From the University of Alabama at Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior drivers who always take a pet in the car are at increased risk for being involved in a motor vehicle collision, said University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers. In a study published in Accident Analysis and Prevention on May 2, 2013, the research team said both overall and at-fault crash rates for drivers 70 years of age or older were higher for those whose pet habitually rode with them.

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- The number of American children who suffer from food and skin allergies has increased dramatically in recent years, a new government report shows.

Interestingly, the prevalence of food and respiratory allergies rose with income: Children living in families that made more than 200 percent of the poverty level had the highest rates, the statistics showed.

"The prevalence of food and skin allergies both increased over the past 14 years," said report co-author LaJeana Howie, from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This has been a consistent trend."

MONTEVALLO, AL (WBRC)- The University of Montevallo will hold their Spring Commencement ceremony indoors due to the rain forecasted for Saturday, May 4.

The graduation ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. inside the McChesney Student Activity Center instead of Flower Hill's lawn. Prior to graduation, the UM National Alumni Association reception for graduates will be held at 8 a.m. inside the concourse of the Student Activity Center.

The graduation rehearsal will also be held in the Student Activity Center on Friday, May 3 at 4 p.m.

"Because we have moved to an indoor location, we must issue tickets for the ceremony. As it stands, we will be able to issue seven tickets for each graduate. Students needing more tickets MAY be able to request extras at rehearsal based on availability," the university said in a statement on their Facebook page.