Good morning, Birmingham.

The Alabama Spay Neuter Clinic (Irondale) received a $500,000 donation to expand its Low Cost Spay Neuter Financial Assistance Fund so households on government aid can have up to three pets fixed for $25 each.

Thai Esane, a Nashville-based Thai stall in the Pizitz Food Hall (1821 Second Ave. North), serves stir-fried noodles, curries, and popular Drunken Noodles for $13-$15 and is open Mondays–Saturdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

After three years of repairs, the Birmingham Zoo's wooden carousel will reopen to riders this week + a ribbon-cutting will unveil it to the public, and the refurbished animal figures will carry messages highlighting endangered species and conservation across the zoo.

UAB philosophy professor Lindsay Brainard co-edited The Philosophy of Taylor Swift, a collection of 22 essays exploring love, morality, identity and meaning in Swift’s songs (Oxford University Press released the book on Oct.

7 and it is available now).

Wallace State hosted Tools of the Trade on Tuesday at Tom Drake Coliseum, where about 1,500 eighth graders from Blount, Cullman and Winston counties met local businesses and Wallace State programs to learn about careers and required skills; students explored options from computer science to criminal investigation.

Build Up Community School students built low-cost Corsi-Rosenthal air filters with UAB after sensors showed PM2.5 at about 12 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter; filters are installed across classrooms, monitoring shows better air quality, and the team plans to expand to other schools and homes.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Saturday that Alabama is "one of the strong contenders" to host the U.S. Space Academy as Alabama seeks to site it in Huntsville near Marshall Space Flight Center + Redstone Arsenal.

The commission will accept proposals by Nov. 16 and recommend a site to the president in December.

Adam Bomar was appointed Mountain Brook's fire chief Monday at a City Council meeting where outgoing Chief Chris Mullins, retiring after 30 years, was honored, and Bomar pledged to preserve the department's culture and focus on public safety.

Homewood Council approved on Oct.

26 Samford's south-campus housing, two six-story buildings for up to 494 students with 9,250 sqft of retail on 27 acres, and The Woods Golf and Social, an 18-hole putting course at 504 and 508 Scott St (clubhouse, bar, 22 parking spaces).

Alabama and LSU will kick off at 2:30 p.m. in Tiger Stadium in two weeks, marking the first daytime meeting between the rivals there since 2010.

Alabama A&M and Alabama State will play the 85th Magic City Classic at Legion Field on Saturday, Oct.

31, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.; stadium parking is $50 per vehicle, shuttles will run for $5 round-trip from CrossPlex, Boutwell, and downtown (ADA-accessible service available).