Tuscaloosa proclaims February 2026 American Heart Month; Miss University of Alabama Haley Adams receives proclamation

The Tuscaloosa City Council proclaimed February 2026 as American Heart Month and presented the proclamation to Haley Adams, identified in the record as Miss University of Alabama.

Mayor (identified in the record as acting on behalf of the council) read the proclamation noting that heart disease "remains the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for one in every five deaths each year," and stressing prevention through education, early detection and healthy lifestyles. The proclamation called on residents to raise awareness and support heart-health initiatives.

Haley Adams accepted the proclamation and said the recognition "means a lot to me" because her sister has heart disease after being diagnosed with childhood cancer. Adams said she wants to promote heart-health awareness so that those who go undetected will have both medical professionals and the knowledge to seek care. The mayor and council members offered brief personal remarks and thanked Adams; students from a Masters of Public Administration program in the audience were also acknowledged.

The proclamation was entered into the meeting record and presented during the opening portion of the meeting; no formal vote beyond adoption of the consent and proclamation procedures was recorded.