University of Alabama, Hugh Culverhouse Jr. signal cease-fire
The University of Alabama and controversial donor Hugh Culverhouse Jr. had “different views” about the future of the law school in their recent tug-of-war over a $21.5 million donation to the school. That’s how a joint statement released by both last week defined the fracas that resulted in the university’s Board of Trustees voting in June to return Culverhouse’s gift and strip his name from the law school. The statement appears to signal a truce in the public spat. – AL.com
Governor may have taken her first shot at bridge retaliation
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s decision to remove Republican State Senator Chris Elliott on a transportation funding committee was retaliation related to his opposition of the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, Elliott suggested Monday. The governor’s office, however, said the move was meant to elevate Democratic State Sen. Vivian Figures into a role to utilize her “goal-orientated and results-driven” leadership style. – AL.com
Police looking into mysterious case of missing cemetery markers
The man who owns property at one of the oldest cemeteries in Huntsville may face criminal charges of removing or damaging graves and grave markers. The investigation on the Richards Cemetery is to determine if the historic cemetery was unlawfully disturbed. There is one headstone on the lot at the moment, but Huntsville police say there may have been another five headstones there at some point. – WAAY
Alabama, California only states not joining Google antitrust probe
Fifty U.S. states and territories, led by Texas, announced an investigation into Google’s “potential monopolistic behavior.” The Monday announcement closely followed one from a separate group of states Friday that disclosed an investigation into Facebook’s market dominance. The two probes widen the antitrust scrutiny of big tech companies beyond sweeping federal and congressional investigations and enforcement action by European regulators. – AP
Coal production down 4.5 percent in Colombia
Colombia, the world’s fifth-largest exporter of coal, produced 18.9-million tons of the fuel in the second quarter, down 4.5 percent from the same period in 2018, the government said on Friday. Coal production has been pressured by low prices caused by a decease in European demand, climate conditions that affected projects near the northern Caribbean coast. One of the biggest forces in Colombia’s coal industry is Birmingham-based Drummond Co. – Mining Weekly
Elon Musk: Tesla pickup truck pushed back to November
The Tesla pickup truck, described by Elon Musk as “the coolest car I’ve ever seen,” is now looking at a November reveal at the earliest, according to a tweet from the Tesla CEO. The science-fiction inspired electric pickup truck had been expected to arrive this summer, or October at the latest, based on previous statements made by the notoriously optimistic Musk. The CEO described it as follows in a Recode interview with Kara Swisher last year: “It’s gonna be like a really futuristic-like cyberpunk, “Blade Runner” pickup truck. – The Verge
Nissan once again in the market for a CEO
Nissan Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa tendered his resignation Monday after acknowledging that he had received dubious income and vowed to pass the leadership of the Japanese automaker to a new generation. Board member Yasushi Kimura told reporters at an evening news conference at company headquarters in Yokohama that the board has approved Saikawa’s resignation, effective Sept. 16, and a successor will be appointed next month. – AP
