Column Articles

On the Mark | Dec. 12, 2024

State championships held in Birmingham OPINION — The Alabama High School Athletic Association completed the Super 7 football champion-ship and flag football championships last week at Protective Stadium in Birmingham. This year’s event began with two flag football...

Alter Call | Dec. 12, 2024

A man I wish I had known If I were to name ten people I wish I had known, Carl Sandburg’s name would be on my list. I would love to have sat on the porch of his Blue Ridge Mountain home and talked to him about his life and his poetry.Years ago Dean and I belonged to a...

A Taste of Grace | Dec. 12, 2024

Learning to listen to God Our distraction bubble consists of the totality of things that are competing for our attention. It is sights, sounds and screens to be sure, but it is more than environmental noise. It consists of our inner voice—you know, the one that is...

Inside the Statehouse | Dec. 5, 2024

Big Mules ain't all bad OPINION —Our legendary governor of the 1940s and 1950s was the giant, cartoonish, character James E. “Big Jim” Folsom. Ol’ Big Jim ran against the big businesses of Birmingham — big banks, utilities and U.S. Steel — and labeled them the “Big...
Roger Bedford remembered

Roger Bedford remembered

BY STEVE FLOWERS OPINION — As is my custom, my year-end column is devoted to acknowledging meaningful Alabama political leaders who passed away...

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The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree

BY SEAN DIETRICH Merry Christmas, Layla Grace. I got your name from the church Christmas tree. It’s kind of like Angel Tree, where you buy gifts for...

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The vulnerable Lord of the manger

The vulnerable Lord of the manger

BY BRUCE GREEN OPINION —While we were enjoying Christmas with our loved ones two years ago, the James Webb telescope was being launched into space....

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Christmas Words

Christmas Words

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — Grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate and sit with me for a few minutes. We communicate with words. Words can be lethal or...

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