Education & Faith in Public Schools: Alabama’s new Ten Commandments display law requires approved posters or framed documents in fifth through 12th-grade history classrooms and common areas, with added historical texts like the Mayflower Compact and U.S. Constitution; it takes effect Oct. 1 and starts Jan. 1, 2027. Teacher Pipeline & Career Training: Lawence County career coaches and CTE teachers returned from the Alabama CTE Summer Professional Development Conference in Mobile with new strategies and a focus on exposing students to career opportunities. Health & Family Support: Alabama’s Department of Public Health is accepting proposals for grants to shift community norms around tobacco use and protect youth from nicotine initiation and secondhand smoke exposure. Campus Culture Shift: The University of Alabama System removed explicit LGBTQ+ language from non-discrimination policies, saying protections remain under the term “sex.” Workforce Reality in Schools: District-reported data shows educator shortages across Alabama, especially in elementary education, early childhood, and special education, with many positions filled via substitutes or nonstandard credentials. Community & Environment: Mobile Bay oyster restoration efforts are gaining momentum, including cultch planting and reef placements aimed at long-term recovery. Local Planning: Homewood’s Planning Commission recommended approval for Samford student housing and an outdoor putting facility, advancing to City Council.