BW Recommends is a rundown of stories you might have missed this week. It offers insight into issues important to our area and sometimes tickles your curiosity.

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Storms Wreak Havoc Across Alabama, Leaving Trail of Destruction (ABC 33/40)

A series of thunderstorms swept through Alabama on Saturday, spawning likely tornadoes that wreaked havoc in several counties in the Birmingham area.

 (UAB) Under Investigation for ‘Race-Based Segregation’ (Alabama Reflector)

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating UAB and six other universities on allegations of offering “impermissible race-based scholarships” and engaging in “race-based segregation.” It did not specify why, but last month officials accused schools of discriminating against white and Asian students. Initially the feds said UA was being investigated but changed its press release Monday to clarify it was the University of Alabama at Birmingham under review.

Britt Pushes Child Care Legislation, Wants Some Provisions in Reconciliation Package (Alabama Daily News)

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., is championing bipartisan bills to make child care more affordable by broadening the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and bolstering the Dependent Care Assistance Program.

Tuberville on ‘26 Governor’s Race: ‘I’m a disruptor’ – Says He Wants Saban in Politics Too (Yellowhammer)

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville continued to fuel speculation about his run for governor during an appearance on Longshore & McKnight, saying he had planned to run earlier but Gov. Kay Ivey had just gone into the office.

Cuts to Farm-to-School, Other Local Produce Program Means $16.1M Loss in Alabama (Alabama Daily News)

The U.S. Agriculture Department is ending the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, both of which paid farmers to provide food for school lunch programs and food banks.

State Superintendent Mackey Reassures Board of Education Amid Federal Cuts (Alabama Political Reporter)

Mackey said he does not believe federal cuts will impact core programs in Alabama schools, but communication and structure may change. He said there has been no discussion about funding cuts to the schools, and the state has access to money set aside to mitigate short-term holes in funding.

Birmingham-Hoover no more? Alabama’s largest metro area has a new name (AL.com)

In the latest Census Bureau release, Hoover had been dropped from the MSA name, which now is called the Birmingham, AL, Metropolitan Area.

Lonnie Holley Never Plays a Song Twice. (Even His Own.) (The New York Times)

The music on Alabama artist Lonnie Holley’s newest album, “Tonky,” which will be released Friday, has only ever been played the one time it was recorded.