Poarch Band offers Alabama $225M for gaming exclusivity in state
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians have offered to pay the state $225 million for the exclusive right to operate casino games in Alabama, the latest bid by the tribe to secure an agreement for casino games. The pitch includes the exclusive right to casino games and two new north Alabama casino sites. The state would also receive a negotiated share of the revenue. The tribe projected it could boost state revenue by $1 billion including revenue sharing, taxes and license fees. The proposal also includes a lottery. – Montgomery Advertiser
UAB launches statewide initiative to solve stubborn health problems
The University of Alabama at Birmingham today officially launches a new enterprise in partnership with more than 90 community, government, business, education and other agencies designed to transform Alabama’s health and lift its people through education, action and support. Live HealthSmart Alabama — the inaugural UAB Grand Challenge project — was created to inspire the entire state and tackle our significant and intractable health problems. – News release
Mixed-use building coming to Huntsville’s CityCentre
A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for next month as the CityCentre development in downtown Huntsville as the project takes a dramatic second step. RCP Companies, the CityCentre developers, and Spring Bay Property Center LLC announced Friday that work will begin in December on a building with 278 apartments with 18,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. – AL.com
Paula Deen fans will have cause to celebrate Dec. 16 in Foley
Diners now have an opening date for the Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen restaurant at the OWA entertainment complex in Foley. The chain’s official Facebook page carried an announcement over the weekend that the OWA restaurant will open Dec. 16. The restaurant promises “endless portions of Southern-Style entrees and side dishes” from the “Queen of Southern Cooking.” – AL.com
Chick-fil-A ending donations to groups opposing gay marriage
Chick-fil-A is ending donations to three groups that oppose gay marriage in an effort to halt protests and broaden its customer base. But the move has angered some of the fast food chain’s fans. The Atlanta-based company says starting next year, it will focus its giving on three areas: hunger, homelessness and education. – AP
University of Alabama students again competing in EcoCAR Challenge
Students from the University of Alabama are gearing up for another run in the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. It’s a competition that puts them up against several other schools when it comes to making a better car. “We took part in EcoCAR three, which is a four year competition that worked on a Chevrolet Camaro. And now we’ve moved to working on a Chevy Blazer and that’s what we’re working on now,” UA student Derek Hooper explained. – WBRC
