🌱 Missing 76-Year-Old Woman + Type 2 Diabetes Youth Study At UAB

Hey, friends. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Daily — here to tell you all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Sunny and pleasant. High: 78 Low: 54.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our Birmingham Daily readers to local businesses they need to know about. If that’s you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. Authorities are currently searching for a missing 76-year-old woman. Barbara Boykins had reportedly left to run an errand when she went missing from her eastern Birmingham home on Saturday afternoon. She suffers from a mental condition that occasionally affects her cognition. Anyone with information about Boykins' whereabouts is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department or Crime Stoppers. (Subscription: AL.com)
2. The University of Alabama at Birmingham reports that new-onset Type 2 Diabetes rose among the state's youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers at the university used data collected by Children's of Alabama to conduct the retrospective study. The monthly average rate rose from 11.1 new pediatric diagnoses to 19.3 new cases during the pandemic. (India Education Diary)
3. The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry has been awarded a $3.2 million grant. The grant from the National Institutes of Health will be distributed over a five-year period. The funds will be used to advance a cohesive approach to solving the nationwide shortage of dental academicians. (Subscription: AL.com)

Today in Birmingham:

• Between The Lines At The Smithfield Branch Library (2:00 PM)
• Filmmaking 101 - Storysmith Station At The Levite Jewish Community Center (3:30 PM)
• Dancing Stars At The West End Branch Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Is the current housing market making you feel a little overwhelmed? Consider this list of the latest properties in the Birmingham area to hit the market. Click to view the full list of properties that includes prices, photos, and property dimensions. (Birmingham Patch)
• Do you need financial guidance? The City of Birmingham is offering free financial guidance over the phone with one of the city's Financial Navigators. Click the link to schedule an appointment. (City of Birmingham)
• The City of Birmingham reminds the community that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Get tested today. Visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. website to learn more. (City of Birmingham)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.