Birmingham Beverage pays $800k to settle discrimination claims
Birmingham Beverage Co., also known as AlaBev, has agreed to pay more than $800,000 to settle discrimination claims over lack of promotions and jobs for minority workers for years. The EEOC sued the company in 2017 after Ronnie Johnson, a Black driver supervisor, was passed over for a promotion. The $825,000 settlement will go to Johnson and 34 other current and former employees. – Insurance Journal
9 universities, including UA, awarded NASA grants
NASA has awarded $1.2 million in grants to nine universities and organizations across the country, including the University of Alabama. UA was one of three universities – along with the University of Mississippi and Oklahoma State University – for research and technology projects related to suborbital flight opportunities.  – Aerospace Technology
Warrior Met Coal strike continues
More than two months after it began, a strike of more than 1,100 Warrior Met Coal workers continues in Tuscaloosa County. The strike began on April 1, and there’s no end in sight. This despite the arrests of several protesters along the way. The company has remained operational during the strike.  – AL.com
5 win CIO of the Year honors
AlabamaCIO announced its Orbie Award winners for best chief information officers in five categories. Winners were Curt Carver of UAB, Kevin McMahon of BBVA USA, Terri Bentley of Redstone Federal Credit Union, Ben Barnes of McLeod Software and Scott Ross of HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. – Cision
Austal USA christens future USS Canberra
Mobile’s Austal USA on Friday christened a new littoral combat ship that will become the USS Canberra. It’s the second U.S. Navy ship to be named after the Australian capital. The USS Canberra is the 15th of 19 small-surface combatants that Austal USA is building for the Navy. – Austal USA
