Ruth Serven

Birmingham

Senior Editor, Birmingham Education Lab and Special Projects at AL.com

Education Lab editor @aldotcom. Making TRUE BELIEVER podcast. @mujschool and local news alum. Email: [email protected]. Posts about handmade clothes on IG.

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Articles

Trump announces major student loan update for borrowers, Department of Education

1 month ago | al.com | Ruth Serven

President Donald Trump said Friday that he wants to move control and oversight of the federal student loan portfolio. The brief announcement came a day after Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education -- and a day after his spokeswoman said she did not expect changes to student loans and special education services.
Department of Education shutdown: Will you still have to pay your student loan? What about FAFSA?

1 month ago | al.com | Ruth Serven

President Donald Trump signed an executive order March 20 to “begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all.”But the department can’t actually be shut down without an act of Congress -- and neither can your student loan debt. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Thursday that she expected some key functions of the Education Department, including federal student loans and special education funding, to remain at the reduced agency.
At least 33 dead in massive US storm, new deaths reported in Kansas, Mississippi

1 month ago | al.com | Ruth Serven

Violent tornadoes and high winds decimated homes, wiped out schools and toppled semitractor-trailers as a monster storm that also produced dust storms and icy conditions killed at least 33 people across the central and southern U.S.Missouri resident Dakota Henderson said he and others rescuing trapped neighbors found five bodies scattered in the debris Friday night outside what remained of his aunt’s house in hard-hit Wayne County.
‘Significant damage’ in Troy after tornado hit recreation center, buildings

1 month ago | al.com | Ruth Serven

The Troy Recreation Center and Sportsplex sustained major damage during a reported tornado early Sunday morning, but no injuries are reported among the more than 200 people who sheltered there. The Troy Parks and Recreation Department posted on Facebook Sunday morning. “We are thankful the Lord provided protection over our community, and over 200 guests at the Recreation Center storm shelter, on Saturday night.”Nancy Jo Adams posted about the experience on Facebook.
Smoke across Birmingham, Walker, Winston counties? Here’s what’s behind it

1 month ago | al.com | Ruth Serven

Federal fire management and forest service officials conducted a large prescribed burn in the Bankhead National Forest Monday, and smoke drifted across several counties and into the Birmingham metro this evening. The Forest Service burned about 780 acres today, 6 miles east of Pebble in Winston County. Meteorologists, including James Spann, told Birmingham area residents that upper air winds pushed the smoke south.
Trump announces immediate 25% steel and aluminum tariffs, starting Monday

2 months ago | al.com | Ruth Serven

President Donald Trump said he will announce on Monday that the United States will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. The tariffs will apply to “everybody,” including from Canada and Mexico, he said, and import duties will come later in the week. “Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff,” he told reporters Sunday on Air Force One as he flew from Florida to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl.
Exclusive Melania Trump documentary is coming to Amazon Prime in 2025

Jan 5, 2025 | al.com | Ruth Serven

Incoming first lady Melania Trump will be the subject of a new documentary directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon Prime Video. The streaming arm of the tech giant got exclusive licensing rights for a streaming and theatrical release later this year, the company said Sunday. Filming is already underway on the documentary.
Higher Social Security payments could come soon for some: What to know

Jan 5, 2025 | al.com | Ruth Serven

President Joe Biden on Sunday plans to sign into law a measure that boosts Social Security payments for current and former public employees, affecting nearly 3 million people who receive pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and in other public service jobs. Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put strain on Social Security Trust Funds, which face a looming insolvency crisis.
Snow, ice, blizzards threaten much of US: See forecasts

Jan 5, 2025 | al.com | Ruth Serven

A major, disruptive winter storm was sweeping across the central U.S. on Sunday, forecasters said, bringing with it a dreaded combination of snow, ice and plunging temperatures. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri — where blizzard conditions are expected — to New Jersey. Even some parts of Alabama could see light snow Monday.
Alabama college band named an ESPN band of the year: Watch

Dec 15, 2024 | al.com | Ruth Serven

Miles College’s Purple Marching Machine spun their way to ESPN’s Division II Band of the Year title this weekend. The competition was held Friday night in Atlanta, for the second-ever title. All bands competing for the Division I and II titles were historically Black colleges. Miles' band director is Willies Snipes. Band membership is more than 200 students, according to the school. The band dedicated its performance to Arthur Means, who revived the college’s band program in the 1990s.