UA running low on Independence Bowl Tickets
Associated Press/KLFY: Dec. 20
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama is running low on tickets for the Crimson Tide's Independence Bowl game against Colorado. The school says it has fewer than 1,000 tickets remaining for the game, which will be played on Sunday, Dec. 30, in Shreveport, La. The university started with an allotment of 12,000 tickets.

Journey of a lifetime endures a year after Hajj
Tuscaloosa News: Dec. 19
Watching live images on CNN of the millions of Muslims making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca brought tears to Nazma Khan’s eyes. Last year, Khan was among the millions who were there. . . . Because Hajj fell during the University of Alabama’s winter break, two professors at UA were able to make the pilgrimage for the first time. . . . Anwar Haque, an engineering professor at UA, also made the journey in 2006. He noted that the experience of so many cultures coming together for a single purpose was like no other experience he has had. Because people from all walks of life and many different countries make the pilgrimage, some people have referred to Hajj as an informal United Nations gathering.

Alabama governor appoints Mobile judge
Al.com: Dec. 20
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Gov. Bob Riley appointed Michael A. Youngpeter on Tuesday to serve as a Mobile County circuit judge. . . . He is a 1982 graduate of the University of South Alabama and a 1987 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law.

Council declares parade a success
Demopolis Times: Dec. 20
Council members agreed Tuesday that the Second Annual Linden Christmas Parade of Lights held on Dec. 7 was a success. . . Another success for the parade was the presence of University of Alabama’s mascot “Big Al” and Auburn University’s mascot “Aubie” as the parade’s grand marshals. City administrator Cheryl Hall said they were a “big hit.”