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Bill Divides Electoral College Votes

By Nicole Emmett / WRITER | March 11

Debate arose over the significance of "second place" when an Alabama House committee approved a bill that would scrap the "winner take all" system of dividing Alabama's nine electors in presidential elections Wednesday.The House Constitution and Elections Committee voted 7-5 in favor of the bill.The bill faces another vote by the full state house.

Moran Finds Balance in Words

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 11

Mary Carol Moran has made an art of discerning an equilibrium between joy and sorrow.Moran said this balance is the subject of her book of poems published last year which won the Alabama State Poetry Society 2009 Book of the Year award."I only found out on Sunday so I haven't really come down yet," Moran said of her excitement about winning the award.She said she also likes the permanent feeling of winning an award.

Recycle Your Blues: Turning jeans into insulation

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 8

The Gap is hosting a donation drive called "Recycle Your Blues" for people to donate denim to provide insulation for houses.

Museum of East Alabama Tribute

By David Norwood / ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR | March 8

Local history enthusiasts and music lovers gathered in the ballroom of the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center Thursday evening in support of the Museum of East Alabama.It was the museum's main fundraiser for the year and featured Tim Wells in a production of "Nat King Cole: As I Knew Him," a one man show written by Wells and Wade Hall and directed by Margie Benson.

Fourth In A Series: What Happens Next?

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 4

Five generator-powered lights and a red-lettered sign warning drivers to watch for pedestrians have been installed on Magnolia Avenue as part of collaboration between the city and University to make that area safer for pedestrians.However, these are only a few of the projects planned for the city.The city and the University meet approximately once a month to discuss issues of mutual interest and how they will handle them, said Catherine Love, civil engineer in the University's facilities division.

Poor scores demand writing program

By Jillian Clair / STAFF REPORTER | March 4

Five years ago, tests showed that Auburn students were not writing as much as peer institutions. This year, the creation of a writing initiative has brought positive attention to the University.Margaret Marshal, director of the University Writing Program, said Auburn's writing initiative is the first of its kind.A writing task force, which included faculty from every college as well as student representatives, spent two years investigating writing at Auburn, studying what actually happens in the classrooms, Marshall said.

House and Senate Struggle With PACT Money

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | March 4

An uncertain future for Alabama's prepaid college tuition program has the House and Senate searching for the appropriate solution.The two bills being proposed offer the same amount of money, but one has a substituted effort that wants to put a 2.5 percent cap on tuition cost for PACT contractholding students.Sen.

Home Brewing May Become Legal in Alabama

By Patrick Dever / ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR | March 4

Editor's note: The photos have been changed because of misrepresenting content.Alabama's alcohol laws are changing again.Legislation was approved in the Alabama Senate legalizing home brewing of beer, wine and mead.Republican Sen.

Bill Will Require Voters to Show Valid Photo IDs

By Ben Bartley / COPY EDITOR | March 4

An Alabama House committee passed a bill that will require voters to show valid photo identification at polling places.The House Constitutions and Elections Committee passed the bill 8-3 Feb.

House Kills Vote for Constitution Reform

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | March 4

Alabama's 109-year-old constitution remains intact from reformation after a resolution that would let citizens vote for reform was killed by the Alabama House of Representatives."The House voted to lay the resolution on the table," said Nan Ekberg, co-chair Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform.

Arts Center Gives 'Junk' New Home

By Crystal Cole / STAFF REPORTER | March 4

The art gallery of the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center resembled a garage for the last two weeks, with scrap metal, pots and even an old mannequin.The Found Objects II exhibition ran from Feb.

Formation of Public School Budgets May Change

By Jake Mastroianni / WRITER | March 4

The Rolling Reserve Budget Act, developed by Rep. Greg Canfield, may change the way budgets are planned for public schools in Alabama.Canfield's bill will look at the next 15 years and average those budgets together to figure out a reasonable cap for the budget.The hope is that this bill will avoid proration and will help schools regain funds lost during this slow economic period.Proration occurs when projected budgets are reduced so the amount of funds requested changes to match the amount of funds available."There is too much uncertainty that comes along with proration," Canfield said.

Council looks at open-container law

By Laura Maxwell / ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR | March 4

The Magnolia Avenue Roadway Lighting Project and further discussion concerning alcohol consumption on city property were approved at Tuesday's City Council meeting.Twenty light poles will be installed along the south of Magnolia Avenue by June.The University is also interested in aligning sidewalks and staircases with crosswalks and installing more signs to direct pedestrians toward crosswalks in an attempt to encourage pedestrian safety.The city is waiting to see if jaywalking continues after these measures are implemented before taking further action.Council member Sheila Eckman brought up allowing special events permits which would allow people to walk around with wine for specific events.Wine would be the only form of alcohol permitted.

People of The Plains: Holzmeister Burns Track

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 4

Carrie Holzmeister is an unassuming English teacher at Columbus Technical College."Cho Cold" is a brawling roller derby skater.And both inhabit the same slight, brunette frame.Holzmeister began her journey to becoming "Cho Cold" after a few years of boredom in Auburn."(When I got into roller derby), it was a total whim," Holzmeister said.

Third in a Series: 'I Will Not Do it Again'

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | February 25

Suihan Wu had just finished having coffee at Cambridge Coffee with some friends. It was close to 6 p.m. on March 25, 2009, and she was walking toward the library because she had a test she needed to study for.

Toomer's Ten keeps on rolling

By Drew Thompson / ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR | February 25

Free rides from Wednesday through Saturday night are being offered by the Toomer's Ten transit system."We run a charter for the SGA," said Rex Huffman, manager of transit services at Auburn University.

Student makes meal plan change

By Maxwell Newfield / ASSOCIATE CAMPUS EDITOR | February 25

With more than a dozen options for food on campus, it can be hard to imagine someone not having enough options for their daily meals, but it does happen.Sometimes, a student may not want any of the food available on campus because they have exhausted the variety of what they eat.In other cases, a student may run out of options because they have a restricted diet due to health concerns.

Ala. cities lead recession recovery

By Derek Lacey / WRITER | February 25

Alabama, along with 14 other states, is actively recovering from the recession, according to a report compiled by Moody's Economy.comMississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina were also listed as recovering.There were 34 states listed as moderating.