Grades on a national science test taken by Alabama 4th and 8th graders have been uniformly poor since 2008…..yet the grades of students in all of the states surrounding Alabama have improved significantly. The “Nation’s Report Card” is issued by the National Center for Education Statistics.. A news release announcing the results praises one of Alabama’s border states for its…
As extremely dry conditions continue to plague the entire state, a total of 46 counties in north and central Alabama remain under a burn ban. Governor Robert Bentley signed the Drought Emergency Declaration into effect on October 12, often referred to as a “No Burn Order,” which prohibits all outdoor burning. “The drought creates a dangerous scenario where wildfire can…
An Alabama man accused of kidnapping a 4-year-old girl from her Florida home and driving her to Tennessee now faces a federal charge. A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa says 31-year-old West Wild Hogs was indicted Wednesday on a kidnapping charge, which could carry a life sentence. Hogs was arrested at a Memphis hospital Oct. 10…
Voters at selected polling places in 25 Alabama counties will check in using an iPad-based system this November. The Mobile Press Register reports the system is part of a pilot program backed by Alabama Secretary of state John Merrill. The electronic system replaces the paper printouts of voter rolls that poll workers use to check off qualified voters as they…
Former Alabama Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley has passed away at the age of 78. She served as Alabama’s first female Lt. Governor from 2003 – 2007. She also ran as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2006 against incumbent Republican Gov. Bob Riley in 2006, but lost. Shortly after the election, Baxley suffered a stroke that left her confined to…
Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday announced that Alabama is sending state personnel and resources to Florida to assist with hurricane response efforts. Alabama has received numerous requests for assistance from Florida as Hurricane Matthew approaches and intensifies. So far assistance has been requested from the Alabama National Guard, Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and the Alabama Department of Public Health…
Mike Hubbard takes the stand Alabama Speaker Mike Hubbard Trial on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 in Opelika, Ala. Todd J. Van Emst/Opelika-Auburn News/PoolFormer Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is appealing the ethics conviction that removed him from office. Hubbard’s lawyers filed the notice of appeal Wednesday with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. The appeal comes after the trial judge…
The Justice Department announced today that it has opened a statewide investigation into the conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men. The investigation will focus on whether prisoners are adequately protected from physical harm and sexual abuse at the hands of other prisoners; whether prisoners are adequately protected from use of excessive force and staff sexual abuse by correctional officers; and…
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has been suspended for the rest of his term for defying federal gay marriage rulings.The punishment effectively removes Moore from office, without the court officially ousting him. The nine-member Alabama Court of the Judiciary handed down the punishment Friday after ruling Moore had violating standards of judicial ethics.Moore was found to have encouraged probate judges…
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Alabama redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Barnett has left the program and withdrawn from school. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban announced Barnett’s departure in a statement Thursday. The former five-star recruit from Corona, California, started the opener against Southern California for No. 1 Alabama. Since then, freshman Jalen Hurts has claimed the starting job. Saban had said…
