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UAB, UAH Change Insurance Policy

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | November 19

The University of Alabama at Huntsville and the University of Alabama at Birmingham have changed their employee insurance policies, because some officials say the new policy will enable them to attract higher quality faculty to their staff.The new insurance policy extends coverage to an adult dependent that shares a primary residence with the covered UAH employee, has lived with the employee for at least 12 consecutive months and is not married, a relative or under 19. "We want to compete for the best minds in the country," said Ray Garner, director of public affairs at UAH.

Bancorp South showcases Opelika students' art

By Charley Gaines/ Staff Writer | November 19

Colorful pieces of artwork created by artists from Opelika City Schools were displayed in two branches of BancorpSouth.The art was displayed Nov.

Auburn City Council Meeting Summary for Nov. 17

By News Staff | November 19

City streets will be closed for the Iron Bowl Thanksgiving celebration Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009.The City Council approved $388,785 for sewer rehabilitation improvements.Worker's compensation was approved for Frank Gates Company.

$42,500 in Laptop Computers Stolen from Haley Center

By Samuel Solomon/ Associate News Editor | November 19

An estimated $42,500 in laptop computers was stolen from the Haley Center between Nov. 6 and Nov.

Santa Arrives at Village Mall for Christmas

By Mary-Glenn Smith/ Staff Writer | November 19

It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but Santa Claus has already arrived at Auburn's Village Mall.Santa, along with Mrs. Claus, arrived by horse and carriage at the mall's main entrance Friday at 7 p.m."I have been here since 1995 and Santa has been here every year I have been here," said Village Mall Marketing Director Terri Knight.

Opelika Library Hosts Book Signing

By Theadoris Morris/ Staff Writer | November 19

Photographs, business cards, a few examples of her work and a bouquet of pink roses decorated the table as Kanisha Wilson signed autographs and posed for pictures at her first book signing.An Opelika native, 28-year-old poet Kanisha Wilson has had her first book of compiled poetry published.Wilson said she compiled her poems into her book, "Portraits of the Heart," to share her work with others.The book signing was Saturday from 2 p.m.

Moped Collides with Vehicle at Toomer's Corner

By Staff reports | November 17

An Auburn student driving a moped collided with a vehicle at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street this morning.The student, believed to be a 21-year-old female, was not transported to the hospital and was released from the scene, Captain Tom Stofer said.

Auburn Public Library takes part in National Gaming Day

By Emily Clever/ Staff Writer | November 16

Libraries, which are typically associated with reading level quiet, are embracing the louder world of video gaming.The American Library Association is promoting "National Gaming Day," Saturday, Nov. 14., sponsored by Hasbro.The Auburn Public Library (APL) held their first gaming night Thursday because they weren't able to do so Saturday, said Eve Kneeland, the head of youth services.The event was open to the general public, but geared toward teenagers.

Auburn Student Dies, 1 Injured in Car Accident

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | November 13

Sophomore Sarah Anderson was killed in a single car accident Tuesday night as she was traveling from Montgomery to Auburn.Anderson and her roommate Sara Clayton were driving on I-85 when the car overturned at mile marker 13 at 11:02 p.m.

Opelika Gets Ready for Christmas

By Theadoris Morris/ Staff Writer | November 13

Welcoming the Christmas season early, Opelika Main Street and Downtown Merchants held its annual Christmas Open House, Sunday.The event has been celebrated for about 10 years as a way to bring people downtown and support the small business, said Velinda Wheels, director of the event.The open house was from 1 p.m.

Knology Cable Company Commits to Auburn

By Max Newfield / Staff Writer | November 12

Auburn residents will have more choices than just what to watch when it comes to their cable.The Auburn City Council passed an ordinance granting Knology of Alabama, Inc. a non-exclusive cable franchise Nov.

REMEMBERING THE BERLIN WALL: Former East Berliners Have Fond Memories of Growing Up Behind the Wall

By Samuel Solomon/ Associate News Editor | November 12

"The wall was there and we lived with it," said Anja Werth, an Auburn professor in German. "We didn't know anything else."Werth grew up in East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic."I knew there was another Germany somewhere, but you never really thought about it," Werth said.Werth said she remembers enjoying school, playing games after school and having a happy childhood.Her family lived in a private apartment in a hotel, because her father worked for the government in the hotel business.People were not starving, but there were fewer brands of food.

Internet Instigates, Energizes Brain

By Brian Desarro/ Staff Writer | November 12

Turns out spending all day searching Facebook and YouTube may not be such a waste of time, according to a UCLA study.The study, which worked with 24 neurologically normal volunteers between the ages of 55 and 78, found Internet use stimulates neural activity and may enhance brain function in older adults."Basically, we wanted to see what the brain looked like the first time it searched online," said Gary Small, professor of clinical psychiatry at UCLA.

Ceremony Celebrates Veterans

By Rod Guajardo / PHOTO EDITOR | November 12

Auburn held its 10th annual Veteran's Day Ceremony yesterday at the Auburn Veteran's Memorial Monument on the corner of Ross Street and Glenn Avenue.The ceremony included music from the Drake Middle School Mixed Choir and bagpiper Dan Drummond, a memorial wreath laying, remarks from Mayor Bill Hamm Jr.

Budget Cuts Will Not Affect Classes at Auburn

By Lindsey Grubbs/ Staff Writer | November 12

An article by the Associated Press claims universities are facing budget reductions that ultimately cause courses to be cut and teachers to be laid off, making it harder for students to graduate.However, University officials assert this is not a problem at Auburn."I would like to give credit to our budgeting office to make sure that we are physically sound," said Mike Reynolds, director of student financial services.

Study Predicts PACT May Run Out in 10 Years

By Adam Smith / STAFF WRITER | November 12

An August 2009 study by the Retirement Systems of Alabama concluded if people with Prepaid Affordable College Tuition accounts were paid full benefits, the funds would be depleted by 2016 if the economy continues as predicted.However, the study said the funds could be depleted as early as 2014.Established in 1990, the PACT program promised benefits to all account holders through 2032.There are currently more than 45,000 account holders, and almost 20,000 are eligible to use the benefits.The most recent actuarial study showed the liabilities for the program are $917 million, and the assets are only $571 million, which leaves a $345 million deficit.Liabilities refer to how much money PACT needs to operate."An actuarial report is a snapshot of a situation where you are measuring assets and liabilities on a given day," said Alabama State Treasurer Kay Ivey.Ivey said on any given day the fund could pay for only 62 percent of students with its current assets."There will never be enough money in this moment to provide for tuition for all of those students without some kind of funding mechanism to pay the tuition over the short time until the corpus of $571 million can grow when the market grows," Ivey said.PACT was pioneered in 1990 by Lt.

REMEMBERING THE BERLIN WALL: Relations Between the U.S., and U.S.S.R., Almost Escalated to a Nuclear Exchange

By Samuel Solomon/ Associate News Editor | November 12

"People don't really understand, but we came within hours, we came within hours of a full nuclear exchange with the Russians," said Paul Harris, who was in the 3rd U.S.

Plainsman Names Jack Smith New General Manager

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | November 12

After three separate searches and a number of applicants, The Auburn Plainsman has a new general manager.Jack Smith started work Monday, Nov.