at 22,119.41 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 3,279.03 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1342 from $1.1387 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3328 from $1.3409  Dollar/yen: UP at 143.18 yen from 142.33 yen Euro/pound: UP at 84.97 pence from 84.92 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.7 percent at $58.21 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.8 percent at $63.12 per barrel Selma Police are investigating the city’s 6th homicide of the year Chief Kenta Fulford says officers responded to a shots fired call Friday night in the area of Church Street and Minter Avenue And when they arrived — they found 23 year old Da Quand Hall with a gunshot wound Fulford says no arrests have been made — and there are no suspects Anyone with information that could help the investigation — call 334-876-1273 The 2025 Kentucky Derby was attended by a slew of celebrities These stars were off to the races—in style The 2025 Kentucky Derby, held at the Churchill Downs racecourse in Louisville May 3, brought out celebs such as Alix Earle, Selma Blair and Dannielyn Birkhead, daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith The 18-year-old walked the red carpet at the prestigious pre-event the Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala May 2 with her dad paired with gold jewelry she inherited from her mom "But I don't want to jinx anything." she wowed on the red carpet with a pale yellow gown Dannielynn and her dad, who have regularly attended the Kentucky Derby for the past 15 years, also made an appearance the night before at the annual Barnstable Brown Gala, where the teen wore the same dress Anna Nicole sported at the same event in 2004 Dannielynn appears poised to follow in her mom's footsteps in pursuing an entertainment career. "I'm definitely looking forward to modeling and acting," she exclusively told E! News "I've just gotten inspired by a lot of my favorite actors and actresses." Last year, the father-daughter duo spoke to E! News about keeping the model legacy alive and share stories and funny things," Dannielynn shared at the time "And we have some things around the house that belong to her like painting with some very choice words written on the back." The guest list at the Barnstable Brown Gala—which benefits UK HealthCare's Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center—also included Dierks Bentley Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook Read on to see stars at the 2025 Kentucky Derby events Anna Nicole Smith's daughter walked the red carpet with her dad The pair have attended the Kentucky Derby regularly since 2010 The influencer looked chic in an all-black outfit The father-daughter duo attended the 2025 Barnstable Brown Gala the night before the Kentucky Derby Dannielynn wore the same dress her late mother Anna Nicole Smith sported at the same party in 2004 Mickey Guyton and Scott Stapp were among other celebrities in attendance at the charity event Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Selma was born to Albert and Elvina (Hendrickson) Larson She was united in marriage to Stanley Vradenburg at Osseo Lutheran Church on August 20 especially her annual sewing week on the North Shore and making chocolate chip cookies for her family she cherished her time with her grandchildren Shelly (John) Beranek of Chippewa Falls; grandchildren Kelsey Hewitt and Katie (Tom) Denning; great-granddaughter Julia Kate Denning; along with many other loving family and friends The private interment will be in Rest Haven Cemetery Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Selma Blair has spoken about the aftermath of her initial multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis The 52-year-old actor was first diagnosed with MS in 2018 She recently reflected on feeling “thrilled” after being given a label for what she was experiencing while speaking to People Wednesday at the PHM Healthfront 2025 “It's so funny. I felt like people thought it had to be some tragic thing, but I was like, ‘No, you don't understand,’” she told the publication and thinking this is just all psychosomatic and how can I change myself?” MS is “an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body,” as noted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society she wasn’t sure how people went about their daily lives while feeling OK How does that mom carry her baby and stay awake?” the Cruel Intentions actor said “I just did not understand how I was so different from people Blair said she felt “seen.” “I kind of joke like that people wouldn't really see because with relapsing MS An MS relapse is described as the occurrence of new MS symptoms or the worsening of old ones for at least 24 hours when it’s been 30 days since their last relapse according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society The Legally Blonde actor previously said during an April 2023 interview with British Vogue that her doctor initially advised her to keep her diagnosis a secret. “The advice was to keep it to myself. That work ‘wouldn’t have to know.’ People didn’t feel safe sharing that stuff,” she told the publication. Blair also reflected on some of the physical challenges she faced throughout her childhood, decades before being diagnosed with MS. At the age of seven, she told Vogue, she lost use of her right eye, left leg, and her bladder. While she didn’t realize it at the time, the symptoms she had were a result of juvenile MS. Her then-doctor didn’t take her health struggles seriously, so her condition as a child went undiagnosed. “If you’re a boy with those symptoms, you get an MRI. If you’re a girl, you’re called ‘crazy,’” the actor said. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies "We got to the highest point on this bridge," Lewis said in an interview with NPR "Down below we saw a sea of blue – Alabama state troopers." Then-Alabama Gov. George Wallace, the staunch segregationist beating people with batons and launching tear gas canisters News coverage of the violence that day reverberated around the world shedding new light on how far Alabama authorities would go to protect white supremacy President Lyndon Johnson gave a pivotal speech to Congress a week later calling Selma a turning point in American history likening it to the famous American battles at Lexington and Concord "Really it's all of us who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice," he said "And we shall overcome," echoing the refrain of a popular freedom song LBJ signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act into law later that year "What took place on that bridge literally changed the face of American politics," says Alabama Democrat Terri Sewell who grew up in Selma and now represents the city in Congress became the first Black city councilwoman in Selma It's not lost on Sewell that her career is built on the sacrifice of those who fought 60 years ago "I know that I get to walk the halls of Congress as Alabama's first Black congresswoman because so many of those foot soldiers couldn't," says Sewell civil rights groups did not consider Selma ripe for the movement "They had an X through Selma," recalls the Rev. Bernard Lafayette, now 84, who was part of SNCC — the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee Leaders were convinced nothing could be accomplished in Selma because "the white folks were too mean and Black folks were too scared." But he was undeterred, and led a voter registration project in Selma Lafayette says he saw it as a way to forge permanent change by giving Black people a say in their government "It wasn't just being able to eat at a lunch counter or ride the bus but it's dealing with the whole problem of segregation and discrimination and exploitation," he says "I didn't know how long it was going to take And he's been active here ever since. This week he's led non-violent workshops for a new generation at the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation an organization he co-founded 10 years ago "Our charge is Selma 2.0," says Ainka Sanders Jackson She says they're working on the unfinished business of bridging divides through community dialogues "We believe that broken relationships have led to a broken economy leading to broken communities all in need of healing The center is located on a bluff above the Alabama River the channel where enslaved Africans were shipped to Selma you can see the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the distance "We get to do this work every day from this place and look out and see that bridge and be reminded of what our ancestors sacrificed so that we can continue to plant seed and water," says Jackson A major focus for the non-profit has been economic development for Selma, a town where more than one in four people lives in poverty because we've helped to make so much progress," she says "I just think it's our time to stand up," says Mark Myles who does violence intervention work for the Selma Center for Nonviolence "It just feels like we're going back into the sixties," he says considering what people achieved here 60 years ago "It's time for us as a younger generation to make those same sacrifices," Myles says Myles grew up here and was incarcerated in his teens Now he's working to give students tools to better navigate life in Selma a private school that takes in students who are not thriving in Selma's public schools which he says are more segregated than ever And white kids never talk to Black kids," he says "They're going to believe the worst thing about each other because they've never communicated." and it doesn't take long for them to turn the conversation to the violence surrounding them "It's a lot of young people dying at a young age," says Skyla Withers "It makes me feel sad because they're closer to my age." People don't fight with their hands anymore, she says, but pick up a gun to settle differences. She describes a life on edge, trying not to get caught up in the gun violence plaguing this city "It's hard when you just can't lay your head down and have a peaceful night without hearing gunshots," Withers says an innocent bystander was killed in a shootout in the Walmart parking lot Two teenagers are among those charged with capital murder for that crime It's no way to live says 14-year-old Carmecia Spivey "People feel so scared to go outside their own house because as soon as you go outside you could get a bullet right to your head and you wouldn't even know who it is from and what it's about," Spivey says Selma's population is about 17,000 It's lost more than 10,000 residents since the civil rights era Riding through town it's evident Selma has seen better days once grand houses appear abandoned and falling in There's not a lot of industry here. The biggest employer is a paper mill on the outskirts of town. Most jobs are in healthcare And the town is still trying to recover from a destructive tornado two years ago "It's just sad seeing how Selma is right now," says 16-year-old Joshua Peoples When the conversation turns to what happened in Selma 60 years ago several students don't really know the history Some who do have a cynical view — asking what good was it for people to risk that bridge crossing for Black freedom when young Black people are killing one another in Selma today "I think that it was a waste because now there's gun violence the lack of education about our history," says 12-year-old Kimora Fletcher "I honestly feel like they wasted their time." Myles asks the students what they would do if they could be mayor The students have many ideas — more grocery stores and arcades "We need people that actually want to help our community actually teach us about our history," says Fletcher "Black people should not be fighting against each other We should join each other in brotherhood and sisterhood "My encouragement to them is get in the fight now," says Lydia Chatmon, director of programs at the Selma Center for Nonviolence From the 1865 Battle of Selma at the end of the Civil War to the 1965 Voting Rights Battle she says Selma has always been at the center of change "We have been a pivotal place when it comes to thinking about race relations and relationships in general … for hundreds of years," Chatmon says "Today the fight is trying to make sure that it's not 2065 when the reckoning happens again." says she doesn't want to see every future generation in Selma "We really have got to do this in a better smarter way to make sure that the changes that need to be in place are done in a way that they are sustainable and long-lasting." Mark Myles wraps up his session trying to empower the students "I want you guys to continue to use your voice and dream of a better Selma and try to be a part of the change." "We got to stand up for who we are and what we got to do to make Selma a much better place." and the session ends with a group chant of "Make Selma great again!" "This progress is fragile and every generation has to fight for it or we lose it," she says "We've seen an erosion of our voting rights "We're witnessing a serious whitewashing of history as [the Trump] administration has taken aim at diversity Her inspiration — the Bloody Sunday marchers. Even though beaten back on Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge, they came back and eventually completed the 54-mile trek to Montgomery, 25,000 people strong on March 25, 1965. There on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "How Long, Not Long" speech Civil rights veteran Bernard Lafayette says ultimately that cannot be a barrier to working for social change." Become an NPR sponsor Mark the anniversary of the Selma March and watch these clips from the movie 'Selma' WATCH: Harris marks 59th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ at Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma Students will learn about the 1965 marches from Selma to Montgomery during the Civil Rights Movement They will examine the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and watch clips from the movie "Selma" students will think critically about sources of information Pass out this HANDOUT with background on the Selma to Montgomery Marches Optional: You may also want to have students explore more of the history of the marches in the Extension activities section below Video: here widespread poll taxes discouraged the poor and penalized those who chose to vote even if they succeeded in getting registered there were counties in Alabama where not a single black person had voted in any election for the previous 50 years where only 130 of 15,000 Black citizens were registered citizens continued their long fight against institutionalized racism Watch the "Give us the vote" and "Join us" clips here: "Selma" video clips courtesy of Paramount Pictures Lesson originally published in 2016 by Katie Gould Sign up for News Hour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each week Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources Learn about the Syrian Civil War through news reports and comics A project-based lesson that weaves invention images and videos online that may be AI-generated or made to misinform Encourage students to consider the impact of their dietary decisions on overall well-being — with the help of robotics and graduated from Ysleta High School in 1965 Selma’s faith was a guiding force in her life She was a dedicated member of San Antonio Church and together they built a life filled with love She and Gary shared a deep passion for dancing—whether it was line dancing they were always happiest on the dance floor Selma had a heart for children and dedicated her career to their well-being She worked as a pre-kindergarten aide with the Ysleta Independent School District for 10 years before transitioning to the district’s bus transportation department calling in sick only once in her entire career “Her passion was going to work for the children,” as Gary lovingly put it she was a much-appreciated volunteer at Sageland Elementary and Bel Air High School and she cherished each of them as if they were her own Selma’s vibrant personality shone through in everything she did She had a special love for peacocks and proudly wore clothing and jewelry adorned with their beautiful feathers She also had a deep appreciation for her family and extended loved ones capturing countless memories through her passion for photography Joseph Adams; and her dear sisters Margarita Fernandez Baltazar and Concepcion Fernandez; her siblings and unwavering love for her family and community will be deeply missed and dedication will live on in the hearts of those she touched Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 6:00 PM is facing serious charges from the California Veterinary Medical Board that could lead to the revocation of his license The board has filed 16 causes for discipline against Dr stemming from complaints lodged over the past decade Eric Garcia was the first to file a complaint against Dr Hatayama in 2015 after the veterinarian performed five surgeries on Garcia's Chihuahua The surgeries were intended to address the dog's back legs "I guess I felt guilty for taking him there and I knew something wasn't right," Garcia said "I didn't think it was gonna become a thing but I figured somebody needs to speak up." The California Veterinary Medical Board's investigation revealed that the surgery performed by Dr Hatayama had no studies to support its use Hatayama is not a board-certified orthopedic surgeon Court records indicate there are four other cases involving Dr Hatayama's treatment of three dogs and a cat filed with the state board The charges against him primarily cite negligence Garcia's Chihuahua continues to experience pain after walking and running Even to this day there's some days I'm up with him all night cause he's in pain," Garcia said Hatayama could face having his license revoked and a fine of up to $5,000 Efforts to reach the state for information on a hearing date have not yet been successful Discover how early diagnosis can lead to a better quality of life is a long-term illness that affects the brain and spinal cord the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering around nerves in these areas this can cause mild to more serious disability for some people Globally, more than a million people are living with MS, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) The disease most often starts in people in their 30s or 40s and is less common in older adults He further explains that while MS used to be seen mainly in Western countries cases are now increasing in places like India One factor that may play a role is low levels of vitamin D Blair has been open about her journey with MS She felt different from others and often wondered if her problems were “all in her head.” She asked “How do people go about their daily lives feeling OK How does that mom carry her baby and stay awake?” timeliness and authenticity of the information; however Onlymyhealth.com does not take any liability for the same Using any information provided by the website is solely at the viewers’ discretion In case of any medical exigencies/ persistent health issues we advise you to seek a qualified medical practitioner before putting to use any advice/tips given by our team or any third party in form of answers/comments on the above mentioned website This website follows the DNPA’s code of conduct travel became nearly impossible for Selma Blair At California’s iconic — and accessible — Rosewood Miramar Beach the actor shares her advice on getting back out there Bethany Heitman is a journalist who specializes in entertainment New memories and visuals can be incredibly refreshing Selma was a member of the United Lutheran Church She enjoyed quilting and was a collector of antique Christmas decorations of all kinds Family members include her son Lynn Martin Gloekler (Wendy Bailey); daughters Debra (Richard Jr.) Bales and Brenda Gloekler (Bruce Irons) all of Lincoln; grandchildren Rick Bales III and Austin Vachal (fiancé Olivia Porter); great grandson Mason; step-granddaughters Kerry Anne 5945 Fremont Street with Pastor Anthony Neal officiating Memorials to the United Lutheran Church or Danish Cemetery in Davey Sharon and I send you and everyone about condolences and prayers I lived next door to Max and Selma for many years Selma was always so kind to us; she was a wonderful neighbor I still have the beautiful cookie jar that Selma gave me She was a wonderful person who touched many lives sign up for email or text message notifications We respect your privacy. The data gathered will only be used for official Roper & Sons correspondence. For more information see our privacy policy We understand that grieving doesn’t end after the service We offer Aftercare for grief support as you process and heal from your loss women and children — walked slowly and with purpose toward a mass of hatred That day on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma the African American walkers led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams had two main goals — to protest voter suppression and to air their demands for federal voting rights legislation — and were also protesting the murder of activist Jimmy Lee Jackson They were terrorized and beaten — some very badly — by Alabama state troopers this time under the protection of federal authorities the Selma-to-Montgomery March was finally allowed to take place The message from their 54-mile trek made an impact the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B In honor of all the sacrifices made on behalf of civil rights foot soldiers 60 years ago, the following 60 events are scheduled this March in Selma and Montgomery by Salute Selma, Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee and the city of Montgomery passed away surrounded by loving family on March 16 Kentucky to the late Clury Spears and Letha (Wells) Spears Selma began working at age 14 at a Cotton Mill in Kentucky then as a quality assurance specialist for Naval Avionics for 25 years before retiring in 1994 She was a former member of the Spirit of Life Church and a current member of Impact Clermont Christian Church playing card games and cooked large meals for many organizations In the early 2000's she missed working so she was hired at a gift shop at the Indianapolis International Airport sewing on buttons and meeting various other needs of passengers she began working at the Dollar Tree store in Avon and was employed there upon her death She is preceded in death by her loving husband 2025 at Impact Clermont Christian Church ( 9204 Crawfordsville Rd where family and friends may visit from 10:00 a.m Selma "Tina" (Genji Sakurai) Laiche; daughter Lyda Jones; several grandchildren and several great grandchildren AL Revisit President Obama’s commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery marches through the eyes of White House photographer Few events in American history have had the ripple effects of the March 7 where civil rights marchers were violently ambushed by state troopers as they advocated for their constitutional right to vote.  which would later be known as “Bloody Sunday,” was seen by millions The vicious attacks against peaceful protesters which included tear gas and beatings with billy clubs leading to mass support for the marchers and the eventual passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 This moment of nonviolent resistance stands as a testament to the power of peaceful civil disobedience in the face of unspeakable violence.   the Obama family marched with those who were beaten bloody on the bridge like the late Congressman John Lewis along with the next generation of changemakers carrying the work forward The Obama Presidential Center itself is imbued with Selma’s impact: celebrating the power of people getting engaged standing on the shoulders of those who came before us and reminding us that every generation must propel its own march toward justice.  “What they did here will reverberate through the ages.  Not because the change they won was preordained; not because their victory was complete; but because they proved that nonviolent change is possible that love and hope can conquer hate.”  White House photographer Lawrence Jackson was on the ground for the 50th anniversary commemoration We recently spoke with Lawrence to hear his insights and get an on-the-ground view of what it felt like to capture history whose career in photography began when he was 15 covered President Obama’s  campaign in 2008 for the Associated Press He later joined the White House as a staff photographer.  “I quickly realized that I wanted to cover the first African American president from the inside,” Lawrence recounted “I did 8 wonderful years of travel and excitement and history with the Obama administration.”  On the 50th anniversary of the Selma march Lawrence focused on capturing big picture and scene-setting images resulting in one of the Obama administration’s most iconic photos and I see the original foot soldiers and the sacrifices they made for the first African American president and first lady Then you have the next generation coming up behind them to carry the progress made.” Lawrence admits that he did not know how iconic the image would become Lawrence did not recognize the impact of his photo until reviewing his images later that evening Today the image is firmly imprinted in his mind.  “I can almost draw it by hand: you have the President and then off to the right of the photo you have the original foot soldiers The impact of the day and the photo lingers in Lawrence’s memory As the only Black photographer representing the White House at the Selma Anniversary Lawrence takes pride in what he was able to accomplish and the impact of Selma on the Civil Rights Movement It changed the narrative because people saw what was happening: the beatings “They were being treated horribly and they still wanted to march and make themselves seen and heard The treatment they got and their response changed the narrative so that a lot more got done.” a book detailing his time with the administration told through images and journal entries he kept throughout the years “My wife was adamant that I should try and do this because I was the only photographer of color on staff all in one book and just a way to say thank you.” the marches from Selma to Montgomery continue to inspire and point the way for activists from movements such as Black Lives Matter and March for Our Lives.  which will feature a quote from President Obama’s speech at the 50th Anniversary event “I'm very excited for the opening of the Center because I know how important the Southside was to them,” declares Lawrence “I know what this place [the Center] will represent and what it'll give to people who go there and see what it was like from 2009 to 2017 I think pictures will be a very big part of that.” When asked if he was excited about his work being featured at the Obama Presidential Center Lawrence recounted a quote from prolific photographer Gordon Parks.   “I feel very lucky and honored to have my name underneath the photo You know this picture will be remembered and that's pretty cool,” reflects Lawrence ‘The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer,’ and that's truly what matters to me.” Donate to the Barack Obama Foundation to inspire and connect the next generation to change their world The Barack Obama Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 46-4950751) and digital strategy for the Obama campaign and White House Explore the impact of the Clay Hunt Act a decade after its passage Explore the world of three Obama alumni harnessing the power of art to inspire action in their communities Be among the first to know about major news and updates from other Foundation programs We need your help to turn hope into action—to inspire The Obama Foundation Shop (Opens in a new tab) The United States is a key market for the pharmaceutical industry and AstraZeneca had already planning to invest $3.5 billion there by the end of 2026 British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced Tuesday that it has begun moving some of its European production to the United States ahead of President Donald Trump's possible tariffs on the sector "Our company is firmly committed to investing and growing in the US," chief executive Pascal Soriot said in an earnings statement which also reported that first-quarter profit rose by over 30 percent to $2.92 billion The United States earlier in April opened the door to potential tariffs targeting pharmaceuticals which have so far benefited from exemptions to Trump's sweeping levies on imports from trading partners Trump has also imposed a series of sector-specific levies before launching a "national security" investigation into pharmaceutical imports AstraZeneca could become exposed to US levies on its European-made products but Soriot stressed that the impact would be limited due to the ongoing shift in production "The limit of the exposure we have relates to exporting products from Europe to the US," Soriot said on an earnings call "We are in the process of shifting the manufacturing of those products to the US," he added Soriot said earlier in the year that he hoped the US will account for around half of AstraZeneca's global revenue by 2030 Other pharmaceutical companies have also announced plans to increase investments in the United States AstraZeneca reconfirmed its outlook on Tuesday saying it remains on track to achieve its target of $80 billion in annual revenue by the end of the decade Its first-quarter profit in 2025 benefited from strong growth in its cancer drug sales and biopharmaceuticals it generated 42 percent of its revenue in the United States 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday the historic day when civil rights activists attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery but were violently stopped by law enforcement led to the signing of the most important and impactful civil rights legislation in our history The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) marked the first time that access to the ballot was genuinely available for all American voters directly addressing racial discrimination in voting The success of the VRA and its protections for voters today is thanks in major part to the activists who marched on Bloody Sunday Tell Congress to Support Voting Rights Today! To commemorate this pivotal moment in voting rights history, in March 2025, civil rights activists gathered in Alabama to continue the fight for voting rights at the very location the foot soldiers marched decades ago The League showed up in full force in Selma to stand alongside leaders and organizations protecting the hard-won right to vote the event also served as a space to remember and understand the dangers of today’s attacks on voting rights as we examine our current state of voting in the US it’s crucial to see how our history led us here and what we can learn Examining the relationship between voting access and racial discrimination can help us understand why the League and others are fighting for new voting legislation that further protects voters against prejudice institute equal protection under the law (Fourteenth) and grant the right to vote to Black and other non-white men (Fifteenth) As a result, by 1940, 80 years after the start of the Civil War, only 3% of eligible Black voters in the South were registered to vote and public education campaigns to encourage Black Southerners to vote were critical in raising national awareness of and supporting voting rights within the Civil Rights Movement During the summer, local officials and white residents arrested and beat Freedom Summer workers. They burned and bombed churches, Black homes, and businesses. Notably, the KKK murdered three civil rights workers which drew attention to the cause from the North demonstrations protesting the brutality sprang up across the country “[t]his bill will strike down restrictions to voting in all elections — federal and local — which have been used to deny Negroes the right to vote It is wrong — deadly wrong — to deny any of your fellow Americans the right to vote in this country.”  On August 6, 1965, less than six months later, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) into law, highlighting the direct link between the activism in Selma and voting rights The VRA is one of the most effective civil rights laws in history It was passed to block Jim Crow policies in the South enforce the promises of the Fifteenth Amendment and dismantle discriminatory structures across the United States pertaining to voting the bill emerged from a nonviolent campaign for voting rights that was repeatedly met with state violence One of the most effective sections for remedying the evils of racial discrimination in voting was Section 5 of the VRA Section 5 required specific states and local governments with histories of racial discrimination to get federal approval or “preclearance,” to change any voting law This step was meant to ensure discriminatory laws never went into effect Whether a state or locality was considered a “covered jurisdiction” by Section 5 depended on its history of racial discrimination The formula for determining the coverage was mapped out in Section 4 of the VRA These two sections worked in tandem to keep historically discriminatory states and localities from reinstating pre-VRA laws that allowed them to discriminate against voters of color Despite the voting rights strides resulting from the VRA various portions of the law have been weakened through litigation in the last 60 years which concerns laws that discriminate against voters related to the times It can be challenging to grasp what the majority in Shelby did; however, Justice Ginsburg illustrated it perfectly (in a well-known dissent) when she said “[t]hrowing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.” In other words you think the problem no longer exists and the tool is unnecessary The court’s willingness to declare the preclearance unconstitutional because it was working correctly led to immediate increases in restrictive voting laws in the places chosen for preclearance due to discriminatory histories In response to the Supreme Court severely weakening the VRA Congress must pass legislation to restore the law to its full purpose every person must be able to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted equally Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) to restore the VRA and fight increasing attacks on voting rights at the state level The bill would specifically respond to the SCOTUS cases mentioned above including creating a new coverage formula — which the Supreme Court instructed Congress to do in its Shelby County v Sewell brought this crucial bill back to the House floor The United States cannot stop fighting for federal protections for voting rights Yet because the federal government has failed to restore the VRA states that value voting rights are also stepping up to safeguard the right to vote SVRAs have also been introduced in the Arizona and New Jersey state legislatures in the 2025 legislative session Colorado and Maryland are the only states in which SVRAs could make it to the gubernatorial desk this session These SVRAs include provisions seen in today’s VRA as well as updated protections some SVRAs have language-assistance provisions and prohibitions against vote denial and dilution The three most recently passed SVRAs — Connecticut and Virginia — built preclearance programs into the laws including preclearance in state law may be the most effective way to revive the program that effectively prevented discrimination.  the SVRAs enshrine stronger voting rights protections for state residents the organization has worked to empower voters and defend democracy the fight for our democratic system of governance and equal access to civil rights and liberties is being tested As voting rights opponents work harder to suppress the vote of people of color through gerrymandering it is imperative to activate and push toward an actual representative Silence and passivity will not help us move forward failure to act in this moment will reverse our efforts To join the League in defending our democracy here are some concrete actions you can take at the federal As activists gathered in Selma on Sunday to reenact the steps of marchers like John Lewis and Martin Luther King we are reminded that the fight for voting rights is as alive today as it was in 1965 the landmark law that passed after Bloody Sunday — the Voting Rights Act of 1965 —  is in critical condition.  This block reviews the racist origins of the Electoral College and why it still hurts Black Americans and other communities of color to this day.  Bloody Sunday refers to the day in 1965 when hundreds of civil rights activists were attacked by law enforcement while marching for Black American's right to vote Bloody Sunday is an observance where civil and voting rights advocates congregate to honor the legacy of the original foot soldiers who risked their lives for equal rights Jubilee attendees build on the original activists’ legacies by continuing to fight for equal representation online sellers send billions of small packages into the EU each year Platforms such as Shein would be asked to pay a hadling fee of 'a few euros' per package France wants to start charging non-EU online sellers a handling fee for each low-value package shipped to domestic customers government ministers said Tuesday as the country copes with an influx of cheap goods from China would help cover the cost of checking the incoming billions of small packages each year ordered by EU consumers via platforms such as Chinese-founded firms Temu and Shein 4.6 billion packages each worth under 150 euros ($170) entered the EU -- more than 145 per second -- with 91 percent originating in China Some 800 million such packages were shipped to France alone last year purchased by mail and sent directly from a third country is not subject to EU customs duties said during a visit to Paris's Charles-de-Gaulle airport that the handling fee should be paid "by the importers France would charge "a small flat rate" per package which she said would amount to "a few euros" (dollars) France hopes such a move could come into force next year with a government official saying that the fees collected "would finance the checks" at points of entry France is hoping to attract other EU members to the idea to make it harder for platforms to circumvent such a fee because if we do this alone the flows will go to another country," Finance Minister Eric Lombard said during the same visit "We're hoping to quickly unite a group of countries that could implement such a measure," added De Montchalin The plan is to charge the fee until 2028 when the EU could phase out the customs-free status of packages worth less than 150 euros Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A telegram from Massachusetts reacting to the violence As a twentysomething freelance journalist at the Birmingham News James "Spider" Martin was tasked with capturing these moments with his camera after state troopers shot and killed civil rights activist Jimmie Lee Jackson in Marion His death led to protests that went on for weeks That day became known as "Bloody Sunday," when activists attempted to peacefully march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma who attacked 600 of the protesters using billy clubs and tear gas Martin snapped thousands of pictures in the days after Jackson's death several of which gained national prominence and helped raise Americans' awareness of the calamities of the 1960s civil rights movement Much of his archive from those monumental Selma protests have been newly restored and is now on display at The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in time for the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday The images are also being commemorated in a book and it opened his eyes to the depth of the struggle for equal rights for African Americans in a profoundly urgent way," his daughter "It was during that terrifying day at that bridge that he dedicated himself to covering the march for the duration