Gutsy women break barriers. Gutsy women lead the way. Gutsy women speak out when others remain silent.

As I research the lives of women leaders who have earned the badge of being a change agent I have been curious about the down side of standing out from the crowd. I call it “the giraffe syndrome”. You know be careful about sticking your neck out, you never know what can happen.

When we step into our power it is not just one big fun parade. So often the down side is not discussed.   And yet, without really taking time to see the whole picture many gutsy women second guess themselves and wonder if the risk has been worth it.

One example is Barbara Walters who was honored at an event at the Paley Center for Media in New York in celebration of International Women’s Day several weeks ago. Accentu

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News file/Frank CouchPublix Super Markets will open its new store in Chelsea on April 6 at 7 a.m.

The 45,600-square-foot store includes a pharmacy and will employ 98 people.

The first 1,000 customers will receive a free Publix re-usable grocery bag, and a variety of other giveaways are planned throughout the day.

Publix entered the metro Birmingham market in 2002. The Chelsea location marks its 18th area store, according to the company’s Website.

Former 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, served in 1977 to 1981.

The former 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, is planning a trip to North Korea, according to the U.S. State Department, and North Korean state media.

Few details have been publically released about the trip, including its purpose, objectives, and duration.

It is believed Carter’s trip is aimed at easing tensions between North and South Korea, where tensions in November 2010 escalated to the shelling of a South Korean island that resulted in the deaths of citizens. Before that incident, North Korea allegedly sank a South Korean ship, killing upwards of forty service men. In both attacks, the South refrained from retaliation, fearing an all-out war in the volatile region.

The U.S. S

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Alabama grocery prices rose nearly 4 percent this month, with the biggest increases seen in the produce aisle and at the meat counter.

The Alabama Farmers Federation’s monthly survey for March shows that the average cost of 20 basic market items was $57.41, up $2.10 — or 3.8 percent — from February.

The biggest gainers were vegetables, as tomatoes were up 59 cents to $2.31 a pound and lettuce rose 52 cents to $2.15 a head.

Meat prices also continue to rise, including Boston butts, up 31 cents, T-bone steaks, up 25 cents, and chicken breasts, up 8 cents. Some meat items, however, saw a price decline: bacon was down 21 cents, while pork chops declined by a nickel.

Higher gas prices have meant higher food prices, thanks to rising transportation costs. Feed costs also are on the rise, which makes meat more expensive. Full story…

About one hour ago, AT&T announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire T-Mobile for $39-billion in a cash and stock deal.

Under the terms of the deal, AT&T will pay $25-billion in cash, and the remaining $14-billion in stock to T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom.

The $14-billion worth in AT&T equity will give Deutsche Telekom about 8-percent ownership in AT&T.

AT&T says the acquisition would see an improvement in service for consumers on both networks given an improvement in network quality. The AT&T network will be accessible to about 95-percent (more than 294-million people) of the U.S.

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